Hello Mary,

I noted your discovery of GIS. This is actually a system that has many
layers maintained by the Mass GIS. There is a wetland layer, a priority
habitat layer, potential vernal pool layer, land use layers, layers that
have various economic aspects, transportation layers etc.

The Parker River Clean Water uses most of the maps as does the Newburyport Conservation Commission.

Joe Teixeira, who is a Newburyport Conservation Commission member, is an expert at utilizing this information. He produces most of the maps that the Parker River Clean Water uses.

Below is the link for the map he produced for the CEB website showing the wetlands of the Little River Basin and photos at various locations in the watershed during the recent flooding.

http://www.cebport.org/new_page_1.htm

If you have not seen this map, you might find it interesting.

You can follow the dark blue lines of the largest feeder streams for the
Little River and see how potential projects and their associated storm water
runoff affects the various wetlands.

As you look at the Industrial area you can see all the channelized waterways. Once that area had wetlands resembling the rest of the map…. no wonder it floods in the industrial area.

All those impervious, solid surfaces are like putting a cork in a funnel since all the water flows that direction starting from up near Storey Ave and sheeting across the parking lots of the shopping centers and down the wetlands and feeder streams.

Norbert Carey’s proposed Russell Terrace project will drain here as well.

Any project on the Woodman land will also drain to the feeder stream just to the west of the landfill.

Regards,
Marlene Schroeder, Newburyport