This document summarizes a project to restore and protect dunes in Newbury, Massachusetts through innovative green infrastructure methods. The goals of the project are to: 1) promote native plantings and fencing to protect and build up dunes, 2) increase coastal resiliency through experimental plantings and monitoring, and 3) educate the community through involvement in restoration activities and outreach. Specific actions outlined include mapping native plant communities, measuring dune changes over time, restoring plants and installing fencing, and conducting community outreach. The project aims to enhance coastal resilience and serve as a model for other coastal communities.

1. Dune
Restora1on
and
Protec1on
in
Newbury,
Massachuse<s
Innova1ons
through
CZM’s
Coastal
Resiliency
Green
Infrastructure
Grant
Program
Prepared
by:
Gregg
E.
Moore,
David
Burdick
and
Alyson
Eberhardt,
UNH
In
coopera/on
with:
Doug
Packer
and
the
Town
of
Newbury,
MassachuseAs

2. Dune
Restora1on
and
Protec1on
in
Newbury,
Massachuse<s
Background
• 2013,
CZM
called
for
innovaHve
projects
to
strengthen
coastal
resiliency
in
MassachuseAs
• Project
stems
from
Town’s
successful
dune
nourishment
and
planHngs
• Designed
to
adhere
to
CZM’s
guidance
documents
on
Coastal
Resilience
• Emphasis
on
Green
Infrastructure
and
InnovaHon
• Must
work
within
a
Dynamic
System
that
accrete
and
erode
seasonally
• How
can
we
build
upon
this
success?
Plum
Island
North
of
Center
Plum
Island
South
of
Center

3. Dune
Restora1on
and
Protec1on
in
Newbury,
Massachuse<s
Project
Site
• Plum
Island
Center
north
to
Newburyport
• Natural
and
Restored
dune
habitats
• Working
within
Town’s
permiAed
restoraHon
areas
• Reference
areas
located
north
and
south
of
Center

4. Dune
Restora1on
and
Protec1on
in
Newbury,
Massachuse<s
Project
Goals
• Protect
Dunes:
Promote
diverse,
naHve
planHngs
and
fencing
to
trap
sand,
buffer
storm
surge,
and
mirror
natural
dune
flora
• Increase
Resiliency:
Through
planHngs,
experimentaHon,
dune
profiles
and
monitoring
and
trainings
• Educate:
Involve
affected
community,
stakeholders,
concerned
ciHzens,
students
and
other
volunteers
through
the
above
acHviHes,
educaHonal
experiences
and
outreach

5. Dune
Restora1on
and
Protec1on
in
Newbury,
Massachuse<s
Ac1ons:
Map
Na1ve
Plant
Communi1es
• IdenHfy
naHve
plant
communiHes
and
species
diversity
• Map
habitats
to
track
community
changes
• Develop
diverse
planHng
plan
of
both
common
and
“die-­‐off
resistant”
plants
• Develop
Dune
Vulnerability
Index
• Collect
seed
for
local
stock,
grow
seedlings
with
students
volunteers

6. Dune
Restora1on
and
Protec1on
in
Newbury,
Massachuse<s
Ac1ons:
Map
Na1ve
Plant
Communi1es

7. Dune
Restora1on
and
Protec1on
in
Newbury,
Massachuse<s
Ac1ons:
Measure
Dune
Change
• Establish
dune
profiles
in
planHng
and
reference
areas
• Measure
gain
and
loss
of
sand
throughout
the
year
• Establish
baseline,
seasonal
fluctuaHons
• Monitor
and
compare
planted
areas
to
non-­‐planted
areas
and
reference

8. Dune
Restora1on
and
Protec1on
in
Newbury,
Massachuse<s
LocaHon
of
Profile
#3
LocaHon
of
Profile
#2

9. Dune
Restora1on
and
Protec1on
in
Newbury,
Massachuse<s
LocaHon
of
Profile
#2
Marker
Rebar
w/
Blue
Tape

10. Dune
Restora1on
and
Protec1on
in
Newbury,
Massachuse<s
Ac1on:
Measure
Dune
Change

11. Dune
Restora1on
and
Protec1on
in
Newbury,
Massachuse<s
Ac1ons:
Measure
Dune
Change
20.0
18.0
16.0
14.0
12.0
10.0
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
Experimental
Dune,
Transect
#3
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Height
above
Shoreline
(Feet)
Distance
from
Benchmark
(Feet)

12. Dune
Restora1on
and
Protec1on
in
Newbury,
Massachuse<s
Ac1ons:
Restore
Plants
and
Fencing
• Enhance
existed
planted
areas
with
beach
grass
and
other
suitable
species
• Replace
damaged
fencing,
install
new
fences
in
strategic
areas
• Experiment
with
small
scale
planHng
plots
and
fencing
arrays
to
maximize
success
across
affected
areas

