Designing for the Future: A Climateresponsive and Adaptive Design Framework for Habitat Restoration and Recreation in the Rumney Marsh Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), Massachusetts, USA

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Rumney Marsh Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) north of Boston, has been considered as one of the most significant estuaries of biological importance in Massachusetts. The area comprises of approximately 400 ha of saltmarsh, tidal flats, and shallow sub-tidal channels. Our goal was to develop a landscape design strategy for the marsh that integrates research and design focused on improving habitat, creating recreational opportunities, and mitigating the long-term impacts of climate change. An evaluation of existing case studies on wetland development was developed as a matrix to guide the framework needed and learn how other projects address these issues. A thorough analysis of the site’s quantitative and qualitative data was done to facilitate the process through which the design strategy could take place, focusing on the marsh by extending programs from the surrounding social context, while at the same time enhancing its ecological value, and preparing for climate change. By developing such strategies that are in tune with the environment and sensitive to the natural systems, our proposal tries to establish design interventions to allow access and recreational opportunities while still enhancing the marsh landscape ecology. Through this project a method is developed to create an open space strategy that can support the diverse social interactions and ecological demands of such a wetland system.