Welcome to the Friends of Ellisville Marsh, Inc.! We are a community-based organization formed to revitalize an environmental gem – the historic Ellisville Marsh. Our members share a special affinity for this timeless place. Some of our families have connections to the marsh that go back for generations, to times when the marsh was the center of the Ellisville community and a thriving habitat for a wide spectrum of bird and wildlife species, fish and plant life. Fishing and agriculture in Ellisville Marsh necessitated the hard work of maintaining the channel to the sea, which brought cleansing tides and fish. As recently as 1985 (see photo) vegetation covered the entire marsh, suggesting a healthy balance of environmental conditions.

Get the facts here. Download the brochure here.

Unfortunately, when maintenance of the tidal inlet channel was halted in 1987, periodic reopening of the channel to remove blockages after major storms ceased for more than a decade and the marsh deteriorated. Vegetation dieback spread over a significant portion of the back of the marsh as the inlet channel carved a convoluted path southward along the beach, ultimately even undercutting the sensitive coastal bluff that defines Lookout Point. This elongated channel path restricted tidal flows in and out of the marsh to such an extent that salt water could not fully drain from the marsh when the tides went out and vegetation literally began to drown (see 2000 photo).

The Friends of Ellisville Marsh, Inc. is committed to reversing this past pattern of neglect and putting our energy and resources into stewardship of Ellisville Marsh so future generations can appreciate the wonders we feel when we go walking, bird watching, kayaking or fishing in Ellisville Marsh. We ask you to JOIN US.

The Board of Directors