History
Poplar Island is located in the upper Chesapeake Bay about 34 miles south of Baltimore near Talbot County.
Once a thriving 1,000 acre community, the island fell victim to erosion. In 1994 all that remained of the island were several small clusters of islets rising just above the surface of the water.
Reduced to four acres, Poplar Island’s disappearance seemed imminent. Rather than let the island disappear, federal and state environmental agencies decided the island is worth saving.
Restoration
With the beneficial use of dredged material, Poplar Island will be restored to its original footprint over a 16-year project.
Partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Maryland Port Administration, and Maryland Environmental Service, the Aquarium is leading the effort to restore the island by planting native marsh grasses over a span of seven acres.
