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Herring River Restoration Project

Herring River Restoration Project. Development of the Herring River Restoration Project: 1. September 2005: Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Town of Wellfleet and Cape Cod National Seashore:. 1908 Salt Marsh.

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Herring River Restoration Project

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  1. Herring River Restoration Project

  2. Development of the Herring River Restoration Project: 1. September 2005: Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Town of Wellfleet and Cape Cod National Seashore: 1908 Salt Marsh • Declared shared commitment to investigate restoration of tide to the Herring River • Established the Herring River Stakeholders Committee to identify interests that could be affected by tidal restoration • Established the Herring River Technical Committee (HRTC) to assess the feasibility of restoring tide to the Herring River

  3. Development of the Herring River Restoration Project: 2. November 2007: Conceptual Restoration Plan for the Herring River Tidal Restoration Project Completed • Developed by the HRTC • Integrated technical information and analyses with issues raised by the Stakeholders Committee • Concluded that restoration was feasible and in the public interest • Available on Town of Wellfleet, CCNS and Friends of Herring River web sites

  4. Development of the Herring River Restoration Project: 3. November 2007: Memorandum of Understanding, MOUII, among the Towns of Wellfleet, Truro and the Cape Cod National Seashore • Declared shared commitment to restore tide to the Herring River • Established the Herring River Restoration Committee (HRRC) • Tasked the HRRC with using local, state, and federal planning processes to produce a Detailed Restoration Plan for the Herring River

  5. Herring River Restoration Committee: a Unique-Multi Entity Committee that Works by Consensus HRRC: Town of Wellfleet Town of Truro Cape Cod National Seashore Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management US Fish and Wildlife Service National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Natural Resource Conservation Service Planning Processes: Cape Cod Commission Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Conservation Commissions

  6. Original vs. current opening

  7. Cape Cod Bay Native salt marsh Dike Exotic Phragmites

  8. Social concerns • Vegetation change • Downstream shellfish beds • Water-supply wells (six) • Flooding of roads • Flooding of private properties • CYCC golf course

  9. National Environmental Policy Act NEPA 1969 Purpose: "to make sure that agencies fully consider the environmental costs and benefits of their proposed actions before they make any decision to undertake those actions" NEPA is a decision making process and tool Requires careful, complete, and analytic study of the impacts of any proposal that has the potential to affect the environment; requires study of alternatives to the proposed action

  10. Wellfleet 1893

  11. Truro Wellfleet Gull Pond 2008 Salt Marsh DIKE 1909 Wellfleet Harbor Herring Pond Bound Brook 1908 Salt Marsh Duck Harbor Pole Dike Creek Wellfleet Center Mill Creek

  12. Ecological benefits Increased sediment deposition (to counter sea-level rise) Removal of exotic plants Re-establishment of salt-marsh plants Increased tidal flushing Improved water-column aeration Elimination of acidity/metals Improved migratory fish habitat Restored export to near-shore waters Social benefits Restored pollution control Restored public access, recreation & education Boating Birding Fin- and shellfishing Restored harvestable resources Finfish ShellfishImproved shellfish water quality Reduced mosquitoes

  13. Current Major Activities: • Herring River Restoration Committee (HRRC) • Comply with Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) • Continue to address overall social concerns and specific impact on CYCC and property abutters • Produce a detailed restoration plan using local, state, and federal planning processes • Friends of Herring River • Official launch: November 15, 2008

  14. Friends of Herring River Wellfleet and Truro, Massachusetts • Mission • Promote the restoration and ongoing environmental vitality of the Herring River Estuary • Promote education, research and public awareness about the project • Coordinate outreach activities to ensure effective public involvement • Raise funds and seek volunteers

  15. Friends of Herring River Wellfleet and Truro, Massachusetts • What have we done? • Met with Cape leaders • With a grant from Friends of the Cape Cod National Seashore launched a website • Established by-laws, formed a Board, elected officers and prepared for incorporation as a non-profit • What are we doing? • Publishing an e-newsletter with over 100 already signed-up • Signing up new members • Seeking funding support • Promoting public awareness • Preparing special events

  16. Friends of Herring River Wellfleet and Truro, Massachusetts • What can you do? • Become a member • Subscribe to e-newsletter • Share ideas – be active • Volunteer – share talent • Visit our website www.friendsofherringriver.org Grant writer Communications Photography Membership Computers Fundraising/Finance Volunteer Work Projects

  17. Healthy marshes generate diatom biomass To feed Oysters

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