Current Update

Construction is underway for the Sesuit Creek Restoration Project (see photo above of new culverts being installed). The project will restore 65 acres of degraded salt marsh by replacing an under-sized culvert beneath Bridge Street, a town-owned road (see photo at left). At the creek crossing, the old 2-foot diameter culvert (see photo below) severely restricted tidal flows to the upstream marsh which has become significantly degraded as a result. Evidence of impaired conditions includes marsh scour, slumping, and the conversion of upstream wetlands to a brackish shrub swamp heavily infested with invasive common reed. The project has replaced the undersized culvert with twin 10-foot by 12-foot box culverts that provide greatly increased tidal exchange and flushing, and will promote the restoration of native salt marsh conditions.

Alewife and other diadromous fish species will also benefit from the restoration. The project has broad support from the Town of Dennis and its citizens, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the US Fish & Wildlife Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, and Gulf of Maine Council. Construction will be substantially complete by the end of February.

Research-level monitoring to document restoration results is being conducted by the Association to Preserve Cape Cod and the University of New Hampshire, Jackson Estuarine Laboratory, with funding from the Gulf of Maine Council - NOAA Partnership.

Little Namskaket Creek Restoration Project Completed in Orleans

Restoration partners representing CZM's Wetlands Restoration Program, the Town of Orleans, the Gulf of Maine Council, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service have completed a salt marsh restoration project on Little Namskaket Creek in Orleans. The project replaced a failing 15 inch culvert with a 5 by 4-foot box culvert with a combination tide gate/sluice gate to manage extreme tide events. The new culvert will restore tidal flow to a 7-acre degraded salt marsh. Little Namskaket Creek is part of the Inner Cape Cod Bay Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). The marsh contains a large stand of invasive common reed. Restoration of tidal flow will help stem the common reed invasion, restore the dominance of native salt marsh species, and improve habitat conditions for fish and wildlife.

Herring River Restoration Agreement Signed

On November 13, 2007, the Cape Cod National Seashore and the Towns of Wellfleet and Truro signed a second Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), agreeing to move forward on the 1,100-acre Herring River Restoration project. The MOU signals each party's acceptance of the Herring River Conceptual Restoration Plan (CRP) and willingness to pursue the forthcoming technical design, fundraising, and permitting phases of the project. The new MOU established the Herring River Restoration Committee, which has now met several times. WRP staff played a key role in development of the CRP. For additional details, see the Herring River Restoration Plan.

One Million Dollars Awarded for Plymouth 's Eel River Restoration Project

WRP and the Town of Plymouth have received a $1 million USFWS National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant to help the Town of Plymouth restore

degraded aquatic habitats within the town-owned Eel River Headwaters conservation area. "The Fish and Wildlife Service is extremely excited to be working with the Massachusetts Wetlands Restoration Program, the Town of Plymouth, and other conservation partners on this groundbreaking restoration and habitat protection effort. These organizations have a very successful track record in completing challenging projects, and this grant will result in the restoration of important and rare natural coastal communities for fish and wildlife," said Wendi Weber, Deputy Regional Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Combined with other partner funding, this US Fish and Wildlife Service grant will recreate a dynamically stable river channel with coldwater habitat, and restore nearly 40 acres of former, abandoned cranberry bogs (photo above) back to native wetland types. The restored river and wetlands will promote high ecological diversity and bring back valuable natural community types, including Atlantic white cedar bog habitat - designated as a rare and vulnerable wetland type.

Ian Bowles, Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, said “I am pleased to announce this grant to be used by the Town of Plymouth, our CZM office, and other partners to restore this exemplary wetland and river system. By providing vision and leadership for numerous open space and restoration projects, the Town of Plymouth continues to set a strong example of municipal action to protect the environment. With ambitious projects such as the Eel River, Plymouth has had extraordinary success in pulling together diverse partners and funding sources for projects that benefit the community, the environment, and the region.” For more information, please view the EEA press release.

Additional project partners include Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game's Riverways Program, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, US Fish & Wildlife Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, American Rivers, The Nature Conservancy, MA Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership, and Eel River Watershed Association.

