Salinity Results & Data

As part of Mass Audubon’s Salt Marsh Science Project, scientists and students have been measuring the salinity (salt content) of water at different depths to learn whether Phragmites distribution within the salt marsh is controlled by ground water (water deep below the ground surface that is the source of well and spring water) or interstitial salinity (water just below the ground surface from the tide).

Salinidad

Como parte de Marsh Science Project Sal de Mass Audubon, científicos y estudiantes han estado midiendo la salinidad (contenido de sal) de agua a diferentes profundidades para conocer si la distribución Phragmites dentro de la marisma es controlado por el agua subterránea (agua muy por debajo de la superficie del suelo es la fuente de pozo y agua de manantial) o la salinidad intersticial (agua justo por debajo de la superficie del suelo de la marea).

Resources

View analysis resources >

Data

With the help participating students, we have been collecting data on salinity as it relates to salt marshes in coastal Massachusetts since 1996. Please note that not all sites are monitored each year—the date range indicates the start date and the most recent year data was collected.

Location

Years Monitored

Participating Schools & Groups

Restricted?Restored?

Map

Graphs Only

Graphs & Database in Excel

Boston, MA Thompson Island 2006-2008 Outward Bound Rocks impede tidal flow. Removed August 2007.
thommap 328.11 kB
thomwell 31.87 kB
thomwell 24.07 kB
Byfield, MA, 2008, 2015 Governor's Academy Restricted Sites in 2008, Reference in 2015 Governor's Academy Map
byfiwell 177.37 kB
byfiwell 21.01 kB
Danvers, MA, Behind Mass General North Shore, (Formerly Osram Sylvania) 1998-2015 Danvers: Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical High School, Holten Richmond Middle School Tidal restriction and berm.
Not restored.
Danvers Map
danvwell 254.42 kB
danvwell 185.56 kB
Dorchester, Milton MA, Neponset Marsh 2004-2009 UMass Boston

Filled marsh.

Fill removal completed April 2005.

Neponset Map
nepowell 22.97 kB
nepowell 22.51 kB
East Boston, MA, Belle Isle Marsh 2004-2005 East Boston: Excel Academy Charter School No Belle Isle Map
beliwell 20.96 kB
beliwell 7.26 kB
Essex, MA, Conomo Point Road, 1998-2015 Essex: Essex Elementary and Middle School Tidal Restriction restored November 2000
essemap 311.54 kB
essewell 306.25 kB
essewell 137.86 kB
Gloucester, MA, Eastern Point 2000-2015 Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School,  Natick Home Schoolers, St. Mel's School in Gloucester Tidal Restriction restored November 2003
glepmap 862.93 kB
glepwell 343.71 kB
glepwell 136.51 kB
Gloucester, MA, Mill Pond 1998-2015 Gloucester: O'Maley Innovation Middle School Tidal Restriction -
Site flooded when board placed on tide gates spring 2003, killing marsh plants.
Tide gates opened beginning spring 2004.
gloumap 191.80 kB
glouwell 304.86 kB
glouwell 107.58 kB
Gloucester, MA, Wingersheek Beach 2005-2007 Gloucester: Maritime Heritage Essex Agriculture Berm Wingersheek Beach Map
wingwell 10.63 kB
wingwell 10.13 kB
Ipswich, MA, Argilla Road 1997-2002, 2005 Ipswich: Mass Audubon and NMFS Scientists Tidal Restriction
Restored Fall 1998
Argilla Road Map Not Available Not Available
Ipswich, MA, Cedar Point 1999-2015 Ipswich: The Proctor School (Topsfield) Tidal Restriction
Phase 1 restored
Spring 2000
iptpmap 693.26 kB
iptpwell 267.92 kB
iptpwell 62.57 kB
Ipswich, MA, Littleneck Road 1999-2015 Ipswich: Ipswich High School (site 2) Tidal Restriction;
culvert collapsed
in spring 2000,
ponding killed marsh
plants. New culvert
put in Spring 2001.
Ipswich Map 2
ips2well 165.30 kB
ips2well 91.45 kB
Ipswich, MA, Town Farm Road 1996-2015 Ipswich: Ipswich High School (site 1) Tidal Restriction
restored spring 2005
ips1map 1.04 MB
ips1well 247.71 kB
ips1well 307.99 kB
Newburyport, MA, Joppa Flats 1998-2015 Newburyport: Rupert A. Nock Middle School, River Valley Charter School Fill removal restoration
and Panne creation
1999. Small tidal
restriction not restored.
nbptmap 525.49 kB
nbptwell 285.61 kB
nbptwell 152.58 kB
Revere, MA 2001 Revere: Revere High School  
reveremap 733.93 kB
revewell 9.33 kB
revewell 17.16 kB
Rockport, MA, Saratoga Creek & Seaview Street 1998-2015 Rockport: Rockport Middle School Storm drain sediments removed, panne
creation Sp. 1999.
Seaview St. tidal
restriction restored
fall 2003.
rockmap 792.32 kB
rockwell 277.48 kB
rockwell 104.52 kB
Rowley, MA, Batchelder's Landing 1996-2015 Rowley: Pine Grove School Unrestricted site
(reference site)
rowlmap 653.41 kB
rowlwell 255.20 kB
rowlwell 156.38 kB
Rowley, MA, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge: North Pool 2001-2015 River Valley Charter School,  Newbury Elementary School, Rupert A. Nock Middle School, Northern Essex Community College, Gulf of Maine Institute Yes, may be
restored in the future
refumap 858.74 kB
refuwell 429.42 kB
refuwell 305.50 kB
Salem, MA, Forest River 2003-2015 Salem: Collins Middle School Restricted. Some Phragmites removed January 2003.
salmmap 717.67 kB
salmwell 269.71 kB
salmwell 159.70 kB
Salisbury, MA, Old County Road 2001 only Salisbury: Salisbury Elementary School Restricted Not Available
socrwell 23.47 kB
socrwell 6.47 kB
Salisbury, MA Railroad bed/Bike path  off Mudnock Road 1998-2015 Salisbury: Salisbury Memorial Elementary School Tidal Restriction Transects are downstream of restriction. Downstream transects flooded by closed tide gate, killing downstream plants in spring 2004 Site washed out in spring 2005.
salimap 205.60 kB
saliwell 159.94 kB
saliwell 64.27 kB
Wellfleet, MA, Herring River 2001-2002 Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School Restricted Herring River Map
wherwell 48.88 kB
wherwell 12.30 kB
Wellfleet, MA, Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary 1999 Wellfleet: Mass Audubon Unrestricted Wellfleet Map
welfwell 14.58 kB
welfwell 50.14 kB

Analysis Resources

Changes in Salt Marsh Vegetation, Phragmites Australis, and Nekton in Response to Increased Tidal Flushing in a New England Salt Marsh

 

Get Involved

If you'd like to collect data in your community contact us.