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UMASS/AMHERST

3120bb D27D AIMS 2

UNITED STATES DBPAEQCME3ST OF TEE INTERIOR

FISH ABE WILDLIFE SERVICE
BUREAU OF SPORT FISHERIES MD WILDLIFE
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

WETLAKI& INYEKTC^Y OF MASSACHUSETTS

■■ ■

October, I95I*
Revised October, 1959

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

Purpose and Scope of Inventory 1

Procedures 3

Coverage 6

Description of Wetland Types 6

Waterfowl Values of Wetland Types by Physiographic Regions 9

Contribution of Wetland Types to Other Wildlife 11

Land-Use Changes Affecting Wetlands 11

Improvement of Wetlands for Wildlife 16

Summary 17

Tables and Plates

i"p

Table 1- -State summary of wetland classification and evaluation 12

Table 2 — General values of wetland types to other wildlife 13

Table 3 — Wetlands vulnerability comparison - 1955 - 1959 15

Plate I — -Physiographic Regions 5
Plate II — Wetland Inventory Map

WETLANDS I3WENT0RY OF MASSACHUSETTS

Purpose and Scope of Inventory

In 1953-5^j &s a result of increasing losses of wetlands
of value to wildlife due to agricultural drainage, filling for
industry, housing, and recreation, a national inventory of the
remaining wetlands was undertaken by the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service with the cooperation of various State fish and
game agencies . The purpose of the inventory was to determine the
location, quality, and acreage of the remaining wildlife -wetlands .
Data collected were published in 1956" in Wetlands of the United
States, Circular 39, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington,
D. C

The national inventory, due to time and manpower
limitations, had as its goal a survey of those wetland regions
which contained 90 percent of the wetlands of importance to water-
fowl in the State. Thus, in Massachusetts, all of the wetlands in
the State were covered except in Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire
Counties where only the wetlands along the Connecticut River were
included. Data gathered on that survey appeared in the report
Wetlands Inventory of Massachusetts, published in October 195^ •

In 1955 > two years after the original wetlands inventory
was made, another survey was conducted to determine the vulnera-
bility status of all high and moderate value wetlands in Massachu-
setts . The primary purpose of the vulnerability survey was to
determine which wetlands were in danger of being destroyed and what

the decimating factors were. Each high or moderate value wetland
was rated and mapped according to the following definitions:
Class 1 - A wetland in which a known agent is adversely-
affecting the area for wildlife or is expected
to do so within a 5-year period.
Class 2 - A wetland in which no known agent is adversely
affecting the area for wildlife, hut in which
there is a possibility that some factor will be-
come operative in the near future.
Class 3 - A wetland in which no loss of value is anticipated.
In June 1959> a resurvey of the State's high and
moderate value wetlands was conducted for the purpose of deter-
mining the amount and location of wetlands destroyed since 1955
and to consider their present vulnerability to destruction. This
survey also included all of the coastal marshes evaluated as low
and negligible from the waterfowl standpoint. The inclusion of
these wetlands was due to recent discoveries of their importance
as spawning and nursery areas for finfish and shellfish. Also,
tidal wetlands and estuarine areas are believed to have a signifi-
cant role in the accumulation and release of basic nutrients
essential to maintenance of marine life of great commercial and
recreational value.

Collection of data was made possible through the fine
cooperation of personnel of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries
and Game, including Charles McLaughlin, Director, and E. Michael
Pollack, Allan Kennedy, Joseph A. Hagar, Emerson Chandler,

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Russell A. Cookingham, and James M. Sheppard; William G. Sheldon,
Massachusetts Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit; personnel of
the U. S. Soil Conservation Service, including Dr. Benjamin Isgor,
William H. Coates, Christopher G. Moustakis, Roger C. Williams,
John P. Westcott, Carl 0. Clark, Clarence W. Parker, Rino J.
Roffinoli, Gayland E. Folley, Wilson 0. Hill, William F. Warren,
William N. Andrews, Emerson D. Mowry, and Vernon F. Johnson; and
Oscar T. Doane, Jr., Superintendent of the Cape Cod Mosquito Con-
trol Project.

