Salt marshes are beautiful coastal landscapes that provide rich habitat to a great diversity of plants, invertebrates, fish, birds, and mammals. They protect shorelines from storm damage by dispersing wave and tide energy, and help purify water by assimilating potential pollutants.

A Volunteer's Handbook for Monitoring New England Salt Marshes was developed as a tool to help local volunteer groups collect and record data on salt marsh health in a consistent and scientifically sound manner.

To order a hardcopy of the handbook, please e-mail czm@state.ma.us with your name and mailing address or call the CZM Information Line at (617) 626-1212.

Complete Handbook
A Volunteer's Handbook for Monitoring New England Salt Marshes (PDF, 3.0M)

By Chapter
SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, TABLE OF CONTENTS and Letter from the Secretary of Environmental Affairs (PDF, 237K)

Chapter One
AN INTRODUCTION TO SALT MARSH MONITORING (PDF, 159K)

Chapter Two
NEW ENGLAND SALT MARSHES: ECOLOGY, IMPORTANCE, AND CONSERVATION (PDF, 410K)

Chapter Three
ELEMENTS OF STUDY DESIGN (PDF, 144K)

Chapter Four
PLANTS (PDF, 335K)

Chapter Five
INVERTEBRATES (PDF, 435K)

Chapter Six
FISHES AND CRABS (PDF, 307K)

Chapter Seven
BIRDS (PDF, 489K)

Chapter Eight
SALINITY (PDF, 205K)

Chapter Nine
TIDAL HYDROLOGY (PDF, 254K)

Appendix A
SALT MARSH RESOURCES AND CONTACTS (PDF, 53K)

Appendix B
GLOSSARY (PDF, 43K)