Dynamic Actions Lead to Results by Barbara Warren summarizes the work of Salem Sound Coastwatch over 26 years to improve water quality through collaborative partnerships and volunteer efforts. Key actions discussed include stormwater runoff reduction through shoreline surveys identifying pollution sources, rain garden installation, septic system inspections, and volunteer beach cleanup programs. Adaptation to climate change impacts like flooding and sea level rise through vulnerability assessments and living shoreline projects are also addressed.

1. Dynamic Actions Lead to Results
Barbara Warren
Salem Sound Coastwatch Executive Director
MassBays National Estuary Regional Service Provider
March 17, 2017
7th Massachusetts Sustainable Communities
& Campuses Conference

2. Collaboration - Partnerships
Salem Sound Coastwatch
• Regional environmental non-profit on the North Shore
• 26 years – started as Salem Sound 2000
• Founded by residents, businesses and municipalities concerned
with the economic and environmental impacts of Salem Sound’s
severely polluted waters
Change takes time, patience,
commitment and determination!
Working together

3. Actions with Volunteer Efforts
Coastal/water initiatives:
Bacterial Reduction – Water Quality
Capturing and Cleaning the Rain
Flooding - Coastal Resilience
Marine debris programs:
Adopt a Beach – clean ups and more
Talking Trash for Clean Oceans
- a teen service learning internship program.

4. Storm Water Runoff
NUMBER ONE THREAT to Coastal Water Quality
RUNOFF

5. Shoreline Survey leading to
Cleaner Water
Surveyed 41-mile of shoreline by
100 trained volunteers in 1993
Observed 166 potential pollution
sources
Monitored 100 sites once a week for
next two years by 25 volunteers
Partners: South
Essex Sewer District
Marine Fisheries
fecal coliform
testing

6. Solving the Problems
• Illicit connections (new developments as well as old)
• Non-connections in historic areas along the coast
• Failing infrastructure: cracking sewers & stormwater
pipes
• Septic systems condition and failure
• Animal waste: dogs and congregated birds (feeding)
• Recreational uses: boating

7. Clean Beaches & Streams
Throughout the summer,
volunteers & staff collect water
from selected sites to be tested for
bacterial contamination.

8. Wolf Trap Marsh, Black Beach
Kettle Cove, Manchester-by-the-Sea
1
2
3
2007-2010
Clean Beaches &
Streams
• MCST volunteers with
SSCW
• 60 Homes with
Septic Systems
surround the marsh

9. Wolf Trap Marsh, Black Beach
Kettle Cove, Manchester-by-the-Sea
Passed Manchester Town Meeting 2009 ARTICLE 19.
To see if the Town will require the Board of Health to develop a plan of
regular Title V testing of the Town’s septic systems that are five years of
age or older, with priority given to those systems in areas of
environmental vulnerability.

10. Wolf Trap Marsh, Black Beach
Kettle Cove, Manchester-by-the-Sea
1
2
3
Since 2009
As of 2015
28 failed Title V
inspection and
have been
Repaired or
New systems

11. Take Home Thoughts
• Storm water runoff is the problem
• Outfall drainage are inspected
• Illicit connections found & fixed
• Storm drains cleaned
• !!Report foul smell from
storm drains!!
• Water contact should be avoided
for a minimum of 1 - 3 days after
heavy rainfall

12. Other Ways to Improve
Water Quality
Commercial Street with sidewalk (dog feces) and
vegetated strip abutting the North River in Salem.
Cars leave oil and hydrocarbons on the road. Missing landscape
timbers that once contained the islands gone providing a continual
source of sediments being washed into the North River.

13. Build Rain Gardens –
Capture and Clean Rain Where It Falls
Soil replaced with gravel and a sandy loam in a depression.
Curb cuts made for storm water to flow into the basins.

14. Maintain Rain Gardens –
As all living things, works in process
Salem Sound Coastwatch is inviting volunteers to help us plant,
weed, develop signage and keep gardens clean for the North River.

15. Use Rain Barrels –
to capture rain from your roof
Reuse in your yard and garden
Or
Direct to a rain garden.

16. Gravel layer
2 parts sand,
1 part topsoil,
1 part compost
Layer of mulch around
Native Plants
Build Our Own Rain Gardens

17. Global Climate Change
• Reduce your carbon footprint
Are we
Climate Change Resilient??
A Watershed Moment!

18. Focused on
5 Sectors
• Critical building
infrastructure
• Drinking water
• Energy
• Stormwater
• Transportation
• Vulnerable
populations
NOT OUR NATURAL COASTLINE
Vulnerability Assessment Plans
http://www.salem.com/planning-and-community-development/pages/studies-and-reports

19. Storm Surge Transportation Map
City of Salem’s Climate Change Vulnerability & Adaptation Plan 2014

20. Understanding and
Preparing for the Future
Flooding already….

21. Fringing Salt Marshes Banks with Plantings
Creation, Enhancement or Restoration
Creating a Living Shorelines
Using “green” – natural way
Public Shoreline Management Alternatives
By Rebecca Haney, CZM Coastal Geologist
www.nantucket-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/920
DelawareEstuary.org

22. VIEW LOOKING WEST - Existing
Surveying the Shoreline –
Collins Cove, Salem

23. VIEW LOOKING WEST – Photo Rendering
Potential Living Shoreline -
green infrastructure

24. Adopt a Beach Program
Year-round – holistic response to issues
Comprehensive – public health, ocean health &
environmental issues
Taking SHARED! actions

25. Adopt a Beach Program
Taking SHARED Actions: Clean Ups

26. WHEN NEEDED especially after storms
when debris is washed ashore
Also - Document flooding, erosion, invasive species,
and impacts from people
Adopt a Beach Program

27. Need Beachkeepers
to be the Eyes and Ears
Report the unusual
Help remove invasive species
Reported fertilizer
Pulling pepperweed
& removing trash

28. NOAA Marine Debris Outreach and Prevention
Taking Trash for Clean Oceans
Teens Internships –
after school February – June
• Learn about the issue
• Create service learning projects
Worked with City’s Public
Art Director to organize
14 storm drain murals.
Led experiential hands on activities
for elementary school classes.

29. Salem Plastic Bag Ordinance
Met with Board of Health and City Councilors to begin the discussion
about reducing single-use plastic bags in Salem
Researched plastic bag reduction ordinance language
Testified for the plastic bag reduction ordinance
Torri
Salem City Council after Passage of Ordinance
Teens learn how to express their ideas
to adults in their community and make a BIG Difference!

30. Beach cleanups – across the lower North Shore
Adopt a beach training – Time to Join
Commercial Street Rain Garden Crew
Invasive Pepperweed Pulls
Marine Invasive Training & Monitoring
And MORE!
Civic Engagement Opportunities
Upcoming Actions & Programs This Spring-Summer
Make Sure You Sign Up for SoundNet, our E-newsletter
salemsound.org – 978-741-7900 –
info@salemsound.org