Sustaining Plum Island
For Now And The Future
Our Vision
Our Vision for the future of Plum Island is a thriving beach community. This vision comes to life starting with a warm welcoming entry onto Plum Island, a wide and open, clean and resilient beach, an environment free from upriver environmental threats that affect our businesses, shoreline and reputation, and an inviting mix of retail, restaurants, and activities for all to enjoy. We foresee a vibrant community built on inclusion and collaboration.
Our Mission
- Continue to sustain and protect the beach, keep it open for all, and free from governmental over-reach at the local, state and federal level
- Develop a new vision for Center Island; engage business owners, neighbors and residents to craft a desired future state and a revival of Plum Island camaraderie
- Clean up the Merrimack River, working with Federal and State governments along with other agencies to develop and implement a plan to protect the Merrimack River from CSO’s and environmental degradation
- Strengthen our Board and Advisory leadership by bringing in new people to energize and execute our agenda
18 + Years
Plum Island Foundation In the Community
Our Vision
Our vision is to create and foster a community of leaders (local, state, & federal) who will nurture our island to continue to be a sustainable place for all to enjoy. We actively support these leaders and our citizens to work together and do all that is required to achieve the vision.
The Trustees founded the Plum Island Foundation in 2007, and we were incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2008
Since our founding we have raised over $400,000 in grassroots donations to pursue our mission. By working proactively with our constituents and collaborating with the MRBA we have helped bring in over $25MM is USACE projects and other resources for Plum Island.
This whole process outlined above is our vision of Democracy in Action; multi partisan, multi stakeholder, local/state/federal collaboration for the common good.
2022 - 2023 Goals
- Help guide the process of implementing the 204 dredge and deposit of sand at Reservation Terrace during the fall/winter of 2022-23. Toward this end, we are guiding a collaborative process with our Mayor, our state legislative delegation, and our federal delegation. We are employing Howard Marlowe’s firm to ‘help’ along the way with permitting, and working collaboratively to get it done in a timely manner.
- To build a political and citizen force to advocate to the Army Corps of Engineers to rebuild the Spur to be installed as close in time to the dredge in order to protect the deposited sand (the Spur was a protective force against the erosive nature of the ocean in the channel of the mouth of the Merrimack). After the Corps rebuilt the jetties, there has been dramatic erosion of over 300 feet of beach, bringing the crest of the waves at high tides to breach over the beach and road and homes. We are initiating a process with both our state and federal delegation, any the mayor, to work with the Corps and others to get this Spur rebuild and create a sustainable beach and neighborhood.
- To ensure that the Piscataqua sand (150,000 cubic yards) is deposited in the most beneficial location in the permitted Newbury site.
- To investigate the recent erosion and scouring of Center Island, just north of the groin, to analyze the increasing erosion and what remedies might be employed to bolster the berm and create a more sustainable area.
- To participate as an engaged member of the Merrimack River Beach Alliance
Current News
Flood Insurance news
Flood Insurance: FEMA Risk Rating 2.0Whether or not you have flood insurance, you need to know about FEMA Risk Rating 2.0 which went live on …
Surprise Donation!
Imagine my face when I opened the attached letter from The Hive, a 4th grade class at Spofford Pond School in Boxford. The class learned …
1/22/21 USACE announces Merrimack & Piscataqua dredges.
Merrimack dredge to place sand at Reservation Terrace. Piscataqua dredge sand to be placed near shore off Plum Island & Salisbury. Read Full Disclosure Here
1/25/21 Reservation Terrace press conference.
Plum Island Foundation helps bring leaders and media to address emergency situation at Reservation Terrace. Read Full Disclosure Here
Jan ’21 DCR Sediment Management Study.
Extensive scientific study of erosion hotspots at Reservation Terrace, Center Island & Salisbury including recommended mitigation options. Download Full Report Here
Our Partners
Thanks to Newburyport.com for hosting the website and to Blue Inn on the Beach for hosting the webcam.