Funding Awarded for Somerset Marsh Restoration

The National Estuary Program (NEP) Community-Based Restoration Partnership

between the Association of National Estuary Programs and NOAA awarded a $25,000 grant for construction of the Somerset Marsh Restoration Project. Richard Ribb, Director of Narragansett Bay Estuary Program (NBEP), commented on this grant award, "The NBEP is pleased to be able to provide some funding and assistance to the Somerset Marsh project. We have found that collaboration is the key to success in environmental restoration and look forward to working with the MA Wetland Restoration Program, the Town of Somerset, and other partners to restore this valuable salt marsh." The NBEP is one of 28 NEPs established under the Clean Water Act that develop and implement locally-based watershed management plans for estuaries. The Somerset Marsh project was one of six projects selected from applications across the 28 NEPs.

Somerset Marsh is located in the Town of Somerset and drains to Labor in Vain Brook, a tributary of the Taunton River – within the Narragansett Bay Watershed. The goal of the restoration project is to increase tidal flushing to the 11-acre marsh which will help restore the native ecological communities found in a healthy marsh system, while reducing the threat of encroaching Phragmites. Increased tidal exchange and flushing will occur after an existing, poorly-functioning tide gate and culvert are replaced with a larger concrete culvert. Additional project funding and in-kind services have been contributed by the US Fish & Wildlife Service, WRP, Town of Somerset, Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership / Coastal America Foundation, NOAA Restoration Center, and Save the Bay.

Massachusetts Restoration Projects Receive GOMC-NOAA Grants

The 2008 Gulf of Maine Council-NOAA Habitat Restoration Grants Program has awarded over $356,000 for eight habitat restoration projects in Massachusetts. Since its inception in 2002, the partnership has awarded over $2.6 million to regional habitat restoration efforts throughout the Gulf of Maine. Three of the current grant awards are for wetland restoration projects supported by WRP.

WRP will receive $40,000 to further assess and develop four potential restoration sites identified in the Great Marsh Coastal Wetlands Restoration Plan published in 2007. The studies will include sites in the Towns of Essex and Newbury identified as sites #128, #198, #276, #410 in the Great Marsh Plan. Grant funded activities will include collection and synthesis of data on site hydrology, topography, infrastructure, and vegetation for each of the four sites. This work will generate baseline data, assess restoration options, generate conceptual designs, and produce recommendations to advance sites toward implementation.

The Association to Preserve Cape Cod will receive $47,000 for post-construction, research-level salt marsh monitoring at Sesuit Creek in Dennis (see above).

The Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association (CCCHFA) will receive $40,000 for the Rock Harbor Creek / Cedar Pond Salt Marsh Restoration Project feasibility study in the Towns of Orleans and Eastham. The proposed project is located within the Inner Cape Cod Bay Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). CCCHFA will use the funds to determine the best methods and actions for restoring the salt marsh, which is currently degraded due to a tidal restriction caused by a historic dike and undersized culvert. The project will also include stormwater upgrades to Rock Harbor Road at the creek crossing, as planned by the Town of Orleans. WRP and NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service are providing technical assistance to CCCHFA for the project.

Antioch University Intern Working with WRP

Jodie Wennemer has joined the Wetlands Restoration Program as an intern from Antioch University New England (ANE) for the spring 2008 semester. Jodie is currently pursuing an MS in Conservation Biology at Antioch, and as part of her curriculum, she has taken on several internships to enhance her academic studies with real-world experience. Jodie developed an interest in wetlands restoration while completing her thesis research on the reestablishment of mollusk communities in East Harbor, an estuary under restoration in Truro. While working with WRP, Jodie's projects will include compiling and summarizing data on salt marsh and purple loosestrife biocontrol monitoring projects, preparing outreach materials, and assisting with field work. We are happy to welcome Jodie to the WRP team!

Recent WRP Website Updates

With the arrival of 2008 we have made a few updates to the WRP website. Now available are: a current map of our Priority Projects and updated project totals. With the restoration underway at Sesuit Creek in Dennis, WRP has now helped communities restore 55 projects for 671 acres under restoration. Our current active Priority Projects total 40. We've also provided an updated Purple Loosestrife Biocontrol Project Summary. Please check out these new updates online!

December Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership Event

On December 5, 2007, the Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership (CWRP) hosted an event to celebrate restoration successes and recognize CWRP partners

in Massachusetts. Speakers included: State Senator Pam Resor, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Undersecretary for the Environment Phillip Griffiths, and MassDEP Commissioner Laurie Burt. Since 1999, 49 companies have contributed cash and services through the CWRP to help complete 26 projects that have restored 210 acres of wetlands and 9.5 river miles. Currently, 33 corporate contributors are helping to support 17 projects under development with the potential to restore 1,876 acres of wetlands and 63.5 river miles. In addition, CWRP companies have contributed approximately $150,000 to restoration planning, research, and education. The CWRP is an innovative private-public initiative aimed at preserving, restoring, enhancing, and protecting aquatic habitats throughout the United States. Bringing together corporations, federal and state agencies, non-profit organizations, and academia, CWRP allows members to contribute to crucial projects involving America 's coastal and inland aquatic resources. The Massachusetts CWRP chapter was the first in the nation, formed in 1999. Contact CWRP Manager, Susan Redlich, for more information on CWRP.

External Grant Opportunities

North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants
The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) provides matching grants to organizations and individuals who have developed partnerships to carry out wetlands conservation projects in the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the benefit of wetlands-associated migratory birds and other wildlife. There is a Standard (awards up to $1 million) and a Small (awards up to $75,000) Grants Program. Both are competitive programs and require that grant requests be matched by partner contributions at no less than a 1-to-1 ratio. 2008 deadlines for U.S. Standard Grants are March 7 and August 18.

TNC-NOAA Community Based Restoration Program Partnership

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and NOAA are pleased to request proposals for their restoration matching grants program. They are soliciting a wide array of proposed projects for community-based restoration of habitats and will support innovative restoration projects nationwide that address NOAA trust resources, and particularly projects that have a multi-species benefit or emphasize Ecosystem-Based Management. This year, typical grants will be in the range of $25,000-$85,000. Proposals are due by March 28th. See the website for more information.

Coastal Counties Restoration Initiative

National Association of Counties (NACo), in partnership with the NOAA Community-Based Restoration Program, announced the second year of funding for the Coastal Counties Restoration Initiative (CCRI). The initiative provides financial assistance on a competitive basis to innovative, high quality county-led or supported projects. In 2008, CCRI will provide $500,000 in grants to improve stream, river, estuarine and other important marine habitats. A priority area for CCRI is the removal of fish passage barriers in coastal streams and rivers. Grants will range from $50,000-$100,000, based upon need. The deadline for applications is March 24, 2008. For more information, visit the NACo website.

Mass. Association of Conservation Commissions Annual Conference
Over 1000 Conservation Commissioners, other local officials, state and federal environmental officials, consultants, attorneys and others will enjoy a full day of activities at the MACC Annual Environmental Conference. More than 40 workshop and training sessions will be offered, all taught by recognized experts. Over 40 exhibits and displays are also expected. State and federal agencies and providers of environmental products and services find the Annual Environmental Conference to be a great opportunity to reach a large number of environmental activists. The 2008 MACC Annual Environmental Conference will be held on March 1, 2008 at Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Environmental Education Society Conference
For over 30 years, the MEES conference has attracted participants -- including classroom teachers from pre-school to college, museum and nature center staff, and community resource leaders -- with its innovative presentations, networking opportunities, and informative exhibits. This year, we focus on Energizing EE and Going Green. Beth Suedmeyer, WRP Restoration Planner, and Liz Duff, Salt Marsh Science Coordinator with Mass Audubon, will present information on the Lessening Loosestrife (Purple Loosestrife Biocontrol) Project at the conference. The conference will be held on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at Holy Cross College in Worcester, MA. See the conference website for more information.

Massachusetts Water Resources Research Center Annual Conference
The Massachusetts Water Resources Research Center's fifth annual conference on water resources is scheduled for Tuesday April 8, 2008 at UMass Amherst and will highlight integrated water resources management, from cutting-edge research on the assessment and remediation of impaired water resources, to policy for water use, reuse, conservation, and balance. The goals of this conference are to provide an interdisciplinary forum for scientists, practitioners, and policy makers to discuss current critical water research; foster greater collaboration among scientists and practitioners; and strengthen the connection between research, extension, and policy. See the conference website for more information.

