Letter from the Director
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
While winter can be a time to rest and prepare for the year ahead, DER has been busy using these months to gear up for a productive 2025. This winter, DER carried forward its momentum from 2024 by awarding nearly $7 million through three rounds of grants to advance ecological restoration projects. DER staff also worked hard to provide technical support to communities through opportunities like a culvert replacement Project Inquiry Period, which provided municipalities and others an opportunity to discuss potential culvert replacement or removal projects. With DER’s annual Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance (CRMA) grants anticipated later this spring, it was a valuable chance to share knowledge and resources. In this issue, we also highlight a few Priority Projects that are restoring rivers and wetlands throughout the Commonwealth. Several of these project sites offer recreational opportunities for the public, which is a reminder that winter can be a great time to explore restored areas. Getting outside this season, especially in places that showcase nature’s resilience, can be a source of joy, motivation, and renewal for many.
As signs of spring begin to appear, we are excited for the year ahead and grateful for the opportunity to strengthen connections with our partners. Keep an eye out for DER’s annual report coming soon, which will highlight our restoration work over the past year and provide a final look back at DER’s fifteen years of impact in Massachusetts.
I’ll see you on the river,
Beth Lambert, Director
Construction Check-In
DER has four projects under construction this winter. Here’s a look at what’s going on:
Upper Coonamessett River Restoration, Falmouth: In January, a groundbreaking event was held for DER and partners to celebrate the kickoff of construction at the Upper Coonamessett Wetland Complex site in Falmouth. This project will restore 20 acres of former cranberry bogs into healthy wetlands, remove culverts to improve stream health, increase fish passage, and create public access along the upper portion of the Coonamesset River Watershed. This is a continuation of the significant river and wetlands restoration work that was completed around five years ago in the lower Coonamesset River. We are proud to partner with the Town of Falmouth and many others to help bring this project to fruition!
Herring River Estuary Restoration, Wellfleet and Truro: Despite the winter conditions, construction is progressing on the largest tidal restoration in the northeastern U.S. Most excitingly, the permanent bridge has started to take shape as the southern abutments and southern bay of the permanent bridge have been set. Many other construction elements are also underway, including the installation of the first portion of the precast gate panels and the tide gates this month, which will eventually allow tidal flow. Partners on this project include the 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.
Quinapoxet River Restoration, West Boylston: This winter brought exciting progress for this project as the Quinapoxet River Dam was fully removed in November. With the dam removed, the project team has been working on the in-channel work upstream, which includes reconstructing the channel, adding a gradual slope, creating riffles, and grading the bottom, as well as removing the diversion channel that was created to divert water during construction. Once complete, the project will open 35 river miles for fish and wildlife, enhance a popular fishing and recreational area, build climate resilience, and more. Project partners include the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, Department of Fish and Game, Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, and Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Windswept Bog Wetland Restoration, Nantucket: Construction on Phase Two is well underway for the Windswept Bog Restoration. This winter, the project team is restoring the remaining 26 acres by filling the agricultural drainage ditches, excavating the bogs to roughen the surface and expose the dormant native seed bank, adding microtopography and areas of open water, and removing man-made structures such as the berms and water control structures. Project partners include Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Environmental Protection Agency’s Southern New England Estuary Program, Richard King Mellon Foundation, Fuss & O’Neill, and SumCo Eco-Contracting.
Check out previous issues of DER’s Ebb & Flow to learn about the culvert replacement, wetland restoration, dam removal, and cranberry bog restoration projects that wrapped up in 2024.
Funding for a Resilient Future
Last year was an exciting and busy year for DER in many ways. In 2024, DER invested over $13 million to advance ecological restoration projects across the Commonwealth. This funding included support for culvert replacements in 37 cities and towns, funding for three Restoration Partnerships, and investments in 18 river and wetland projects.
DER continued to announce grants all the way up to the end of the year. In November, DER awarded $6 million to 12 recipients through two programs: DER’s Wetland Restoration Program, which restores degraded coastal and freshwater wetlands, and DER’s Cranberry Bog Restoration Program, which restores abandoned or retired cranberry farmland back to wetlands and streams. A month later, DER awarded another $384,000 for a culvert replacement in the Town of Ashburnham through DER’s Culvert Replacement Training Site Initiative. This initiative aims to create a network of road managers with advanced experience implementing culvert replacements that meet the Massachusetts Stream Crossing Standards.
This momentum has not slowed down in 2025. Last month, DER began the new year by announcing that $535,000 in funding will support dam removal studies and ecological restoration partnerships. Eight municipalities were selected to receive preliminary design studies that help owners assess the risks and opportunities of dam removal while providing critical information for future climate adaptation planning. Additionally, as part of that grant announcement, $135,000 was awarded to support Regional Restoration Partnerships in the Buzzards Bay, Merrimack, and Hoosic, Housatonic, and Farmington River watersheds. DER’s Regional Restoration Partnerships Program boosts the pace and scale of ecological restoration in Massachusetts by strengthening local and regional organizations that collaborate on restoration projects.
Ecological restoration is a critical piece of the puzzle for building a climate-ready future for Massachusetts. However, this work can be technically complex and costly. These grants and technical assistance provided by DER help bridge the gap between high-priority restoration needs and the practical aspects of project implementation.
