Information Panel: Anatomy of a Tidal Marsh

Information Panel: Anatomy of a Tidal Marsh

Photo: NPS / Claire Hassler

Quick Facts

Amenities

2 listed

Braille, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

Your body has a heart and blood vessels to carry nutrients to your tissues, lungs to breathe, kidneys to filter out pollutants, and skin to protect you. When you look closely at Dyke Marsh, you can find natural systems that do all the same things. 

Circulate

Purple and blue on this map show the winding channels of the marsh, called guts, and the Potomac River. Tides pump Chesapeake Bay saltwater up the Potomac River and into the marsh. There it mixes with fresh water, nutrients and sediments.

Filter

Green plants act like kidneys, filtering pollution from water. Marsh plants also slow down the movement of sediment, produce oxygen, and capture nitrogen.

Protect

Wetland forests, shown here as the mixed mosaic of green, yellow, and blue at the left, act like a protective skin. They anchor the shoreline and reduce erosion, sheltering Dyke Marsh, and the people who live nearby.