The Hellcat North Pool impoundment and associated cattail marsh has over the past several decades been among the most vibrant wetlands in the state. One of the larger remaining fresh marshes on the North Shore, it has provided critical habitat during the breeding season for a number of state listed Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern species of birds, including Pied-billed Grebe, American Bittern, Least Bittern, Northern Harrier, King Rail, and Common Moorhen. Most of these have been documented breeding there, and the presence of others during the breeding season has led to strong suspicions that they may have bred. In addition, both Virginia and Sora Rails (newly proposed for state listing), species in clear decline in New England, have bred in this same marsh. All may utilize it during migration. I dare say that no other single site in the entire Northeast could boast as many state listed rare bird species over the last thirty years! Northern Harrier, in severe decline throughout Massachusetts and now almost entirely confined to a few Cape Cod sites, and the islands, was confirmed successfully nesting in the North Pool cattail marsh the past two seasons, the first known breeding in Essex County in nearly forty years! In addition, several species of ducks regularly breed in the North Pool, including Black Duck, Mallard, and Gadwall. Blue-winged Teal also formerly bred here, and thousand of dabbling ducks use the area for feeding and roosting in migration and winter, including American Wigeons, Northern Pintails, and Green-winged Teals. Notably, hundreds of egrets and ibises, and tens or even hundreds of thousands of swallows and blackbirds often utilize the marsh for tremendous evening roosts in late summer and fall. I could go on but I think you get my point that this has been, and still is, a very, very important site for birds. This is the site being proposed for destruction. The entire Great Marsh, of which the Hellcat North Pool is an integral part, was one of the first sites selected in the recently completed Massachusetts Important Bird Area Program nomination process.
I therefore am compelled to write regarding the proposed destruction of the North Pool and associated fresh marsh, and the so-called restoration of a salt marsh in this area. As a serious student of the refuges birds and natural history for thirty years, it is my opinion that the destruction/conversion of this fresh marsh impoundment would be a very ill-advised decision. My argument against this proposal is not merely about the feasibility of such a plan, which is itself dubious, but more fundamentally with it's rectitude. I think the primary question that ought to be asked, and must be answered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and other advocates, is whether this dramatic and radical proposed change will enhance wildlife diversity and numbers on the refuge, or diminish them. The answer is simple. It will clearly do the latter.
The impetus for this proposal was the staffs frustration in preventing the spread of the foreign invasive plant species in the marsh. It is true that this particular fresh marsh (as well as others on the refuge or those throughout the state for that matter) has been severely degraded in the past fifteen or so years by the incursion of invasive non-native species, particularly Phragmites and Purple Loosestrife, and this degradation has been a major factor in the decline and/or recent disappearance of many of the aforementioned rare bird species from the marsh. However, I also believe that mismanagement of water levels in these impoundments over the years, such as the drawing down of water at inappropriate times, such as in the spring at the height of the nesting season, and when the base of cattails most need to be immersed in water, has been a significant factor in the degradation, as has the relatively recent routine and deliberate allowance of salt water into these pools by the refuge management, and simply from a gradual filling in by sediment and by the process of plant decomposition over the years.
While these invasive plant species have indeed been spreading and causing a general degradation to the marsh, it was in my opinion the refuge's own Moist Soil Management practices initiated in the mid 1980's that aggravated the situation. These practices included a systematic regimen of lowering the water levels in the spring (!), all meant to improve the growth of certain aquatic plants (such as sedges, rushes, Panicum, etc.) for the sole purpose of providing forage conditions for fall migrating ducks. This was at the direct expense of the cattail associated marsh birds such as bitterns and rails. The lowered water levels and exposed mud in spring and early summer only further served to encourage the growth of the undesirable invasives, Purple Loosestrife and Phragmites, and discouraged the growth of cattails and other native emergents. This myopic, uninformed and unilateral management exclusively for migratory ducks was, and continues to be, the essential error in the management of the refuge impoundments. Ironically, dense growths of Phragmites and loosestrife was the (predictable) result of this type of impoundment management, so that even their shortsighted goal of managing exclusively for migratory ducks has failed.
Originally created back in the 1940's for the purpose of encouraging breeding Black Ducks, water levels in the pools were initially held high back in the early years (1950-70's) when it was believed that this was the most beneficial habitat for waterfowl. And indeed it was! This period coincides precisely with the time when all of the refuge impoundments were at their most vibrant, a fact to which many local veteran birders can personally attest, with rank cattail growth, and with many pairs of breeding Blue-winged Teals, Northern Shovelers, Ruddy Ducks, literally dozens of families of both Sora and Virginia Rails, numerous Moorhens, American Coot, Pied-billed Grebes and both Least and American Bitterns, fall breeding in the refuge impoundments. The simple fact is that if you are managing for cattail associated species (bitterns, rails, breeding ducks) you must encourage cattails, which means keeping the water levels high in spring and early summer. This has not been the objective of the recent Parker River managers, which have adopted the disastrous Moist Soil Management procedures at this and other sites.
