South Shore Region

MassBays' South Shore region encompasses nine communities from Cohasset to Plymouth, including six within the North and South Rivers watershed. The North River was the first designated scenic river in Massachusetts. It is a tidal river home to river herring.The South River is a 15-mile river flows through Duxbury and Marshfield, and is a tidal estuary to the first dam, 8.8 miles from Massachusetts Bay. The South River has an active river herring run as well as pockets of isolated Eastern brook trout in headwater tributaries. The region is characterized by extensive beaches and marshes, frequented by wildlife watchers and recreational boaters. A thriving shellfishing industry characterizes some of the towns including Duxbury.

Regional Coordination

The North and South Rivers Watershed Association (NSRWA) is MassBays' South Shore Regional Service Provider. NSRWA's mission is to preserve, restore, maintain and conserve in their natural state, the waters and related natural resources within the watershed. NSRWA's Watershed Ecologist Sara Grady, PhD serves as Regional Coordinator, and works with local partners to: 

• Expand temporal and spatial extent of open shellfish beds
• Improve continuity and habitat quality in freshwater and estuarine systems
• Restore and protect diadromous fish habitat to help rebuild threatened fish populations
• Manage impacts of invasive species to intertidal habitats
• Improve local understanding and acceptance of the potential impacts of climate change and sea level rise on ecosystems

 

Additional Resources

North and South Rivers Watershed Association

Contact

Sara Grady, Ph.D.
MassBays South Shore Regional Coordinator
North and South Rivers Watershed Association
P.O. Box 43, Norwell, MA 02061
[phone] 
[e-mail]