Salem Sound Coastwatch Scope of Work: July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 As Lower North Shore Regional Service Provider to Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Program
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Salem Sound Coastwatch Scope of Work: July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 as Lower North Shore Regional Service Provider to Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Program Salem Sound Coastwatch (SSCW) will conduct the following scope of work, with tasks to be carried out by MassBays Lower North Shore Regional Coordinators (primary and secondary) in association with local and regional partners. The scope addresses outcomes anticipated under MassBays’ 2015 Public Review Draft CCMP: Goal 1 Outcome: MassBays provides new resources for research and management in the Bays Goal 2 Outcome: MassBays reaches all planning-area municipalities with actionable information about estuaries. Goal 3 Outcome: MassBays provides regular and locally informed State of the Bays reporting that reflects the unique characteristics and progress toward targets for planning area embayments MassBays-funded Level of Effort We anticipate that the primary RC will devote 75% of MassBays-funded time on this contract to completing Lower North Shore-specific work. In addition, SSCW will assign up to 10% of the RCs’ time to cross-cutting and/or cross-region projects included in the MassBays workplan, for example: Citizen Monitoring Network Summit Monitoring program design CCMP revision Matrix of embayment types and target conditions Outreach and training regarding these projects, especially through the EPA Program Evaluation The remainder of the RCs’ time (15%) is reserved for contingency, local requests for technical assistance, reporting, and operational meetings (e.g., quarterly staff and Management Committee meetings). Workplan tasks Goal 1 Outcome: MassBays provides new resources for research and management in the Bays. Task 1.1 Salem Harbor Plankton and Nutrient Study SSCW will work with Salem State University (SSU) to develop a new study to examine the nature of plankton and nutrients in Salem Harbor as it relates to the rest of the estuary. This effort draws on results of a 3-year study to characterize reduced water clarity in Salem Harbor, which suggest that plankton is a major source of the turbidity. Anticipated partners: SSU, DMF, UNH, EPA, Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies Estimated percentage of Primary RC’s time = 10% External factors necessary to complete the project: plankton id, partners, funding Anticipated timeline and deliverables o Meeting of partners and interested stakeholders to discuss plankton as a source of turbidity (Q2) o Results from pilot study for Salem Harbor plankton and nutrients (Q3) o Identification of resources, funding and next steps (Q4) SSCW – Scope of Work, July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 Page 1 Task 1.2 Lower North Shore Coastal Acidification Citizen Monitoring SSCW will test the pH in mudflats on the Lower North Shore. Monitoring protocols developed by Friends of Casco Bay, ME will be followed with this new citizen monitoring program engaging high school and adult volunteers. Anticipated partners: Manchester Middle School, SSCW volunteers, UNH, Friends of Casco Bay, MassBays Central staff Estimated percentage of Primary RC’s time = 10%; Secondary RC’s time = 5% External factors necessary to complete the project: none Anticipated timeline and quarterly deliverables: o Public meeting and training (Q2) o Baseline data for at least 2 mudflats [Q4] Task 1.3 Salt Marsh Monitoring for Climate Change Impacts SSCW will monitor salt marshes at Good Harbor Marsh (Gloucester), Juniper Cove (Salem) and Old Creek Marsh (SSU Salem) and Thissel Marsh (Endicott College) using citizen science protocols to monitor long-term climate change impacts on salt marshes from sea level rise. Anticipated partners: Friends of Good Harbor, BU, LTER, MassBays RSPs, SSU, Endicott College Estimated percentage of Primary RC’s time = 5%; Secondary RC’s time = 5% External factors necessary to complete the project: partnerships with others working on SLR Estimated timeline and deliverables: o Photodocumentation of monitoring efforts (Q2) o Report on marsh edge erosion research at 2 sites in Salem. (Q4) Task 1.4 Clean Beaches & Streams Program SSCW will identify bacterial pollution with biweekly summer water testing for Enterococcus at outfalls and streams throughout the Lower North Shore and notify the appropriate authorities of the results, with the goal of reducing bacterial contamination in Category 4 and 5 303(d) listed waters. Two or three streams will be monitored in Salem, Danvers and Peabody during FY18 using the EPA Stormwater Equipment Toolbox to detect human wastewater. Anticipated partners: Clean Beaches & Streams Network, EPA, volunteers Estimated percentage of Primary RC’s time = 