Value
Why The Marsh Matters
The Great Marsh is the largest contiguous salt marsh in New England with over 25,000 acres of salt marsh, tidal creeks, mudflats, islands and barrier beaches extending from the New Hampshire border to Cape Ann, Massachusetts. A healthy, resilient Great Marsh provides a number of economic and ecologic services, including natural abundant habitat for wildlife species, and protection for our vulnerable local community assets and infrastructure.
All this is threatened by sea level rise, climate change, and man-made impacts. The decline in the Great Marsh has now reached a critical point where “HELP” is needed. We have the ability to help preserve, protect, restore, and enhance your Great Marsh with our projects.
Value of the Marsh
The Great Marsh provides a number of ecological and economic services to the coastal environment including regionally important ecotourism, nursery for commercial fisheries, and as one of few migratory shore bird fueling sites on the North Atlantic Flyway The salt marshes are responsible for nutrient regeneration, primary production, habitat for wildlife species, pollution mitigation, and protects and stabilizes the shoreline.
The Great Marsh is a huge economic engine for the region, providing value as a destination for recreationalist (boaters, birdwatchers, sportsmen, artists) as well as commercial endeavors (clamming, fishing, kayaking).
75% of commercially harvested fish spend at least one phase of their life cycle in the marsh.
Migratory shore birds use the area as a stopover; a significant stopover along the North Atlantic Flyway.
The barrier beach and associated marsh is the first line of defense against storm surge and wave energy.
The marsh platform vegetation and subtotal plant life provide an important carbon sink for greenhouse gas emissions.
The wetlands absorb and stabilize pollutants from our roads, lawns, rivers, and waste water treatment facilities.
Our Current Initiatives
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Protection and restoration of the Great Marsh is made possible with support from our local communities.
Sustaining the longevity and viability of our work in The Great Marsh would not be possible without the support of local, state, and national community partners. If you’d like to become a sustaining member, you can support us using the link below.