Baker-Polito Administration Awards Grants to 25 Ecological Restoration Projects and Partnerships
BOSTON – Seeking to strengthen
community preparedness for large storms, improve climate-ready infrastructure,
protect fisheries, wildlife, and river habitats, and restore floodplain habitat
and flood storage capabilities, the Baker-Polito Administration today
announced the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG)
Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) has awarded a total of nearly $1
million in grants through three programs. DER awarded $180,472 in state funds
to support three partnerships through its new Regional Restoration Partnerships
Program, $708,500 in state grant funds to nine Priority Ecological Restoration
Projects, and $82,000 to a project that is part of DER’s Culvert Replacement
Training Initiative, which provides direct technical assistance and funding to
municipalities to advance the replacement of select municipally owned culverts
at strategic locations throughout Massachusetts to provide convenient,
centralized learning locations for local road managers.
“As the impacts
associated with climate change are felt throughout the Commonwealth, our Administration
continues to support projects in communities across the state that increase Massachusetts’ climate resilience,” said
Governor Charlie Baker. “This ecological restoration work directly aligns
with our goals, which will have long lasting
benefits within the many regions of the state.”
“Ecological restoration not
only helps communities respond to climate change, but also benefits the
environment, wildlife and the people of
Massachusetts, who can continue to enjoy and experience our outdoor spaces,” said
Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “We’re proud to support this work and
will continue to work with cities and towns in all corners of the Commonwealth.
DER’s new
Regional Restoration Partnerships Program seeks to build capacity of local and
regional organizations to collaboratively advance restoration work, increasing
the pace and scale of ecological restoration throughout the Commonwealth.
Additionally, DER Priority Ecological Restoration Projects aid local partners
in removing aging dams, replacing deteriorated culverts, rejuvenating historic
wetlands, and restoring floodplain habitat and flood storage. Furthermore, DER
has also designated 12 new river and wetland restoration projects as Priority
Projects through the Priority Projects Program. These new projects will deliver
significant ecological, climate resiliency, and economic benefits to
communities across the Commonwealth.
“The
Baker-Polito Administration is proud to support these projects that will deliver
significant ecological and environmental benefits to communities across the
Commonwealth and support strong and healthy partnerships among municipalities,
local watershed groups, and other environmental organizations,” said Energy
and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “Partnerships are
the cornerstone of our restoration efforts, and these projects will advance
critical local priorities such as habitat restoration, culvert replacement, and
flood mitigation through the climate-ready infrastructure.”
“The benefits
of ecological restoration are unquestionable and it has been a privilege to
watch the state’s restoration work grow and expand,” said Department of Fish
and Game Commissioner Ronald Amidon. “I look forward to seeing all that’s
to come from these projects and partnerships.”
DER’s new
Regional Restoration Partnerships Program helps
non-profit organizations and Regional Planning Agencies increase their capacity
to lead and support ecological restoration within their regions through direct
financial and technical assistance. Pairing partner strengths with the state's
investments will empower networks of partners to restore rivers and wetlands
and help people and nature adapt to climate change. The successful partnerships
are supported for at least three years through the program as they plan and
carry out ecological restoration actions. The awards announced today will
support the first year of this work. The
following three Partnerships were awarded grants through the Regional Restoration
Partnerships Program via DER’s Capital Budget:
Berkshire
Clean, Cold, Connected Restoration Partnership
Award:
Housatonic Valley Association; $59,085
This award will support a
network of organizations, agencies, and communities working for healthy aquatic
systems in the Hoosic, Housatonic, and Farmington River watersheds. The
partnership will build local and regional capacity for planning and
implementing restoration projects that restore degraded aquatic ecosystems and
increase climate change resiliency, such as habitat connectivity projects and
stream corridor restoration projects. This year’s funds will be used to assess
and prioritize critical ecological restoration opportunities, such as
road-stream crossing replacements, and to support partners contributing to
planning efforts.
Buzzard’s Bay
Watershed Restoration Partnership
Award:
Buzzard’s Bay Coalition; $59,834
This award will
support a network of towns, local land trusts, and private
landowners throughout the Buzzard’s Bay region working to implement
strategic ecological restoration and land conservation projects.
The partnership will build local and regional capacity for
restoration and will pursue high priority projects
such as river and stream barrier removal, salt marsh restoration, and
wetland restoration on retiring cranberry farms. This year’s funds will be used to evaluate restoration
needs and opportunities, address information gaps, and develop a project
prioritization model that weighs elements such as ecological benefit, climate
resilience benefit, financial feasibility, and social readiness and other
cultural benefits.
