Images

Seagrass marshes in Chincoteague Channel. Saltwater and barrier marshes are important ecosystems that protect inland habitat and communities from ocean storms.

Marsh management projects on-going at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Wetlands are planted and flooded during the Spring and Summer, then drained during the Fall and Winter. This provides sediment stabilization and habitat for migrating waterfowl.

Seagrass marshes in Chincoteague Channel. Saltwater and barrier marshes are important ecosystems that protect inland habitat and communities from ocean storms.

Seagrass marshes in Mosquito Creek. Saltwater and barrier marshes are important ecosystems that protect inland habitat and communities from ocean storms.

Salt marshes along Little Mosquito Creek of Chincoteague Island. The salt marshes that make up Chincoteague Island are important habitat for migrating waterfowl. In addition, they serve an important role in protecting inland ecosystems and communities from oceanic storms.

Surf on Assateague Island from the Atlantic Ocean.

Overwash on Assateague Island. Overwash occurs when waves overtop the main sand dune and redistribute the sand along new patterns. Overwash has contributed to the gradual movement of Assateague Island to the south.

Wild ponies on Assateague Island. Wild ponies have lived on Assateague since the 1600s, although how they were introduced to Assateague is still debated. There are now around 300 or so wild ponies in Maryland and Virginia.

Inland scrub plants on Assateague Island. Inland scrub plays an important role in stabilizing the sand dunes on a barrier island.

Migratory waterfowl arriving at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland.

Tidal marshes in Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge contains one-third of Maryland's tidal wetlands, which makes it an ecologically important area within the state.

Tidal marshes in Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge contains one-third of Maryland's tidal wetlands, which makes it an ecologically important area within the state. 

Seagrass marshes in Queen Sound Channel. Saltwater and barrier marshes are important ecosystems that protect inland habitat and communities from ocean storms.

A duck blind in New Virginia Cove, part of Chincoteague Island. The salt marshes that make up Chincoteague Island are important habitat for migrating waterfowl.

A wild pony on Assateague Island. Wild ponies have lived on Assateague since the 1600s, although how they were introduced to Assateague is still debated. There are now around 300 or so wild ponies in Maryland and Virginia.

Inland scrub plants on Assateague Island. Inland scrub plays an important role in stabilizing the sand dunes on a barrier island.

Inland scrub on Assateague Island. Inland scrub plays an important role in stabilizing the sand dunes.

Salt marshes at Chincoteague Island. The salt marshes that make up Chincoteague Island are important habitat for migrating waterfowl. In addition, they serve an important role in protecting inland ecosystems and communities from oceanic storms.

A duck blind in the seagrass marshes in Chincoteague Channel. Saltwater and barrier marshes are important ecosystems that protect inland habitat and communities from ocean storms. They also provide important habitat for migrating water fowl.

Overwash on Assateague Island. When waves wash over the main sand dune on the island, that creates a phenomenon called overwash, where the sand is moved along the path of the wave. Overwash has contributed to the gradual movement of Assateague Island to the south.

Salt marshes at Chincoteague Island. The salt marshes that make up Chincoteague Island are important habitat for migrating waterfowl. In addition, they serve an important role in protecting inland ecosystems and communities from oceanic storms. Mosquito point can be seen in the background where the trees are.