PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — A major wetland restoration project is underway at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, where Ducks Unlimited and its conservation partners are working to restore natural tidal flows to approximately 150 acres of freshwater marsh along Darby Creek.
The project focuses on Henderson Marsh, a historically altered wetland within the refuge. Through extensive excavation and dredging, crews are restoring a network of tidal channels designed to reconnect the marsh with Darby Creek, improve habitat for fish and wildlife and strengthen the wetland's ability to respond to changing water levels and storm events.
The work is part of a larger, multiphase conservation effort that also seeks to improve flood resilience in surrounding communities, including Philadelphia's Eastwick neighborhood and nearby Tinicum Township.
“This project is about restoring the natural processes that allow a tidal freshwater marsh to function as it was intended,” said Ben Langey, DU Regional Biologist. “By reconnecting Henderson Marsh to Darby Creek, we're improving habitat for fish, waterfowl, wading birds and other wildlife while also strengthening the marsh's ability to store floodwaters and adapt to future environmental change.”
“Those benefits extend beyond the marsh itself to the surrounding communities that rely on healthy wetlands for recreation, education and resilience,” Langey added.
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge holds a special place in American conservation history. Established in 1972, it is recognized as the nation's first urban national wildlife refuge and protects the largest remaining freshwater tidal marsh in Pennsylvania. Located just minutes from Philadelphia International Airport, the refuge provides an important natural sanctuary in one of the region's most heavily developed landscapes.
But the marsh has undergone significant changes over the years. Historic filling, dredging and construction of dikes restricted the natural movement of tidal waters, contributing to degraded habitat and the spread of invasive vegetation.
The Henderson Marsh restoration is designed to reverse some of those impacts.
Project plans call for excavating approximately 13,000 linear feet of tidal channels and creating additional connections with Darby Creek. The restored channels will allow water to move more naturally through the marsh, helping improve conditions for native vegetation, migratory birds and aquatic species.
The work also includes the creation of tidal pools and habitat features intended to support a greater diversity of wildlife.
Among the species expected to benefit are American black ducks, mallards, shorebirds, wading birds, American shad and American eels. Improved tidal connections will provide additional opportunities for fish to move between Darby Creek and the marsh, while restoring important feeding and resting habitat for birds.
Michels Construction, a Wisconsin-based contractor, is carrying out the channel excavation and dredging. Working in a tidal wetland presents unusual challenges, requiring specialized equipment, careful coordination around changing water levels and measures to protect the surrounding refuge during construction.
“That's just a testament to the project team, the engineer, the township, everyone involved, to be able to achieve the main goal of the project, which is get the channels dug, get the tidal influence in here and open this place up,” said Spencer Madden, Senior Project Manager with Michels Construction.
The restoration is also about more than wildlife.
Communities surrounding the refuge have experienced repeated flooding from Darby and Cobbs creeks, including major storm events that have damaged homes and displaced residents. Healthy tidal wetlands can help store and slow floodwaters, making marsh restoration an important component of broader efforts to explore nature-based solutions to local flooding.
The Henderson Marsh project is one part of that larger strategy. Additional planning includes potential restoration of tidal flow to portions of the refuge's existing impoundment and continued work to identify flood resilience improvements throughout the Lower Darby Creek watershed.
The effort also includes plans to improve the visitor experience through trail enhancements, interpretive signage and additional opportunities for people to explore and learn about the marsh.
For the hundreds of thousands of people who visit John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge to walk, fish, photograph wildlife or simply enjoy nature, the restoration represents a long-term investment in one of the Philadelphia area's most accessible natural spaces.
The work is being advanced through a partnership involving Ducks Unlimited, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other federal, state and local conservation partners. Major funding support includes NOAA and other federal habitat restoration programs.
As work continues at Henderson Marsh, the project demonstrates how restoring natural systems in an urban landscape can benefit wildlife while helping communities prepare for environmental challenges.
Media Contact
Jay Hathaway
Communications Coordinator, Great Lakes Atlantic Region
Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 20 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife and people in all 50 states. Learn more at www.ducks.org.
