Marsh Initiatives: Introduction
“Eelgrass is all but gone from Cape Ann. The Annisquam is as far north as it goes. We did a restoration project on the Essex River and managed to get it to establish and become robust to the point where we were going to use it as a donor site. And clammers dug it up a couple of years ago, destroyed the whole thing.”
— Andy Lee, 2023, Arborist, Lee Tree[^AND]
This analysis explores a variety of solutions to challenges experienced in Jones River as a case study of Cape Ann's Marsh Landscapes.
Each of the potential initiatives proposed in relation to Jones River's Habitats have been organized into four scenarios:
SCENARIO 0: Imagines a future scenario in which Cape Ann's stakeholders continue acting as they currently do, and no specific interventions are pursued to support ecological health.
SCENARIO 1: Imagines a future scenario in which Cape Ann's stakeholders continue acting as they currently do, but several conventional interventions are utilized to support ecological health.
SCENARIO 2: Imagines a future scenario in which Cape Ann's stakeholders collaborate to pursue progressive interventions to support ecological restoration.
Restoration: Guide Change
Intervening in landscapes to repair human-caused damage while respecting other species' autonomy
SCENARIO 3: Imagines a future scenario in which Cape Ann's stakeholders undertake systemic chance to pursue innovative interventions towards ecological adaptation.
Adaptation: Meet Change
Landscapes are on a trajectory to meet changes in conditions with human management and monitoring.
Scenarios
The landscape initiatives proposed require the support and collaboration of various stakeholder groups. Decisions toward collective and individual action are nuanced. As a result, the collection of landscape initiatives is not prescriptive, but rather, provides a menu of potential actions. The research serves as a catalyst for continued discussion and debate.
Each Infrastructure scenario is explored through case studies, technical details, and additional resources.
Click the links below to access the research documents.
Marsh hydrology segmented by transportation infrastructure along Highway 128. Photo: Google Street View, 2019.
Transportation Infrastructure: Primary System
SCENARIO 0
business as usual
no interventions
Highway continues to prevent hydrological exchange, segmenting and degrading ecosystems. During major storm events, the highway floods preventing evacuation and access to emergency services. The main electrical truck line is compromised.
SCENARIO 1
business as usual
conventional interventions
PUNCTURE: Large culverts are installed to restore hydrology.
Shellfish are seeded
along remaining
causeway.
PROTECT: Flood walls
are constructed to
mitigate flooding and the truck line is secured.
SCENARIO 2
stakeholder collaboration
progressive collaboration
ELEVATE: Segments of highway and trunk line
are elevated. Runoff pollution is contained
and distributed into the wastewater system. Connections to
secondary roads are redesigned.
SCENARIO 3
systemic change
innovative interventions
UTILIZE: The elevation project is utilized to regenerate marsh landscapes, increase public access, and generate energy.
Long Wharf Flooded at High Tide. Photo: MyCoast, 2019.
Transportation Infrastructure: Secondary System
SCENARIO 0
business as usual
no interventions
Roads prevent ecological migration causing loss of high marsh habitat and disruption of marine species life cycles. Flooding prevents evacuation and access
to emergency services.
SCENARIO 1
business as usual
conventional interventions
INFORM: Residents are informed of risk and able
to prepare.
REPAIR: Culverts are repaired or installed to improve hydrology.
MAINTAIN: Maintenance plan includes impervious surface conversion.
SCENARIO 2
stakeholder collaboration
progressive collaboration
MITIGATE: Roads are divided, elevated, or fortified to restrict floodwaters and facilitate marsh migration.
SCENARIO 3
systemic change
innovative interventions
RELOCATE: Causeway Street is removed, adjacent buildings are relocated, and traffic is redirected through existing streets. An alternate route is provided for Atlantic Street and access to properties are reoriented.
Lawn and road runoff from Atlantic Street flows into the adjacent marsh. Photo: Google Street View, 2019.
Wastewater Infrastructure: Runoff Prevention
SCENARIO 0
business as usual
no interventions
Lawns and road water runoff continues to
pollute marsh landscapes leading to habitat loss.
SCENARIO 1
business as usual
conventional interventions
ENCOURAGE:
Individual homeowners
are encouraged to reduce chemical use and transform lawn and impervious surfaces
into landscapes that
retain and filter water.
SCENARIO 2
stakeholder collaboration
progressive collaboration
MITIGATE: Vegetative buffers and bioswale networks are planted between development
and marsh landscapes
to reduce runoff pollution.
