Scituate-01B
Scituate, Scituate Harbor
42.186309, -70.725321
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
- Town of Scituate
- Permits
- —
- Purpose
- Other
Dimensions & Elevations
- Dimensions
- 2.58ft diameter, 1.833ft height
- Invert Elevation
- 3.77 NAVD88
- Installation Date
- —
- Tidal Influence
- Upstream: 3.77 NAVD88, Downstream: 5.24 NAVD88
Culvert Details
- Restriction Type
- Roadway
- Geometry
- Circular
- Material
- Concrete
- Bottom Material
- —
- Number of Pipes
- 0
- Dimensions
- 1.5ft diameter
- Condition
- Fair
- Comments
- The reinforced concrete pipe was in fair condition. It appeared that the mouth of the pipe was beginning to separate from the weir wall on the upstream side of the restriction. In addition, erosion was observed around the upstream concrete weir, presumably from stormwater runoff from the adjacent road, tidal influence, or some combination thereof. Erosion was also observed around the downstream headwall. The downstream headwall was in poor condition and appeared to "leaning" towards the channel towards the top, indicating mobilization of soils behind it. Additionally, spalling of the headwall was observed.
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
- Severe (>60% of bank)
- Sediment Deposits
- Limited (<10% of channel width)
Blockages
- Debris Blockages
- None
- Evidence of Overtopping
- Yes
Ecological Assessment
Habitat Observations
- Ecological Impairment due to Tide Gate
- Moderate
- 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
- Phragmites on fringe
General Comments
Lack of low marsh community, early indicators of phragmites encroachment, apparent and apparent lack of sediment exchange supports observations of a moderate tidal restriction.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
- Unknown
- Invasive Comments
- The impoundment was comprised primarily of high marsh and was fringed by phragmites.
- Restoration Comments
- Houses were observed around the marsh; however, they appeared to be elevated.
- Upstream Area
- Salt Marsh: 5-10 acres
Notes & Comments
- General Comments
- Site is located directly adjacent to Kent Street (busy road). The downstream side is located to the east and the upstream side is located to the west.
- Operation Plan
- No
- Operation Comments
- Upstream sluice boards put in seasonally to impound water in marsh for ice skating.
- Gate Comments
- There were two tidal control structures at the site. A metal flap gate was installed on the downstream portion of the culvert and a concrete weir with wooden stop logs was installed on the upstream portion. The downstream metal flap gate was in poor condition. It was rusted open approximately 3 to 4 inches, the bolts affixing it to the concrete headwall were corroded, and it appeared that someone had attempted to remove the tide gate as evidenced by loosened nuts (i.e., the nuts had been backed off the bolts). The upstream concrete weir and wooden stop logs appeared to be in good condition.
- 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 (D/S tide gate): Top of HW El (D/S) = 6.53’; Inv Measuredown = 6.83’; TG Inv = 6.53’ – 6.83 = -0.30’ 2) Upstream Tidal Influence: Top of headwall LiDAR Elevation = 4.43’; Staining Measuredown = 0.66’; U/S Tidal influence = 4.43 – 0.66 = 3.77’. 3) Downstream Tidal Influence: Top of headwall LiDAR elevation = 6.53’; Staining Measuredown = 1.29’; D/S Tidal Influence = 6.53’ – 1.29’ = 5.24’
- Visit Comments
- —
- Other Comments
- Upstream saltmarsh appears to be impacted by septic systems and corn field
- External Data Comments
- —
Part of the Massachusetts Bays Program© 2026 Massachusetts Bays Program. Monitoring tidegates across Massachusetts.