Letter from the Director
Friends and colleagues,
I’m proud to share that the Division’s river and wetland restoration work is an integral part of the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game’s new 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, Connections: Working Together for Nature. The plan brings together the four DFG divisions to focus on solutions at the intersection of biodiversity, climate change, and environmental justice.
Second, we celebrate a notable milestone for DER - a decade and a half of restoration. Fifteen years ago, leaders at the Department of Fish and Game, Coastal Zone Management, and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs established DER to bring momentum and capacity to river and wetland restoration across the Commonwealth. Since then, DER has doubled in size, completed over 150 restoration projects, and expanded its work in response to the growing demand for assistance. From our boots-on-the-ground restoration work, to our programs that build capacity for others to lead restoration, we have consistently seen the benefits and heard the need for ecological restoration.
Throughout the rest of the year, we will be looking back and sharing past projects. Please join us on Instagram, X, and LinkedIn as we reflect on fifteen years of river and wetland restoration.
I’ll see you on the river,
Beth Lambert, Director
Staff Updates
DER is excited to welcome Amber Carr to our team! Amber joined DER in July as an Ecological Restoration Grants Manager in our Stream Continuity Program. Having worked for municipal, nonprofit, state, and federal organizations across New England, she brings diverse skills to her new role – including grant management. Most recently, she was the Conservation Coordinator for the Town of Lexington, where she coordinated activities associated with land management and stewardship such as natural resource protection, invasive species management, native habitat preservation and restoration, and visitor access, education, and outreach. In her free time, she loves to spend time outdoors and is an avid yoga practitioner.
Additionally, DER is proud to share that Restoration Specialist, Eric Ford, has been selected by the Harwich Conservation Trust as one of their Conservationists of the Year for his contributions to the Cold Brook Eco-Restoration Project, a DER Priority Project! Eric and the other partners on the project worked for many years to restore 50 acres of former commercial cranberry bog in Harwich into a healthy, self-sustaining wetland and restore over 4,000 linear feet of river channel along Cold Brook. The award speaks to the technical expertise, project management, and collaboration skills that DER staff bring to these partnership-based projects. Learn about the Cold Brook Eco-Restoration project in our Spring 2024 Ebb & Flow.
Construction Check-in
DER had four projects under construction this summer. Here’s a snapshot of the work that was underway:
Herring River Estuary Restoration: With traffic moving over a temporary bridge through Wellfleet, construction has been steadily progressing on the largest tidal restoration in the northeastern U.S. This summer, work has been focusing on completing the coffer which controls water around excavation of the old roadway, excavating the old tidegate structure and roadway, beginning the foundation for the permanent bridge, and many other construction elements. Partners on this project include Town of Wellfleet, National Park Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, NOAA, US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Friends of Herring River, and many others. Photo credit to Wes Stinson/EP.
Mattapoisett Bogs Restoration: Phase II of construction is underway which includes removing the last culvert to allow for rewilding of the channel along Tripps Mill Brook, planting within adjacent upland areas, and the installation of two footbridges to allow for passive recreation and education throughout 57 acres in Mattapoisett. The project also improves in-stream connectivity and expands/enhances habitat for rare species. Partners on this project include Buzzards Bay Coalition and Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Monatiquot/Fore River Restoration: After removing two dams along Fore River in Braintree in summer of 2023, construction is focusing on finishing a fish ladder this summer which will restore fish passage and building a boardwalk and trails to enhance public access and recreation. This work will open 36 river miles, strengthen community resilience, improve water quality, and restore natural river processes. Partners on this project include Division of Marine Fisheries, Town of Braintree, a private owner of the dams, Fore River Watershed Association, NOAA Restoration Center, Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program, Dam and Seawall Repair or Removal Program, and US Fish & Wildlife Service.
Abbey Brook Restoration and Revitalization: Phase I of construction is finishing up which included removing the Lower Bemis Pond Dam last summer, reconstructing the stream channel, installing open-bottom culverts that will allow for recreation around Abbey Brook, and planting around 200 trees. This project will eliminate the risk to public safety posed by the aging dams, reduce flood risk, restore natural river processes, improve water quality, and enhance recreational opportunities. Partners on this project include the City of Chicopee and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.
In addition, many of the DER projects that completed construction within the past year are showing signs of growth and greenery as they approach one-year post-restoration. Check out previous issues of the Ebb & Flow to learn about the culvert replacement, wetland restoration, dam removal, and cranberry bog restoration projects that were under construction last year.
DER's Notice of Upcoming Opportunities
DER currently has two funding and technical assistance opportunities available for municipalities and organizations to advance restoration.
- Cranberry Bog and Coastal Wetland Restoration: A Notice of Upcoming Funding Opportunity for cranberry bog and coastal wetland restoration projects was released this past spring with an official Request for Responses being released soon. DER will be seeking proposals for funding to advance early phase feasibility studies, project planning and design, and construction of both retired cranberry bog and coastal wetland restoration projects. Learn more about this opportunity on DER's website.
- Dam Removal Program: A notice of an upcoming opportunity for dam removal preliminary design services was released this summer. Massachusetts municipalities will be eligible for this opportunity which will study dams to help landowners and partners assess opportunities and constraints during early planning phases of potential aquatic habitat restoration and climate resilience projects. Selected projects will be eligible to receive technical assistance from DER staff and DER-led contracted technical services from qualified vendors. Learn more about this opportunity on DER's website.