SCENARIO 3
systemic change
innovative interventions
REGULATE: Advocate
for regulations within the Annisquam River Marsh Watershed.
Homes along the marsh typically have private septic systems. Photo: OFU Team, 2024.
Wastewater Infrastructure: Household Systems
SCENARIO 0
business as usual
no interventions
Individual septic tanks
fail due to rising groundwater and flooding. Improperly functioning systems contribute to pollution degrading
marsh landscapes.
SCENARIO 1
business as usual
conventional interventions
MANAGE: Individual systems are monitored. Owners are informed of risks. Services to repair systems are made available.
SCENARIO 2
stakeholder collaboration
progressive collaboration
EXPLORE: Alternative systems are tested and utilized such as elevated tanks, constructed wetlands, and contained treatment products.
SCENARIO 3
systemic change
innovative interventions
CLUSTER: Collective systems are explored
as an alternative solution and development model. Systems are managed regionally.
Flooding along Lobster Cove. Photo: MyCoast, 2024.
Habitation Infrastructure: Private Structures
SCENARIO 0
business as usual
no interventions
Regular flooding causes structural damage resulting in substantial individual financial burdens. Shoreline hardening accentuates erosion.
SCENARIO 1
business as usual
conventional interventions
INFORM: Residents are informed of risk
and able to prepare.
REGULATE: Regulations prevent future development in the
marsh. Moratorium is placed on shoreline hardening.
SCENARIO 2
stakeholder collaboration
progressive collaboration
TRANSFER:
Mechanisms incentivize homeowners to transfer ownership.
ELEVATE: Structures
are elevated in response
to sea-level rise.
SCENARIO 3
systemic change
innovative interventions
RELOCATE: Residential structures are removed, and residents are relocated. Berms, dams, and jetties are unbuilt. Marsh is restored.
Ditches in marsh along Jones River. Photo: OFU Team, 2024.
Ecological Infrastructure: Hydrology Restoration
SCENARIO 0
business as usual
no interventions
Marsh ditches accentuate erosion. Streams remain segmented limiting hydrology.
SCENARIO 1
business as usual
conventional interventions
MAINTAIN: Nonprofits
are supported in their efforts to fill ditches on preserved land. Existing stream restoration
projects are pursued.
SCENARIO 2
stakeholder collaboration
progressive collaboration
RECONNECT: Historic tidal and freshwater
flows are reconnected
and daylighted. Dredging
is minimized.
SCENARIO 3
systemic change
innovative interventions
FACILITATE: Collaborative teams restore ditches on public and private land and monitor progress.
Phragmites along Atlantic Street. Photo: Google Earth Street View, 2019.
Ecological Infrastructure: Native Species
SCENARIO 0
business as usual
no interventions
Phragmites and Blue
Crab continue to take
over, leading to the loss
of other species.
SCENARIO 1
business as usual
conventional interventions
MAINTAIN: Remove Phragmites stands annually. The species will continue to return unless hydrology is restored.
SCENARIO 2
stakeholder collaboration
progressive collaboration
CONSUME: Green crab fishery is supported and use is encouraged in local restaurants.
MITIGATE: Cutting treatments are utilized to eradicate Phragmites.
SCENARIO 3
systemic change
innovative interventions
RESTORE: Restoration of hydrology through other initiatives in the scenario contribute to Phragmites eradication.
Marsh closed to shellfishing seasonally due to pollution. Photo: Google Earth Street View, 2019.
Ecological Infrastructure: Habitat and Species Restoration
SCENARIO 0
business as usual
no interventions
Habitats are not able
to restore themselves
in response to climate change and human intervention. Species
are lost.
SCENARIO 1
business as usual
conventional interventions
MONITOR: By annual surveys are conducted.
FUND: Existing
restoration projects are pursued.
SCENARIO 2
stakeholder collaboration
progressive collaboration
FACILITATE:
Collaborate to create management plan and organize interventions including seeding vegetation and constructing shellfish
beds and mussel reefs.
SCENARIO 3
systemic change
innovative interventions
REGENERATE: Stakeholders advocate
to serve as a pilot for innovative strategies
such as sediment
deposits for elevation
and floating habitats.
Marsh landscape along the Annisquam has limited public accessibility. Photo: OFU Team, 2024.
Cultural Infrastructure: Landscape Access
SCENARIO 0
business as usual
no interventions
Public awareness of
marsh risk stagnates.
