Cobble Berm Project Updates: Field Trips, Workshops, and more!

This spring, the Stone Living Lab (SLL) continues our education & engagement programming, including field trips and workshops as part of our cobble berm project.

Stone Living Lab staff and partners from Woods Hole Group (WHG) & the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) hosted an educational field trip to Duxbury Beach, as well as a virtual information session about permitting for nature-based approaches. In this case, cobble berms.

During the field trip to Duxbury Beach, participants learned about monitoring techniques used by coastal professionals, including salt marsh surveying and drone surveys, as well as maintenance requirements for cobble berms and how to track success.

“The field trip was a great example and reminder of how nature-based approaches like cobble berms live beyond initial construction – whether it be through monitoring, maintenance, or using the learnings to implement a similar feature elsewhere on the beach,” said Duxbury Beach Reservation Assistant Director, Brynna McGlathery. 

Attendees also had the opportunity to connect with a network of coastal professionals in addition to resources about permitting, implementing, and monitoring nature-based approaches.

“It was great to see interest from many participants in learning about cobble berms and their function, permitting requirements, and best practices,” added Reservation Coordinator Joey Negreann. “DBR has certainly learned a lot through the creation and maintenance of the berms, and it’s great to pass this information on!”  

The virtual information session, “Permitting 101: Design & Implementation”, detailed some of the requirements for permitting nature-based approaches like cobble berms. SLL, WHG, and CZM representatives also shared lessons learned and answered questions from participants.

“We’re thrilled to be able to work with our wonderful partners on these important, informational programs,” said SLL Education & Engagement Senior Manager Rebecca Shoer. “We look forward to continuing this outreach as exciting Lab projects like this progress.”

Don’t miss the final Cobble Berms education program — a site visit and municipal Q&A panel — on Wednesday, May 8!