The Wetlands Restoration Program is working on a plan to help communities in the Great Marsh region identify and restore degraded coastal wetlands. Initial GIS work has been completed to compile existing information and locate potential restoration sites using aerial photos and other maps and data sources. Field work for initial site reconnaissance was completed in the fall of 2004 to verify GIS information and develop preliminary assessments. More than 100 potential restoration sites have been identified.

Over the winter and spring of 2005, WRP met with town officials, regional organizations, and other restoration partners to review identified sites and gather additional information on restoration potential. During the summer of 2005, WRP hired a consultant to perform technical field assessments at 25 of the most promising sites. The assessments have been completed and provide detailed site data, including tidal range surveys, impact characterizations, and conceptual restoration options with cost estimates.

WRP will prepare a draft inventory of all potential restoration sites that will be posted on the web. After incorporating input from town officials and others, the final restoration plan will be completed and posted on the web. WRP will work with the Great Marsh communities to advance promising sites toward restoration. See the detailed project summary below. This page will be updated as the project progresses.

Overview

The Great Marsh coastal region stretches from Amesbury to Rockport along the north shore of Massachusetts and contains a tremendous wealth of aquatic habitats, many of which are renowned for their ecological significance and immeasurable social values. Historic and contemporary human activities have degraded (and continue to degrade) these habitats in numerous ways. Although many impacts are, in practical terms, permanent (e.g., buildings located on filled tidelands), numerous opportunities exist to undo past damages and restore habitats to a healthier condition. The goal of this project is to develop a restoration plan that will be used by area communities, state and federal agencies, and other organizations and individuals to identify and restore degraded coastal wetlands within the Great Marsh region.

The Problem

Great Marsh aquatic habitats are negatively affected by a range of human stressors, the most significant of which include filled marshes and other tidelands, polluted coastal waters, degraded natural buffers, blocked fish runs, and restricted or blocked tidal flows. These stressors reduce the capacity of aquatic habitats to support native biota; increase their susceptibility to invasion by foreign species; lower their potential to buffer storm damage; impede their ability to filter pollutants; and degrade their overall condition for human use and enjoyment.

The coastal communities of the Great Marsh region – joined by many state, national, and international interests – derive tremendous economic, social, and cultural benefits from the “services” provided by the region’s aquatic habitats. The degradation of those habitats diminishes the human benefits derived therefrom. Thus, the communities of the Great Marsh region, along with all who benefit from its aquatic habitats, have a strong interest in restoring those habitats wherever significant opportunities arise.

The Project

WRP will produce an interactive digital plan distributed on CD and via the internet. The Plan will include the following features:

• Statement of plan goals and geographic scope

• Background on Great Marsh coastal wetlands and aquatic habitats

• Overview of the need for, and benefits of, habitat restoration

• Summary of Great Marsh restoration progress to date with completed project examples

• Explanation of site identification and characterization methods

• Stakeholder outreach / participation strategy

• Strategy for restoration project development and feasibility assessments

• Guidance on project management and sources of technical and financial support

• Restoration site information: regional and site-specific maps, photos, and characterizations for all sites (as limited by field access)

• Highlights of selected “feature sites” providing greater detail on conditions, restoration options, conceptual restoration designs, and recommendations for next steps

Partnerships

Partnerships are essential to all effective restoration efforts. WRP will seek planning input and participation from the nine coastal communities within the study area, as well as various government agencies and regional environmental groups including Mass Audubon, Eight Towns and the Bay, Great Marsh Coalition, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Trustees of Reservations, Ipswich and Parker River Watershed Associations, Essex County Mosquito Control, MA Division of Marine Fisheries, MA ACEC Program, MA River Restore Program, and MA Office of Transportation. Project feasibility assessments and implementation efforts that follow plan completion will also involve the above partners as well as additional agencies that may include the MA DEP Bureau of Resource Protection, US Army Corps of Engineers, US Natural Resources Conservation Service, NOAA Restoration Center, MA Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership, and other federal Coastal America partners.

Plan Implementation

Building on existing studies and input from communities and habitat experts, the Great Marsh Aquatic Habitat Restoration Plan will serve as a valuable resource for the advancement of important restoration projects. The plan, however, is only the first step toward project implementation. Follow-through by area communities and restoration partners is critical to restoration success. Thus, a key need exists for active and consistent participation by one or more regional organizations throughout the planning process and especially after the plan is released to foster project development activities and to assist with implementation. The ideal post-plan vision is one of a self-sustaining, long-term effort that is locally driven by communities and organizations. With the support of state and federal resources, these partners can pursue priority restoration projects through to completion. WRP will work with the communities and other restoration partners to help make that vision a reality for the Great Marsh region.