Procedures

The bulk of the data presented herein were gathered by
the following methods . Geographic areas of importance to water-
fowl were outlined on a State map by State waterfowl technicians.
These areas were then expanded in several cases so as to be de-
limited by major political boundaries. Within the major areas,
all wetland units of kO acres or more were determined from and
outlined on U.S.G.S. topographic maps.

Each wetland area was classified as to type.—' Classi-
fications of inland areas were determined by stereoscopic exami-
nation of aerial photographs, with frequent field checks to
verify or correct the results. Aerial photographs were inadequate
in revealing classifications of coastal areas; consequently,
classifications of almost all coastal areas were determined from

1/ The 20 wetland types occurring in this Country are described in
the Fish and Wildlife Service's "Classification of Wetlands in
the United States. Special Scientific Report: Wildlife No. 20,
June 1953."

field examinations. When possible, delineation of the various
types was made on topographic maps and acreages determined "by
planimetering or by use of a grid.

Sounds and bays of importance to waterfowl were indi-
cated on U. S. Coast and Geodetic maps by State personnel, and the
acreage of these areas was computed by planimetering. The acreage
totals of shallow coastal waters is subject to adjustment, since
it is impossible for State personnel to locate exactly all areas
and since all the bottom within the outlined areas is not neces-
sarily important to waterfowl. However, the compilations do indi-
cate the extent of the highly valuable offshore feeding areas.
Coastal areas of importance to waterfowl lying beyond mean low
water are not included in the summaries but are quite extensive
and of prime importance to wintering and migrating populations of
diving ducks, especially in the Cape Cod region.

A waterfowl value rating of High, Moderate, Low, or
Negligible was assigned to each wetland unit by State technicians-
who had knowledge of local waterfowl use of the area. All phases
of the life cycles of waterfowl species were considered of equal
importance in determining values based on waterfowl use.

The reliability of the data are considered to be good
insofar as the requisites of the present survey are concerned.

The procedures for conducting the vulnerability sur-
veys of 1955 and 1959 were similar to those used in making the
original wetlands inventory.

PI ate I

«>

o»

•)

Coverage

The geographic areas which were delineated for inclu-
sion in the inventory are shown on plate I. All individual
wetlands having an area of kO acres or more within the sections
have been classified and evaluated. The location and waterfowl
values of specific areas are indicated on plate II.

In the eleven counties where complete coverage was
made, the total acreage of wetland areas kO acres or more in
size amounts to 73 percent of the total wetlands of all sizes
indicated on U.S.G.S. topographic maps for those counties. For
the entire State, it is estimated that there are about 220,000
acres of wetland (exclusive of open water types) included in
areas kO acres or more in size, of which approximately 205,000
acres, or 93 percent were inventoried.

Description of Wetland Types

To assure nationwide uniformity in the data to be
collected, the Fish and Wildlife Service set up a classification
system for the wetlands of the country. Four main groups were
established as follows: Inland Fresh areas with 8 types; Inland
Saline with 3 types; Coastal Fresh with 3 types; and Coastal
Saline with 6 types. Of the 20 wetland types, 12 are reported
on in the present inventory and 3 others are present in the
State but in insignificant acreages . These types are described
below and their value to waterfowl indicated.

Type 1 - Seasonally flooded basins and flats - This type is found
on river bottoms and on the margins of lakes, ponds, and reservoirs.

Vegetation varies greatly in Massachusetts, ranging from bottom-
land woods to herbaceous growths . It is utilized by waterfowl
for feeding area when flooded.

Type 2 - Fresh meadows - The soil of this type is waterlogged
and it contains such vegetation as sedges, grasses, threesquares,
and various broad- leaved plants. It is used mostly as feeding
ground by waterfowl, but where favorable conditions occur, some
nesting takes place.

