Freshwater Marsh Restoration Volunteer Planting Event July 8 -10

Join J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge to help restore important freshwater marsh habitat by planting native sand cordgrass!

Our freshwater marsh has been stressed by habitat fragmentation, hydrologic changes to the landscape, water management decisions and multiple recent storm surges. Planting native sand cordgrass allows us to restore and enhance critical marsh habitat for wildlife. We can't do this without volunteers! Whether you have habitat restoration experience or this is your first time, we'd love your help. By joining the planting effort, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at the Refuge's habitat management and restoration efforts and make a difference for one of Sanibel's unique landscapes. Our planting effort will be spread out over three mornings. Please select the day(s) that you'd like to help.

• We have scheduled three days for this project: Weds. July 8, Thurs. July 9, and Fri. July 10. Our work time is 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. each day.
• Volunteers must wear hard-bottom, closed-toed shoes and long pants, bring a water bottle, sun protection, and dress for the weather. Poision ivy has been cleared from the planting site, but sensitive individuals should be aware that residual oils and plants may be present. Long sleeved shirts are recommended.
• Volunteers will use hand tools to dig holes and place small individual plants in the ground. Gloves, tools, and drinking water for refills will be provided.
• Volunteers should be prepared to walk no more than 0.5 mile roundtrip to project site, bend, kneel, and step on hole-digging tools.

Thanks to the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society, the Refuge's non-profit Friends group, for providing the funds to purchase the sand cordgrass for this event. For more information about the refuge's habitat restoration efforts: https://dingdarlingsociety.org/latest-news/posts/post-ian-sanibel-island