Overview
In September 2022, MassDEP Wetlands Program, in coordination with MA Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), convened an Interagency Coastal Wetlands Climate Resilience Workgroup to consider challenges for coastal restoration and climate resilience efforts (e.g., knowledge gaps, review/approval timeframes, etc.) and to identify opportunities to improve review and permitting processes while ensuring adequate resource protection. The workgroup’s initial scope focused on various salt marsh restoration approaches and other activities proposed in salt marshes, but has expanded to include other relevant topics such as shoreline protection projects and retired/abandoned cranberry bog restoration.
Interagency workgroup efforts leverage the work of other leading practitioners in the field. For example, Gaining Ground: Defining Priority Research for Resilient Salt Marshes (March 2022), a report developed by the Salt Marsh Working Group co-led by CZM and UMass Amherst Gloucester Marine Station, is a key resource identifying the scientific knowledge gaps/research needs for salt marsh restoration.
This webpage will provide updates on the interagency workgroup’s progress. As it considers key issues and develops draft proposals, the interagency workgroup will host periodic stakeholder/public workshops to engage in dialogue and get input on key issues/proposals. (See Workshop Schedule and Materials section for more information.)
Need
Healthy salt marshes provide valuable ecosystem services by protecting the shoreline from harmful coastal storms, filtering pollutants, providing habitat for fish, shellfish, and marine birds, and sequestering carbon. Salt marshes are increasingly threatened by multiple stressors including sea level rise, storm surge, excessive nutrient runoff, sediment starvation, die back, crab herbivory, invasive species, and public and private development. Some areas of salt marsh are experiencing increased periods of inundation, excessive drainage, subsidence, and slumping. The salt marsh sparrow is currently at risk of extinction. Increasing interest in restoration and other projects to combat salt marsh loss have spurred questions about how the current regulatory framework accommodates such proposals and where there may be need for streamlining permitting.
Participating Entities of Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
- Wetlands Program (Boston)
- Northeast Region Wetlands Section
- Southeast Region Wetlands Section
- Chapter 91 Waterways Program (Boston)
- Office of General Counsel
- Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM)
- Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game (DFG)
- Division of Ecological Restoration (DER)
- Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF)
- Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW)
- Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office (MEPA)
- EEA Climate Team
- EEA Office of Water Policy
Information Session Schedule and Materials
Workshop 1: Draft Salt Marsh Restoration Guidance: Runnels, Ditch Remediation, Marsh Islands
- Date/Time: November 16, 2023 at 2:00pm - 4:00pm
- Format: Virtual via Zoom: Please use the link below to register for the session. Registration is required. This workshop is open to stakeholders and the public.
Workshop Materials
Agenda:
- Overview of MassDEP climate resilience portfolio and Interagency Workgroup scope
- Presentation of draft guidance to facilitate salt marsh restoration activities involving runnels, ditch remediation and marsh islands under existing regulations
- Stakeholder and public Q&A / input / comments
- Comments on the Draft Guidance are due Wednesday, December 6 and may be submitted via the Contact section of the webpage or, if a Word document is preferred, by email attachment to Christina.Y.Wu@mass.gov
Other Resources
Interagency Coastal Wetlands Climate Resilience Work Group – Annual Report #1 (Link to follow once finalized.)