Friends of the Marsh
Lundrigan’s Marsh is an urban wetland located in the East end of St. John’s, NL with a public lookout at 335 East White Hills Road.
Wetlands are areas of low-lying land that become partially submerged in water for a portion of their life-cycle. The period of submersion happens during its local wet season and is there long enough to support aquatic plant and wildlife.
As an urban wetland, Lundrigan’s Marsh faces unique challenges because of the activities that take place in the urban environment. Infilling, blowing debris, and runoff that flows into the marsh from the various human activities that take place in the area all pose a risk to the health of the marsh.
We want to prevent further damage to the marsh not only for it’s ecological benefit to wildlife, but also because of the many benefits it offers to the citizens of St. John’s.
Lundrigan’s Marsh feeds into the Virginia River. During heavy rainfall the marsh acts as a sponge, soaking up massive amounts of water and temporarily storing it in the plants and soil. Over time the water is slowly released into the river. Keeping the marsh healthy and intact will help this process, meaning houses downstream are less likely to experience flooding than they would be without the marsh. In addition to flood reduction, marshes act as a filter for water that flows through it, meaning the water downstream from the marsh will be a healthier habitat for fish.
With our Friends of the Marsh initiative we invite nearby business operations and the public to become stewards of the marsh by pledging:
1) Recognition of the presence of the marsh and its importance.
2) Commitment to watch over the marsh and communicate environmental concerns to the City of St. John’s and its partners.
3) Commitment to environmentally safe operations near the marsh.
The following have operations near Lundrigan’s Marsh, have taken the pledge, and are a part of the Friends of the Marsh initiative:
- Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation
- Concrete Products
- M&M Engineering / Offshore
- PF Collins
We are excited to have these participants, and thank them for their engagement! We are working to expand the list and hope to bring more operations that neighbour Lundrigan’s Marsh on board with the Friends of the Marsh initiative.
If you are interested in doing more as a Friend of the Marsh we invite you to visit the marsh lookout, clean-up in the area, advocate for wetland protection, spread the word about Lundrigan’s Marsh, and donate to Northeast Avalon ACAP to support the work we do to help local wetlands.
