Smooth cordgrass is one of the most common forms of marsh vegetation found in Rhode Island salt marshes and is a vital plant species in the estuary. Often only a small amount of smooth cordgrass (fringe) is found extending from the high marsh to the water. However, smooth cordgrass also occurs in large fields, usually near the head of tidal creeks. This plant is important to marsh health due to the high volume of organic material it contributes during decomposition. In fact, smooth cordgrass is the most productive of the marsh grasses.