Rowley, Massachusetts

Total Acres: 175

Year Conserved: multiple years

Property Description

Greenbelt parcels in the Rowley Marshes total about 175 acres, with the largest parcel being the 105-acre Alexander Saltmarsh. The Rowley Marshes are part of The Great Marsh, which extends from Southern New Hampshire to Gloucester, and is the largest salt marsh ecosystem in New England.

The Great Marsh is the largest salt marsh in New England and includes over 20,000 acres of marsh, barrier beach, tidal river, estuary, mudflat, and upland islands extending across the Massachusetts North Shore, from Gloucester to Salisbury. In recognition of these extraordinary resources, a portion of this area was designated by the state as the Great Marsh Area of Critical Environmental Concern. The Great Marsh is an internationally recognized Important Bird Area (IBA) because it contributes to the preservation of many breeding and migratory birds. With its network of waterways, beaches, parks, and wildlife refuges, the Great Marsh is an outstanding destination to enjoy boating, fishing, birdwatching, hiking, and beach activities throughout the cities and towns of Gloucester, Essex, Ipswich, Rowley, Newbury, Newburyport, and Salisbury.  

The salt marsh is the single most important habitat in New England for the production and maintenance of life. As the "nursery" for many marine species, including herring, oysters, shrimp, clams, mussels, and many other species of fish and invertebrates, the marsh supports a highly diverse population of migratory and resident birds, and provides two-thirds of the value of our commercial fisheries. The salt marsh also acts as a filter for nutrients and contaminants moving from the land toward the ocean.

Special Features:

Since 1988, Greenbelt has leased the Batchelder’s Landing property along the Rowley River to the Ecosystem Center of the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL). The MBL is an international center for research, education, and training in biology, biomedicine, and ecology. Center scientists are actively involved in the application of scientific knowledge to the solution of environmental problems in a variety of ways, including briefing government agencies and policy makers. Researchers also work with non-governmental organizations and government agencies on assessing the impact of development on ecosystems or evaluating the success of various approaches to resource management.

Using the Great Marsh as their out-door laboratory, the scientists are mapping out strategies to help communities make responsible decisions about land use, with respect to this incredible natural resource. The entire Plum Island Sound Ecosystem, including all of Greenbelt’s Rowley Marsh properties, is part of a global, long-term research project involving 26 sites worldwide. The goal of the salt marsh study is to gain better understanding of marsh ecology and productivity, and how changes in land use, climate and sea level influence these fragile areas.

http://www.mbl.edu/research/resident/lab_ecosystems.html

Parking

Park in the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Nelson Island parking lot at the end of Stackyard Road. Parking is permitted from sunrise to sunset; no overnight parking is allowed in this lot.

Directions

From the traffic light in Rowley Center:

Drive north on Route 1A for about two miles. Turn right onto a dirt road marked Stackyard Road. When the road forks, keep to the right and stay on Stackyard Road, and drive to the end, about one mile from Route 1A.