- Partnerships Program: Partnerships are a hallmark of DER's work. DER’s Regional Restoration Partnerships Program helps non-profits and regional planning agencies increase their capacity to lead and support ecological restoration through financial and technical assistance. Our Program is currently supporting three Partnerships across the state. A Request for Response (RFR) will be coming to establish new Partnerships in Fall 2024. Learn more about our program on DER's website or the Partnerships RFR webpage and share with someone that you think may be interested.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram, X, or LinkedIn for updates to these and more.
New Salt Marsh Restoration Monitoring Report Published
DER is excited to announce the publication of a new report on salt marsh tidal restoration monitoring. Together with the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC), DER has published the results of pre- and post-restoration monitoring at eight different salt marsh sites restored between 2002 and 2010. The restoration work at these sites addressed tidal restrictions caused by infrastructure such as berms and undersized culverts that limited tidal flow to upstream salt marshes. APCC evaluated the impact of tidal restoration on these sites and together with DER, they compiled this comprehensive report to detail the results.
Long-term monitoring is critical to understanding how salt marsh ecosystems respond to restoration after decades of impairment and to inform how to advance the practice of salt marsh restoration. Salt marshes are critical coastal systems that offer a wide range of benefits to the ecosystem, such as wildlife and fisheries habitat, flood protection, and more. Read the report on DER's website.
Celebrating Dam Removal
DER’s Dam Removal Program hit a few milestones this summer beginning in May with a ribbon cutting to mark the completion of the High Street Dam Removal and Bridge Replacement in Bridgewater. Until last year, the obsolete High Street Dam and the 100-year-old High Street Bridge caused localized flooding and acted as barriers for many fish and wildlife species along Town River. With the dam removed and the bridge replaced, the community has a lower risk of flooding and 10 miles of river habitat have been opened for many migratory fish species.
A month later, DER and partners gathered for a ceremonial groundbreaking hosted by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority in West Boylston to mark the start of construction on the Quinapoxet Dam Removal project. After nearly ten years of planning, removal of the aging dam will open 35 miles of river habitat, eliminate safety concerns, and enhance public access to a popular fishing and recreational spot. Construction is expected to start later in the fall.
These two projects, and the many others currently underway, are accomplished through strong partnerships with state and federal agencies, municipalities, nonprofits, and many others. From groundbreaking to ribbon-cutting ceremonies, DER is proud to celebrate these milestones with our partners.
First DER Training of the Year
DER provides tools, trainings, and resources to stakeholders through our Capacity Building Branch. Earlier this summer, our Stream Continuity Program, part of the Capacity Building Branch, led a free culvert replacement training for municipalities. The training included presentations on topics like the process of culvert replacement, steps in a site assessment, where to find funding opportunities, case studies, and more. Additionally, DER staff and attendees went in the field to see a culvert that will soon be replaced.
Not only was the training an opportunity to share valuable resources and information related to culvert replacement, but DER was also able to hear from attendees about the challenges that they have recently faced when replacing culverts.
Thank you to the City of Ashburnham and Ashburnham Department of Public Works for hosting the training. DER plans to do more free trainings like this in the future. Sign up for our Culvert Connection e-newsletter to be notified when one becomes available.
Project Highlight: Savery Brook Culvert Replacement
In the past, the Town of Washington had dealt with a problematic culvert on Frost Road over Savery Brook, a headwater tributary to the West Branch of the Westfield River and a designated coldwater fisheries resource. The 36-inch undersized and aging corrugated metal pipe culvert often caused water to pool behind the roadway and occasionally overtop the adjacent road during high water events. Additionally, the culvert inlet had collapsed and became crushed over time, while the outlet became perched, causing scour and erosion downstream. This made it difficult for fish and wildlife to pass through and harmed the overall health of the stream.
In response to these issues, the Town began the process of replacing the culvert in 2018. For the next five years, the Town received funding through DER’s Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance Grant Initiative, in-kind support from the Westfield Wild & Scenic Committee, and partnered with National Park Service staff to redesign and replace the structure in 2023. The new culvert, with a width over 9 feet and an opening about 5 feet tall, is designed with the goals of the Massachusetts Stream Crossing Standards in mind. The new structure now decreases the risk of flooding and damage to the road, improves stream connectivity and health, allows fish and wildlife to pass, and reduces erosion. Both photos above were taken during high rain events, but the difference between the old culvert and the newly installed structure is evident. To put it into perspective, the area underwater in the photo on the left is where the photographer is standing in the photo on the right — a good 20 feet below the road surface.
This successful project through DER’s Stream Continuity Program highlights the importance of collaboration between state agencies, municipalities, and local organizations in addressing environmental and infrastructural challenges. Visit DER’s website for more information on the Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance Grant Initiative. To learn more about the Savery Brook Culvert Replacement, check out this video made by the Westfield Wild & Scenic Committee.
News from the Department of Fish and Game
Help shape biodiversity conservation goals for the Commonwealth! If you missed the Department of Fish and Game’s virtual public listening sessions, the recordings are available online along with a public input form. Please submit your written comments regarding the Biodiversity Conservation Goals for Massachusetts by August 30th. Learn more on the Biodiversity Goals webpage and submit comments here.
Additionally, the Department of Fish and Game released their five-year strategic plan "Connections: Working Together for Nature" that will guide the agency’s work from 2025–2030! Many of DER’s staff contributed to it. Read the press release to learn more and read it.