13. Dune
Restora1on
and
Protec1on
in
Newbury,
Massachuse<s
Ac1ons:
Restore
Plants
and
Fencing
• Four
planHng/fencing
events
to
date
• Established
over
4,000
plants
(including
~800
Seaside
Goldenrod)
• Installed
over
600
linear
feet
of
fence
(100%
of
which
donated
by
Town)
• All
effort
driven
by
community
involvement
and
volunteer
effort
(Well
over
60-­‐70
vols
to
date)

14. Dune
Restora1on
and
Protec1on
in
Newbury,
Massachuse<s
Ac1ons:
Outreach
and
Educa1on

15. Dune
Restora1on
and
Protec1on
in
Newbury,
Massachuse<s
Ac1ons:
Outreach
and
Educa1on
• Work
under
guidance
of
Town
Officials
and
Stakeholders
• Develop
and
distribute
outreach
materials
• Engage
the
Community,
through
a
variety
of
approaches:
-­‐ Community
meeHngs/Trainings
-­‐ Media
-­‐ Volunteer
opportuniHes
-­‐ PlanHng
and
RestoraHon
-­‐ Monitoring
-­‐ Field
Encounters

16. Dune
Restora1on
and
Protec1on
in
Newbury,
Massachuse<s
Synergis1c
Ac1vi1es
• Transfer
Methods,
Results,
and
Successes
to
related
iniHaHves
• DOI
Hurricane
Sandy
Grant
awarded
to
NWF-­‐Great
Marsh
Resiliency
Partnership
to
begin
in
January
2015
• CZM-­‐funded
Newbury
project
develops
green
infrastructure
approaches
to
scale
up
!.
!.
!.
Salisbury
Barrier
Beach
!.
!.
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
Plum
Island
Bridge
Pine
Island
Road
Little Pine
Island Creek
Jerico
Creek
Labor
in Vain
Essex Bay
Salisbury
Town Marsh
Creek
Upper Parker
River
Mill
River
Plum Island
Barrier Beach
Crane
Barrier
Beach
Atlantic Ocean
SALISBURY
AMESBURY
MERRIMAC
NEWBURYPORT
HAVERHILL
WEST
NEWBURY
NEWBURY
METHUEN
GROVELAND
GEORGETOWN ROWLEY
NORTH
ANDOVER
BOXFORD
DRACUT
LAWRENCE
Project Boundary
Restoration and Resiliency
Dune Restoration
Marsh Wetland Plant Restoration Areas
Emergent Vegetation
Assessment Components
Hydrodymamic Model
DUNSTABLE
ANDOVER
Town Boundary
Rivers and Streams
Model Boundary Limit
TYNGSBOROUGH
ESSEX GLOUCESTER
TOPSFIELD
LOWELL
GROTON
HAMILTON
TEWKSBURY
WESTFORD
CHELMSFORD
MIDDLETON
WENHAM
WILMINGTON
DANVERS
BILLERICA
NORTH
READING
MANCHESTER
BEVERLY
0 7,500 15,000 30,000
LITTLETON
READING LYNNFIELD PEABODY
Feet
CARLISLE
SALEM
ACTON BURLINGTON
BEDFORD WOBURN WAKEFIELD
BOXBOROUGH LYNN MARBLEHEAD
CONCORD STONEHAM SAUGUS
1 inch = 13,500 feet
Merrimack Valley Planning Commission does not make any warranty, expressed or implied, nor assume any
legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the Geographic Information
System (GIS) Data or any other data provided herein. The GIS data is illustrative only material and
should not be considered for any other purpose. The data does not take the place of a professional
survey and has no legal bearing on the true shape, size, location, or existence of a geographic
feature, property line, or political representation. Merrimack Valley Planning Commission
requests that any use of this information be accompanied by a reference to its source and the
Merrimack Valley Planning Commission's caveat that it makes no warranties or representations
as to the accuracy of said information. Any use of this information is at the recipient's own risk.
J:ArcGISEightTowns_Bay2014SandyGrantMap_8.5 x11.mxd Prepared January 27, 2014 KQ
Ü
Legend
!. SAV (Eelgrass)
Infrastructure Assessment Sites
Count
Community Resiliency Planning
Community Risk Reduction through Comprehensive
Coastal Resiliency Enhancement for the Great Marsh
Ecosystem – North Shore Massachusetts
MERRIMACK RIVER
1 -­ 29
30 -­ 59
60 -­ 89
90 -­ 119
120 -­ 199
IPSWICH
Resiliency Plan Towns
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Ponds, Lakes and Ocean
PLUM
ISLAND
SOUND
Focus Areas of Detailed Discretization
&

17. Dune
Restora1on
and
Protec1on
in
Newbury,
Massachuse<s
For
More
Informa1on
Contact:
Gregg
Moore
(gregg.moore@unh.edu)
Doug
Packer
(conscom@townofnewbury.org)