A New York City marsh was disappearing for decades; scientists added 20 inches of sand and watched what happened next

A salt marsh restoration experiment began at Big Egg Marsh in 2002. Scientists raised the marsh with sand and planted thousands of cordgrass seedlings. Early monitoring showed significant vegetation growth and marsh health two years later. Researchers returned in 2021 to assess the long-term success of the restoration. This project highlights the importance of sustained observation for coastal ecosystem recovery.