Abstract |
During the summer of 2006, staff from the Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Program (MBNEP) and the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) surveyed 25 sites in coastal Massachusetts where previous anecdotal reports had indicated the occurrence of marsh dieback. A survey form was developed to qualitatively assess conditions. Most sites were on Cape Cod, with a small scattering of sites on the South Shore and one north of Boston. Sites in Wellfleet Bay exhibited signs of recently dead and dying plants with no immediately evident source of stressors. A number of sites exhibited unvegetated areas where salt marsh vegetation may have occurred in past years, but in 2006, existing vegetation appeared healthy and no recently dead or dying vegetation was observed. Some sites appeared to exhibit minor effects from identifiable stressors from a combination of anthropogenic sources and physical conditions. This report includes 14 recommendations for future efforts for continued investigations and observations. |