Coastal Salt Marsh Symposium
Protecting, Restoring & Monitoring Salt Marsh
Change in Pleasant Bay & Beyond
Thank You for a Successful Coastal Salt Marsh Symposium!
Our Coastal Salt Marsh Symposium, held on March 30, drew nearly 100 attendees for an afternoon of thoughtful discussion about the future of our coastal ecosystems.
We were grateful for an engaged audience and a lineup of expert speakers who shared valuable insights on salt marsh science, restoration, and resilience. The strong turnout and lively conversation reflected a shared commitment to protecting these vital habitats.
Event recordings will be available soon, along with additional materials.
Thank you to all who participated and helped make the symposium such a success.
Other presentation materials will be posted here as they become available.
Why Salt Marshes Matter
Salt marshes quietly protect our communities every day. They absorb storm surge, filter pollutants, stabilize shorelines, support fisheries, and provide essential wildlife habitat.
But across Cape Cod — including Pleasant Bay — marshes are struggling to keep pace with sea-level rise and increasing environmental pressures.
This symposium brings together scientists, engineers, and municipal leaders to translate cutting-edge research into practical solutions communities can implement now.
What You'll Learn
Understanding
the Challenge
What is happening to Pleasant Bay’s salt marshes — and why.
Learn how sea-level rise, sediment supply, and hydrology are shaping marsh health.
Proven
Restoration Strategies
Restoration That Works
Explore real-world projects like Muddy Creek, Frost Fish Creek, Namequoit River, and Living Shoreline projects.
Learn what measurable outcomes tell us about effective intervention.
Tools
for Action
Practical Tools for Communities
Clear guidance on thin-layer deposition, runneling, marsh migration planning, and new and evolving state regulations towns can implement today.
Featured Speakers
Sophia Fox, Ph.D.
Aquatic Ecologist
Cape Cod National Seashore
Keynote Speaker
Overview of salt marsh function, stress response, and resilience.
Catherine Ricks
Coastal Resilience Director
Town of Chatham
Community-based sea-level rise planning.
Katie Castagno, Ph.D.
Director of Land–Sea Interaction Program
Center for Coastal Studies
Research on marsh change and coastal adaptation.
Carole Ridley
Coordinator
Pleasant Bay Alliance
Regional watershed collaboration.
Greg Berman
Director of Natural Resources
Town of Chatham
Municipal coastal management and implementation.
Tom Keras
Director of Land Management
Orleans Conservation Trust
Land stewardship and habitat protection.
Why This Matters
Communities are increasingly asked to make difficult choices about coastal management, restoration investments, and regulations. This program translates technical research into practical guidance that local officials, property owners, and residents can understand and use.
What You'll Learn
You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of:
-
What is happening to our marshes
-
Which restoration approaches are working
-
What tools towns can implement today
Who Should Attend
Conservation commissioners
Town officials
Coastal property owners
Environmental professionals
Residents who care about Pleasant Bay
Join us in Turning Knowledge Into Action
This event has passed - thank you to all who attended!