Downtown Landscapes Introduction

Ecosystem Value

Downtown Landscapes include the city centers and village cores of each municipality on Cape Ann. Anthropogenic development in the form of downtowns, large-lot housing, or rural communities are not typically classified scientifically as ecosystems. Yet, human habitats across Cape Ann have a significant impact on Beach, Marsh, and Forest Landscapes and can be analyzed comparatively.

The region’s Downtown Landscapes are located within diverse ecological landscapes, which have been utilized historically for their ecosystem services. This proximity has enabled several industries to thrive, including commercial fishing, agriculture, mining, and timber harvesting. The geologic conditions across Cape Ann have shaped development patterns in the region. The shallow bedrock, amount of ledge, and rocky soil offer limited areas for building and road sites, initially resulting in consolidated settlement patterns.

Communities across Cape Ann are connected to the surrounding landscape and are actively involved
in its stewardship.

“Families that have lived in these communities for generations are fiercely loyal and dedicated to preserving their cultural and family traditions.”—Dr. Catherine Matassa, University of Connecticut¹

Cape Ann faces several development challenges in achieving a balance between human habitation and the preservation and utilization of ecosystem services.

Current Challenges

One of the most pressing issues facing Cape Ann’s Downtown Landscapes is coastal and inland flooding. Significant portions of each community lie within the FEMA floodplain, including 1,392 residential structures, with an estimated total value of $3,759,116,189.² These numbers are expected to rise. A third of the properties in Essex will be in a flood hazard zone by 2070. In addition to residential flooding, many commercial and industrial structures are in the flood zone, and several culturally significant areas are at risk. Bearskin Neck is located within FEMA Zone VE (coastal flood zone), with a one percent or greater chance of flooding and an additional hazard associated with storm waves. The businesses along Front Street are in FEMA Zones AO (flood depths of one to three feet) and VE (coastal flood zone), making Rockport’s ocean-facing downtown area extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise and storm surge.³ Manchester-by-the-Sea’s Village Core has flooded frequently in the past. Coastal flooding impacts low-lying areas adjacent to the coast with inadequate drainage due to soils that do not infiltrate, undersized culverts and channelized streambeds, and filled wetlands.⁴

In addition to flooding, Cape Ann’s downtowns have declining tree canopies, which contributes to urban heat island effect.⁵ The urban heat island effect refers to urbanized areas that experience higher temperatures due to buildings and roads that absorb and re-emit the sun’s heat more than forests or water bodies.⁶ Trees reduce this effect and also help improve energy efficiency for buildings, reduce air pollution, mitigate pollutants in stormwater, and sequester carbon. Each municipality’s downtown tree cover has changed in different ways over time and are currently at varying levels of health. They largely suffer from a lack of diversity, disease, and
invasive species. Different tree species have varying tolerances and responses to these stressors, so a diverse canopy can help ensure that some trees survive and thrive even if others are affected. Furthermore, diverse canopies contribute to overall ecosystem health and functioning by promoting nutrient cycling, soil stability, and water retention. Rockport’s urban tree canopy is especially at risk. The most dominant trees in Rockport are the non-native Norway maple, which are reaching the end of their lifetime. Rockport’s canopy has been further affected by Spongy moth and drier summers that have increased stress on trees, weakening larger trees, particularly oak species.⁷

Housing costs have emerged as a significant concern, especially in Gloucester, where a growing low-income workforce supports the tourism and fishing industries. There are ongoing debates over balancing development to address the housing shortage, desired population density, and open space preservation.⁸ At the same time, development trends on Cape Ann have shifted toward larger homes with larger lot requirements due to the increased value of ocean living, single-family zoning restrictions, and municipal sewer limitations.⁹ This trend threatens ecological systems and reduces the amount of open space, all while providing housing for fewer people.

