Rumney Marsh

Every Marsh has a Story

Rumney Marsh is a coastal saltwater marsh located approximately five miles north of Boston, Massachusetts. The marsh, formed about 10,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age, is surrounded on three sides by densely developed communities. Often called nurseries of the sea, coastal marshes provide a home to a variety of wildlife. At Rumney Marsh, dozens of species of fish and shellfish live out some portion of their lives. Striped bass and flounder are both found at Rumney Marsh.

Rumney Marsh encompasses approximately 2,274 acres - that's larger than the size of 1,700 football fields. The area has been identified by the Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern due to its quality, uniqueness, and significance. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service characterized Rumney Marsh as "one of the most biologically significant estuaries in Massachusetts north of Boston." Coastal marshes are crucial to the environmental health of the region, filtering nutrients and pollution from the water, protecting communities from rising sea level and harsh storms, supporting breeding grounds for commercially valuable fish, and offering recreational opportunities.

EPA has used GIS mapping tools for nearly two decades to monitor and track Rumney Marsh protection and restoration efforts. This technology helps depict where the marsh has been historically filled (almost 50% has been filled since 1803), track the status of ongoing restoration projects, and illuminate areas in need of further protection and restoration. Rumney Marsh has come a long way but there is more work to be done.