Great Marsh News and Events

The following announcements highlight some of the exciting activities and events happening in the Great Marsh region. This page is updated periodically.

An expanding program of NGO-sponsored and citizen-based monitoring programs has collected data on the spring upstream spawning runs of river herring in the Great Marsh and the North Coastal Watershed, Essex County Massachusetts. Monitoring began with the Parker River in 1997 and now includes the Essex, Ipswich. Little and Saugus Rivers. After reviewing the biology and historic use of river herring, this recently released report summarizes the data that have been collected. Despite some modest efforts at restoration, it appears that population levels are much below historic levels and well below the production capacity of the spawning habitats of the lakes and ponds of these river systems. More study is needed to determine the apparent decline of river herring in the Great Marsh and on the North Shore.

Download the report at RiverHerring.org

A recently issued study on the regional economic impact of the Great Marsh concludes that the marsh contributes 5.3 million dollars to the region's economy. The study examines shellfishing, agriculture, recreational boating, fishing and beach industries.

(Requires Adobe Reader 4.0 or higher, click to download).

The Great Marsh is now highlighted on the Essex Natural Heritage Area web site and includes information on places to visit in the Great Marsh area.

Visit the Essex Natural Heritage Area Web Site.

The Marine Resources of the Parker River-Plum Island Sound Estuary: An Update after 30 Years

"From 1963 through the mid 1970s, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) produced monographs on seventeen estuaries along the Massachusetts coast. Each monograph was based on one year of field study that focused on the physical characteristics, water quality, and fish and shellfish resources of the estuary. The reports also contained important historical information on the fisheries supported by each estuary, sometimes dating back to colonial times. This report re-examines and updates the 1968 Parker River-Plum Island Sound monograph."

Available at the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management Web Site.

Available to all: Great Marsh car decals and postcards. The car decal features the Great Marsh logo (below) and is free. To order, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the address below. Please specify how many decals you want; there is a limit of five decals per envelope.

Great Marsh Car Decal

Massachusetts Audubon Society

346 Grapevine Road • Wenham, MA 01984

Postcards and decals are also available free throughout the Great Marsh Region, they can be found at the following locations (partial list):

Old Town Bread Co., Rowley

Salt Marsh Antiques, Rowley

Newburyport Chamber of Commerce

Middle Street Foods, Newburyport

The Birdwatcher of Newburyport

One of a series of four postcards celebrating the Great Marsh

The Eight Towns and the Bay Committee (8T&B), a Local Governance Committee for the Massachusetts Bays Program, is proud to announce the availability of Voices of the Great Marsh. This short video documentary (14 minutes) presents a compelling portrait of the Great Marsh, through the voices of local elders and current activists who are working to protect it. Through a blend of personal interviews, archival material, and present-day marsh footage, the 8T&B Committee aims to leave the viewer with a greater appreciation for this ecosystem, its significance to our natural and cultural heritage, and the relationship over time between this resource and its human neighbors. Viewers will be instilled with a desire to help protect the resources for future generations.

Copies of the video are available for $10.00 (plus $2.00 shipping). To order a copy or for more information, contact Peter Phippen, Coastal Resources Coordinator, Eight Towns and the Bay at (978) 374-0519 or email Peter by clicking the video jacket below. Proceeds from the sale of the video allow for free copies to be distributed to local educators.