Dead trees known as ghost trees stand at the edge or the Wells Reserve marsh in Wells. As higer water levels occur in the marsh, the trees, whose roots can’t tolerate salty water or higher groundwater levels, are killed.
This aerial image of Drake’s Island in Wells shows residential development between the Wells Reseve marsh and the ocean. The marsh is bookended by development between oceanfront housing and resort developments along Route 1. The development limits the areas where marshes can migrate to as water levels rise.
Dan Salvucci walks back to his home along a mud-covered Days Lane in Wells after storm surge tides receded on January 13. Salvucci lives right on the edge of the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge and the water came up about four feet around his house, topping the hood of his car which he had parked on a high ground. He ended up losing a generator and lawn mower that were in a shed that was flooded and his car was irreparably damaged because of the high water.
Floodwaters completely covered the Wells Reserve marsh and covered parts of Mile Road in Wells during the coastal storm on January 10.
A great egret forages for food in the Wells Reserve marsh on August 2.
Men carry kayaks along a boardwalk at the Wells Reserve to embark on a paddling excursion on the Little River through the reserve October 2023.
Dead trees known as ghost trees stand at the edge or the Wells Reserve marsh in Wells on August 2. As higer water levels occur in the marsh, the trees, whose roots can’t tolerate salty water or higher groundwater levels, are killed.
Jacob Aman, stewardship director at the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, explains how marsh grasses change as water levels rise in the marsh.
A deer pauses while feeding in marsh at the Wells Reserve in September 2023.
Floodwaters from the Wells Reserve marsh cover part of a bridge along Drakes Island Road during the coastal storm on January 10.
The Little River winds thruogh the Wells Reserve marsh, which is part of the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. Unlike many marshes along the Maine coast that have a rocky barrier to the ocean, the Wells Reserve marsh is fronted by a sand beach, which makes it more susceptible to flooding.
Local & State 
