By JOHN CATENA
May 1998: A unique partnership has been formed to restore approximately 20 acres of tidally-restricted salt marsh in Ipswich. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has teamed up with the Town of Ipswich Department of Public Works (DPW), Massachusetts Audubon Society, The Trustees of Reservations, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to restore salt marsh on Argilla Road at the Crane Memorial Reservation, adjacent to Castle Hill in Ipswich. This site was identified as a high priority restoration site in the 8T&B-funded Tidal Crossings Inventory and Assessment Report, carried out by the Parker River Clean Water Association last year.
An inadequately-sized culvert under Argilla Road restricts tidal flow upstream of the road. This restricted tidal flow has changed the characteristics of the marsh, which is most evident by the different vegetation types upstream of the road. Much of the upstream marsh is drier and has allowed the spread of common reed (Phragmites australis), which has replaced much of the natural salt marsh vegetation. Because of the lack of tidal flow, fish and certain species of birds no longer have access to many portions of the marsh surface, an important feeding and spawning area.
Construction for the project is now tentatively scheduled for November 1998. The current plan is to replace the existing 32-inch culvert with a five-foot high by eight-foot wide concrete box culvert. Spring high tides are expected to rise by over two feet and should inundate over 15 acres of Phragmites during twice-monthly spring tides. Completion of the project will provide a significant increase in available habitat for both estuarine plant and animal species. Other important benefits include an opportunity to educate the public about restoration, and to offer techniques to local communities to sponsor similar projects.
Most of the direct project costs and management staff are being funded by a grant from the NMFS Restoration Center and the Fish America Foundation. The project is also receiving critical in-kind support from the Town of Ipswich, NRCS, The Trustees of Reservations, Massachusetts Audubon Society and Wetlands Restoration and Banking Program (see sidebar). Volunteers are participating in the monitoring and sampling activities. Special thanks are especially due to Armand Michaud, Ipswich DPW Director, for generously donating his time and equipment to make this project possible.
Schools, Landowners, Watershed Groups Interested in Restoring Wetlands?
The Massachusetts Wetlands Restoration and Banking Program (WRBP), part of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, has established the GROWetlands (Groups Restoring Our Wetlands) initiatives to support citizens' efforts to restore coastal or inland wetlands. These projects can be sponsored by anyone, and a GROWetlands site becomes part of a statewide network of restoration projects.