Conversely, little is to be gained by converting the area to salt marsh, but much will be lost. With many thousands of acres of salt marsh surrounding the area, another 100 acres of salt marsh is of comparatively low value. None of the above mentioned state listed bird species are nearly as likely to breed in a salt marsh. Even a comparatively poor quality fresh marsh is in my view superior to an equivalent area of salt marsh on THIS refuge. The newfound alleged goal recently cited by the refuge management of providing habitat for Partners in Flight ranked bird species as a part of a regional and national priority, namely Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow and Seaside Sparrow is unlikely to be successful. One very possible outcome of an attempted conversion may merely result in a brackish marsh, which in Massachusetts are typically depauperate of bird numbers and diversity. These sparrows are found only in pure salt marshes in Massachusetts and will not utilize a brackish marsh for breeding. In addition, these species are only ranked by PIF because they are "habitat restricted", they are far from endangered in Massachusetts or New England, and for that reason are not in any way state listed by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife. In fact, Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow is abundant in the Great Marsh; Seaside Sparrow, a more southerly species at the northern fringe of its range here has increased locally over the past 30 years. Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow (of the subspecies subvirgatus) is a more northerly species breeding south to New Hampshire, and has yet to be documented breeding in MA. Species that are truly endangered are those whose habitat will be eliminated if the North Pool does not remain a fresh marsh, including Pied-billed Grebe, American and Least Bittern, Northern Harrier, King Rail, and Common Moorhen, all of which have occurred here, most of which have bred here, and all of which are state listed by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.
Many of these Typha (cattail) marsh species are ephemeral, present some years, absent other years, even when habitat appears suitable. This has been well documented at other sites in the state with species like Pied-billed Grebes, Least Bitterns, and King Rails, among others. Populations may disappear for several seasons only to reappear again for reasons that are not clear. One thing that is clear is that if the fresh marsh and pool are gone there will be NO chance for returning grebes, bitterns, rails, moorhens, etc.
Indeed, mismanagement of these impoundments by the current refuge staff is a continued source of frustration. In recent years, the regular opening of the impoundment water gates (only installed in 1988), allowing the free flow of salt water from the Plum Island Sound into these fresh water systems with the express goal of eliminating not only loosestrife and Phragmites, but also the cattails, and the subsequent draining of the pools and lowering of the water table (even in spring during the breeding season) on the out tide, the refuge management has effectively, and in my opinion deliberately, poisoned the fresh marsh flora and fauna, causing the severe decline of cattail growth, and essentially eliminating Amphibian populations. American Toads were formerly abundant in the North Pool and their trilling calls were nearly deafening in spring. The state endangered Spadefoot Toad (Scaphiopus holbrookii) has bred in the North Pool, remarkably the northernmost known site in North America. Leopard and Green Frogs were common. All are now apparently extirpated from the deliberate allowance of salt water into the pool by the refuge management, and the marsh is literally now silent of herps in spring.
Every fall the staff mows not just the Phragmites, but also the cattails, at all three refuge pools. Last fall I watched as they mowed the cattails in the vicinity of the North Shores only nesting pair of Northern Harriers. Phragmites, which does quite well in brackish and salt systems (as evidenced by the flourishing and expanding stands throughout the Great Marsh) is now rampant in the North Pool. By systematically and deliberately poisoning this system with salt water for the past several (five?) years, causing the decline of Common Cattail (Typha latifolia), the staff can now make the claim that the pool is not working as a fresh marsh and thereby advance their agenda for this project. Your federal tax dollars at work.
The North Pool Impoundment provides a very important buffer between the salt-water Plum Island Sound and the Hellcat fresh-water water table. The Hellcat Swamp thickets and Maritime forest provide a critically important feeding and resting site for the full gamut of neotropical landbirds. Here migrants including flycatchers, vireos, thrushes, and warblers, among others, can rest and feed, restoring fat reserves that provide the necessary energy to complete their migration. Migratory fallouts in these thickets can be amazing indeed to the delight of local birders. Shockingly, a Summary Report and map regarding the proposal, recently completed by Normandeau Associates, Inc, an environmental consulting firm engaged by the refuge, shows that removing a portion of the dike and allowing an unrestricted normal high tide into what is now the North Pool, which is precisely the proposal being put forth, will cause the tidal innundation of much of the current Hellcat swamp along the west side of the road!!! This of course will immediately kill all of the woody vegetation in this area. In several places the tides will reach nearly to the road itself in the vicinity of the crosswalk. In addition, much of the field south of the North Pool Overlook and in the vicinity of the stone boundary marker will be inundated during normal high tides. Astronomical storm tides will be much higher still.
