Save the Bay and Rocky Hill School have been working together since 2012 to unearth a blocked creek in the Potowomut salt marsh behind Rocky Hill School. On Monday morning, with help from the RI Department of Environmental Management’s Mosquito Abatement Program and their low-pressure excavator, the creek was successfully excavated.

Due to sea level rise, weather conditions and numerous hurricanes in the last 30 years, the main creek leading out of the Potowomut salt marshes has been clogged with sand, dirt and vegetation. Due to this blockage, only a portion of the marsh has been able to drain properly. Save the Bay and Rocky Hill School were concerned the impoundment of water on the marsh’s surface would lead to the natural vegetation, Spartina alterniflora, to begin dying off,

The preemptive strike of clearing out the creek would allow the Potowomut salt marsh to drain itself, returning the marsh to a natural condition. Wenley Ferguson, director of Save the Bay, said that the improper draining system could harm the marsh’s ability to combat sea level rise as well as maintaining a health habitat for itself.

“This project will improve draining in the marsh, plants will grow to a greater level, and vegetation can re-colonize,” she said. “All of this will give the marsh an advantage in keeping up with rising sea levels.”

Alan Gettman, DEM mosquito abatement coordinator, said he was contacted about a year ago to help with the project. Pools of standing water, created by the lack of drainage, are perfect conditions for mosquitoes. Gettman assured that there was no significant mosquito problem, but nonetheless the project would help in combating mosquito populations.

“This project was all about restoration, bringing the marsh back,” Gettman said. “By lowering the water table we improve the health of the marsh, and in doing so we could possibly reduce mosquito reproduction rates and population.”

All together the excavation was a 100-foot long and three-foot deep span, or 33.3 cubic yards, before the creek would be revealed underneath. The team, made up of workers from all three parties involved, began at 9 in the morning and, because of the preferable weather, finished only six hours later. The excavated material was deposited west of the creek by the high water line to assure it would not migrate back towards the creek. Material with vegetation was placed around the marsh in areas where the natural vegetation had begun to deteriorate.

Ferguson said, “It took two years of planning, but only one day of work. During excavation alone the water level dropped by six inches. When we got there at nine there were huge pools of water that were completely empty by the time we left.”

Gettman agreed, saying, “The project was very successful. We started at 9 in the morning, when it was low tide, but as the tide came in and we were taking out more from the creek, there was an immediate release of the marsh. You could just see water gushing down the stream.”

From here Save the Bay will continue to monitor Potowomut salt marsh’s health in terms of the water level and vegetation. Rocky Hill School will also play a part in maintaining the restoration. Ferguson said that the school plans on planting beach grass and other vegetation. Rocky Hill School even Tweeted about the event, accrediting Save the Bay and RIDEM for “great work.” It said, “We’re excited to work on improving the salt marsh health this spring!”