Type 3 ~ Shallow fresh marshes - This type borders lakes, ponds,
and deep marshes, or it may fill shallow wet areas. The vegeta-
tion is composed of such species as cattails, bulrushes, and
arrowheads. It is a very important type, used for nesting and
feeding.

Type k - Deep fresh marshes - This type is covered by from 6
inches to 3 feet of water and contains vegetation of cattails,
wildrice, and bulrushes. It is the most important inland type
for waterfowl and is used for feeding and, in some cases,
nesting.

Type 5 - Open fresh water - This type comprises inland water
areas which are of variable depth, up to 10 feet in lakes, ponds,
and reservoirs. Vegetation consists of sago pondweeds, water
lilies, and other aquatic forms. When fringed by marsh or when
aquatic vegetation is plentiful, this type is of high value for
waterfowl .

Type 6 - Shrub swamps - The soil in this type is usually water-
logged and it may be covered with as much as 6 inches of water.

It contains such vegetation as alders, buttohbush, dogwoods, etc.
This type is not too important as far as waterfowl are concerned,
although wood and "black ducks feed in it occasionally when it
borders permanent open water or contains shallow pools.
Type 7 ■ Wooded swamps - Soil is waterlogged and often covered
with as much as 1 foot of water. Vegetation consists of trees
such as red maple, ash, and elm. This type is important as a
nesting and feeding area to the wood and "black ducks when it
"borders permanent open water.

Type 8 - Begs - This type is not too common in Massachusetts. It
is estimated that there are less than 1,000 acres in the entire
State. The acid soil is usually waterlogged and contains both
woody and herbaceous plants of the heath family, as well as sedges
and sphagnum moss. Like the wooded swamp, it is important to
waterfowl only where it borders permanent open water.
Type 12 - Shallow fresh marshes - Similar to Type 3 of the Inland
series in physical characteristics, this type borders coastal
marshes where at high tide it is covered with as much as 6 inches
of water. The major plant species are bulrush, threesquare, and
cattail. Where Giant Reed, Phragmites, is not too dense, it is
important as cover for migrating and nesting ducks and as a
feeding ground.

Type 13 - Deep fresh marshes - In this type the soil is covered at
average high tide with as much as 3 feet of water. It contains
such vegetation as wildrice, bulrush, and pickerelweed and is of
high value as feeding and nesting ground for ducks .

Type Ik - Open fresh water - This consists of water of variable
depth located in tidal rivers and sounds. Vegetation is composed
of sago pondweed, naiads, duckweeds, etc. It is an important type
for waterfowl due to its food producing ability.
Type 16 - Salt meadows - Although the soil of this type is water-
logged, it is only covered by water when there are storms or
higher than average tides . The vegetation is largely saltmeadow
cordgrass with patches of saltgrass and in the fresher parts,
threesquares and fleabanes. This type is of value to waterfowl
if it contains ponds and potholes.

Type 18 - Regularly flooded salt marshes - The soil of this type
is covered at average high tide with as much as 3 feet of water.
Vegetation is mainly saltmarsh cordgrass . It is used very much
by feeding ducks and geese, particularly where ponds containing
eelgrass and widgeongrass are present.

Type 19 ~ Sounds and bays - For the purpose of this inventory,
this open salt-water type is divided into two parts. Type 19
is the area exposed at mean low tide and Type 19-P is the open
water seaward from the mean low tide. Type 19, mud flats, may
contain sparse colonies of eelgrass, but vegetation is usually
lacking. It is of value to wintering ducks, which feed on the
animal life found therein.

Waterfowl Values of Wetland Types
by Physiographic Regions

Plate I shows the locations of the six physiographic

regions in Massachusetts. Although some of the wetland areas

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included in this inventory are located within each of these physi-
ographic regions, over 80 percent of the total wetland acreage
inventoried and practically all the high value habitat is included
in the eastern third of Massachusetts, in two physiographic re-
gions, the New England Seaboard Lowland and the Northeastern
Coastal Plain.

