At a Glance
Baltimore’s first tidal wetland mitigation project restored 11 acres of tidal estuarine wetlands on one of Baltimore’s most important historic sites.
Project Description
Biohabitats provided design peer review and construction management of the Fort McHenry tidal wetlands, the first wetland mitigation project for the State of Maryland. Located on the site of the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, the wetland restoration project was created to offset impacts associated with the construction of the I-95 Fort McHenry Tunnel.
Under the Clean Water Act of 1972, the State of Maryland was required to restore the biological, chemical and physical integrity of this water body. Biohabitats worked with City, State and Federal agencies to develop an 11-acre tidal estuarine wetland directly over a portion of the tunnel.
Created from material excavated from a ventilation building that sits atop the tunnel, the wetland was designed to allow tidal exchange and flushing.
Based on reference sites, eleven species of indigenous, estuarine aquatic plants were propagated and contract grown for the project. Once grading was completed, over 40,000 plants were installed.