River Restoration/Climate Preparedness Grants
5/10/18
The Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration has awarded 97-thousand dollars in state grant funds to three towns in the Commonwealth, including Falmouth.
The town received 70-thousand dollars for the Coonamessett River restoration project.
The Coonamessett is one of the largest rivers on Cape Cod and once harbored a magnificent herring run.
The run was significantly degraded over the years and obsolete dams, and a deteriorated road-stream crossing impedes river herring as they migrate upstream to spawn in Coonamessett Pond.
The restoration project will result in the removal of two unwanted earthen dams, installation of a new fish-friendly and climate –ready crossing at John Parker Road, as well as restoration of 46-hundred linear feet of in-stream river habitat and 56 acres of former cranberry bog.