Ipswich River Watershed Association Inc

THE IPSWICH RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION WILL BE AWARDED $2,359,186 TO RESTORE PASSAGE TO 238 MILES OF PRIORITY HABITAT IN THE IPSWICH AND PARKER RIVER WATERSHEDS, TRIBUTARIES TO THE GREAT MARSH AREA OF CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN IN MASSACHUSETTS. THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS FIVE DAMS: IPSWICH MILLS, LARKIN MILL, WILLOWDALE, HOWLETT BROOK, AND SOUTH MIDDLETON DAMS. PASSAGE WILL BE RESTORED AT FOUR DAMS, ALONG WITH DESIGN AND PERMITTING FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE LOWEST DAM IN THE WATERSHED. THE PROJECTS WILL BENEFIT RIVER HERRING, AMERICAN SHAD, AND AMERICAN EEL. ALL OF THE DAMS HAVE HIGH CLIMATE RELATED HAZARD LEVELS DUE TO COMMUNITY FLOODING AND RISK OF FAILURE, AND HAVE BEEN PRIORITIZED IN MULTIPLE REGIONAL CLIMATE AND FISHERIES CONSERVATION PLANS. SEVERAL OF THE PROJECTS ARE LOCATED NEAR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AND ALL PROJECT WORK INCLUDES OUTREACH TO AND ENGAGEMENT WITH THESE COMMUNITIES. RECREATIONAL ACCESS THROUGH A POPULAR CANOEING AREA WILL ALSO BE RESTORED, WHICH WILL CONNECT

THE IPSWICH RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION WILL BE AWARDED $1,397,493 TO SUPPORT HABITAT RESTORATION IN THE GREAT MARSH, THE LARGEST CONTINUOUS SALT MARSH IN NEW ENGLAND. THE IPSWICH RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION WILL PLAN FOR AND BEGIN CONSTRUCTION ON SEVERAL EFFORTS TO ADDRESS ALL REMAINING HIGH-PRIORITY BARRIERS IDENTIFIED IN THE REGION. THREE TIDAL BARRIER REMOVAL DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS WILL ADDRESS SPECIFIC HURDLES FACED BY MANY OTHER PROJECTS IN THE GREAT MARSH, CATALYZING FUTURE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION. THE WORK WILL INCREASE THE PACE OF RESTORATION ACTIVITIES AND RESOLVE ISSUES WATERSHED-WIDE, WITH A FOCUS ON BENEFITING FISHERIES HABITAT. IT IS EXPECTED TO BENEFIT IMPORTANT FORAGE SPECIES SUCH AS RIVER HERRING.

THE IPSWICH MILLS DAM REMOVAL PROJECT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RESTORATION EFFORTS BOTH IN THE IPSWICH RIVER WATERSHED AND WITHIN THE ENTIRETY OF THE CONTRIBUTING AREA FOR THE GREAT MARSH AREA OF CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN. THIS PROJECT ON ITS OWN WILL OPEN OVER 49 MILES OF MAINSTEM AND TRIBUTARY HABITAT FOR NATIVE AND MIGRATORY FISH POPULATIONS. THIS PROJECT IS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF MANY OTHER ONGOING EFFORTS IN THE WATERSHED TO RESTORE CONNECTIVITY FOR LOCAL PRIORITY SPECIES SUCH AS RIVER HERRING. AS THE HEAD OF TIDE DAM ON THE IPSWICH RIVER DAM REMOVAL WILL PERMANENTLY RESTORE A RARE FRESHWATER TIDAL HABITAT TO THE AREA ABOVE THE DAM. THIS EFFORT WILL RESULT IN THE RESTORATION OF THE NATURAL FLOODPLAIN AREA LOCATED UPSTREAM OF THE DAM. DAM REMOVAL WILL RESTORE NATURAL FLUVIAL PROCESSES AND IMPROVE FISH PASSAGE AND ACCESS TO HABITATS IN ADDITION TO IMPROVING WATER QUALITY. DAM REMOVAL WILL ALSO REDUCE UPSTREAM FLOOD LEVELS WHILE REMOVING A SAFETY LIABILITY FROM THE LANDSCAPE AND ALSO OFFER A MULTITUDE OF RECREATIONAL BENEFITS. THIS PROJECT PROPOSES FULL REMOVAL OF THE IPSWICH MILLS DAM. REMOVAL WOULD RESTORE OR IMPROVE FISH PASSAGE AND HABITAT CONNECTIVITY TO APPROXIMATELY 186 MILES OF UPSTREAM HABITAT, 343 ACRES OF SPAWNING HABITAT AND 13 ACRES OF FRESHWATER TIDAL MARSH. IN ADDITION TO IMPROVED FISH PASSAGE HABITAT, THE PROJECT WILL ALSO RESULT IN IMPROVED WATER QUALITY, FLOOD REDUCTION, LIABILITY REMOVAL, AND RECREATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS. ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT INCLUDE DAM REMOVAL, STABILIZATION AND IN-STREAM ADJUSTMENTS, AS WELL AS STRUCTURAL MITIGATION FOR KEY INFRASTRUCTURE EXPECTED TO IMPACTED BY THE DAM REMOVAL. THIS PROJECT WILL COMPLETE THREE ON-GOING FISH PASSAGE PROJECT BY THE USFWS AND NOAA UPSTREAM, REMOVAL OF THIS FINAL HEAD OF TIDE DAM WILL OPEN THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE IPSWICH WATERSHED.

