Public or Private?

The Goldthwait Reservation is actually private, not public property. Dr. Goldthwait's intention was to preserve this area for the recreation and enjoyment of the townspeople of Marblehead. The reservation is not subsidized or maintained in any way by the Town of Marblehead.

What is our saltmarsh and why preserve it?
The saltmarsh is one of the most productive of all environments. It plays a major role in the balance of the coastal marine ecology and food web on the North Shore, and is heavily protected and regulated under the Wetlands Protection Act. Goldthwait is connected to Riverhead Beach through a large diameter culvert, functioning very much like a tidal creek, allowing salt water to pass in and out of the marsh with the tide. The marsh provides biological processes for the protection of fishery and shellfish spawning and feeding grounds. Similarly, it is a breeding and nesting ground for many animals and shorebirds as exotic as Great Blue Herons. The marsh also protects the groundwater supply, provides for storage and production of nutrients, and acts as a filtration system for pollutants.