Preserve Info

Long views across the salt marsh are captured at Clamming Creek Preserve. This preserve protects a natural transition of habitats extending from open water of Barnegat Bay, to the spartina salt marsh and into a maritime forest of black gum, red maple and pitch pine. Developments have often been built in similar, sensitive coastal habitats. The Trust for Public Land, a national non-profit active in New Jersey, identified the need for protection and acquired these lands for preservation; then donated the acquired land to the Trust for management. In cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Ocean County Mosquito Extermination Commission, work was done to restore salt marsh habitat in such a way that would also reduce mosquitoes. Called Open Marsh Water Management or "OMWM", ditches and ponds were constructed to improve tidal flow and provide low water ponds where fish like mummichog and killifish gobble up larvae before they become mosquitoes. With a quick flight over the bay, osprey catch a meal for their hungry chicks nesting at the preserve.

Public Access and Uses

No trails or parking is provided but many visitors watch for birds along the roadway. No hunting is permitted.

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