Merrimack
Restoration Partnership
Award:
Merrimack River Watershed Council; $61,553
This award will
support a diverse network of partners and
stakeholders to develop a strategic restoration vision at the watershed
scale, implement high-visibility projects, fill a climate-resilience education
gap, and increase connections between agencies, community leaders, landowners,
and practitioners. The partnership will support river and
stream barrier removal
projects, in-stream habitat enhancement/restoration
and climate resilience activities, and riparian restoration
and floodplain connectivity work in the Merrimack River watershed. This year’s funds will be used to develop restoration planning
and feasibility studies, public education and communication tool development,
and to support partners working on implementation activities.
The Priority
Projects Program is one of the vehicles by which DER pursues restoration
projects that present the greatest benefit to the Commonwealth ecologically,
socially, and economically. The 10 established Priority Projects that are
receiving funding today include wetland restoration, dam removal, floodplain
reconnection, culvert replacement, and cranberry bog restoration projects which
restore healthy habitat while also helping communities prevent storm damage,
address aging infrastructure, and improve outdoor recreation. Once completed,
these Priority Projects will provide significant social, environmental, and
economic benefits to the Commonwealth and local communities. The following nine
projects were awarded funds through DER’s Priority Projects Program via DER’s
Capital Budget:
Abbey Brook
Restoration & Revitalization/Bemis Pond Dam Removals, Chicopee
Award: City of
Chicopee; $100,000
This award will
support the design and permitting for the Abbey Brook Restoration and
Revitalization Project, which includes the removal of two dams, replacement of
an undersized road-stream crossing, and daylighting a culverted reach of stream
along Abbey Brook in Chicopee. DER and the City of Chicopee are partnering with
the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission on this effort, which 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.
Broad Meadow
Brook Restoration, Worcester
Award:
Massachusetts Audubon Society; $30,000
This award will
support hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) modeling and development of
restoration design options for restoration of the Broad Meadow Brook wetland
and stream system in southeast Worcester. Mass Audubon, the City of Worcester,
and DER are partnering to restore hydrologic connection within a degraded
wetland, restore floodplain connection of the stream and its riparian corridor,
reduce flooding risk to the adjacent neighborhoods, improve habitat and water
quality, and enhance visitor experience of recreational trails within this
vital urban open space.
Ipswich River
Restoration/Ipswich Mills Dam Removal, Ipswich
Award: Ipswich
River Watershed Association; $45,000
This award will
support subsurface investigations to facilitate dam removal design advancement
for the removal of the Ipswich Mills Dam, a head-of-tide dam on the Ipswich
River. Its removal will provide access to spawning habitat for a range of fish
species. Additional partners on this project include the Town of Ipswich, the
Division of Marine Fisheries, the NOAA Restoration Center, and the US Fish and
Wildlife Service.
Manhan River Restoration/Lyman Pond Dam
Removal, Southampton
Award: private
dam owner; $150,000
This award will
support the removal of the Lyman Pond Dam as part of the Manhan River
Restoration Project. DER is partnering with the private dam owner, American
Rivers, Mass Audubon, the Nature Conservancy, and the US Fish and Wildlife
Service on this effort. This project will eliminate the threat of dam failure
and will reconnect 27 miles of high quality coldwater habitat in the Manhan
River for fish and wildlife.
Mattapoisett
Bogs Restoration, Mattapoisett
Award:
Buzzards Bay Coalition; $50,000
This award will
support design and permitting for the Mattapoisett Bogs Restoration project,
which will restore 57 acres of retired cranberry farmland to a naturalized,
self-sustaining wetland system. DER and Buzzards Bay Coalition are partnering
with the Natural Resources Conservation Service on this effort. This project
will restore connectivity to Tripps Mill Brook, improve habitat for fish and
wildlife, rejuvenate wetlands, re-naturalize water flow through the site, and
improve public access.
Mill Brook
Headwaters
Restoration, Chilmark
Award:
Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation, Inc.; $33,500
This award will
support the replacement of a culvert as part of the Mill Brook Headwaters
Restoration project. The goals of this project are to implement one of the
first culvert replacement projects on Martha’s Vineyard to restore ecological
functions including fish and wildlife passage and to provide reliable access
across Mill Brook.
