Great Marsh Adaptation Planning

Implications for Quality of Life in our CommunitiesRowley Ipswich

Essex

ROWLEY

Rowley

Route 1A & Stackyard Road

Jewell Mill Dam & Glen Street Bridge

Marina, Town Boat Launch & low-lying houses

Route 133 at Batchelder Brook

Rowley Town Well #3 & well pumping station

Identified Areas of Interest for Adaptation Planning

Current Status

Short-Term Recommendations

Long-Term Recommendations

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Route 1A & Stackyard Road

VULNERABILITIES:• Coastal flooding• Sea level rise

2030 2070

Old Rowley Road

Rout

e 1A

Stackyard Road Nelson Island

Parker River

Mud Creek

Route 1A & Stackyard Road2030 2070

Natural Systems Help Us: Rowley salt marsh

• recreation• shellfishing• scenic character• storm

protection • floodwater

storage• carbon

sequestration

Current Adaptation Activities:

Strategic Land Conservation

Regional Partnerships

Nelson Island,Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

road closure and retreat

Continue acquisition of land to allow for salt marsh migration if/when available

Increase resiliency of marsh and river systems by removing debris, assessing culverts, supporting natural drainage of water, removing Jewell Mill dam

Monitor flood frequency and depth and create early warning system to alert residents when roads are likely to be flooded.

Coordinate with evacuation planning for major storms. Need an alternate/primary evacuation route (Route 1).

Ultimately further retreat may be needed and buyout of Stackyard Rd and other low-lying homes.

Future Adaptation Strategies

Rowley Route 1A & Stackyard Road

IPSWICH

IPSWICH

Jeffrey’s Neck Road Downtown Ipswich Crane Beach –

parking lots, road access & facilities

Pavilion Beach Town Wharf &

Sewage Pumping Station

Brown’s Well on Route 1A

Identified Areas of Interest for Adaptation Planning

Current Status

Short-Term Recommendations

Long-Term Recommendations

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Downtown Ipswich

VULNERABILITIES: Riverine & tidal flooding plus increased stormwater

Photo Credits: D. Bates

Probability of Coastal Inundation in 2030 and 2070 (includes projected storm surge)

Downtown Ipswich

2030 2070

Ipswich Mills Dam & Riverwalk

Choate Bridge

County Streetbridge

Route 1A

Route 1A

Zumi’s

Downtown Ipswich

1% Flood Depth in 2030 and 2070 (includes projected storm surge)

2030 2070

Current Adaptation Activities

Photo Credits: Alicia Geilen

2016 CZM Resiliency Grant awarded to Town of Ipswich for study of river bank erosion & future climate impacts

Downtown Ipswich

• Downtown business owner engagement and education on building retrofits and general principles of resiliency

• Ipswich Mills Dam Removal Feasibility Study will analyze the effects of removing the downtown dam, including downstream impacts and opportunities to restore upstream flood storage capacity

• Encourage green infrastructure for stormwater and floodplain mitigation (i.e. rain gardens, pervious walkways & parking areas, infiltration trenches, and other best management practices)

• Create and enhance riparian buffer along the Ipswich River up and downstream of Town

• Consider river bypass through Veteran's Green/Elm St. area to accommodate 500-year flood

Future Adaptation Strategies

Downtown Ipswich

ESSEX

ESSEX

Main Street Causeway & Woodman’s Landing

Eastern Avenue at Ebben Creek

Conomo Point & Robbins Road

Crane Beach (southern tip)

Identified Areas of Interest for Adaptation Planning

Current Status

Short-Term Recommendations

Long-Term Recommendations

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Main Street Causeway, Essex

VULNERABILITIES:• Tidal flooding• Storm surge flooding

Probability of Coastal Inundation in 2030 and 2070 (includes projected storm surge)

Main Street Causeway2030

2070

1% Flood Depth in 2030 and 2070 (includes projected storm surge)

Main Street Causeway2030

2070

Current Adaptation Activities

• Causeway reconstruction in 2012

• Emergency vehicles are stationed on the East side of the Causeway when flooding is expected

Main Street Causeway

• Engage business owners collectively on resiliency planning• Develop additional emergency monitoring policies &

practices such as a live video feed showing if the Causeway is flooded or impassable

• Encourage best management practices for floodplain mitigation (i.e. rain gardens, pervious pavement for parking lots and walkways, and other green infrastructure techniques)

• Convene Essex Causeway Working Group to begin resiliency planning for both short-term and long-term impacts (include local business owners, state agencies, and town representatives)

• Beneficial Use of Dredged Materials from the Essex River

Future Adaptation Strategies

Main Street Causeway

Elevating Roads?

Main St. Causeway, Essex Beach Road, Salisbury Plum Island Turnpike,

Newburyport Jeffrey’s Neck Road,

Ipswich Route 1A, Rowley Argilla Road, Ipswich

Longport, New Jersey

Thank You

Great Marsh Resiliency Planning Project

www.greatmarshresiliency.org