Press Release  Massachusetts Wins More than $5 Million in Federal Funds to Transform Retired Cranberry Bogs to Resilient Coastal Wetlands

Boston — The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper today celebrated the award of $5 million in federal grant funding for two coastal habitat restoration projects through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Zone Management Habitat Protection and Restoration Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Competition (see the NOAA press release). In Yarmouth, the project will restore coastal habitat, tidal flow, and fish passage through removal of structures restricting water flow and restoration of a retired cranberry bog along the Upper Bass River. The Bourne project will advance the restoration of a retired cranberry bog by completing the planning and permitting process to address multiple tidal restrictions and implement wetland restoration techniques. Both projects will provide significant benefits to the surrounding communities, including climate resilience in the form of reduced flood risk and enhanced public access to coastal natural resources. The funds were secured by the Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration (DER), Friends of Bass River, Town of Yarmouth, Buzzards Bay Coalition, and Town of Bourne.

“This is another example of our team’s hustle to identify and secure federal dollars to address climate change impacts and improve environmental resources for our communities,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These projects will transform degraded former cranberry bogs into thriving wetlands that will provide habitat to important species, flood control in time of storms, and access for all to beautiful natural areas.” 

“Our administration is proud to partner with coastal communities and nonprofits to protect environmental resources and improve resilience to climate change,” added Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We are proud that this team was so successful in bringing home these extremely competitive federal funds to help protect and enhance the Massachusetts coast.” 

“These projects underscore the effort and teamwork that goes into restoring wetlands habitat,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Thank you to everyone at the local and state level who worked tirelessly to win these grant awards and will now work to make sure the projects are successfully implemented. We’re grateful to NOAA and our federal partners for investing in the nation-leading resilience work in Massachusetts.”

Through the NOAA Coastal Zone Management Habitat Protection and Restoration Awards competitive grant program, eligible state coastal programs can submit proposals for projects that focus on habitat restoration; habitat restoration planning, engineering, and design; and ecosystem conservation. The two projects submitted by CZM were selected through a highly competitive process, with only 22 projects funded out of the original 67 applications. Last year, CZM was also awarded nearly $4 million to support two coastal habitat restoration projects in Manchester-by-the-Sea and Truro through this federal grant competition.

“CZM seeks to support local efforts to protect coastal resources in every way possible,” said CZM Acting Director Tyler Soleau. “We were thrilled that our grant writing efforts once again paid off for the Massachusetts coast, and now we will work with our local and state partners to help make sure that these bogs are effectively restored to thriving wetlands that enhance our climate resilience.”

The Yarmouth project is designated as a Priority Ecological Restoration Project for Massachusetts through DER’s Priority Projects Program. The Bourne project is a priority of the Buzzards Bay Watershed Restoration Partnership, a network supported by DER’s Partnerships Program.

“Thank you to NOAA for this transformative investment in ecological restoration in Massachusetts. Support from our federal partners is critical for accelerating state and local efforts to build climate resilience and restore biodiversity,” said Department of Fish & Game Commissioner Tom O’Shea. “We are proud to collaborate with the Office of Coastal Zone Management to carry out these important projects that benefit both people and wildlife of Cape Cod.”

“Thank you to NOAA and CZM for supporting the restoration of Upper Bass River and the Puritan Bogs. Both projects will restore important river and wetland habitats and help people and nature adapt to climate change,” said DER Director Beth Lambert. “Each project brings together federal and state agencies to work alongside municipalities and non-profit organizations. Partnerships like these are critical for advancing high priority restoration and resilience projects.”

“These two exciting awards are an important part of our whole-of-government strategy to secure the historic amount of federal funding available to address climate change, improve resiliency and invest in our communities in Massachusetts,” said Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure Quentin Palfrey. “We are grateful to President Biden, Secretary Raimondo, and Administrator Spinrad for bringing federal funding to these critical projects, and look forward to continuing to compete for each and every federal dollar available for Massachusetts.”

