Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is located on Plum Island, a barrier island along the coast of northern Massachusetts. The mix of habitats—including salt marsh, salt pannes, maritime shrubland, and beach dunes—makes the location especially important for migratory birds. One of the main focuses of the Refuge is to restore habitats and ecosystems to be more resilient to climate change, particularly for salt marshes in the Great Marsh. 
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/parker-river


Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge is oak hickory forest with many forested wetland and tidal estuary tucked inland just west of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Here, fresh riverine waters meet salty oceanic waters allowing a wide variety of plant and animal life to flourish. The Refuge is another important stopping ground for migrating birds to feed, shelter, and in some cases breed. 
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/great-bay

<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">https://www.fws.gov/refuge/parker-river</span>

<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">https://www.fws.gov/refuge/great-bay</span>

Parker River and Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Historically, colonists heavily farmed New England salt marshes to produce salt marsh hay. In the 1700s and 1800s, it was common practice for farmers to dig deep ditches and build berms, altering the salt marsh hydrology. These changes essentially increased drainage and in turn, increased their crop yield.  

Such land alterations are currently causing more frequent flooding, which leads to salt marsh degradation and loss. Signs of this degradation can be large pools, algal blooms, and the conversion of higher, drier marsh into lower, wetter marsh.  

To reverse these effects, the Refuge has been implementing several different salt marsh restoration techniques. In 2020, the site you see in front of you was a permanently flooded pool surrounded by dying vegetation. That April we installed a baby creek, also known as a runnel, to reconnect the pool to tidal flooding. Check out our other Chronolog PRR102, located at the Salt Pannes, to learn more about the importance of tidal waters!
 

Over the next few years, with your help, we hope to observe how the landscape will continue to change in response to the runneling. 

Lot 3 - Marsh Restoration

Vernal pools are considered ephemeral wetlands—they are areas that are only flooded during the wetter seasons, normally winter and spring. During summer and fall, most if not all of the standing water will evaporate. 

These dynamic habitats are home to several animal and plant species that rely on the changing conditions to survive and reproduce. For example, some amphibians rely on these small, temporary bodies of water in order to lay their eggs in an environment free from predators such as fish. 

You can learn more about vernal pools by visiting some these websites:
https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/vernal-pools https://extension.unh.edu/resource/vernal-pools

<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/vernal-pools</span>

<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#1155cc;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;">https://extension.unh.edu/resource/vernal-pools</span>

Great Bay, Upper Peverly Boardwalk - Vernal Pools

 Not only can gardens be beautiful with their different flowers and scents, but they can also support native wildlife like bees, butterflies, and birds. This garden showcases a number of native shrubs that provide nutritious food items such as berries and insects. The flowering plants are also important sources of energy for pollinators. Did you know that pollinating species, like bees and butterflies, play a vital role in making sure that plants are able to reproduce? This service they provide is important for both our backyard gardens and our agricultural fields.  

The native garden is designed and maintained by the Friends of Parker River NWR, and Refuge volunteers. Depending on what month you visit, the garden will look different as most species bloom and produce seeds at varying times of the year. This makes for a more attractive garden, for both us and the wildlife!   

HQ - Native Garden

The beach in front of you is an important habitat for multiple species of shorebirds. They will raise their young here, or stop to fuel up before their long migration to South America or the Arctic. The sandy shoreline, however, is constantly changing with both the winds and the waves. This dynamic nature of the beach makes infrastructure, such as this observation platform, more vulnerable, but it is a crucial characteristic for beach-dune systems to remain resilient to climate change.  

Dunes also act as a protective transition zone between the ocean and inland habitats, such as woody shrubland and maritime forest. As sea level rises, the dunes will become even more important in maintaining these diverse areas for wildlife, however they are also likely to be eroded at a faster rate. 

Lot 5 Observation Deck - Beach Dunes

 Depending on when you visit, you may observe standing water where wading birds or waterfowl can gather. Other times, the mudflat will be exposed and you might spot shorebirds searching for food. Flooding by tidal water is crucial for a salt marsh to keep up with sea level rise. The marshes at Parker River Refuge are at a relatively high elevation, and historically flood once a month. This flood water carries and deposits sediment up onto the marsh, which helps increase its elevation. The flood water is also rich in nutrients and invertebrates, providing wildlife with a reliable source of food.  

In general, a salt panne is a shallow depression in the marsh surface where water can pool and evaporate. The salt panne in front of you is man-made, but mimics the hydrology of a natural salt panne. Add your photo helps to see how the water level and wildlife use changes in different months.   


Parker River and Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Massachusetts, New Hampshire

5 chronologs managed by Parker River and Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Salt Pannes - Tidal Waters

Great Bay, Upper Peverly Boardwalk - Vernal Pools

Lot 5 Observation Deck - Beach Dunes

Lot 3 - Marsh Restoration

HQ - Native Garden

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