5%; Secondary RC’s time = 5% External factors necessary to complete the project: Weather (could not complete stream sampling because of the drought) Estimated timeline and deliverables o Bacterial levels for 14 to 22 outfalls or streams (Q2) o Results from stream assessments (Q2) o Results published on SSCW website (Q2) o List of bacterial hot spots (Q3) o Case study of at least one remediation effort by a municipality (Q4) Task 1.5 Adopt-a-Beach Program SSCW will train volunteer beachkeepers to remove marine debris and monitor their adopted area for resource degradation, beaches, islands, river banks. Anticipated partners: 480 trained beachkeepers, local DPWs and Park & Rec, SWIM Estimated percentage Primary RSP’s staff time = 5%; Secondary RSP’s staff time = 5% SSCW – Scope of Work, July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 Page 2 External factors necessary to complete the project: inclement weather can delay cleanups and monitoring; number of new volunteers varies from year to year. Anticipated timeline and quarterly deliverables: o List of training sessions and number of volunteers (Q4) o Number of Coastsweep and other clean up events held (Q4) Task 1.6 Pepperweed Eradication SSCW has conducted pepperweed education and removal efforts since the perennial pepperweed spread to invasive levels in 2007. SSCW will continue to conduct pepperweed education and removal efforts on the Lower North Shore to limit its spread as part of a New England-wide community-based mapping and control effort. Anticipated partners: Mass Audubon, Parker National Wildlife Refuge, MA NH ME Invasive Group, SWIM, and Saugus River Watershed Association Estimated percentage of Primary RSP’s staff time = 3% External factors necessary to complete the project: Adopt a Beach volunteers, Marblehead Conservancy, Marblehead Conservation Commission, Saugus River Watershed Association Anticipated timeline and quarterly deliverables: o Number of volunteers (Q4) o Map of known pepperweed sites with list of areas monitored with status (presence-absence and removal actions) (Q4) Task 1.7 Coastal Habitat Invasive Species Monitoring With this citizen science project, SSCW and its trained volunteers monitor 3 docks and 5 rocky shore areas for non-native species. Data are provided to CZM MIMIC program to be placed on MORIS. In addition, settle plates at the Beverly Pier are monitored 4 times a year. Through public trainings and monitoring, SSCW increases the understanding of the transport, population dynamics, and impacts of invasive species while providing a cadre of people able to help with early detection of invasive species. Anticipated partners: CZM MIMIC, MIT Sea Grant, local residents Estimated percentage of Primary RSP’s staff time = 5% External factors necessary to complete the project: SSCW’s volunteers Anticipated timeline and quarterly deliverables: o Photo documentation of dock and rocky shore monitoring (Q2) o Data submitted to CZM MIMIC coordinator (Q2) Goal 2 Outcome: MassBays reaches all planning-area municipalities with actionable information about estuaries. Task 2.1 Greenscapes Since stormwater is the major nonpoint source pollution, SSCW will use the ongoing Greenscapes program to conduct public education to increase awareness of the importance of reducing stormwater through adequate funding, infiltration, LID, and environmentally friendly landscaping. The Greenscapes Program will produce and disseminate an education and outreach product that can be used MassBays region-wide. Anticipated partners: 20 North Shore communities, SWIM, Ipswich River Watershed, Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, NSRWA, and 8 Towns and the Great Marsh Estimated percentage of Primary RSP’s staff time = 10%; Secondary RSP’s staff time = 10% External factors necessary to complete the project: Willingness of communities to participate in Greenscapes SSCW – Scope of Work, July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 Page 3 Anticipated timeline and quarterly deliverables: o List of deliverables to municipalities (Q1) o Materials developed for distribution (Q2) o Number of 5th graders and adults participating in “Keep Water Clean” (Q4) Task 2.2 Implement Low-Impact Development SSCW will identify opportunities, effective communication methods and ways to promote and implement Low Impact Development (LID) in the Lower North Shore communities. SSCW will provide new technical assistance while serving on the Salem Tree Committee. Anticipated partners: Cities of Salem, Beverly, Manchester, and Peabody – mayors, engineering and planning Estimated percentage of Primary RSP’s staff time = 7% External factors necessary to complete the project: working with the municipalities Anticipated timeline and quarterly deliverables: o List of LID education outreach and grant assistance (Q4) o Implementation of at least one LID demonstration site in the Lower North Shore (Q4) Task 2.3 Underwater in Salem Sound Lecture Series