The Great Bay Reserve’s research program explores the Great Bay Estuary and its watershed, which encompasses 42 New Hampshire communities and 10 in Maine. With our partners, we study the bay’s many habitats, its wildlife, and the human activity that influences the health of the bay.

Featured Projects

• Blue Crabs: The research staff is tracking the impact of this newly arrived species by monitoring its population distribution through trapping and ecological impact through diet analyses. Learn more >
• eDNA: We are partnering with genetics researchers at UNH to refine a technology that feels like science fiction, but provides a innovative way to assess fish populations and general biodiversity. Learn more >
• Marsh Restoration: Applying thin layers of sediment is a promising approach to helping marshes keep up with sea level rise. Great Bay is one of 8 Reserves to test this approach. Learn more >
• Buffer Options for the Bay: This integrated policy assessment explored the capacity of buffers to protect water quality, guard against storm surge and sea level rise, and sustain fish and wildlife in in our region. Learn more >
• New England Sentinel Sites: Reserves across New England are monitoring local tidal marshes to see how they fare in the face of sea level rise. Learn more >
• National Sentinel Sites: Building off the New England project, Great Bay is leading a 3-year, 21 Reserve research project examining the impacts of sea-level-rise on tidal marshes across the country. Learn more>
• Land Protection: Reserve staff research better ways to protect our habitats through geospatial analyses and collaborative science. Learn more >