Why We Live Here . . . The Great Marsh ~ Lewes, Delaware

Why We Live Here . . . The Great Marsh ~ Lewes, Delaware

Just north of Lewes lies the Great Marsh, a 17,000-acre coastal wetland near the mouth of the Delaware Bay. To the casual observer, the Great Marsh may seem uninviting. But to those curious about nature, exploration by canoe or kayak reveals another world – a vibrant and fluid landscape governed by the ancient cycle of the tides.

Discover many of the communities that reside by Delaware’s wetlands like In-Town Lewes, Broadkill Beach, Bay Vista, Bethany Bay, The Canal, Ellis Point, High View, Old Landing, Point Farm, Quillens Point, Salt Pond, The Sanctuary, Sandy Cove, Zacharias Cove and more!

There are many different types of wetlands but the most general way to separate wetlands are as non-tidal and tidal.  Non-tidal which represent two thirds of Delaware’s wetlands, are freshwater wetlands that are upstream far enough to not be influenced by the tide cycles.  Tidal which represent one third of Delaware’s wetlands, are flooded by the tide daily and are usually brackish to higher salt content.

Wetlands provide a variety of benefits to humans and the environment.  They provide habitat for plants and wildlife, clean our drinking water, decrease the impact of severe storms and reduce flooding by absorbing runoff.

Did you know that one acre of wetland can hold 330,000 gallons of water, to a depth of one foot?  Wetlands along the edge of water bodies help to stabilize shorelines and prevent erosion.  They also reduce pollution, clean our drinking water and provide habitat for many rare plant and animal species. (Source: The Nature Conservancy and DNREC)

There’s nothing better than a beach vacation—except actually living at the Beach!  Contact Us and let us show you just how easy it is to make the beach your home!

Photo Credits: This photo was taken by our own Angela Yerton while fishing off the bridge on Canary Creek, by the University of Delaware College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment Hugh R. Sharp Campus.

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