Waterfowl values of the wetlands in the Northeastern
Coastal Plain in Massachusetts are due mainly to migration and
wintering use of mudflat and saltmarsh areas along the coast.
The inland fresh type of wetland is not very numerous and the
few that were inventoried were of comparatively low value for
waterfowl, with the exception of a few small areas on Nantucket
and Martha's Vineyard Islands.

The New England Seaboard Lowland region in Massachu-
setts contains all of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Bristol coun-
ties and the major portion of Middlesex and Plymouth Counties.
Both inland and coastal type wetlands of considerable importance
to waterfowl occur in this region. The coastal types are impor-
tant mainly for migration use by waterfowl and, to a lesser extent,
wintering and nesting; and the inland types are important for
nesting black ducks and wood ducks with some migration and
wintering use by various other species.

The four remaining physiographic regions show no great
variation as to amount of wetland or relative value. The impor-
tance to waterfowl of wetlands in these regions is mainly
dependent upon resting values, especially along the various river

and stream valleys. Away from the stream valleys, most of the
wetland areas are of the wooded or shrub swamp type, with little
or no open water and minor waterfowl significance. Table 1
summarizes the acreage and value of the wetlands inventoried

in 195^.

Contribution of Wetland Types to Other Wildlife
Wetlands furnish habitat for a variety of fur animals
and other mammals, game birds, and shore birds. Listed in
table 2 are the more important species in Massachusetts and an
attempted evaluation of their reliance upon the various wetland
types. An evaluation of this nature is particularly difficult
in that the association and interrelation of the various types
are often of more importance than the presence or absence of
any one particular type. However, the table should serve to
emphasize the importance of wetland habitat in sustaining the
wildlife species of the State.

Land-Use Changes Affecting Wetlands
Until recently most of the land-use changes affecting
wetlands were confined largely to the coastal type in Massachu-
setts. Mosquito control drainage of salt marsh areas in the
past has caused loss of original small, scattered open water
areas and change cf deep salt marsh to salt meadow, all to the
detriment of the marsh as waterfowl habitat. Industrial and,
to some extent, domestic pollutants have detracted from the value
of many mudflat areas and also, in some cases, have destroyed or

Table 1. — -Summary of wetland classification

and

evaluat

ion - Mass

achusetts

Wetland

Wetland Acreage

by Waterfowl Value

Total Acreage

Category

Type*

High

Moderate

Low

Negligible

By Types

Inland Fresh.

«M M

115

150

360

265

1,705

2,300

1,260

5,530

1,^90

1,955

1,505

155

5,105

1,440

410

520

2,385

590

800

730

2,170

2,565

3,205

8,800

2,975

17,5^5

355

4,720

16,770

25,865

V7,710

«•*•

—

Coastal Fresh

505

865

—

1,375

650

370

—

1,130

170

—

175

Coastal Saline

11,^95

14,620

6,145

mm mm

32,260

2,340

2,835

2,655

—

7,830

18,380

^330

—

22,710

State Totals

39,205 35,830 40,790 30,485

146,310

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altered vegetative growth in both fresh and saline coastal marsh
areas.

The 1959 vulnerability survey indicated that this trend
is still continuing and that inland wetlands are now being
affected. Table 3 shows the comparison between 1955 and 1959* A
total of 87,229 acres were covered in 1959 • The data does not
include acreages of Types lk and 19 and those acreages of Type 5
which are now considered to be permanent water areas.

The table shows that 830 acres of high and moderate
value waterfowl wetlands were destroyed in the past froyear3>: .'■;.
amounting to slightly less than one percent of the total. Major
causes of wetland destruction were found to be ditching and
draining - 270 acres, highway construction - 162 acres, trash
disposal areas - 126 acres, housing developments - 95 acres,
industrial developments - 71 acres, parking lot construction -
20 acres, and miscellaneous fill - 16 acres.

