Salt Marsh Project | Mass Audubon

Lessoning Loosestrife

Invasive Species

Endicott Wildlife Sanctuary

Vegetation

Massachusetts Audubon scientists are leading efforts to monitor the vegetation of salt marshes over time, particularly where the Phragmites are growing. We are interested in finding out if the Phragmites are spreading in the salt marsh. If this is the case, we are curious about how fast Phragmites are growing and whether the height of vegetation is impacted by different salinity (salt content) levels.

Vegetacion

Los científicos de Audubon en Massachusetts están dirigiendo la labor para monitorear la vegetación de los pantanos salados a largo plazo, particularmente en lugares donde crece la caña común. El objetivo de la investigación es averiguar si la caña común se está propagando en el pantano salado. Si este fuera el caso, se desea saber con qué rapidez crece la caña común y si la altura de la vegetación se ve afectada por distintos niveles de salinidad .

For suggestions on saltmarsh restoration:
Phragmites: Controlling The All-Too-Common Common Reed
by Ralph Tiner for Wetlands Restoration and Banking Program
read...

Caña común: El control de la Caña común
Preparado por: Ralph Tiner, Científico especializado en tierras pantanosas,
Programa de restauración de tierras pantanosas de Massachusetts
Con fotografías y leyendas añadidas por Elizabeth B. Duff
read...

Analysis:

Wetlands Article: pp. 544-557 | Abstract | PDF (515K)
Changes in Salt Marsh Vegetation, Phragmites Australis, and Nekton in Response to Increased Tidal Flushing in a New England Salt Marsh - Robert N. Buchsbaum, John Catena, Eric Hutchins, and Mary-Jane James-Pirri

Data Collected:
You can download files as stuffed Microsoft Excel spreadsheets (requires free StuffIt Expander) or Adobe Acrobat PDFs (requires Acrobat Reader).

I need help with downloading files

Year Study Began on this Site	Participating School	Location	Restricted? Restored?	View As...
1998	Danvers: Essex Agricultural and Technical High School, Holten Richmond Middle School	Osram Sylvania in Danvers, MA	Tidal restriction and berm. Not restored.	PDF	Map	Excel
2004	Dorchester/Milton	Harbor School, Dorchester, MA	Filled marsh, fill removal completed April 2005	PDF	Map	Excel
2003	East Boston: Excel Academy Charter School	Belle Isle Marsh, East Boston, MA	No	PDF	Map	Excel
1998	Essex: Essex Elementary and Middle School	Conomo Point Road, Essex, MA	Tidal Restriction restored November 2000	PDF	Map	Excel
2005	Gloucester: Maritime Heritage Essex Agriculture	Wingersheek Beach, Gloucester, MA	Berm	PDF	Map	Excel
1998	Gloucester: O'Maley School	Mill Pond, Gloucester, MA	Tidal restriction. Site flooded when board placed on tidegates spring 2003, killing marsh plants. Tide gates opened beginning spring 2004.	PDF	Map	Excel
2000	Gloucester: St. Mel's School Natick: Home Schoolers	Eastern Point, Gloucester, MA	Tidal restriction restored November 2003.	PDF	Map	Excel
1996	Ipswich: Ipswich High School (site 1)	Town Farm Road, Ipswich, MA	Tidal Restriction restored spring 2005.	PDF	Map	Excel
1999	Ipswich: Ipswich High School (site 2)	Littleneck Road, Ipswich, MA	Tidal Restriction; culvert collapsed in spring 2000, ponding killed marsh plants. New culvert put in Spring 2001.	PDF	Map	Excel
1997	Ipswich: MAS and NMFS Scientists	Argilla Road, Ipswich, MA	Tidal Restriction Restored Fall 1998	PDF	Map	Not Available
1999	Ipswich: The Proctor School (Topsfield)	Cedar Point, Ipswich, MA	Tidal Restriction Phase 1 restored Spring 2000	PDF	Map	Excel
2001	Newbury: Newbury Elementary School Newburyport: Rupert A. Nock Middle School, Northern Essex Community College	Parker River National Wildlife Refuge: North Pool	Restricted, may be restored in the future.	PDF	Map	Excel
1998	Newburyport: Rupert A. Nock Middle School, River Valley Charter School	Joppa Flats, Newburyport, MA	Fill removal restoration and panne creation 1999. Small tidal restriction not restored.	PDF	Map	Excel
2006	Outward Bound	Thompson Island, Boston, MA	Rocks impede tidal flow. Removed August 2007.	PDF	Map	Excel
2001	Revere: Revere High School	Revere, MA		PDF	Map	Excel
1998	Rockport: Rockport Middle School	Saratoga Creek, Rockport, MA	Storm drain sediments removed; panne creation Sp. 1999. Seaview St. tidal restriction restored Fall 2003.	PDF	Map	Excel
1996	Rowley: Pine Grove School	Batchelder's Landing, Rowley, MA	Unrestricted site (reference site)	PDF	Map	Excel
2002	Salem: Collins Middle School	Forest River, Salem, MA	Restricted. Some Phragmites removed January 2003.	PDF	Map	Excel
2001 only	Salisbury: Salisbury Elementary School	Old County Road, Salisbury	Restricted	PDF	Map	Excel
1998	Salisbury: Salisbury Memorial Elementary School	Railrod bed off Mudnock Road	Tidal Restriction Transects are downstream of restriction. Downstream transects flooded by closed tidegate killing downstream plants in spring 2004. Site washed out in spring 2005.	PDF	Map	Excel
2001	Wellfleet:	Herring River	Restricted	PDF	Map	Excel
1999	Wellfleet: Massachusetts Audubon Sanctuary	Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary/Herring River	Unrestricted	PDF	Map	Excel

If you'd like to collect data in your community:

(1) Print out the data form (requires free StuffIt Expander)

(2) Send the completed form to:

Elizabeth B. Duff, Coastal Educator/Education Coordinator
Massachusetts Audubon Society
346 Grapevine Rd.
Wenham, MA 01984
lduff@massaudubon.org