08/28/2025 CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes

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Town of Mashpee Conservation Commission 16 Great Neck Road North Mashpee, MA 02649 During discussion, one commissioner reflected on the long-term geomorphology of the spit, asking whether dredging was essentially preventing natural changes. Mr. McManus acknowledged that the spit has been repeatedly maintained and manipulated through human intervention for decades. However, he stressed that the current project balances navigation with habitat resilience, noting that maintaining the spit is also critical for flood protection. If the spit were breached during a major storm, Popponesset Bay could experience severe flooding impacts. The nourishment and dune reinforcement are therefore viewed as both habitat enhancement and storm resiliency measures. Several commissioners then recalled the historical shifts of the spit, observing that in earlier decades it nearly connected to the mainland at times and had suffered multiple washouts. They remarked that its continued presence is largely due to repeated human maintenance and dredging efforts. Mr. McManus agreed, noting that the spit has always been a dynamic barrier island and that without intervention it likely would have breached permanently in several locations. The dredge and nourishment projects, while altering natural processes, have essentially kept the spit intact for navigation, flood protection, and habitat preservation. Updates: (15 minutes) (Public Comment solicited for each update—3 minutes per comment) Update: Red Brook Road Culvert (Waquoit Bay Research Reserve— Grant Assistance) The Commission then discussed the Red Brook Road Culvert replacement project, which is receiving grant assistance from the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. The existing culvert, associated with a long-abandoned cranberry bog, has failed. A new culvert, approximately eight to ten feet wide, is planned to improve tidal flow and reduce flooding risks. Because Red Brook Road sits at a very low elevation, the failed culvert increases the likelihood of repeated flooding, creating both safety hazards and ecological impacts. The replacement project is therefore framed as both a public safety measure and a habitat restoration effort. A Notice of Intent is expected soon. During public comment, Ms. Lynne Barbee, an abutter who resides in a nearby community, raised questions. She explained that her neighborhood association has been closely following the matter, and many residents attended a prior meeting at Waquoit Bay. She asked about the status of land ownership, noting that some parcels may still be held by private owner Mr. Marsters. Ms. Barbee said she had heard at a prior meeting that land might need to be taken by eminent domain and wanted clarification. In response, staff explained that the towns are still working with landowners to secure property interests. Appraisals have been completed for parcels on both the Mashpee and Falmouth sides of the town line, as the project spans the boundary. On the Mashpee side, associations appear willing to sell their parcels to the town. On the Falmouth side, ownership questions remain unsettled. While land acquisition or easements will be necessary to complete the full habitat restoration, the project is still in the conceptual stage. Staff emphasized that eminent domain is not currently being considered, though it had been mentioned informally elsewhere. Ms. Barbee also asked about the project timeline, suggesting that 2027 had been mentioned. Staff clarified that it is too early to assign a definitive date. Progress depends on securing land agreements; once that is achieved, the process would move to conceptual design, permitting, and construction. Ms. Barbee expressed concern that some Falmouth residents oppose the project because they value living on the edge of what they perceive as a pond. Staff noted that this waterbody is not a natural pond but rather a flooded cranberry bog created decades ago by damming Red Brook. Historically, Red Brook was a free-flowing stream.