In lieu of a Great Marsh Symposium this year, the Great Marsh Coalition decided to get people out on the marsh through a series of field trips to experience projects and activities happening in the Great Marsh. Last Wednesday, October 23rd, Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, and the Great Marsh Partnership hosted a boat trip out into Essex Bay, led by MVPC’s Peter Phippen, for the public to experience firsthand the projects that the members of the Great Marsh Partnership are working on.

Approximately 40 people, including a class of Boston University students, went out to learn about the various initiatives this partnership has undertaken including Marsh Edge Erosion, Eelgrass Restoration, Barrier Beach Erosion and subsequent infilling of the Essex Bay, future Dredging of the Essex River, Green Crab Management and several other projects that team members are engaged in. Essex River Cruises cosponsored the sun-splashed, 65-degree event which included a stop on the flood tidal delta (clam flats) in the bay and presentations by half a dozen speakers. A great time was had by all!