Brewster-01B
Brewster, Namskaket Creek
41.780989, -70.011239
Technical Specifications
Basic Properties
- Type
- Stop Logs
- Material
- Wood
- Control
- —
- Condition
- Good
- Geometry
- Rectangular
- Status
- Active
- Number of Gates
- 0
Operator & Management
- Operator Type
- PUBLIC
- Operator
- DCR
- Permits
- —
- Purpose
- —
Dimensions & Elevations
- Dimensions
- —
- Invert Elevation
- —
- Installation Date
- 2005
- Tidal Influence
- —
Culvert Details
- Restriction Type
- Footpath
- Geometry
- Circular
- Material
- Concrete
- Bottom Material
- —
- Number of Pipes
- 0
- Dimensions
- 5ft diameter
- Condition
- Good
- Comments
- —
Salt Marsh Field Assessment Results
Comprehensive field assessment dataPhysical Conditions Assessment
Channel Conditions
- Channel Alteration and Ditching
- Moderate (133-398 ft/acre)
- Channel Constriction
- Equal to channel
- Channel Erosion
- Moderate (10-60% of bank)
- Sediment Deposits
- Limited (<10% of channel width)
Blockages
- Debris Blockages
- None
- Evidence of Overtopping
- No
Ecological Assessment
Habitat Observations
- Ecological Impairment due to Tide Gate
- Severe
- Crab Burrow Intensity
- None
- Ponding and Die-off Depressions
- None
- Phragmites Present
- Severe (>60%)
Invasive Species
- Upstream Invasive Species
- Yes
- Downstream Invasive Species
- Yes
- Invasive Species Notes
- Phragmites mono culture from channel bank to upland boundary.
General Comments
Phragmites dominated marsh and low upstream tidal extent indicate minimal tidal exchange and wetland is functioning as a freshwater wetland. Small patch of stunted phragmites just west of culvert may be extent of saltwater. Stop logs may be overly inhibiting incoming flow and tidal exchange. Removal of stop logs may help improve salt marsh health.Habitat Transects
First Transect (50 yards upstream of tide gate)
No data
Second Transect (150 yards upstream of tide gate)
No data
Third Transect (300 yards upstream of tide gate)
No data
Restoration Potential
Assessment
- Salt Marsh Impairment due to Tidal Restriction
- Moderate
- Potential Extent of Marsh Restoration
- Moderate
- Implementation Feasibility
- High
- Restoration Priority
- High
- Recommended Improvement Type
- O&M and Infrastructure
Notes
Site shows moderate salt marsh impairment due to restricted tidal flow. Replacement with self-regulating tide gate could restore approximately 5-8 acres of degraded marsh habitat. Good access for construction equipment. Regional coordination completed with town DPW and conservation commission.Historical Records
Environmental Data
- Invasive Species
- Yes
- Restoration Status
- —
- Invasive Comments
- Phragmites abundant upstream.
- Restoration Comments
- —
- Upstream Area
- —
Notes & Comments
- General Comments
- Flashboards installed around 2005.
- Operation Plan
- —
- Operation Comments
- —
- Gate Comments
- Stop logs were installed post restoration to attenuate storms. DER has tides and photos. Has been updated in 2005 by DCR.
- Elevation Comments
- —
- Visit Comments
- —
- Other Comments
- —
- External Data Comments
- —
Part of the Massachusetts Bays Program© 2026 Massachusetts Bays Program. Monitoring tidegates across Massachusetts.