Town River
Restoration/High Street Dam Removal, Bridgewater
Award: Town of
Bridgewater; $150,000
This award will
support the removal of the of the High Street Dam, replacement of the aging
High Street Bridge over Town River, and protection and enhancement of
surrounding infrastructure and public utilities as part of the Town River
Restoration project. The Town and DER are partnering with the Massachusetts
Division of Marine Fisheries, the Nature Conservancy, the private dam owner,
the NOAA Restoration Center, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service on this
effort. The project will improve fish access to historic spawning and rearing
habitat, reduce area flood risk, eliminate the threat to public safety posed by
sudden failure of the dam, and improve public access to the river.
Traphole Brook
Dam Removal, Norwood
Award: Town of
Norwood; $100,000
This award will
support the removal of the Mill Pond Dam on Traphole Brook and will work to
restore Traphole Brook through the former impoundment. Traphole Brook is a
Coldwater Fishery Resource that is home to one of the few remaining wild Eastern brook trout populations in
the greater Boston area. This
work will also increase the storm resiliency of an important town road at the
head of the impoundment.
Ware River
Restoration/Wheelwright Pond Dam Removal, Hardwick
Award: Wheelwright Water District Commission;
$50,000
This award will
support pre-removal groundwater monitoring as part of the Ware River
Restoration Project, which includes the removal of the Wheelwright Pond Dam.
Partners include the private dam owner, the East Quabbin Land Trust, and the
Division of Fisheries & Wildlife. The project will open 41 upstream river
miles, improve habitat for Eastern brook trout and other state-listed species,
and restore natural river processes.
In addition to
these newly funded Priority Projects, a further $82,000 in state capital funds
was awarded for the following Culvert Replacement Training Site:
East Rindge
Road Culvert Replacement Training Site, Ashburnham
Award: Town of
Ashburnham; $82,000
This award will
support design, engineering, and permitting-related tasks for a culvert
replacement on Bluefield Brook in preparation for replacement. Upgrading this
culvert will mitigate flooding, increase community resilience and improve
aquatic connectivity. The site has been identified as a top 5% culvert for
replacement by the Massachusetts Wildlife Climate Action Tool. This project
will also provide training opportunities to the region as part of DER’s Culvert
Training Initiative and is expected to inform future culvert replacements in
the watershed.
Through the
Priority Projects Program, DER selects projects that advance the mission to restore and protect the Commonwealth’s rivers,
wetlands, and watersheds for the benefit of people and the environment. Projects are selected through a competitive process for
Priority Project designation. Today, the Administration announces the
designation of 12 projects to Priority Project status, which will make them
eligible to receive technical assistance from DER staff, technical services by
qualified contractors, and/or direct funding. These projects will restore
retired cranberry bogs and wetlands, remove dams, and replace culverts. Of the
12 new projects, three will receive “provisional” status in order to determine
their long-term readiness for implementation. Including these new designations,
more than 65 active ecological restoration projects throughout the state are
currently designated as Priority Projects. To review a list of projects, please
visit the Department of Fish & Game’s DER
Priority Projects Map webpage. The newly
designated Priority Projects include:
Bayview
Cranberry Bog Restoration, Yarmouth
Partner: Cape
Cod Conservation District
This project will
construct a wetland and stream restoration project that enhances coastal
resilience, habitat, water quality, and public open space at Bayview Bogs, an
approximately 90-acre parcel with almost 50 acres of uplands and 44 acres of
wetlands, including 18 acres of former cranberry bogs.
Church
Manufacturing Co. Dam Removal/Chicopee Brook Restoration, Monson
Partner:
private dam owner
This project will
remove a dam on Chicopee Brook. The removal will reconnect a segment of
Chicopee Brook, remove unneeded infrastructure, eliminate the potential risk to
public safety associated with a dam failure, and get rid of any future repair,
maintenance, and dam operation liabilities.
Frost Fish
Creek Restoration, Chatham
Partner:
Chatham Conservation Foundation
This project will
enhance ecosystem services and benefits within the Frost Fish Creek estuary by
restoring natural tidal exchange and stream flow to extensive estuarine
habitats and freshwater wetlands.
Larkin Road
Dam Removal/Parker River Restoration, Newbury
Partner: Town
of Newbury
This project will
remove the Larkin Road Dam and associated structures to restore fish passage
through the formerly impounded reach. It will also restore water quality,
aquatic habitat connectivity, and natural riverine sediment regimes.
