Poplar Island, Island in Talbot County, United States

Poplar Island is a landmass in the Chesapeake Bay that serves as a placement site for sediment dredged from Baltimore Harbor shipping channels. The restoration project uses this material to rebuild the island while creating habitat for native plants and animals.

During the War of 1812, British naval forces established a campsite on the island, and afterward it developed into a residential community that thrived until the early 1900s. Following the departure of permanent residents, the island eventually became a focus for environmental restoration efforts.

The island once served as a retreat for those seeking solitude in the Chesapeake Bay, drawing visitors who valued its remote location and natural setting. This heritage of refuge remains part of its local identity today.

The island is not open to the public and visitors cannot access it directly, as it remains an active restoration site. Those interested can view the island from the water or from nearby coastal vantage points in the region.

The island hosts more than 250 bird species, including rare migratory birds that use the Chesapeake Bay as a critical travel route. Of special note is a significant population of Diamondback Terrapins that return here annually to nest.