DER and partners assess the Cochichewick River Dam in North Andover, one of the recipients of DER's 2023 dam removal studies grant.
Celebrating Cranberry Bog Restoration
With the crisp air and crunchy snow underfoot, winter can be a wonderful time to get outdoors and explore the natural world. In addition to restoring rivers and wetlands, some of DER’s ecological restoration projects include the creation of boardwalks, accessible trails, and other opportunities for the public to enjoy these restored areas. Last year, two newly restored sites opened to the public just in time for winter recreation.
In November, DER and partners gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Mattapoisett Bogs Restoration Project. Many years in the making, this project restored 55 acres of former cranberry bogs in Mattapoisett into a thriving wetland. It also restored Tripp’s Mill Brook, which runs through the area, and improved habitat for rare species. The golden hour event showcased the land’s transformation as attendees witnessed the wetland’s early stages of recovery and walked the publicly-accessible trails.
A month later, the Cold Brook Restoration Project in Harwich officially opened to the public, with 50 acres of former commercial cranberry bog restored into healthy wetlands and over 4,000 linear feet of river channel created along Cold Brook. With construction underway for most of 2024, this project is unique because it was designed to capture groundwater through the newly crafted ponds and naturally treat it, improving water quality for the surrounding communities and ecosystems.
Both of these DER Priority Projects included a recreational component, with trails and bridges installed to allow people to witness restoration in action. Additionally, one of the trails at the Cold Brook Restoration Project was designed to accommodate wheelchairs, ensuring access for individuals with physical disabilities and families with strollers. With miles of trails now open to the public, these are just two of the many ecological restoration projects that provide access to outdoor recreation across the Commonwealth. Check out DER’s interactive map to find restored areas near you.
Chatting About Continuity – DER’s Project Inquiry Period
Culvert replacement projects can be complex as cities and towns navigate the funding, data collection, permitting, and construction associated with replacing or removing culverts. To help municipalities better understand this process, DER offers a unique opportunity every year. Over the winter, DER’s Stream Continuity Program held a Project Inquiry/Expression of Interest Period, which allowed local governments to schedule calls with DER and discuss a potential culvert replacement or removal project. This year, DER received a strong response, with inquiries coming in from across different regions of Massachusetts. In total, the Stream Continuity Program held 77 calls with cities and towns in December and January - meaning that DER's staff held one-on-one conversations with around 22% of Massachusetts’ municipalities in two months! Check out the associated map for a breakdown of the watersheds that the calls came from below.
During the calls, DER staff discussed criteria of past applications that were historically successful, explained how to prioritize culverts with the highest ecological restoration potential and impacts to environmental justice neighborhoods, and more. We want to thank all the municipalities that DER had the chance to connect with. Not only was this an opportunity to share DER’s knowledge about culvert replacement projects, but it also allowed the Stream Continuity Program to learn more about the challenges municipalities face when replacing undersized and aging culverts across the Commonwealth. DER’s annual Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance (CRMA) grant opportunity is anticipated later this spring — sign up for the Culvert Connections e-newsletter to be notified of upcoming grants and opportunities specific to culverts.
Project Highlight – Abbey Brook Restoration and Revitalization
How do you restore a river that runs through the heart of a city? DER and partners are tackling that unique challenge through the Abbey Brook Restoration and Revitalization, a DER Priority Project within Szot Park, Chicopee. Abbey Brook is a small stream that flows through Szot Park but, due to its location within an urbanized watershed, encounters several obstacles along its 1.5-mile path. Selected as a Priority Project in 2018, DER has been working with the City of Chicopee to restore Abbey Brook by removing two aging and deteriorating dams, replacing an undersized culvert, and “daylighting” a 250-foot stretch of river that currently runs underground. Once all three phases are complete, the project will reconnect Abbey Brook with the downstream Chicopee River, eliminating safety risks posed by the aging dams and culvert, reducing flood risk, improving water quality, and enhancing recreational opportunities in the surrounding Szot Park.
Construction for Phase One began in early 2023 and continued through late 2024. During this phase, the structurally compromised Lower Bemis Pond Dam was removed, the river channel reconstructed, and major features like bridges and walking paths were installed. With that portion of the park now open to the public, Phase Two began this year. This phase is creating design plans to replace the undersized and aging culvert, which runs under a main road and contains internet and other utilities. If the culvert were to fail, it would significantly impact surrounding communities. Additionally, Phase Two will uncover a 250-foot stretch of Abbey Brook from underground in a process called “daylighting.” The third and final phase of the project will remove Upper Bemis Pond Dam and further restore Abbey Brook.
Urban rivers can play a vital role in strengthening cities’ communities and ecosystems. DER works with municipalities to address the unique challenges of these often-overlooked waterways. From restoring the stream channel to building climate resilience, the Abbey Brook project contributes to a healthier and more sustainable environment in an environmental justice community while preserving the area’s natural beauty. Partners on this project include the City of Chicopee, the Municipal Vulnerability Program, and the EEA Dam and Seawall Program.
Szot Park after a recent snowfall. Credit: Tighe and Bond