Seashore awarded $460,000 in federal funds to benefit river herring in Wellfleet
WELLFLEET — Two culverts, and the herring that swim through them, on the upper reaches of the Herring River will be replaced by the Cape Cod National Seashore later this year. The culverts are part the massive Herring River marsh restoration project that aims to restore 890 acres of tidal salt marsh. The construction, replacement or improvement of all the water control structures is part of Phase 1 of the project.
This particular project is key to restoring an estimated 380 acres of the upper Herring River watershed. The Seashore received more than $461,000 from the Inflation Reduction Act for the work. Seashore Superintendent Brian Carlstrom said the culverts being replaced have not been maintained for years. The culverts will be enlarged to make it easier for fish to pass into spawning grounds, Carlstrom said.
The two culverts are on the upper stretches of the Herring River, a conduit to freshwater spawning grounds and habitat, Carlstrom said. The river is a critical link between Cape Cod Bay and freshwater pond spawning habitat for river herring and a migratory habitat for American eels and other fish that migrate between fresh and salt water.
River herring are a species of management concern in Massachusetts. This project will make the last 1.5 miles of stream more accessible to fish.
The project has been put out to bid. The Seashore follows federal acquisition regulations. Carlstrom didn’t have any additional information on the deadlines for bids to be due. He’s hoping the project can get started in late 2023, as laid out in the Phase 1 project update.
Effort to restore natural habitats, address climate change
This project is part of a nationwide effort to restore natural habitats and address climate change impacts. The National Park Service is slated to receive $52 million in funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. Other Park Service projects are related to ecosystem restoration and environmental planning, according to the statement.
The Herring River marsh restoration project will eventually restore 890 acres of tidal salt marsh, improve water quality, and make the area more resilient to climate changes, according to conservationists and government officials. Sources of funding include the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration. They have pledged more than $27 million and $22.6 million respectively. The National Park Foundation has pledged $230,000 for marsh and vegetation restoration. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife North American Wetland Conservation Act will provide $2 million in funding.
Denise Coffey writes about business and tourism. Contact her at dcoffey@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: @DeniseCoffeyCCT.
Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: River herring passages to be eased in Wellfleet with $460K boost
