Bringing Balance Back to the Marsh

Bringing Balance Back to the Marsh

Author: Ann Gisinger June 17, 2024 Duration: 39:21

The Great Marsh is one of the largest salt marshes in New England, extending from Cape Ann in northeastern Massachusetts to the southeastern coast of New Hampshire. In this episode, EBC Executive Director Ann Gisinger sits down with Russ Hopping, Ecology Program Director at The Trustees, Nancy Pau of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Geoff Wilson of Northeast Wildlife Restoration to discuss the Marsh’s ecological services, the impact of agriculture, and recent exciting efforts to restore this crucial ecosystem along New England’s coast.

As always, please get in touch and let us know your thoughts: https://ebcne.org/energy-environment-economy-podcast/

Terms mentioned:

Mangelwurzel - A cultivated beet historically grown in New England on the Great Marsh, as well as throughout Europe and other cool-temperate climates. Today it is used primarily as cattle feed, but it has been a major crop in people’s diets, especially during food shortages.

Peatlands - Terrestrial wetland ecosystems in which waterlogged conditions prevent plant material from fully decomposing

Salt marsh sparrow - An endangered species of sparrow entirely native to the Northeast, threatened by habitat loss in ecosystems like the Great Marsh

Piping plover - A small sand-colored, sparrow-sized shorebird that nests and feeds along coastal sand and gravel beaches in North America, such as on the barrier islands surrounding the Great Marsh; also threatened by habitat loss

Links from the episode:

Article from The Trustees: https://www.onthecoast.thetrustees.org/great-salt-marsh-restoration

Where to find Russ, Nancy, and Geoff:

Russ’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-hopping-4b059120/

Nancy’s U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Profile: https://www.fws.gov/staff-profile/nancy-pau

Geoff’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-wilson-834355a5/

Where to find EBC:

Webpage: https://ebcne.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/environmental-business-council-of-new-england-inc-/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLKLl6DmcaFbOwjJ2aB956g

Follow the podcast on Instagram! @energy.environment.economy


Hosted by Ann Gisinger, Energy Environment Economy digs into the complex and critical intersections suggested by its name. This isn't a surface-level discussion; it's a deep dive into the practical challenges and innovations shaping our world, from modernizing our electrical grids and scaling renewable energy to managing stormwater and redeveloping brownfield sites. Each conversation in this podcast features thought leaders who are actively working on issues like climate adaptation, emerging contaminants, and solid waste management, providing listeners with grounded insights from the field. The discussions, presented by the Environmental Business Council of New England, move beyond theory to explore the real-world economic and policy decisions that drive environmental progress. Tuning in, you'll hear experts unpack how these technical fields directly impact communities and commerce, offering a nuanced perspective that connects scientific detail with broader societal outcomes. For anyone curious about the forces designing our sustainable future, this series provides essential context and analysis, making the vital links between energy systems, environmental health, and economic viability clear and compelling.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Energy Environment Economy
Podcast Episodes
ESG Primer for New England & Beyond – Part One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:27
ESG is on the rise, exerting a significant influence on the New England marketplace and beyond. In part one of this two-part series, gain insight into the dynamic nature of ESG principles and how they impact various sect…
Everybody Wins with Disability Inclusion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:58
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month and this year’s campaign centers “advancing access and equity”. Jeff Lafata-Hernandez, Executive Director of Empowering People for Inclusive Communities (EPIC), j…
Higher Yield, Higher Efficiency, Lower Labor Farming [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:40
Farming in a shipping container is energy intensive but water efficient, low on labor requirements, and provides fresh produce year-round. Learn more about the ways Freight Farms is innovating in the “ag tech” space to b…
Wonderful Wetlands with April Doroski and Mary Schoell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:05
Wetlands are a vital component of managing sea level rise, protecting water quality, and fostering wildlife habitat. April Doroski, Water Resources and Climate Resilience Specialist at Fuss & O’Neill, and Mary Schoell, P…
Passive PFAS (Sampling) with Dr. Matt Dunn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:38
PFAS is an emerging contaminant with a complex story. Matt Dunn, PhD candidate at the University of Rhode Island and STEEP Superfund Trainee, joins the podcast to discuss his research on passive sampling techniques for P…
Breezing into the Future with Dr. Mike Howland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:23
Offshore wind energy in the United States is a nascent industry but one that has great potential to move the country closer to net zero. A fascinating aspect of offshore wind is how to optimize the energy production of a…
The Hero of Net-Zero: Narragansett Bay Commission [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:28
The Narragansett Bay Commissions (NBC) Net-Zero Renewable Energy Program stabilizes electric costs and sewer rates and demonstrates to other agencies the efficacy of investing in renewable energy generating assets. NBC h…