Flood risk, urban heat island effect, and inequitable housing costs are all felt by Cape Ann’s Environmental Justice Communities. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ Environmental Justice Policy, initially established in 2002, aims to protect lower-income people and communities of color from disproportionate exposure to environmental pollution and promotes community involvement in environmental decision-making.¹⁰ The policy defines environmental justice as “based on the principle that all people have a right to be protected from environmental hazards and to live in and enjoy a clean and healthful environment regardless of race, color, national origin, income, or English language proficiency.” According to Massachusetts’ 2022 update of the Environmental Justice Communities maps based on the latest U.S. Census data, Gloucester contains
seven block groups. Rockport contains one block group that qualifies as an environmental justice community. Rising housing costs also have the potential to contribute to environmental gentrification and displacement across Cape Ann.¹¹

The previous sections show that landscape infrastructures across Cape Ann have caused significant ecological degradation. In addition to stormwater runoff and unsustainable development patterns, the infrastructure that supports human habitation (such as transportation and wastewater infrastructure) throughout the region has caused environmental harm. A lack of ecological planning has also contributed.

Cape Ann’s wastewater systems face several challenges due to unsustainable practices and flood risk. Overflow from sewer pump stations in Downtown Rockport has been periodically released into Rockport’s Inner Harbor. The Dock Square Pump Station overflowed in 2023, other pump stations in the Downtown area at risk of
flooding are the Back Beach Pump Station and Pier Avenue Pump Station.¹² Manchester-by-the Sea’s Wastewater Treatment Plant lies directly behind the MBTA Commuter Rail Tracks in FEMA Zone AE (anticipated flood zone). The Plant is a secondary extended air treatment facility with an outfall in Massachusetts Bay 8,700 feet off Manchester Harbor. The results of storm surge that cause a spill from the treatment plant would
devastate the Harbor’s ecology.¹³ Essex conveys roughly half the town’s wastewater for treatment in Gloucester and relies on decentralized, privately owned septic systems for the rest.¹⁴ Gloucester is in the process of developing a new secondary treatment facility. Yet the center is proposed to be built in the same location as the primary center, within the FEMA flood zone.¹⁵ Flooding or spills from the plant could decimate shellfish beds and destroy fish habitat in Gloucester Harbor, exacerbating longstanding pollution issues and further contaminating the harbor ecosystem.¹⁶

Cape Ann’s eastern, most populous region has only two roads and one train track connecting it to mainland Massachusetts in the west. Additionally, multiple communities face transportation bottlenecks, often comprised of low-lying roads and bridges that flood during king tides. This poses direct threats to human safety during emergencies and could disrupt the commercial fishing industry’s supply chain and incur substantial economic costs. Holistic considerations are required to address flooding, including raising roadways and mitigation efforts.

FUTURE OPPORTUNITES

Despite these ongoing challenges, there are multiple opportunities for ecological regeneration through a variety of plans, interventions, and projects.

Cape Ann has several opportunities to balance preservation, regeneration, and development throughout the region. Building affordable housing and partnering with conservation land trusts could address urban green space limitations.¹⁷

“It is clear that Cape Ann communities and visitors value access to nature. And there is a deep concern over the loss of open space. I suggest that the Cape Ann communities and conservation organizations prioritize future land protection.”—Dr. Jonathan Thompson, Harvard Forest¹⁸

Additionally, Cape Ann can employ urban forest strategies to enhance shade and cooling, diversify street trees, and encourage tree canopy development. Through habitat creation, pollinator protection initiatives can support insects, bats, and birds. Municipal biodiversity strategies can provide guidelines for biodiversity-inclusive planning and development.

“There is lots of opportunity to broaden community involvement in both documenting climate and biodiversity issues in Cape Ann and to foster greater inclusivity overall.”—Dr. Colleen Hitchcock, Brandeis University¹⁹

Lastly, Cape Ann has the potential to utilize infrastructure risk as an opportunity to design a more ecologically sustainable system.

“Critical infrastructures at the regional scale such as power plants, water treatment facilities, major roads should be prioritized for defense, adaptation or transition to more sustainable and resilient materials and sources.”—Dr. Nina-Marie Lister, Toronto Metropolitan University²⁰

Collectively, these measures contribute to a more resilient and sustainable future for Cape Ann.

For additional information regarding Cape Ann’s Downtown Landscapes, see the Downtowns Case Study Dossier.