Herring River Tidal Restoration Project Conceptual Restoration Plan

Herring River Technical Committee; ENSR/AECOM Inc.

The Herring River runs from Wellfleet Harbor northeast about four miles to Herring Pond in north Wellfleet, and northwest a similar distance to Ryder Beach in south Truro. Historically, the river was bordered by nearly 1100 acres of coastal wetlands. The estuary contained a productive river herring run and shellfishery, as well as extensive saltmarsh habitats. In 1909, the natural condition was changed dramatically when the mouth of the river was diked at Chequesset Neck (see Photo 1). The dike was constructed with the intent of controlling mosquitoes and creating arable and developable land. Subsequent ditching and stream channelization was intended to drain the system's wetlands even further. The cumulative effects of these modifications have been far reaching. Former saltmarshes are now disturbed freshwater wetlands or dry deciduous woodlands of comparatively low ecological value. Water quality is degraded with high acidity, low dissolved oxygen, and high fecal coliform bacteria. The first two of these have caused fish kills; the third has led to closure of shellfish beds both upstream and downstream of the dike. With poor tidal flushing and degraded water quality for predatory fish, nuisance mosquito production remains high. Since the 1980s, understanding of this environmental degradation has grown, thanks to research efforts at the Cape Cod National Seashore (CCNS), which has management responsibility for much of the floodplain, and awareness of the citizens in the Town of Wellfleet. Full restoration of the Herring River estuary would increase the salt marsh acreage of Wellfleet Harbor by about 60%

Herring River Tidal Restoration Project Conceptual Restoration Plan

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