May 2004 Update

Spring has arrived and restoration is in the air, for both the green world around us and for degraded Massachusetts wetlands. This wetlands restoration update includes summaries of recently completed projects, news of project development activities, announcements of technical services and funding awards, and links to recent media coverage. As always, credit is due to all restoration partners for the continued success of efforts to restore Massachusetts wetlands, just a taste of which is highlighted herein.

In early May, a new 3 by 5-foot concrete box culvert was installed beneath Island Road to replace a clogged and failing 2-foot diameter culvert. The old culvert was a severe tidal restriction as evidenced by a measured 14-inch difference between the upstream and downstream high tide elevations. Restored flows will enhance the functions of affected salt marsh and greatly improve fish passage to this valuable habitat. Partners that helped make this project happen include the private landowner, Town of Essex, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ducks Unlimited - NOAA Partnership, Eight Towns & The Bay Committee, Massachusetts Wetlands Restoration Program, and Massachusetts Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership through a donation by the Massachusetts Electric Company.

Phase I of the project removed the old culvert and installed the new culvert. Phase II cleaned out clogged creek channels leading to the culvert. Click the following links to view construction photos: Phase I Phase II (note there are multiple photos in these pop-up windows).

Construction of the Cow Yard project was completed in April and replaced an original 19 by 30-inch elliptical concrete pipe with a 3 by 4-foot concrete box culvert. The original pipe significantly restricted the tidal range within the upstream marsh. Restored tidal flows will help reduce the presence of invasive species in the marsh and enhance habitat values. Many partners contributed to this project, including private citizens of Smith's Neck, Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust, Town of Dartmouth, Buzzards Bay Project, NOAA Restoration Center National Marine Fisheries Service, FishAmerica Foundation, Massachusetts Wetlands Restoration Program, Massachusetts Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership, and Cullinan Engineering Company. Click here to view project photos.

On March 23, 2004, The Town of Barnstable was awarded $117,675 for construction of phase II of the Bridge Creek Salt Marsh Restoration Project (see December 2003 update for photos) through a grant from the NOAA Community-Based Restoration Program (NOAA-CRP). Phase I of the project was completed in the fall of 2003 and replaced an under-sized railroad culvert to restore 24 acres of salt marsh. Phase II, expected for completion in Fall 2004, will replace an undersized culvert beneath Route 6A to restore an additional 16 acres. WRP has worked closely with Barnstable to provide technical assistance and help in securing a total of $1,300,000 in funding and in-kind services, of which more than $950,000 is from non-state sources (federal, municipal, non-profit, corporate, and public / private partnerships).

On April 30th, 2004, The Town of Dennis was awarded $28,800 in funding through a FishAmerica Foundation - NOAA Restoration Center Partnership Grant. WRP has partnered with the Town of Dennis, Town of Brewster, NOAA Restoration Center, FishAmerica Foundation, Gulf of Maine Council, Massachusetts Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership, and The Louis Berger Group to provide funding and technical services on this project. Construction will replace a culvert to restore a fish run from Quivett Creek to the Bound Brook Reservoir and to provide increased tidal flushing to 11 acres of tidally-restricted salt marsh. Click here to view a photo of the culvert and degraded upstream marsh.

In April, WRP staff met with restoration experts from the EPA, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, and Ducks Unlimited to investigate several possible wetland restoration sites on Nantucket Island. The visit was prompted by a request for assistance from the Nantucket Conservation Foundation to assess the Medouie Creek wetland on the Foundation's property (see photo).

The Medouie site consists of a 22-acre wetland that was diked off from surrounding salt marshes many years ago. It is a complex site that requires much additional study to evaluate restoration potential. In all, the group looked at five separate potential restoration sites around the island and met with local officials and conservationists to discuss the sites and restoration options. WRP will work with restoration partners over the next several months to collect additional information for project development. Click here to view photos of one of the more promising sites discovered near the western end of the island.

WRP is now following up on several high-priority sites identified in the Mount Hope Bay Tidal Restriction Atlas to collect additional data and assess restoration potential. The Atlas was produced in 2003 by WRP and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and inventories 25 tidal restrictions in the study area. WRP staff have met with landowners and town officials to discuss restoration options for the most promising sites, several of which could develop into good projects. A second phase of work with the Army Corps is being scoped to provide technical services, such as tidal surveys and habitat evaluations, in support of project development.

Several priority projects are now receiving contracted technical services funded by the Massachusetts Wetlands Restoration Program. These contracts cover a wide range of activities needed to advance projects along the path toward restoration. An example priority project is the Thompson Island restoration site in Boston Harbor. This project will likely require the installation of a new culvert and/or removal of rubble from an old dike that was built across the opening of a 7-acre pond and salt marsh. The rubble restricts tidal flow (see photos).

WRP has funded approximately $20,000 worth of technical services for this project to obtain field data, develop the restoration design, and prepare permit applications. In all, nine priority projects are receiving WRP-funded technical services.

On April 24, 2004, P.J. Foley received a NOAA Environmental Hero Award in recognition of "his outstanding efforts in support and leadership of promoting strong community-based stewardship and restoration of the coastal wetlands and related habitats in Quincy, Massachusetts." WRP has worked closely with P.J. and many other restoration partners on Hough's Neck projects in Quincy, including the Mallard Road project. We congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition. Click here to view the NOAA award web page.