110Site ID:EssexTown:1.6Acres:NoRapid Technical Site Assessment:RestrictionFillAgricultureOtherCompleted ProjectLowPriority:Site consists of ~1.5 acres of historically-filled salt marsh on Choate Island that is owned by the Trustees of Reservations. The fill comprises a causeway road across the marsh that connects Long Island with Choate Island. TTOR staff report that this causeway is frequently overtopped by storm overwash and requires substantial maintenance. A site visit was not conducted. Restoration actions would remove all or a portion of the causeway fill to restore salt marsh and full tidal exchange with the upstream marsh to the west. The access road could be re-located to an elevated causeway above the marsh further west where the crossing would be narrower and not subject to storm overwash. Restoration potential is considered low based on the difficult equipment access (would require a barge) and relatively high costs of fill removal. Potential is enhanced by TTOR ownership and the opportunity to relocate the fill nearby on site. Further assessment is needed to estimate costs and potential benefits, including the effect on upstream marsh that is potentially tidally-restricted (see site #108). Restoration of this site may be appropriate as mitigation for off-site wetland impacts.Site Summary:Under DevelopmentImpact Type(s)StatusPotential Project
