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Priority Projects
Project Name: Eel River Headwater Restoration
Site Location and Description:
Located in southeastern
Massachusetts, the Eel River is a small, spring-fed system that runs past historic Plimouth Plantation before entering Plymouth Harbor. The project will restore the headwaters of the Eel River, and represents a precedent-setting effort to convert former cranberry bogs (~40 acres) into high-quality cold-water stream and wetland habitat. The project consists of two phases: (1) restoration of seven former cranberry bog cells and the highly modified river channel, including the removal of agricultural-related berms and flow control structures, construction of a restored sinuous stream channel and re-connected floodplain, extensive native wetland plantings, and culvert improvements at two road crossings; and, (2) removal of a downstream stone dam and related stream channel improvements. Goals of the overall project include improved fish passage and habitat for diadromous and resident fish; improved water quality; establishment of rare Atlantic White Cedar swamp habitat; public education; and enhanced recreation along an existing trail system. The project will take place on conservation land owned by the Town of Plymouth. There are numerous partners involved in this significant restoration effort, including the Town of Plymouth, MA Department of Fish & Game’s Riverways Program, MA Office of Coastal Zone Management’s Wetlands Restoration Program, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service, American Rivers, The Nature Conservancy, New England Wildflower Society, Inter-fluve, Inc., Underwood & Associates, Horsley Witten, the Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership, the Eel River Watershed Association, New England Wildflower Society, and Northeast Natives. Additional information is available on the Town of Plymouth's web site at: http://www.plymouth-ma.gov/Public_Documents/PlymouthMA_EnvironManage/projects#headwaters.
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Proposed Solutions: |
Stream flow and fish passage are restricted at several earthen dikes, undersized and partially blocked culverts, and a old stone dam.
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Improve longitudinal connectivity by removing the dam and dikes, replacing two culverts, and restoring a natural stream channel and grade control. |
Water quality concerns downstream and in Plymouth Bay |
Improve nutrient uptake and removal via new extensive wetland plantings, increased hydrologic residence time and in-stream chemical transformation, and floodplain re-connection. Address non-point source pollution from Long Pond Road via the construction of new stormwater treatment wetlands. |
Habitat degraded due to decades of former cranberry farming: The river channel is highly modified, straightened and incised in sections, nutrient enriched, lacking canopy cover, and characterized by unstable substrate; and, native wetland communities have been replaced with cranberry monoculture.
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Implement dramatic improvements in habitat by reconstructing a new sinuous stream channel and re-connected floodplain, providing in-stream habitat features, and planting approximately 30,000 wetland plants, including 17,000+ Atlantic white cedar trees. |
Species to benefit:
As the name implies, the Eel River was historically an important resource for diadromous organisms, and the primary populations within the stream system thought to benefit from this project include American Eel and River Herring (alewife and blueback herring). Aside from helping to reconnect the ocean to the headwaters, this project will also benefit a number of freshwater resident fish, including Eastern Brook Trout, Bridle Shinner, and Slimy Sculpin.
Status:
Final engineering designs have been completed by Interfluve, Inc. for Phase 1 (Cranberry Bog and River Restoration), and are nearing completion for Phase 2 (Dam Removal and River Restoration). A MEPA Certificate has been issued and other permitting and associated survey work is underway. An application for 401 Water Quality Certification was submitted to MA DEP on September 26, 2008.
Project Needs:
The project partners have successfully raised approximately $1.9 million for the restoration project; approximately $400,000 is still needed to fund the project through completion. Parties interested in providing non-financial support - including assistance in wetland planting or long-term ecological monitoring - are encouraged to contact Riverways project manager Alex Hackman (617-626-1548; alex.hackman@state.ma.us).
Page last updated September 2008
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