Quincy-01A
Quincy, Black's Creek
42.266459, -70.997106
Technical Specifications
Basic Properties
- Type
- Self Regulating Tide Gate
- Material
- Metal
- Control
- Electric Actuator
- Condition
- Good
- Geometry
- Rectangular
- Status
- Active
- Number of Gates
- 1
Operator & Management
- Operator Type
- PUBLIC
- Operator
- Town of Quincy
- Permits
- OOC, ACOE
- Purpose
- Flood Protection
Dimensions & Elevations
- Dimensions
- 10ft diameter, 10ft height
- Invert Elevation
- -3.85 NAVD88
- Installation Date
- —
- Tidal Influence
- Upstream: 2.07 NAVD88, Downstream: 3.28 NAVD88
Culvert Details
- Restriction Type
- Roadway
- Geometry
- Rectangular
- Material
- Concrete
- Bottom Material
- Riprap
- Number of Pipes
- 0
- Dimensions
- 10ft diameter, 10ft height
- Condition
- Good
- Comments
- Bottom of culvert appeared to be lined with riprap.
Salt Marsh Field Assessment Results
Comprehensive field assessment dataPhysical Conditions Assessment
Channel Conditions
- Channel Alteration and Ditching
- Limited (<133 ft/acre)
- Channel Constriction
- Narrower than channel
- Channel Erosion
- Moderate (10-60% of bank)
- Sediment Deposits
- None
Blockages
- Debris Blockages
- None
- Evidence of Overtopping
- No
Ecological Assessment
Habitat Observations
- Ecological Impairment due to Tide Gate
- Limited
- Crab Burrow Intensity
- Limited (<10% banks are densely
- Ponding and Die-off Depressions
- Limited(<10% of marsh platform
- Phragmites Present
- Limited (<10%)
Invasive Species
- Upstream Invasive Species
- Yes
- Downstream Invasive Species
- No
- Invasive Species Notes
- Limited to patches along the upland border.
General Comments
Upstream side appears to be managed as a salt pond with surrounding salt marsh. Tide gates appear to be regularly managed and allowing adequate tidal exchange. Culvert may slow draining of the marsh. Further widening of culvert may increase flushing rate which would increase low marsh community and reduce erosion but marsh is in good shape otherwise.Habitat Transects
First Transect (50 yards upstream of tide gate)
Second Transect (150 yards upstream of tide gate)
Third Transect (300 yards upstream of tide gate)
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
- No
- Restoration Status
- Complete
- Invasive Comments
- Area upstream of the tide gate appeared to be a large, healthy marsh with adequate tidal flushing as a result of the relatively recently installed tide gates and culverts (i.e., circa 2010).
- Restoration Comments
- —
- Upstream Area
- Total: 10
Notes & Comments
- General Comments
- Tide gates are located under Quincy Shore Drive, a short walk south of Caddy Memorial Park. Additional data needed: O&M, Engineering Plans, and Permits from when Tide Gates were installed.
- Operation Plan
- No
- Operation Comments
- O&M plan is likely present. Appears to be designed to deploy based on float switch when water level reaches float at approx. 12'.
- Gate Comments
- Set of 3 identical metal tide gates with hinge installed underneath road. Tide gate diameter and height is approximate and should be confirmed with Engineering Plans. There are locations along the concrete headwall to insert metal stop logs for additional water level control.
- Elevation Comments
- Staining was apparent on the upstream (U/S) and downstream (D/S) ends of the headwall (HW) so approximate extent of U/S and D/S tidal influence was able to be assessed in addition to tide gate (TG) invert elevations. The below lists measuredowns taken with a surveyors rod and corresponding top of headwall LiDAR elevations (NAVD88 datum). 1) TG Inv (in this case measured to invert of U/S culvert): Top of HW El (U/S) = 11.32’; Inv Measuredown = 15.17’; TG Inv = 11.32 – 15.17 = -3.85’ 2) Upstream Tidal Influence: Top of headwall LiDAR Elevation = 11.32’; Staining Measuredown = 9.25’; U/S Tidal influence = 11.32 – 9.25 = 2.07’. 3) Downstream Tidal Influence: Top of headwall LiDAR elevation = 11.38’; Staining Measuredown = 8.1’; D/S Tidal Influence = 11.38’ – 8.10’ = 3.28’
- Visit Comments
- —
- Other Comments
- —
- External Data Comments
- MA DEP Order of Conditions 8.7.2013 MA General Permit Application 4.29.2013 US ACOE NAE-2012-2284 Permit Application 3.28.2013 Tide Gate Operation and Maintenance Plan 12.19.2013 NOAA Comments on Permit NAE-2012-2284 6.30.2014 (Other) US ACOE Fenno St. Comments on Permit NAE-2012-2284 (Other) EPA Letter on Permit NAE-2012-2284 3.25.2014 (Other) MA CZM Comments on Permit NAE-2012-2284 4.1.2014 (Other) Black Creek Tide Gate Acceptance of Transfer 1.18.2002 (Other)
Part of the Massachusetts Bays Program© 2026 Massachusetts Bays Program. Monitoring tidegates across Massachusetts.