Priority Projects

DER seeks to support restoration projects that offer the greatest social and ecological benefits to the Commonwealth while maximizing the value of available resources. To achieve this goal, the program uses an open public process through the state's Comm-PASS procurement system to solicit priority project nominations. A review team evaluates and scores the nominations according to review criteria (see sidebar) and then – in consideration of project benefits, available program funds, projected workload, and staff resources – accepts new priority projects.

Designated priority projects are eligible (though not guaranteed) to receive both internal program assistance and contracted technical services funded by DER. These services may include, but are not limited to: wetland delineation, survey and mapping, site planning, hydraulic analyses, project design, impact assessments, permitting, and monitoring. DER will support priority projects throughout the various phases of restoration and post-construction monitoring unless new information / data warrants removal of priority status. For example, if a hydraulic analysis determines that restoration actions would unavoidably flood existing low-lying structures adjacent to the site, this new information would affect the project's feasibility and may warrant removal of priority status.

Project status below updated January 2010

Projects Accepted under October 2006 RFR (status)

• Eel River Headwaters, Plymouth (construction)
• Stony Brook, Brewster (permitting)
• Mill River , Gloucester (design)
• Town Creek, Salisbury (design)
• Dun Fudgin', Gloucester (complete)
• Broad Cove, Hingham (assessment)
• Belle Isle Marsh , Boston (priority status rescinded in 2009)
• Jacobs Meadow, Cohasset (permitting)
• Parker Avenue 'Cut', Cohasset (complete)

Projects Accepted under September 2005 RFR

• Back River Marsh, Bourne (priority status (priority status rescinded in 2008)
• Somerset Marsh, Somerset (permitting)
• Marsh Island, Fairhaven (design)
• Musquashcut Pond, Scituate (permitting)
• Neponset Marshes Phase II, Boston (complete)
• Newman Road, Newbury (construction)
• Nonquit Marsh, Dartmouth (design)
• Thissell Marsh, Beverly (permitting)
• Winsegansett East, Fairhaven (complete)
• Winsegansett West, Fairhaven (design)

Projects Accepted under September 2004 RFR

• Apponagansett Bay, Dartmouth (priority status rescinded in 2006)
• Central Wetland, Cambridge (assessment)
• Consue Springs, Nantucket (priority status rescinded in 2009)
• Farm Pond, Oak Bluffs (design)
• Green Harbor River, Marshfield (phase 1 complete)
• Inner Little Harbor, Cohasset (permitting)
• Oak Island Marsh, Revere (design)
• Scorton Creek East, Sandwich (priority status rescinded in 2005)
• Shore Road, Yarmouth (complete)
• Little Namskaket Creek, Orleans (complete)
• Smith Lane, Eastham (assessment)
• Stewarts Creek, Barnstable (permitting)
• Straits Pond, Hull-Cohasset-Hingham (construction)
• Village Marsh, Sandwich (assessment)
• West Island Beach, Fairhaven (permitting)
• Wingaersheek Beach, Gloucester (assessment)

Projects Accepted under December 2003 RFR

• Ballard Street, Saugus (permitting)
• Bass Creek, Yarmouth (complete)
• Bridge Creek Phase II, Barnstable (complete)
• Sesuit Creek / Bridge Street, Dennis (complete)
• Coonamessett Bogs, Falmouth (assessment)
• Cowyards, Dartmouth (complete)
• East Harbor / Pilgrim Lake, Truro (assessment)
• Gray Gables, Bourne (assessment)
• Herring River, Wellfleet (design / permitting)
• Hix Bridge, Westport (priority status rescinded in 2006)
• Island Road, Essex (complete)
• Mattapoisett Neck, Mattapoisett (complete)
• Medouie Creek, Nantucket (complete)
• Mill Creek, Chelsea (complete)
• Namskaket Marsh, Brewster (complete)
• North Pool, Plum Island, Newbury (assessment)
• Parkhurst Marsh, Quincy (assessment)
• Quivett Creek, Dennis (complete)
• Round Hill Beach, Dartmouth (design)
• South Cape Beach, Mashpee (complete)
• State Game Farm, Sandwich (complete)
• Thompson Island, Boston (complete)