Our Cambridge Wetlands
Our land is a complicated patchwork of city streets, neighborhoods, parks, and wild places.
You can find large wetlands in Cambridge at Alewife Reservation, Magazine Beach Park, Fresh Pond Reservation, and Danehy Park. There is even a “floating wetland” in the Charles River that was made to show how certain local plants can improve water quality. But even in other parts of Cambridge, you can also find some kinds of plants and animals that live in and use wetlands as well as other types of habitats. Examples of wetland plants and animals you can see across Cambridge are willow trees, red-winged blackbirds, and dragonflies. Two hundred years ago, much more of our city was wetland than it is today.
Wetlands are valuable for
Different kinds of wetlands in Cambridge
Related and “next-door” habitats (buffer zones):
Some Cambridge animals and plants in our wetlands and buffer zones:
You can find large wetlands in Cambridge at Alewife Reservation, Magazine Beach Park, Fresh Pond Reservation, and Danehy Park. There is even a “floating wetland” in the Charles River that was made to show how certain local plants can improve water quality. But even in other parts of Cambridge, you can also find some kinds of plants and animals that live in and use wetlands as well as other types of habitats. Examples of wetland plants and animals you can see across Cambridge are willow trees, red-winged blackbirds, and dragonflies. Two hundred years ago, much more of our city was wetland than it is today.
Wetlands are valuable for
- Fish and wildlife habitat
- Protection from storms and floods
- Water quality and water storage
Different kinds of wetlands in Cambridge
- Marsh
- Wet Meadow
Related and “next-door” habitats (buffer zones):
- Floodplain forests
- Scrub-shrub communities of plants and animals
- Riverbanks (also known as riparian zones)
Some Cambridge animals and plants in our wetlands and buffer zones:
- Muskrat, Mink, Fox, Red-Winged Blackbird, Owl, Deer, Snapping Turtle, Painted Turtle
- Dragonflies and Damselflies, Comma Butterfly, Monarch Butterfly, Black-crowned Night Heron, Great Blue Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Tree Swallow, Hummingbird
- Red Maple, Silver Maple, Aspen, Black Willow, Weeping Willow, Alder, Eastern Red Columbine, Jewelweed, Bull Thistle, Stinging Nettle, Cattail, Lupine, Lichen, Mushrooms
Cambridge wetlands are a natural resource that can protect all residents from flooding and other problems, if they are cared for in the right way.
For more virtual exploring, take a look on these websites about Cambridge wetlands:
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http://bit.ly/cambridgewetland-1
…A virtual tour of the North Trail at Alewife Reservation, with wildlife information |
http://bit.ly/cambridgeport-wildlife
…A booklet on animals of the Charles River and its banks, by third-graders at Cambridgeport School |
Finding Cambridge Wetlands:
Alewife Reservation |
Fresh Pond Reservation |
Magazine Beachentrance at elevated pedestrian crosswalk over Memorial Drive, near the Morse Elementary School
Learn more here. |
Smaller areas that support wetland species of plants and animals in Cambridge include Hell's Half Acre, Jerry's Pond, and parts of Mount Auburn Cemetery.