Over 47% of the 25,500 acre Great Marsh Area of Critical Environmental Concern has been protected through land conservation efforts. Conservation began with government entities using eminent domain in the early 1900s, and now emphasizes partnerships between federal, state, and non-profit organizations. Recent conservation projects in Essex County have used funding from various sources to purchase land through bargain sales and fee interest, with a focus on protecting buffer areas and upland surrounding wetlands from development. Engagement opportunities through programs like osprey tracking help involve the public in conservation work in the Great Marsh.

1. Land Conservation in the Great Marsh
David Santomenna
Director of Land Conservation, Essex County Greenbelt
November 13, 2014

2. Presentation Overview
•Current Conservation Status
•Survey of Land Conservation Activity In the Great Marsh
•Implications of Sea Level Rise & Climate Change
•The Great Marsh in a Broader Conservation Context

3. Great Marsh Land Conservation Status
•Great Marsh ACEC— 25,500 acres
•12,000 acres protected (47%)
•Compare to Essex County as a whole (25% protected)

4. Land Conservation in the Great Marsh:
The Kingdom Era
•Parker River NWR
•4,700 acres (3,000 saltmarsh)
•Acquired via eminent domain

5. TTOR: Castle Hill, Cranes Beach, Crane Wildlife Refuge
•Acquired by donation
•2100 acres
•Acquired between 1945 & 1974

6. Conservation in the Great Marsh:
The Partnership Era
•Emphasis on federal, state, municipal, NGO partnerships
•Driven by increases in land value & project complexity
•Emphasis on buffers and bordering upland

7. Partnership Projects: Soginese Creek, Essex
•177 acres
•Bargain Sale CR purchase
•Funding from National Coastal Wetlands grant program
•Partners: Greenbelt, USFWS, MA DCR

8. Partnership Projects: Storey CR/APR, Essex
•121 acres
•Bargain Sale CR/APR purchase
•Funding: National Coastal Wetlands grant, state APR program
•Partners: Greenbelt, MA DCR, MA APR

9. Partnership Projects: Raymond Fields, Ipswich
•250 acres
•Bargain Sale CR/APR purchase
•Funding: Town of Ipswich, MA DCR, MA APR, private fundraising
•Partners: Ipswich, MA DCR, MA APR, Greenbelt, TPL, ECTA

10. Partnership Projects: Rough Meadows, Rowley
•265 acres
•Fair market value purchase of fee interest
•Funding: NAWCA, Town of Rowley, MA DCR, private fundraising
•Partners: MAS, MA DCR, Greenbelt

11. Engagement & Interpretation Opportunities:
Rough Meadows, Rowley

12. Engagement & Interpretation Opportunities:
Sally Weatherall Reservation, Ipswich

13. Engagement & Interpretation Opportunities:
Smith Saltmarsh, Gloucester

14. Engagement & Interpretation Opportunities:
Greenbelt’s Osprey Program
•29 Nesting Pairs
•75,000 unique website visitors
•700 nest monitor reports submitted

15. New Tools for Land Conservation
•BioMap2 Coastal Adaptation Layer
•15,500 acres
•9,400 acres protected (60%)

16. The Great Marsh in a Broader Conservation Context
•Two state, 33 partner planning process
•Study area: 2.1 million acres
•Tier 1: 250,000 acres
•Tier 2: 443,000 acres
•Tier 2: 441,000

17. The Great Marsh in a Broader Conservation Context
•Tier 1: 48,000 acres
•Tier 2: 45,000 acres
•Tier 2: 48,000 acres

18. Thank you! Questions?