Scarborough Marsh is the largest salt marsh area in Maine. How is our cherished marsh doing? What can we say about its health and its future? These are questions that volunteers Greg Bither, Don Salvatore, Sue Williams and Betsy Barrett are helping to answer. Every two weeks they brave the mud, weather, slippery rocks, and road traffic of our marsh to gather data on its health. 
 
The volunteers are part of the Maine DEP’s Volunteer River Monitoring Program (VRMP), which is a network of like-minded individuals throughout Maine who dedicate their time to gathering data on our rivers and streams. The statistics become part of the DEP’s database. In turn, the DEP looks at trends throughout the state, critically analyzes water body health, and makes recommendations about waterways that are in jeopardy and which need additional resources to ameliorate conditions.
 
Every two weeks the volunteers, who are under the auspices of the Friends of Scarborough Marsh, visit eight rivers or streams which are tributaries to the marsh. They gather data on water temperature, bacteria content, conductivity (a measure of salinity as well as purity), and dissolved oxygen. They also make observations of water clarity, depth of flow, odor, turbidity, and a host of other measures. These indicators form a baseline for the health of the marsh. As time goes by, monitoring changes in these characteristics and looking for abnormalities in their numbers provides valuable information that will help in making decisions about future actions.
 
For now, many signs are positive. There are a few warning signs such as abnormally high bacterial contents in some tributaries, which have been previously identified and studied. However, the marsh is generally healthy, and most of the waterways are not in a dangerous category. Changes over time will best guide any future needs, and the efforts of this group will be sure to provide red flags when appropriate.
 
The volunteers are looking forward to a great year in 2021. They could use some help! If you are interested in spending a morning every two weeks or so in the marsh, please email Greg at:
greg.bither@gmail.com

Greg Bither  Board member and Volunteer Don Salvatore working at Millbrook site above
Greg Bither, Betsy Barrett and Sue Williams working on Black Point Road site top photo

Scarborough Marsh: Focus Areas of Statewide Ecological Significance (Beginning With Habitat)

Tidal marshes form in low-lying coastal areas that are sheltered from strong winds, waves, and currents. Nourished by tidal flows and with rapidly growing grasses, salt marshes form the basis of a highly productive food web. They are complex natural systems which support different plants and animals in a variety of habitats. In addition to nourishing many species of birds, finfish, shellfish, and invertebrates, marshes buffer upland shorelines against erosive actions of open water, protect low-lying uplands and shorelines during storms, and maintain water quality.

A report released in July 2013 by the National Resources Defense Council showing that in 2012 Scarborough’s Ferry Beach tied for 5th place (out of 60) in Maine’s most contaminated beaches. Also at about that time, FOSM partnered with the University of New England to collect and analyze data gathered at the Mill Brook area of the marsh. The study  found water quality to be good overall, with one major exception: coliform bacteria rated as poor at all four sampling sites during almost every month of the study period. High coliform bacteria levels are the primary reason for closing clam flats.  

Friends of Scarborough Marsh is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Our EIN is 01-0534850. Please visit the Foundation Center to view our latest 990 financial forms on file with the IRS.

With thanks to Maine Sea Grant program for this image; please visit their site for more info.

Aerial View of the Scarborough Marsh (with restoration project sites)