Long Pond
Brook Restoration and Dam Removals, Great Barrington
Partner: Bard
College at Simon’s Rock
This project will
restore a portion of Long Pond Brook by reestablishing connectivity to Seekonk
Brook and Green River, extending coldwater habitat and improving movement of
aquatic organisms up into Long Pond Brook.
Ryder’s Cove
Restoration, Chatham
Partner:
Massachusetts Department of Transportation
This project will
restore salt marsh, increase tidal flow, and restore significant estuarine
habitat in the Frost Fish Creek watershed for the natural reproduction and
benefit of several public trust species including river herring, American shad,
striped bass, and rainbow smelt.
Talbot Mills
Dam Removal/Concord River Restoration, Billerica
Partner: OARS
This project will
remove the Talbot Mills Dam, restore diadromous fish passage in the Concord
River, improve riverine ecological health, enhance river-based recreation,
eliminate a public safety hazard, and increase climate change resiliency by
reducing upstream flooding.
Upper Bass
River Restoration, Yarmouth/Dennis
Partner:
Friends of Bass River
This project will
replace an undersized culvert that restricts tidal flow in the upper portion of
the Bass River, replace a crushed and undersized culvert that inhibits fish
passage, and implement wetland and stream restoration in approximately 57 acres
of abandoned cranberry farmland to restore habitat, improve water quality,
increase public access to Town-owned land, and promote recreational use.
Whitney Pond
Dam Removal, Ashburnham
Partner: Town
of Ashburnham
This project will
remove a hazardous dam, eliminating a liability for the town, reestablishing
the hydrologic connectivity of the upper Whitman River Watershed, restoring the
natural flow and temperature regimes, and providing unimpeded nutrient
transport and fish and wildlife passage between upstream and downstream
wetlands.
DER’s
recommended “Provisional” Priority Projects include:
- Malden
Brook Restoration/Edwards Pond Dam Removal, West
Boylston, in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation
and Recreation
- Marstons
Mills Cranberry Bog Restoration, Marstons Mills, Barnstable,
in partnership with Barnstable Clean Water Coalition
- Old
Swamp River Dam Removal, Weymouth, in partnership with
the Town of Weymouth
“The
Baker-Polito Administration is proud to support these efforts to restore and
protect our waterways for the benefit of both people and the environment,” said
DER Director Beth Lambert. “Investment in this work is critical and we look
forward to seeing increased climate resilience, improved habitat, and all the
other benefits to come.”
“I am very
pleased the Town of Bridgewater has been selected to receive $150,000 to
support the Town River Restoration project,” said Dean of the
Massachusetts Senate Marc R. Pacheco (D-Taunton). “By removing the High
Street Dam and replacing the aging High Street Bridge, this initiative will
improve local infrastructure, protect the freshwater ecosystem, reduce flood
risk, ensure public safety, and provide better public access to the river.
Thanks and congratulations to all those who contributed to this successful
grant proposal on behalf of the Town of Bridgewater.”
“I am happy
that Bridgewater was chosen to receive these funds for this important project,”
said Representative Angelo D’Emilia (R-Bridgewater). “This
funding will help update our adjacent infrastructure. Thank you to the
administration.”
“I am thrilled
to hear the announcement of the Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game
priority project grant from the Division of Ecological Restoration for the
Ipswich River Restoration/Ipswich Mills Dam Removal,” said Representative
Jamie Zahlaway Belsito (D-Topsfield). “This project is essential for the
future health and wellness of our district’s most treasured water resource, the
Ipswich River. The $45,000 grant will allow continued work with the
Ipswich River Watershed Association, the Town of Ipswich, the Division of
Marine Fisheries, the NOAA Restoration Center, and the US Fish and Wildlife
Service, to obtain the remaining necessary information on structural and
technical issues on dam removal design, for us to achieve a healthy and
sustainable Ipswich River.”
The mission of the Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) is to restore and protect the Commonwealth’s rivers, wetlands, and watersheds for the benefit of people and the environment. The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is responsible for promoting the conservation and enjoyment of the Commonwealth's natural resources. DFG carries out this mission through land protection and wildlife habitat management, management of inland and marine fish and wildlife species, and ecological restoration of fresh water, salt water, and terrestrial habitats. DFG promotes enjoyment of the Massachusetts environment through outdoor skills workshops, fishing festivals and other educational programs, and by enhancing access to the Commonwealth's rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.
沒有留言:
發佈留言