Maryland's National Aquarium Unveils Harbor Wetland Exhibit

Maryland's National Aquarium in Baltimore is now welcoming guests to Harbor Wetland, a 10,000-square-foot floating wetland that mimics the Inner Harbor’s original Chesapeake Bay, beckoning native marine species back to Baltimore. 

The wetland, situated between Piers 3 and 4 on Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, features more than 32,000 native shrubs and marsh grasses and is based upon sustainable innovations developed by the Aquarium’s conservation and exhibit fabrication teams. Beginning today, Harbor Wetland will welcome Inner Harbor visitors as a free and accessible experience available at no cost and without an Aquarium ticket during the Aquarium’s normal operating hours, barring extreme weather or other outdoor conditions.

The $14 million project is presented by Baltimore’s own CFG Bank, with other notable private investment from The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, The Bunting Family Philanthropies and Constellation, as well as the Aquarium’s philanthropic community, and local, state, and federal government support. 

Harbor Wetland is a functional constructed wetland, a floating classroom and an engaging public attraction, outfitted with docks and walkways, shade cover and interpretive signage that allows guests to learn about the wetland and the species drawn to it while highlighting seasonal changes and the sights and sounds of the bustling harbour around it. The habitat is made up of recycled plastic matting planted with tidal wetland shrubs and grasses native to this region whose roots will grow down into the water, providing microhabitats for dozens of native species and drawing nutrients and contaminants from the water. The matting is coated with a UV protectant for durability and fixed to a system of air-regulated pontoons that allow for adjustable buoyancy of the wetland to offset weight gain from growing biomass.

Water circulates through the wetland’s shallow channel by compressed air pumped into the channel using strategically placed airlifts. Compressed air is supplied to ceramic airstones positioned at the bottom of custom-designed six-foot-long airlift pipes. Thousands of tiny bubbles produced by the airstones rise to the surface, moving water through the wetland’s shallow channel. Bubbles also release oxygen into the surrounding water, benefiting aquatic species by raising dissolved oxygen levels and keeping water moving throughout the wetland as it would during tidal changes in a natural tidal marsh.  

National AquariumThe National Aquarium is a nonprofit organisation whose mission is to connect people with nature to inspire compassion and care for our ocean planet. Our compelling exhibits, science-based education programs and hands-on field initiatives engage more than 1.2 million people annually. One of the top three aquariums in the United States and the largest paid cultural attraction in Maryland, the Aquarium generates more than $430 million annually in economic impact to the state.

For more information on the National Aquarium, visit www.aqua.org.