Engineering With Nature co-hosted a multi-agency workshop on April 25, 2023. The workshop aimed to identify potential collaborators to implement Nature Based Solutions (NBS) in Belle Isle Marsh, which is the largest and last remaining saltmarsh in the greater Boston region. The discussions focused on understanding the opportunities presented by EWN and exploring its linkage with the City of Boston’s Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) goals. It is worth noting that Belle Isle Marsh plays a critical role in providing habitat for numerous listed and endangered species, including the Saltmarsh Sparrow.
At the workshop, the USACE New England District (NAE) and the City of Boston provided an overview of the CSRM study goals in east Boston. Dr. Andrew McQueen presented an overview of NBS and EWN opportunities for coastal urban marshes. Mystic River Watershed Association, Woods Hole Group, and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation provided an overview of the management challenges and opportunities within the marsh. The workshop included over 30 participants from federal, state, academic, and non-profit organizations.