Even if a second protective dike is created surrounding the immediate perimeter of the Hellcat Swamp woodland, I fear that the freshwater aquifer necessary to support the Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) and Red Maple Swamps may be compromised by an intrusion of salt water, especially during a storm surge of salt water during an astronomical high tide which may still severely damage the Hellcat Swamp woody vegetation.
I sense that there may be a misguided restoration philosophy at play here, a view held by some ecologists, and perhaps by some advisors to this project. Such a philosophy seeks to restore habitat to its original condition, so called, presumably meaning before man interfered. Thus they advocate the elimination of a man-made fresh-water impoundment as artificial, no matter how beneficial to wildlife, even if its elimination leads to a depletion of wildlife numbers and diversity, such as in this instance. Such a view is clearly anti-management, and negates the very real and demonstrable benefits that have been derived (and documented) from many wildlife management practices in the U.S. As an example, in New England, grasslands are now actively being managed to maintain habitat for such rare and local species as Upland Sandpiper and Grasshopper Sparrow. If consistent, the restoration philosophy would presumably be opposed to such practices and advocate allowing these areas to develop into mature forests, as once enveloped most of New England, despite the loss of these rare species.
Unfortunately, some of the consultants to this project are seriously tied to salt marsh restoration. It is what they do. It most cases where existing but degraded salt marshes have been restored great work has been done. But some of these folks don't really seem to consider or in my view particularly seem to care about fresh water endangered species or seemingly comprehend that fresh marsh habitat and associated bird species are the more critically endangered.
The refuge will be a poorer place if the North Pool fresh-water marsh is destroyed. It will irrefutably be poorer in species diversity as a result. Little will be gained even if the area can be successfully converted to a real salt marsh, which is a far from certain outcome. The result of a passive restoration, simply breaching the dike and allowing in the tide may be a hundred acre monoculture bed of Phragmites.
This brings me to the issue of the refuge management deliberately introducing salt water over what is now many years into the fresh systems both at the Hellcat North Pool impoundment and at Stage Island Pool (yet management contradictorily claims they want to manage this pool as a fresh marsh). This has been a terrible and disastrous policy as outlined above. While it has killed off many of the cattails and all of the once abundant amphibians. It has not hindered the Phragmites at all. It has devastated the freshwater ecosystems. It is my opinion that the management, in its frustration, continues to do this for the express purpose of further poisoning and degrading the fresh marsh. The more degraded, the more they can make the claim that "it's not working as a fresh marsh". The current introduction of salt water into both the North Pool and State Island Pool should cease immediately.
Finally, I obviously disagree that the refuge has exhausted all efforts to maintain the fresh marsh as it claims. I'm told that there is money available for fresh marsh restoration just as there is for salt marsh restoration. Surrounded by thousands of acres of salt marsh, what is to be gained by another hundred acres of brackish or salt, even if successful. Conversely, little is to be gained by converting the area to salt marsh, but much will be lost. A fresh marsh is a far more valuable asset than a salt or brackish marsh at this site, more valuable in terms of providing habitat for state listed species, and more valuable in terms of overall diversity of biota. These facts are incontestable.
If you agree, I urge all concerned Massachusetts birders and naturalists to call or write to the following to express opposition to this proposal.
1. Janet Kennedy (refuge manager) Parker River National Wildlife Refuge 261 Northern Boulevard, Plum Island Newburyport, Massachusetts 01950 978-465-5753 email: Janet_Kennedy@fws.gov
2. Mamie A. Parker Northeast Regional Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 300 Westgate Center Drive Hadley, MA 01035 413-253-8200 413-253-8300 email: Mamie_Parker@fws.gov
3. Ellen Roy Herzfelder, Secretary Executive Office of Environmental Affairs 251 Causeway Street, 9th Floor Boston, Massachusetts 02114 Phone: (617) 626-1000 FAX: (617) 626-1181
4. Thomas French Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program Division of Fisheries & Wildlife North Drive Westborough, MA 01581. Phone: (508) 792-7270 x 163 Fax: (508) 792-7821. email: tom.french@state.ma.us
5. Laura Johnson, President Massachusetts Audubon Society 208 South Great Road Lincoln, MA 01773 781-259-9500 or 800-AUDUBON
and your local, state, and federal legislators. To quickly determine all of your elected officials and find contact info go to:
http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.phpIf our benign neglect or silent acquiescence prevails while sites like this are destroyed by the very government agencies delegated and paid by us to protect and manage them, then we may well be watching idly by as Pied-billed Grebes, bitterns, harriers, and rails slip away into oblivion in New England. In their stead we will have another 100 acres of who knows what where the North Pool cattail marsh once stood.
Sincerely, Richard S. Heil 20 Mac Arthur Circle, Peabody, MA 01960 Massachusetts Important Bird Area Technical Committee Massachusetts Avian Records Committee Bird Observer-Records Staff rsheil@juno.com