THE GENESIS OF THIS RESTORATION EFFORT BEGAN YEARS EARLIER WITH DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TIDAL SALT MARSHES , COMMUNITY RESILIENCE , AND THE NEED TO PROTECT THIS NATURAL RESOURCE .
While our salt marshes are known for their idyllic vistas , they also protect our communities from natural hazards , prevent erosion , enhance water quality , and support our biodiverse wildlife .
Oysters , a keystone species — meaning other species within the environment depend on their existence for survival — are the embodiment of these natural benefits . They provide a natural buffer to wave action and play a crucial role in water quality improvements . One oyster can filter up to fifty gallons of water per day , which can be multiplied across an entire reef to filter tens of thousands of gallons daily . Oyster reefs also support biodiversity by providing habitat for a variety of estuarine fish and other wildlife . The small crevasses in the reefs are convenient safe havens for small fish and invertebrates to congregate . This invites their predators to these areas , as well as other species further up the food chain . Marshes are one of the most biodiverse habitats in the world , and over 130 species benefit from established oyster reefs in South Carolina .
The salt marsh ecosystem is also extremely dynamic due to the ebb and flow of semidiurnal tides and the unique life cycles of estuarine species . While these landscapes are certainly subject to changes over the years , human disturbances and rising sea levels increasingly threaten the integrity of these delicate habitats . As these threats compound , so does the importance of enhancing and restoring areas that have begun to decline .
After years of monitoring the marsh , the Conservancy sought to implement a marsh restoration project on Kiawah Island with the primary goal of establishing living shorelines as the preferred shoreline management strategy . Kiawah Conservancy ’ s restoration and enhancement specialist Sean Cannon led the effort , working with South Carolina Department of Natural Resource ’ s South Carolina Oyster Restoration and Enhancement Program ( SCORE ), and Kiawah Island Golf Resort ’ s director of recreation Elisabeth King .
The team deployed an innovative strategy . MWRs are generally constructed by stapling wire fencing together to form large cages that , when placed on creek banks , provide a surface for oyster
10 • KIAWAH CONSERVANCY