The Seekonk
Reporter
APRIL 2013 VOLUME 25, NO. 4
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Serving the Residents of Seekonk, Rehoboth and Surrounding Communities Since 1989
Forever Paws Animal Shelter
7th Annual Clam Boil Sunday, April 28th
South Seekonk Gun Club 61 Reed St., Rehoboth, MA Seating starting at 4:30 PM Serving begins at 5:00 PM Admission $30.00, For Tickets 508-6780804 Bring your own bottle
Summer Camp Guide
Save the Bay Reports on Salt Marshes at Land Trust Meeting
by Laura Calverley At the annual meeting of the Rehoboth Land Trust last month, Wenley Ferguson of Save the Bay gave a revealing presentation on salt marshes and how they are changing. The information she presented could have significant repercussions around the region, but especially for those landowners in the southern part of Rehoboth. Save the Bay conducted initial assessments of salt marshes in Narragansett Bay, including the Palmer River, last summer. The assessments showed that salt marshes are subsiding and there are a number of possible reasons for it. “From doing restoration work in these marshes since the mid-90’s we started to notice how quickly marsh vegetation can change and it’s somewhat disturbing,” Ferguson said. When the marshes subside and the proper vegetation can’t grow, it threatens wildlife that depend on the marshes including herring, shad and some birds. Herring stock regionally has plummeted, says Ferguson. Local fisherman could also be affected because larger predator fish like striped bass and bluefish feed on fish that live in the salt marsh such as salt marsh minnows. These minnows form the base of the food chain for the fish habitat. “It’s important and it needs to be addressed,” said longtime Tree Warden Bill Dalpe. There is also concern that the salt marsh sparrow could soon be on the endangered list, says Ferguson. continued on page 13...
Start Making those Summer Plans! see page 59
Spring Home & Garden See page 68
The students in the Builders Club at the Dr. Kevin Hurley Middle School in Seekonk, MA collected supplies for the local animal shelter. Madison Paine and Gabby Oliver are pictured here holding Romeo the cat. Read more on page 56.