2022-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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Childs River Restoration: abandoned bog. The towns of Mashpee and Falmouth The restoration of portion of the upper Childs are working collaboratively on addressing this culvert River is nearly complete. This monumental restoration failure.A grant was awarded to both towns to pay for a effort was a joint collaboration between multiple conceptual restoration study of the failed culvert.The partners, including the Falmouth Rod and Gun Club, consulting firm of Horsley Witten Group conducted the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Environmental the conceptual study and recommended replacing Protection Agency's Southeast New England Program the failed culvert with an 8 foot wide box culvert. (SNEP), MA State Fish and Game, the Towns of Both towns are now in the process of pursuing grant Falmouth and Mashpee and various other grant opportunities for the planning and permitting phases providers and stakeholders. This restoration project of this culvert replacement project. The consulting serves as a model for how partnerships can work firm of Horsley Witten Group will be providing a cost together to create a successful restoration initiative estimate for these services.Ultimately,both towns will be responsible for the costs of planning,permitting and Johns Pond Fish Ladder and Spillway construction of this new culvert. A hydrologic and hydraulic study of the Johns Pond spillway and fish ladder was conducted by an Chop Chaque Bog Wetland Restoration: environmental consultant back in 2019. The Natural The Conservation Department acquired this Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) funded parcel in 2020 with Community Preservation Act the study through their Cape Cod Water Resources funds, including a 6.5 acre abandoned cranberry bog Restoration Program (CCWRRP). The study and surrounding upland sites with the ultimate goal of revealed the issues impacting the overall structure performing wetland restoration on the site. We have and provided recommendations for improvements, secured funds to perform this restoration through the including reduction of sediment loading into the upper Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game In-Lieu channel leading to the fish ladder and stabilizing Fee Program (ILFP). The ILFP provides funding for the embankments on the upper and lower channels aquatic restoration, enhancement and preservation associated with the fish ladder to address severe projects with high likelihood of success and long-term erosion concerns. A plan to address the issues with sustainability, with cranberry bog restoration is listed the fish ladder based on the study conducted should as one of their eligible projects.The availability of the be finalized in early 2022.The final phase will involve program allows permitees, with ArmyCorps approval, planning, permitting and construction. The Town of to make a monetary payment in compensation for Mashpee has qualified for additional NRCS funding to project impacts to aquatic resources of the US in MA cover up to 75% of these costs. in lieu of on-site mitigation, and the MA Dept of Fish and Game (MA DFG) assumes responsibility for this Johns Pond Invasive Milfoil Treatment: required mitigation by making the funds available Johns Pond has been successfully treated for for approved projects. This project is currently in invasive milfoil infestation. There was approximately the planning and permitting stages with restoration 4-5 acres of infested area on the pond. The initial (construction) anticipated to begin in the winter of treatment eradicated most of the milfoil. A follow 2023 up treatment targeted areas that were not eradicated the first time around. A final survey of Johns Pond AmeriCorps Cape Cod: was conducted in January of 2023 and confirmed no Americorps Cape Cod provided assistance with remaining areas of milfoil detected. The pond will trail maintenance,parcel cleanups and cleaning of the continue to be monitored for milfoil infestation moving Mashpee River herring run in 2022.Americorps Cape forward and signage will be posted on all public and Cod continues to be an invaluable asset to the Mashpee private boat launch areas around Johns Pond advising Conservation Department as well as many other Cape boaters of the risk of transporting invasive aquatic Cod towns. We encourage the ongoing funding and vegetation and to wash their vessels if they are being support of Americorp Cape Cod as this program transported from one waterbody to another. provides a great opportunity for volunteers to learn lifelong skills while assisting towns with important Redbrook Road Culvert: programs centered on environmental protection and In 2021, the culvert under Redbrook Road at the education as well as emergency preparation. town line between Mashpee and Falmouth experienced afailure,which resulted in the drainage of an impounded 111