SALEM SOUND Coastwatch

As regional service provider for the Massachusetts bays national estuary program (mbp) Salem Sound Coastwatch assisted mbp in the implementation of the ccmp and work plans with the following priorities: 1. Reduce bacterial contamination in Salem Sound 2. Protect and restore eelgrass habitats 3. Enhance understanding of the transport, population dynamics, and impacts of invasive species 4. Prepare for and understand the potential impacts of climate change and sea level rise on coastal ecosystems and communties and enhance education and adaptation efforts 5. Protect and restore emergent wetland habitats (improve condition of salt marsh with buffer habitat improvements, tidal restrictions, protection)

Salem Sound Coastwatch (sscw) received a grant for north american association of environmental educators (naaee). Sscw partners with Salem public schools and the ymca at their federally funded 21st century community learning centers (21st cclc). The 21st cclc goals are to close proficiency/opportunity gaps, increase student engagement,support social and emotional learning, and promote college and career readiness and success. Bringing its expertise in stem (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and enviornmental education, sscw worked with Salem children and educators through out-of-school time programming and expanded day at sites served by the ymca. In addition, a 5-week summer academy was designed, managed and staffed by sscw. Hands-on, place-based experimental learning connected youth and educators to their local watershed and coastal marine ecosystems fostering deeper learning, greater engagement with the world around them, and cultivating a sense of belonging and stewardship.

Salem Sound Coastwatch has a grant from noaa marine debris prevention program to reduce community reliance on single-use plastic. The talking trash for clean ocean leadership project is a service learning opportunity for Salem and lynn high school students. Meeting with sscw staff afterschool, they learn about marine debris and the problem, then design and implement solutions. Salem Sound Coastwatch invites girls,inc of lynn to be its lynn partner in this project. The interns are working on new coastsmart restaurant campaign that encourages restaurants to use more sustainable products, produce a restaurant composting 101 video about composting at the restaurant scale, conduct an evaluation and deploy cigarette butt buns, and create a single-use plastic reduction "ad" campaign. The interns designs posters to be displayed at commuter rail stations and prominent coastal billboard.

The organization conducts research, monitoring and education related to the protection and preservation of the natural resources. Programs include wetlands monitoring, adopt a beach, and invasive specices monitoring and removal. In addition, the organization works with north shore municipalities under its fee for service greenscapes program. School to sea is a watershed and literacy program that works with teachers and students to foster watershed learning and expand ocean and climate lieracy. To engage members of the community, sscw sends out monthly e-newsletters, hosts public presentations and holds an annual fundraising and outreach event race for Salem Sound. Through the year, free public lectures, trainings, walks and school events are conducted.