Along Maryland’s Eastern Shore, rising seas and saltwater are transforming coastal forests into striking landscapes known as ghost forests. At the boundary where marsh meets forest, these changes reveal the dynamic relationship between sea level rise, shifting habitats, and the resilience of coastal ecosystems.
Our guide will be Dr. Keryn Gedan, Associate Professor of Biology at George Washington University, whose research examines how sea level rise and saltwater intrusion are reshaping coastal forests, marshes, and agricultural landscapes across the Mid-Atlantic. She leads the Gedan Lab, which studies how climate change, nutrient availability, and invasive species influence tidal marshes and other coastal ecosystems through field research across Maryland’s Eastern Shore and the broader Mid-Atlantic region.
As we paddle through this changing landscape, Dr. Gedan will explain how salt marshes gradually migrate into coastal forests, why some tree species such as maples and sweetgums are more vulnerable to salt exposure while loblolly pines and eastern redcedars persist longer, and how shrubs like wax myrtle and invasive common reed (Phragmites australis) reshape the forest as it transitions to marsh. We’ll also explore what these changes reveal about the future of coastal wetlands and whether migrating marshes can continue to replace habitat lost to accelerating sea level rise.
Join us on the water to experience this remarkable landscape firsthand and discover how one of the Chesapeake Bay’s most dynamic ecosystems is adapting to a changing world.
This paddle takes place on an open and exposed marshy pond. Intermediate paddling experience is recommended. If conditions become too severe, the paddle will be canceled.
Our canoes seat 2 adults, so individuals will be paired up with another paddler. If you are not comfortable paddling with a stranger, sign up with a buddy!
Registration Required