Details on two coastal habitat restoration projects include:

Yarmouth - The Upper Bass River Coastal Habitat Restoration Project was awarded $4.7 million to restore 57 acres of coastal wetland at retired cranberry bogs, remove structures that restrict flow, and replace a concrete fishway with a natural channel. Currently, multiple flow control structures—including a dam, an undersized culvert, and berms—limit flow of water and sediment, restrict passage of aquatic species, and pose a flood hazard to the surrounding community. This project will restore flow to the system by constructing a bridge to replace a partially collapsed culvert at Weir Road, along with removing other flow control structures. The reconnection of flow, restoration of the retired cranberry bog, and naturalization of the river channel will improve water quality and wildlife passage for aquatic species—including substantial habitat for river herring, which were historically found in the Upper Bass River. Improved tidal flow will also reduce risk of flooding to adjacent properties, infrastructure, and roadways. The project builds on assessment and design work funded by a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Southeast New England Program Grant and will contribute to a larger vision for comprehensive restoration of over 160 acres of the Bass River ecosystem.

Bourne - The Puritan Bog Coastal Wetland Restoration Project was awarded $338,000 to complete modeling, design, and permitting to restore 15 acres of coastal wetland at a retired cranberry bog and reestablish tidal exchange to the site. Alterations of the wetland to support cranberry farming cut off natural tidal flow and promoted the growth of invasive reeds. Restoration of tidal exchange and wetland functioning will reestablish native salt marsh vegetation, support a rich diversity of plant and animal species, and provide refuge for juvenile fish and other aquatic species. The restoration also has the potential to support movement of the marsh to higher elevations inland of the wetland as sea levels rise. By removing flow control structures in the retired bog, the project will also reduce flooding hazards to the surrounding community and help prevent road failure due to flooding. The project has been a restoration priority in the region for nearly two decades, identified by groups such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Resources Conservation Service, Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program, Association to Preserve Cape Cod, DER, Buzzards Bay Coalition, and Town of Bourne.

“In 2020, the Friends of Bass River pinpointed a pressing need for enhancing water quality via the restoration of wetlands across the Bass River watershed,” said Rick Bishop, Friends of Bass River Executive Director. “Alongside the revival of historic fish habitats, the Upper Bass River Wetlands Restoration Project vividly underscores to the communities of Yarmouth and Dennis the vital importance of these initiatives. This work is not simply about the conservation of a natural resource, it’s a crucial step towards safeguarding the health of our entire river system and fostering the well-being of our communities.”

“The Buzzards Bay Coalition is pleased to advance this important project in partnership with the Town of Bourne, CZM, DER, USDA-NRCS, and other project partners,” said Buzzards Bay Coalition’s Vice President of Watershed Protection, Brendan Annett. “Improving the quality and quantity of coastal wetlands throughout the Buzzards Bay watershed is a priority of the Coalition, as coastal wetlands are critically important to the health and vitality of Buzzards Bay, improving coastal water quality and providing important habitat to fish, shellfish, and other wildlife in our local communities.”

“The Town of Bourne is excited to explore potential alterations to the Puritan Bog area with a very capable project team,” said Timothy Lydon, Bourne Town Engineer. “This project could meet Town goals of improving wildlife, repairing the natural ecosystem, and increasing climate resiliency and we are looking forward to analyzing the challenges ahead.”

The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) is the lead policy and planning agency on coastal and ocean issues within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Through planning, technical and grant assistance, and public information programs, CZM seeks to balance the impacts of human activity with the protection of coastal and marine resources. The agency’s work includes helping coastal communities address the challenges of storms, sea level rise, and other effects of climate change; working with state, regional, and federal partners to balance current and new uses of ocean waters while protecting ocean habitats and promoting sustainable economic development; and partnering with communities and other organizations to protect and restore coastal water quality and habitats.

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