$9.7M Stouts Creek Restoration Project To Bring New Life to 109 Acres of Marshland

Starting this month, workers will begin a $9.7 million effort to restore the salt marsh at Stouts Creek. The site sits within Lacey, New Jersey's Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.

Three groups joined forces on this task: Lacey Township officials, state transportation planners, and federal wildlife experts. The work starts with dredging next fall and should finish by early 2026.

This fix aims to shield rare birds, stop water from spilling into streets, and build up natural storm walls. Boats will still move freely through cleaned-up water paths.

Workers will clear mud and sand from eight key spots: two parts of Laurel Harbor, Worden's Oyster Pond, twin sections of Clamming Creek, White's Channel, Cedar Creek and its branch, plus Stouts Creek with two extra paths.

Last year's grant fits into a wider push to shield New Jersey's shore. The funds serve two goals: keeping nature safe while making sure boats can pass through.

The wildlife space spans 47,000 acres on New Jersey's edge. It acts as a safe zone for countless birds, fish, and plants that need wetlands to live.

These wet spaces do more than most think. They block big waves during storms, trap dirt from rainwater, and pull pollutants into the ground. Without them, towns would face worse floods.

No other marsh fix in ten years matches this size. Past work near here brought back local plants, gave animals new homes, and made floods less scary for nearby towns.

Crews picked cold months to avoid bugs and nesting times. They'll follow strict rules about where machines can go and how deep they can dig to keep the marsh safe.