As stated previously the coastal tidal wetlands of
low and negligible waterfowl value were also surveyed in 1959*
Of a total of 9>^5 acres, ^9 acres were found destroyed, all
but 10 acres being located on Cape Cod. Housing was the chief
destructive agent totalling 213 acres . Dredge filling for un-
known purposes, presumably housing, totalled 13^- acres, erosion
destroyed 56 acres, marina developments - kO acres, trash dis-
posal sites - kO acres, and fill for a parking lot - six acres.
The overall total in both categories was 1,319 acres or l.k per-
cent of the wetlands surveyed.

Table 3* — Wetlands vulnerability comparison of Massachusetts

high and moderate waterfowl wetland values 1955 - 1959

County

i 1955

Vulnerability

1959
Vulnerability

Acres Lost
Since 1955

Class - Acres

Class - Ac]

*es

Barnstable

6,670

1,750

170

6,526

1,658

Berkshire

1,025

—

Bristol

8,896

340

8,896

340

N W

Essex

1,038

23,120

2,380

95Q

22,000

3,400

188

Hampden

Hampshire

200

—

Middlesex

5,490

550

3,640

590

6,105

2,912

Norfolk

220

4,450

2,570

344

4,976

1,760

160

Plymouth

1,110

16,680

1,260

310

17,417

1,260

Worcester

640

370

4,790

640

2,145

2,740

275

STATE TOTALS

8,^98

60,776

17,955

3,039

68,065

15,295

830

Improvement of Wetlands for Wildlife

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Game now
owns or controls 5^3 acres of wetland habitat embracing practi-
cally all types. Several other State agencies also own wetland
areas. Among the private conservation agencies the efforts of
the Massachusetts Audubon Society and the Sudbury Valley Trustees
are particularly outstanding. Wetlands owned are about 2000
and 400 acres respectively. The United States Fish and Wildlife
Service owns or controls 8,01^ acres of waterfowl wetland habi-
tat in Massachusetts.

The State of Massachusetts has been a pioneer in
waterfowl research work. Its work on the wood duck has been
particularly outstanding. The methods developed by the Division
of Fisheries and Game for the erection of artificial nesting
boxes have been used by most of the States in the range of the
wood duck. This large scale project has been carried out by
the Division in cooperation with sportsmen's organizations.

Initial steps have been taken by the State to effect
a small marsh development program on inland areas . The value
of these and other projects should serve as an incentive for an
intensified future management program designed to increase and
improve waterfowl habitat.

To preserve and possibly increase the value of water-
fowl habitat in Massachusetts, an active program of wetland
acquisition and development would be desirable. The acquisition

of land, especially in eastern Massachusetts, for waterfowl
habitat and public shooting will be difficult due to high real
estate costs.

Summary

The wetlands of Massachusetts are distributed through-
out the State, with the more valuable waterfowl areas concen-
trated along the coast and the major rivers and streams. Migra-
tion and wintering usage are the primary determinants of water-
fowl values, while nesting is of some importance throughout the
State. In 1955 and 3-959 all high and moderate value wetlands,
kO acres and over, in the State of Massachusetts were surveyed
as to vulnerability status . In addition, all tidal wetlands
units were covered by the 1959 survey.

Results of these surveys reveal that about 1 percent
of the original high and moderate waterfowl wetlands have been
destroyed in the past k years. In addition, there has also been
a loss of kQ<$ acres of tidal marshes of low and negligible value
to waterfowl. The total loss of wetlands in the areas surveyed
was 1,319 acres or l.k percent.

Although State and Federal agencies and private
conservation groups own or control several important wetland
areas, an active program of wetland acquisition and development-
is desirable to preserve waterfowl habitat in Massachusetts .

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