Tidal marshes are important ecological systems that are responding to sea level rise-driven changes in tidal regimes. Human development along the coastline creates barriers to marsh migration, moderating tidal marsh distributions. This study shows that in the Chesapeake Bay, USA an estuarine system with geographic and development variability, overall estuarine tidal marshes are projected to decline by approximately half over the next century. Tidal freshwater and oligohaline habitats, which are found in the upper reaches of the estuary and are typically backed by high elevation shorelines are particularly vulnerable. Due to their geological setting, losses of large extents of tidal freshwater habitat seem inevitable under sea level rise. However, in the meso/poly/euhaline zones that (in passive margin estuaries) are typically low relief areas, tidal marshes are capable of undergoing expansion. These areas should be prime management targets to maximize future tidal marsh extent. Redirecting new development to areas above 3 m in elevation and actively removing impervious surfaces as they become tidally inundated results in the maximum sustainability of natural coastal habitats. Under increasing sea levels and flooding, the future of tidal marshes will rely heavily on the policy decisions made, and the balance of human and natural landscapes in the consideration of future development.

潮汐沼泽是重要的生态系统，可应对由海平面上升引起的潮汐变化。沿海岸线的人类发展为沼泽迁徙创造了障碍，减缓了潮汐沼泽的分布。这项研究表明，在美国切萨皮克湾，随着地理和发展变化的河口系统，整个下河口的潮汐沼泽预计将减少大约一半。在河口上游发现的潮汐淡水和少盐生境尤其容易受到高海拔海岸线的支持。由于它们的地质环境，在海平面上升的情况下，大量潮汐淡水生境的丧失似乎是不可避免的。但是，在中观/多义/真地带地区（在被动边缘河口）通常是低浮雕区域，潮汐沼泽能够扩张。这些区域应成为主要管理目标，以最大程度地提高未来的潮汐沼泽范围。将新的开发重定向到海拔3 m以上的区域，并在潮汐淹没时积极清除不透水的表面，从而最大程度地提高了自然沿海生境的可持续性。在海平面上升和洪水泛滥的情况下，潮汐沼泽的未来将在很大程度上取决于所制定的政策决策以及人类和自然景观的平衡，以考虑未来的发展。将新的开发重定向到海拔3 m以上的区域，并在潮汐淹没时积极清除不透水的表面，从而最大程度地提高了自然沿海生境的可持续性。在海平面上升和洪水泛滥的情况下，潮汐沼泽的未来将在很大程度上取决于所制定的政策决策以及人类和自然景观的平衡，以考虑未来的发展。将新的开发重定向到海拔3 m以上的区域，并在潮汐淹没时积极清除不透水的表面，从而最大程度地提高了自然沿海生境的可持续性。在海平面上升和洪水泛滥的情况下，潮汐沼泽的未来将在很大程度上取决于所制定的政策决策以及人类和自然景观的平衡，以考虑未来的发展。