Vegetation Results & Data

Mass Audubon scientists are leading efforts to monitor the vegetation of salt marshes over time, particularly where the Phragmites are growing. Middle and high school students are helping with this monitoring through participating in Mass Audubon’s Salt Marsh Science Project. We are investigating whether Phragmites are spreading in the salt marsh, how fast Phragmites are spreading, and whether the height and spread rate is impacted by different salinity (salt content) levels.

Vegetación

Científicos Mass Audubon están liderando los esfuerzos para controlar la vegetación de las marismas en el tiempo, en particular cuando los Phragmites están creciendo. Los estudiantes de secundaria y preparatoria están ayudando con este control a través de la participación en Marsh Science Project Sal de Mass Audubon. Estamos investigando si Phragmites se están extendiendo en la marisma, la rapidez con Phragmites se están extendiendo, y si el tipo de altura y propagación se ve afectada por los diferentes niveles de salinidad (contenido de sal).

Resources

View analysis resources >

Data

With the help participating students, we have been collecting data on vegetation 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	2005-2007	Outward Bound, Wellesley	Rocks impede tidal flow. Removed August 2007.	thommap 328.11 kB	thomveg 66.63 kB	thomveg 36.25 kB
Byfield, MA	2008, 2015	Governor's Academy	Reference	Map	byfiveg 565.86 kB	byfiveg 21.25 kB
Danvers, MA, Behind Mass General North Shore (Formerly Osram Sylvania)	1997-2015	Holten Richmond Middle School, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School, Danvers	Tidal restriction and berm. Not restored.	Map	danvveg 948.63 kB	danvveg 539.28 kB
Dorchester, Milton MA, Neponset Marsh	2004-2008	UMass Boston	Filled marsh, fill removal completed April 2005	Map	nepoveg 229.64 kB	nepoveg 34.46 kB
East Boston, MA, Belle Isle Marsh	2003-2004	Excel Academy Charter School, East Boston	No	Map	beliveg 155.91 kB	beliveg 194.12 kB
Essex, MA, Conomo Point Road	1998-2015	Manchester Essex High School, Essex Elementary and Middle School, Saints Academy	Tidal Restriction restored November 2000	essemap 311.54 kB	esseveg 952.67 kB	esseveg 263.38 kB
Gloucester, MA, Eastern Point	2000-2015	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School, O’Maley Innovation Middle School, Natick Homeschoolers, St. Mel's School in Gloucester	Tidal restriction restored November 2003.	glepmap 862.93 kB	glepveg 1.08 MB	glepveg 374.89 kB
Gloucester, MA, Mill Pond	1998-2015	O'Maley Innovation Middle School in Gloucester	Tidal restriction. Site flooded when board placed on tidegates spring 2003, killing marsh plants. Tide gates opened beginning spring 2004.	gloumap 191.80 kB	glouveg 927.16 kB	glouveg 231.87 kB
Gloucester, MA, Wingersheek Beach	2005-2007	Essex North Shore Agriculture & Technical High School, Maritime Heritage	Berm	Map	wingveg 79.27 kB	wingveg 768.55 kB
Ipswich, MA, Argilla Road	1997-2002, 2005	Mass Audubon and NMFS Scientists	Tidal Restriction Restored Fall 1998	Map	argillasalveg 197.53 kB	Not Available
Ipswich, MA, Cedar Point	1999-2015	Stoneridge Montessori School, Beverly, The Proctor School (Topsfield), Trustees	Tidal Restriction Phase 1 restored Spring 2000	iptpmap 693.26 kB	iptpveg 1.28 MB	iptpveg 290.96 kB
Ipswich, MA, Littleneck Road	1999-2015	Ipswich High School	Tidal Restriction; culvert collapsed in spring 2000, ponding killed marsh plants. New culvert put in Spring 2001.	ips2map 815.46 kB	ips2veg 1.21 MB	ips2veg 280.78 kB
Ipswich, MA, Town Farm Road	1996-2015	Ipswich High School	Tidal Restriction restored spring 2005.	ips1map 1.04 MB	ips1veg 1.18 MB	ips1veg 786.04 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	nbptveg 1.74 MB	nbptveg 445.91 kB
Revere, MA	2001	Revere High School		reveremap 733.93 kB	reveveg 26.37 kB	reveveg 5.67 kB
Rowley, MA, Batchelder's Landing	1996-2015	Pine Grove School in Rowley, Franklin Pierce College, Homeschool	Unrestricted site (reference site)	rowlmap 653.41 kB	rowlveg 1.31 MB	rowlveg 194.76 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	Restricted, may be restored in the future.	refumap 858.74 kB	refuveg 1,000.82 kB	refuveg 505.65 kB
Rockport, MA, Saratoga Creek & Seaview Street	1998-2015	Rockport Middle School	Storm drain sediments removed; panne creation Sp. 1999. Seaview St. tidal restriction restored Fall 2003.	rockmap 792.32 kB	rockveg 830.40 kB	rockveg 563.65 kB
Salem, MA, Forest River	2002-2015	Salem: Collins Middle School, Nathaniel Bowditch School, Saltonstall School, Salem Academy	Restricted. Some Phragmites removed January 2003.	salmmap 717.67 kB	salmveg 824.47 kB	salmveg 199.97 kB
Salisbury, MA, Old County Road	2001 only	Salisbury Elementary School	Restricted		socrveg 20.30 kB	socrveg 5.08 kB
Salisbury, MA, Railrod bed off Mudnock Road (Town Creek)	1998-2015	Salisbury Elementary School, Mass Audubon	Tidal Restriction Transects are downstream of restriction. Downstream transects flooded by closed tidegate killing downstream plants in spring 2004. Site washed out in spring 2005.	salimap 205.60 kB	saliveg 1.05 MB	saliveg 233.38 kB
Wellfleet, MA, Herring River	2000-2004	Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School	Restricted	Map	wherveg 28.93 kB	wherveg 12.97 kB
Wellfleet, MA, Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary	1999-2001	Mass Audubon	Unrestricted	Map	welfveg 29.00 kB	welfveg 6.30 kB