DESCRIPTION:THIS PROJECT PROVIDES FUNDING TO IPSWICH RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION TO IMPLEMENT ITS PROJECT, WHICH WILL DESIGN, DEMONSTRATE, AND DISSEMINATE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PRACTICES, METHODS, AND TECHNIQUES, THAT WILL SERVE TO INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND ENCOURAGE BEHAVIOR THAT WILL BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE PART OF THE IPSWICH RIVER WATERSHED OR DRINK IPSWICH RIVER WATER, AND IN OTHER NEARBY COMMUNITIES IN ESSEX AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, INCLUDING PEABODY, SALEM, LYNN, LAWRENCE, AND GLOUCESTER IDENTIFIED AS HAVING EJ COMMUNITIES BY THE CLIMATE AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE SCREENING TOOL. THE GRANTEE WILL DO THIS BY CREATING AN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PIPELINE IN IPSWICH RIVER COMMUNITIES THAT 1) ENSURES YOUTH WITH LESS ACCESS TO NATURE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY AND APPRECIATE THEIR DRINKING WATER RESOURCE THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND ARE SUPPORTED BY COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS WHO RECEIVE THEIR OWN TRAINING ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, WATER CONSERVATION, AND INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE (TEK) THAT INFORMS RESILIENCY PLANNING IN THE IPSWICH RIVER WATERSHED; 2) PROVIDES A 7TH GRADE WATERSHED EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT USE LOCAL EXAMPLES AND PROJECTS TO HELP STUDENTS MAKE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN 7TH GRADE SCIENCE STANDARDS AND THEIR COMMUNITY; AND 3) DELIVERS AN EXPANSION OF THE CURRENT INTERNSHIP MODEL THAT FACILITATES CAREER EXPLORATION FOR DISADVANTAGED YOUTH, ENSURING THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ALREADY HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE ENVIRONMENT ARE EMPOWERED TO TAKE ACTION. ACTIVITIES:THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: IPSWICH, SALEM, BEVERLY, PEABODY, LYNN, DANVERS, NORTH READING, READING, NORTH ANDOVER, ANDOVER, WILMINGTON, LAWRENCE, AND GLOUCESTER MA AND PROVIDE 7TH GRADE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND TO TAKE RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED DURING THIS PROJECT PERIOD INCLUDE: - WORKING WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO MONITOR WATER QUALITY IN THE IPSWICH RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES, THROUGH IN-CLASS AND FIELD STUDY PROGRAM FOR 7TH GRADE STUDENTS TESTING WATER SAMPLES - EDUCATING COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL AGES OF THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER CONSERVATION TO HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN THE IPSWICH RIVER WATERSHED THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL PROGRAMMING ON AND OFF THE IPSWICH RIVER - REMOVING BARRIERS TO FLOW, RESTORING WETLANDS, ETC. BY INCLUDING COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN PROACTIVE PREVENTION OF FUTURE WATER QUALITY AND HUMAN HEALTH ISSUES THROUGH RESILIENCY PROJECTS - EXPLORING WATERSHED-WIDE RESILIENCE STRATEGIES, INCLUDING THOSE THAT INCORPORATE INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE (TEK), IN THE GREAT MARSH AND IPSWICH RIVER WATERSHED THAT REDUCE OUR COASTAL COMMUNITIES' VULNERABILITY TO FUTURE FLOODING AND SEA-LEVEL RISE AND INLAND COMMUNITIES' VULNERABILITY TO EXTREME DROUGHT CONDITIONS WHICH STRESS THE IPSWICH RIVER. SUBRECIPIENT:TEN TO TWELVE SUBAWARDS WILL BE GRANTED TO ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATING IN THE FLOATING CLASSROOM. FUNDS MAY BE USED FOR TRANSPORTATION TO THE RIVER AS WELL AS COMMUNITY PROJECTS LIKE PLANTING NATIVE SPECIES, PAINTING STORM DRAINS, OR OTHER APPROVED COMMUNITY-LED PROJECTS. IRWA WORKS WITH MANY YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS AND PLANS TO MAKE ANY ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS SUBRECIPIENTS OF THE EPA EE GRANT. IRWA WILL DETERMINE SUBRECIPIENTS BASED ON WHETHER THE ORGANIZATIONS PRIMARILY SERVE COMMUNITIES LIVING IN THE IPSWICH RIVER WATERSHED OR COMMUNITIES THAT DRINK IPSWICH RIVER WATER, WHETHER THE ORGANIZATIONS' WORK UPLIFTS AND SERVES A) AT-RISK YOUTH, B) COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, C) RECENT ARRIVALS TO THE US, D) MARGINALIZED GROUPS, E) ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES, AND WHETHER THE ORGANIZATIONS DEMONSTRATE A CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT EE ACTIVITIES WITH THE SUPPORT OF IRWA WITHIN THE GRANT TIMELINE. BASED ON THESE CRITERIA AND THE SUCCESS OF PAST COLLABORATIONS, POTENTIAL SUBAWARDEES FOR THIS PROJECT INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: GROUNDWORK LAWRENCE, PATHWAYS F

GRANT AGREEMENT IPSWICH RIVER WATERSHED

GREAT MARSH RESILIENCY OUTREACH AND COORDINATION