CHEBACCO LAKE RESTORATION

Taking initiative to preserve and protect the marine environment

Seaside Sustainability is excited to be spearheading the Chebacco Lake Coalition working towards the restoration of the lake and its surrounding watershed. We have convened a group of state and local stakeholders, including members of state and local agencies such as the Chebacco Lake Watershed Association and Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, local government, and the community to improve and preserve the health of this watershed.

The 209-acre lake is a designated habitat for aquatic life and serves as a crucial water source for several towns. The primary focus of the project was to address issues such as clogged channels, low water levels, siltation, vegetation growth, and beaver activity in Alewife Brook, a vital path for river herring.

Our coalition of local stakeholders worked alongside volunteers to improve the water flow of Alewife Brook. Our work focused on the Apple Street location in Essex and consisted of removing live and dead vegetation from the stream as well as other manageable obstructions that blocked water flow and cleared passage to Chebacco Lake. By removing the plant growth that has clogged the brook, the spawning alewife herring will have unimpeded access to travel to and from Chebacco Lake. Additionally, we cleared invasive species from the area as permitted to improve overall ecosystem health.

Chebacco Lake Press Release

Click here (Link pdf of Chebacco Press
Release) to view the official press release of
the Chebacco Lake Project. In the Spring of
2021, Seaside Sustainability and various
stakeholders joined forces to enhance the
health of the Chebacco Lake Watershed and
Alewife Brook in Essex County,
Massachusetts. The primary focus was on
improving water flow in Alewife Brook by
reducing plant growth, aiming to maintain
Chebacco Lake’s significance as a herring
spawning ground while safeguarding water
quality in the entire watershed. Public support
and engagement, including the dedicated
work of volunteers from the watershed
community, played a pivotal role in achieving
success. With the combined efforts of
volunteers, organizational partnerships, and
Seaside Sustainability’s optimism, the future
holds promise for a healthier Chebacco Lake
Watershed and Alewife Brook.

Click here to view the official press release of the Chebacco Lake Project. In the Spring of 2021, Seaside Sustainability and various stakeholders joined forces to enhance the health of the Chebacco Lake Watershed and Alewife Brook in Essex County, Massachusetts. The primary focus was on improving water flow in Alewife Brook by reducing plant growth, aiming to maintain Chebacco Lake’s significance as a herring spawning ground while safeguarding water quality in the entire watershed. Public support and engagement, including the dedicated work of volunteers from the watershed community, played a pivotal role in achieving success. With the combined efforts of volunteers, organizational partnerships, and Seaside Sustainability’s optimism, the future holds promise for a healthier Chebacco Lake Watershed and Alewife Brook.

Chebacco Lake GIS

Click here (Link pdf of Chebacco Press
Release) to view the official press release of
the Chebacco Lake Project. In the Spring of
2021, Seaside Sustainability and various
stakeholders joined forces to enhance the
health of the Chebacco Lake Watershed and
Alewife Brook in Essex County,
Massachusetts. The primary focus was on
improving water flow in Alewife Brook by
reducing plant growth, aiming to maintain
Chebacco Lake’s significance as a herring
spawning ground while safeguarding water
quality in the entire watershed. Public support
and engagement, including the dedicated
work of volunteers from the watershed
community, played a pivotal role in achieving
success. With the combined efforts of
volunteers, organizational partnerships, and
Seaside Sustainability’s optimism, the future
holds promise for a healthier Chebacco Lake
Watershed and Alewife Brook.

Click here to view the Chebacco Lake GIS assessment. Completed by Sabrina Klavinger, this GIS report provided essential information regarding spatial patterns of the surrounding land of Chebacco Lake.. While comparing Land Use with 2008 Satellite Image Overlay and Aerial Satellite Imagery Over Time in 2019, it was found that there were changes to the developments surrounding Chebacco Lake. More docks were built over time, surrounding greenery decreased, and more developments were added.

Chebacco Lake GIS

Click here (Link pdf of Chebacco Press
Release) to view the official press release of
the Chebacco Lake Project. In the Spring of
2021, Seaside Sustainability and various
stakeholders joined forces to enhance the
health of the Chebacco Lake Watershed and
Alewife Brook in Essex County,
Massachusetts. The primary focus was on
improving water flow in Alewife Brook by
reducing plant growth, aiming to maintain
Chebacco Lake’s significance as a herring
spawning ground while safeguarding water
quality in the entire watershed. Public support
and engagement, including the dedicated
work of volunteers from the watershed
community, played a pivotal role in achieving
success. With the combined efforts of
volunteers, organizational partnerships, and
Seaside Sustainability’s optimism, the future
holds promise for a healthier Chebacco Lake
Watershed and Alewife Brook.

Click here to view the Chebacco Lake GIS assessment. Completed by Sabrina Klavinger, this GIS report provided essential information regarding spatial patterns of the surrounding land of Chebacco Lake.. While comparing Land Use with 2008 Satellite Image Overlay and Aerial Satellite Imagery Over Time in 2019, it was found that there were changes to the developments surrounding Chebacco Lake. More docks were built over time, surrounding greenery decreased, and more developments were added.

Photo: Elizabeth B. Thomsen, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Chebacco Lake GIS

Click here (Link pdf of Chebacco Press
Release) to view the official press release of
the Chebacco Lake Project. In the Spring of
2021, Seaside Sustainability and various
stakeholders joined forces to enhance the
health of the Chebacco Lake Watershed and
Alewife Brook in Essex County,
Massachusetts. The primary focus was on
improving water flow in Alewife Brook by
reducing plant growth, aiming to maintain
Chebacco Lake’s significance as a herring
spawning ground while safeguarding water
quality in the entire watershed. Public support
and engagement, including the dedicated
work of volunteers from the watershed
community, played a pivotal role in achieving
success. With the combined efforts of
volunteers, organizational partnerships, and
Seaside Sustainability’s optimism, the future
holds promise for a healthier Chebacco Lake
Watershed and Alewife Brook.

Click here to view the Chebacco Lake GIS assessment. Completed by Sabrina Klavinger, this GIS report provided essential information regarding spatial patterns of the surrounding land of Chebacco Lake.. While comparing Land Use with 2008 Satellite Image Overlay and Aerial Satellite Imagery Over Time in 2019, it was found that there were changes to the developments surrounding Chebacco Lake. More docks were built over time, surrounding greenery decreased, and more developments were added.