Quincy-06
“Fenno Street Gate”Quincy, Black's Creek
42.272440, -71.001211
Technical Specifications
Basic Properties
- Type
- Flap Gate
- Material
- Metal
- Control
- —
- Condition
- Good
- Geometry
- Circular
- Status
- Inactive
- Number of Gates
- 0
Operator & Management
- Operator Type
- PUBLIC
- Operator
- Town of Quincy
- Permits
- —
- Purpose
- Flood Protection
Dimensions & Elevations
- Dimensions
- 1.5ft diameter
- Invert Elevation
- —
- Installation Date
- 2013
- Tidal Influence
- —
Culvert Details
- Restriction Type
- Roadway
- Geometry
- Circular
- Material
- Corrugated Metal
- Bottom Material
- —
- Number of Pipes
- 0
- Dimensions
- 1.5ft diameter
- Condition
- Fair
- Comments
- Downstream end of culvert was plastic (HDPE) and upstream end of culvert was corrugated metal. Downstream end of culvert appeared to be in good condition; however, upstream end was partially buried, thereby potentially limiting stormwater conveyance capacity.
Salt Marsh Field Assessment Results
Comprehensive field assessment dataPhysical Conditions Assessment
Channel Conditions
- Channel Alteration and Ditching
- Moderate (133-398 ft/acre)
- Channel Constriction
- Narrower than 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
- Limited
- Crab Burrow Intensity
- Limited (<10% banks are densely
- Ponding and Die-off Depressions
- Limited(<10% of marsh platform
- Phragmites Present
- Moderate (10-60%)
Invasive Species
- Upstream Invasive Species
- Yes
- Downstream Invasive Species
- Yes
- Invasive Species Notes
- Phragmites along upland border and pockets within marsh.
General Comments
Operation appears to have increased since the last inspection as the upstream end has been excavated and phragmites has been pushed back, allowing abundant low and high marsh to exist. Erosion may be lessened if the culvert is widened but marsh is in good condition 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
- Yes
- Restoration Status
- Not Applicable
- Invasive Comments
- Flap gate limited all tidal flow. As a result, freshwater grasses and Phragmites were observed upstream.
- Restoration Comments
- At the time of the site visit, no known restoration efforts had been undertaken. The upstream area was large and appeared to have significant restoration potential. A number of homes were observed adjacent to the impoundment which might limit restoration options due to potential flooding.
- Upstream Area
- —
Notes & Comments
- General Comments
- The tide gate is located approximately 100 feet south from the intersection of Fenno Street and Quincy Shore Drive, in a covered drain manhole. Flap Valve at Fenno St was removed, last Friday August 19. This was apparently done by order of Mayor Koch. There is now tidal flow into (and out of) the Princess Eve Marsh (previously referred to as 'Fenno St Marsh'). Not a total cure for the Princess Eve Marsh, but it is certainly a positive step. Regards, -Richard Joyce Quincy
- Operation Plan
- No
- Operation Comments
- Tide gate was installed in 2013 (approximate) as part of an open marsh water management project. The purpose of the tide gate is to fully exclude any upstream tidal inundation.
- Gate Comments
- Tide gate was recently installed and appeared to be in good condition and operable. Flapper removed in August 2016 by order of the Mayor.
- Elevation Comments
- Staining could not be assessed at upstream or downstream end. In addition, no headwalls were present so invert elevation measurements were not obtained.
- Visit Comments
- —
- Other Comments
- —
- External Data Comments
- US ACOE Fenno St. Comments on Permit NAE-2012-2284 (Other)
Part of the Massachusetts Bays Program© 2026 Massachusetts Bays Program. Monitoring tidegates across Massachusetts.