The Great Marsh Coalition's 2nd Annual Symposium will take place Saturday, April 12th from 8:30am-2:30pm at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters in Newburyport. From the earliest use by Native Americans, the Great Marsh -- stretching from Gloucester to Salisbury and New Hampshire -- has been an important part of daily life on the North Shore. Salt marsh haying, farming, fishing, shipbuilding, and the arts continue to link our past to the present. Attend the Symposium to learn more about this fascinating region, as an outstanding roster of speakers will provide presentations about this coastal treasure. For more information, go to www.greatmarsh.org.

New England Estuarine Research Society Spring Meeting

The Spring 2008 New England Estuarine Research Society (NEERS) meeting will be held May 1-3 at the new, ‘green' Gregg Coastal Conservation Center in Greenland, New Hampshire, just minutes from Portsmouth and situated on beautiful Great Bay. Abstracts may be submitted through the NEERS web site by Friday, March 7th. For more information see the meeting announcement.

Branching Out from the Mainestream: River Management Symposium
The River Management Society (RMS) is exploring new territory—the rivers and streams of New England. This is RMS's first national symposium in the Northeast and they are also branching out from the formats and topics of past gatherings. This meeting of river experts will be more intimate and interactive, offering new ideas and ways of learning. However, many favorite elements from the past will remain, including field trips to local rivers and estuaries for onsite examples of management successes and challenges. The symposium will be May 12-15, 2008 in Portland, Maine. Abstract proposals are due November 30th. See the symposium website for more information.

2008 Restore America's Estuaries National Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration
Restore America's Estuaries is pleased to announce the 4th National Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration – Creating Solutions through Collaborative Partnerships. The five-day conference will explore the state-of-the-art in all aspects and scales of restoration, and will be comprised of field sessions, plenary sessions, expert presentations, special evening events, workshops, a poster hall, and a Restoration Exposition. The call for presentations has passed, and the deadline for poster proposals is February 29th. The Conference will be held in New England, October 11-15, 2008 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence. For more information, visit the RAE conference website.

Eelgrass Management in Gloucester Report

CZM's Tony Wilbur, with co-authors Phil Colarusso (EPA) and Brandy M.M. Wilbur (Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sea Grant), have published the report Adaptive Management for Impacts to Eelgrass Habitat in Gloucester Harbor, which summarizes the effort in 2006-2007 to create an eelgrass bank, raise awareness of the value of eelgrass habitat, and facilitate transplanting efforts to Boston Harbor. This project was initiated in response to a planned impact to eelgrass habitat in Gloucester Harbor, as part of the combined sewer overflow construction off Pavilion Beach.

Salt Marshes in the Gulf of Maine : Human Impacts, Habitat Restoration, and Long-term Change Analysis

Salt Marshes in the Gulf of Maine describes the natural processes in these fascinating coastal wetlands, human impacts, and efforts to restore and monitor them. This publication is a collaborative project of the of the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment. The booklet is intended as a useful tool for resource managers, lawmakers, non-governmental organizations, educators, and others interested in understanding salt marshes as a key element of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem. See this web page for more information.

Dam Removal and the Wetlands Regulations
This document, available on Mass DEP's website, provides guidance for conservation commissions and the Department of Environmental Protection, as the permitting authorities, in the application of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and its regulations. A session will be held at the MACC Environmental Conference (see above) to introduce this guidance document.

Dam Removal in Massachusetts: A Basic Guide for Project Proponents

This guidance document renews the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ commitment to restoring riverine flows and aquatic habitat in Massachusetts and will help dam removal proponents maneuver through the initial conceptualization of the project, the feasibility studies, the permitting process, and the funding options with greater ease and clarity.

Stream Barrier Removal Monitoring Guide

The River Restoration Monitoring Committee of the Gulf of Maine Council (GOMC) announced the publication of the Stream Barrier Removal Monitoring Guide, providing a framework of critical monitoring parameters for use at dam and culvert removal sites in the Gulf of Maine watershed. When analyzed collectively, the eight parameters will allow restoration practitioners to document the physical, chemical, and biological effects of stream barrier removal. The Guide is available on the GOMC website.