Dry times, nature-based solutions: HCT’s Eco-Restoration Projects increase drought resilience

As any Cape Cod gardener can tell you, we’ve been facing a challenging dry spell on our beautiful peninsula. The state Drought Management Task Force concurs, categorizing our region as an area of “Significant Drought.”

And these parched episodes may become more common in the future. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “higher surface temperatures brought about by global warming increase the potential for drought.”

Cape Cod is currently experiencing “Significant Drought” conditions, according to the state’s Drought Management Task Force. Graphic by Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation/Office of Water Resources

But there are ways to mitigate the effects of climate change and drought, and Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) is at the forefront of these efforts.

HCT’s recently completed Cold Brook Eco-Restoration and soon to be finished Hinckleys Pond — Herring River Headwaters Eco-Restoration are examples of nature-based solutions, an increasingly important component of conservation work around the globe.

Nick Nelson, Senior Geomorphologist and Northeast Regional Director for Inter-Fluve, who played a key role in the design of both HCT projects, said eco-restoration can provide resilience to droughts.

“For many of these bog restoration efforts, we find that they are still able to maintain wetland functionality and healthy wetland plants as the variable topography holds water longer,” he said. “Any rain that does fall on the ground is held for longer in these restored wetlands than on agricultural lands or paved surfaces that shed the water quickly.”

When water is shed quickly, landscapes dry out faster especially during drought conditions, so rewilded wetlands help retain moisture that is vital to plants and wildlife. The sponge-like nature of healthy wetlands also helps absorb storm water run-off to reduce flooding of roads and other infrastructure. 

Harnessing the power of ecosystems

Nick Nelson, Senior Geomorphologist and Northeast Regional Director for Inter-Fluve, checks on native plant growth at Harwich Conservation Trust’s Hinckleys Pond — Herring River Headwaters Eco-Restoration Project. 

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), nature-based solutions “harness the power of ecosystems to mitigate the impacts of drought, in turn bringing multifaceted benefits which are both environmentally sustainable and socially advantageous. By restoring and preserving natural landscapes such as forests, wetlands, and grasslands, nature-based solutions enhance water retention, regulate hydrological cycles, and improve soil moisture retention.”

These efforts can also provide economic benefits, increased biodiversity and cleaner air and water, according to IUCN.

When you visit HCT’s Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve, it’s easy to see the natural beauty, thriving wildlife and flourishing native plants. And it’s inspiring to watch Cold Brook running freely through the property for the first time in over a century, a big boost for migratory fish passage.

But what may be less apparent is that there’s a whole lot of forward-thinking science behind nature-based solutions like the Cold Brook Eco-Restoration, with additional results that will provide an impressive legacy.

Resilience to climate change

The rewilding effort transformed 66 acres of retired commercial cranberry bogs into healthy wetlands, achieving goals in naturally reducing nitrogen to enhance watershed health for the harbor downstream, coastal climate resilience, habitat restoration, and recreation.

This composite photo shows Harwich Conservation Trust’s Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve before, during and after the eco-restoration project. Aerial photos by Steve and Eileen Furlong

By restoring natural hydrology and creating diverse habitats, the effort addressed Cape Cod’s critical water quality issues, while creating wildlife habitat and a half-mile wheelchair accessible All Persons Trail that allows people of all abilities to enjoy nature.

Similar benefits can be expected from HCT’s Hinckleys Pond – Herring River Headwaters Eco-Restoration, which includes the restoration of two retired cranberry bogs that bookend 174-acre Hinckleys Pond in Harwich, located at the headwaters of the Herring River estuary. Hinckleys Pond is also connected by streams to river herring spawning habitat in Long Pond and Seymour Pond.

In addition to revitalizing wetland habitat that can help pond health, the Hinckleys Pond-Herring River Headwaters Eco-Restoration also seeks to restore the natural shoreline of Hinckleys Pond. A mile-long All Persons Trail at the site will provide an even, stabilized stone dust surface, suitable for wheelchairs and families with strollers.

The United Nations (UN) has declared the years 2021 through 2030 as “The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration,” describing the initiative as “a rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems all around the world, for the benefit of people and nature.”

Thanks to your generous support, Harwich Conservation Trust is rising to the challenge, working on initiatives to preserve as well as restore natural lands that protect woods, water, wildlife and our shared quality of life.

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—Your tax-deductible contributions help fulfill the mission of the Harwich Conservation Trust to preserve land that protects woods, water, wildlife and our shared quality of life. And your land-saving financial support helps us preserve beautiful properties that can become stellar trail destinations. Find out how to donate by clicking here.