Less people advocate
for marsh landscapes. Local ecological knowledge is lost.
SCENARIO 1
business as usual
conventional interventions
INFORM: Existing
events and tours of
marsh landscapes are supported and
promoted.
SCENARIO 2
stakeholder collaboration
progressive collaboration
ENGAGE: Citizen scientists are engaged. Signage marks watersheds, habitats,
and ongoing initiatives.
SCENARIO 3
systemic change
innovative interventions
INVITE: Physical infrastructure increases access while protecting ecosystems.
Example
“Gross pollution in the Annisquam River-Gloucester Harbor area has been, and continues to be, a factor affecting marine resources utilization. As in other coastal areas, tidal waters have been utilized for deposition of industrial and domestic sewage wastes.”
— William C. Jerome, Jr. Arthur P. Chesmore, and Charles O. Anderson, Jr., 1969, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries1
Civil society will decide which initiatives are pursued across Cape Ann's Marsh Landscapes and Jones River. This research includes a spatial example based on a series of probable decisions. The following drawings are not prescriptive but rather provide a visual reference for future conversation.
Phasing
“There's a real warming trend in the Gulf of Maine. The Gulf of Maine is one of the oceans warming the fastest. And one of the consequences of that, is species that were formerly in the biogeographic boundary south of us are now entering Plum Island marsh.”
— Anne Giblin, 2023, Marine Biologist at the Marine Biological Laboratorys2
There are several ways that the initiatives can be prioritized and pursued. The phasing outline serves as an initial guide.
While each infrastructure type was studied separately, they are interrelated. Some decisions are connected and would benefit from being made together. For example, having a collective plan that outlines how private structures will address floodplain flooding along with household wastewater systems, ensures that efforts to benefit one will not harm another.
When pursuing several innovative projects at a large scale, it is important to plan an "early win" to build trust with the community and investors. Along Jones River, the pursuit of stream restoration projects would create momentum that can be built on.
Additionally, interventions that are relatively new to the area or the community has expressed concern about could benefit from a pilot project that serves as a proof of concept. Pursuing Vegetative Buffer and Shellfish Bed Pilot Projects has the potential to demonstrate the effectiveness of more innovative interventions.
The most innovative interventions, largely outlined in Scenario 3, should not be viewed as a final phase. Decisions to work towards initiatives such as elevating Highway 128, relocating residential structures, or creating collaborative teams to restore marsh ditches need to be addressed sooner rather than later, or they will no longer be sufficient solutions to meet existing challenges.
Region
“One of the limiting factors with the restoration of the river herring run is the lack of water. It is because that watershed is part of the drinking water system in Gloucester. When they withdraw too much water during springtime, there simply isn't enough water to allow fish to swim upstream.”
— Eric Hutchins, 2023, NOAA Habitat Restoration Biologist3
While this study focused on the Annisquam Marsh and potential projects throughout Jones River, many initiatives proposed are applicable to Marsh Landscapes throughout Cape Ann.
The following maps illustrate where some of the projects proposed are relevant.
Vegetative Buffers
Marsh Ditches
Shellfish Reefs
Seed Marsh Species
CONCLUSION
If Cape Ann’s ecosystems are simply preserved or left alone, the region will experience marine decline, beach erosion, marsh loss, forest degradation, destroyed infrastructure, and increasing inequity.
Conservation efforts on Cape Ann have focused on place-based species methods. Stakeholders and active management groups on Cape Ann are complex. Each has its own relationship with the landscape, with unique interests, priorities, and agency to act. As a result, ecological intervention throughout the region has been segmented.
Moving forward, efforts to support Regenerative Landscapes must move beyond conservation to adaptation. Deliberate planning, design, and management of landscapes is required to address climate change challenges and ecological degradation. While the initiatives described here imply transformations in the built environment, there are also several shifts in governance required.
Continuing to segment ecosystems by municipality and pursuing one project at a time is not feasible to keep pace with existing degradation due to a lack of resource optimization, counteracting efforts, and unforeseen effects. Yet, creating and implementing a single comprehensive ecological restoration plan for the region is also not plausible due to funding availability and time constraints.
Future actions must balance singular, actionable projects with larger studies and planning efforts to utilize disparate actors’ capacity while fostering collective action.
This research has analyzed Cape Ann's existing landscapes, the challenges they face, and a menu of solutions that aim to
preserve and enhance the region for the existing community and future generations.