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detract from their wildlife value. <br />Dr. Swain continued that around 1975 about 500 of the <br />existing wetland in this area was seriously damaged when the 1. <br />owner spread fill along the eastern edge of the marsh adjacent to <br />the river. He was instructed by the Corps to restore the western <br />end of the marsh to its original tidal regime, but he failed to <br />comply. Dr. Swain informed the Board that the assessment on the <br />current situation on the site has been done by various profes- <br />sional biologists, and it is their opinion that it is an <br />important and functioning wetland, which supports a wide variety <br />of birds and animals - egrets, herons, ospreys, etc. - and also <br />is an important nursery ground for juvenile fish. This sort of <br />high marsh is very productive from a nutrient point of view and <br />is crucial to the well being of fisheries on the river. Local <br />fishermen have recently deplored the decline of the river as the <br />result of continued habitat loss. Since this area very wisely <br />was designated environmentally sensitive, Dr. Swain contended it <br />should not have the proposed development, which will effectively <br />result in the net loss of one area of high marsh and further <br />losses on adjacent areas. She stressed that the development is <br />not limited to existing upland and fill. It is on existing <br />wetland area that is designated environmentally sensitive. Dr. <br />Swain, therefore, believed that the only use for this wetland is <br />its preservation and its enhancement with a program that will <br />restore it to what it was originally as high marsh. She further <br />wished to emphasize that Pelican Island is not against develop- <br />ment in general and not even against development on this project <br />if it were limited to upland and fill, but they do seriously <br />object to development on the environmentally sensitive wetlands. <br />Dr. Swain felt there has been considerable confusion about the <br />exact location of the proposed tourist/commercial node, and <br />passed out maps showing that it completely straddles the <br />environmentally sensitive wetlands. <br />58 <br />M <br />2 3 <br />1985 <br />BOOK <br />n <br />62 I'�tiGE 507 <br />wetlands along the <br />river are impounded like this, and <br />it does not <br />detract from their wildlife value. <br />Dr. Swain continued that around 1975 about 500 of the <br />existing wetland in this area was seriously damaged when the 1. <br />owner spread fill along the eastern edge of the marsh adjacent to <br />the river. He was instructed by the Corps to restore the western <br />end of the marsh to its original tidal regime, but he failed to <br />comply. Dr. Swain informed the Board that the assessment on the <br />current situation on the site has been done by various profes- <br />sional biologists, and it is their opinion that it is an <br />important and functioning wetland, which supports a wide variety <br />of birds and animals - egrets, herons, ospreys, etc. - and also <br />is an important nursery ground for juvenile fish. This sort of <br />high marsh is very productive from a nutrient point of view and <br />is crucial to the well being of fisheries on the river. Local <br />fishermen have recently deplored the decline of the river as the <br />result of continued habitat loss. Since this area very wisely <br />was designated environmentally sensitive, Dr. Swain contended it <br />should not have the proposed development, which will effectively <br />result in the net loss of one area of high marsh and further <br />losses on adjacent areas. She stressed that the development is <br />not limited to existing upland and fill. It is on existing <br />wetland area that is designated environmentally sensitive. Dr. <br />Swain, therefore, believed that the only use for this wetland is <br />its preservation and its enhancement with a program that will <br />restore it to what it was originally as high marsh. She further <br />wished to emphasize that Pelican Island is not against develop- <br />ment in general and not even against development on this project <br />if it were limited to upland and fill, but they do seriously <br />object to development on the environmentally sensitive wetlands. <br />Dr. Swain felt there has been considerable confusion about the <br />exact location of the proposed tourist/commercial node, and <br />passed out maps showing that it completely straddles the <br />environmentally sensitive wetlands. <br />58 <br />M <br />