Eco-Restoration Journey Week 17: What ‘grows on’ after a project is completed

“It’s like a treasure hunt,” said Chris Neill. “This is a lot of fun.”

From right to left: Chris Neill, Senior Scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center in Falmouth, Research Assistant Emma Ellsworth and Research Assistant Patrick Farrar during a plant survey at Harwich Conservation Trust’s Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve. Harwich Conservation Trust photo

At the time, Neill, a Senior Scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center, was knee-deep in the vegetation at Harwich Conservation Trust’s (HCT) Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve.

A plant patrol, including Neill, Research Assistant Patrick Farrar and Research Assistant Emma Ellsworth, was in the process of surveying species in 40 plots around the Preserve, to better understand the impressive changes in plant biodiversity that occur when eco-restoration projects are completed.

Neill and a team completed plant surveys at Cold Brook before the eco-restoration project took place. “Now we’re here, trying to follow it up over the next few years,” he said.

Impressive expertise in the field

The plant survey was an astounding tour de force of species identification. Using PVC piping, the team defined a 3×3-meter plot. Then Neill, along with Farrar, identified every plant species within the square, relaying the names to Ellsworth, who recorded them on a clipboard. And they were using the scientific name of the plant, that two-part mouthful that is elusive to most regular folks.

We observed one plot being counted. Nearly 40 different plant species were identified, a goodly variety according to the team. When a particular plant stumped a member of the crew, Neill quoted Van Morrison: “She’s as sweet as (blank) honey.” The answer? Tupelo or black gum, a native tree. Thank goodness Morrison didn’t use the scientific name in the song. “Nyssa sylvatica” wouldn’t have been as poetic.

Chris Neill, Senior Scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center (right), and Research Assistant Emma Ellsworth move a plot frame during a recent plant survey at Harwich Conservation Trust’s Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve. Harwich Conservation Trust photo

How eco-restoration increases plant biodiversity

The eco-restoration recipe for the return of native plants to retired cranberry bog areas goes like this: layers of sand that were applied to the bogs to stimulate cranberry growth and suppress weeds are removed. Then, the surface of the retired bog is roughened (a process called microtopography), to create a landscape that is more in line with a natural wetland area.

A look at a partial plant species list from a recent plant survey at the Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve. Harwich Conservation Trust photo

This unleashes a dormant native seed bank that had been patiently awaiting the sunlight and moisture it needed to flourish. It’s kind of like a Big Bang of native plants.

The technique was used at Cold Brook, where HCT’s recent eco-restoration project transformed a retired cranberry bog into a wildlife oasis. The project included rewilding a mile of stream, native plantings, creating four ponds and building a half-mile wheelchair accessible All Persons Trail, allowing people of all abilities and ages to experience the beauty of nature.

Cold Brook is now flowing freely through the 66-acre Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve for the first time in over a century.

More native plant excitement is occurring at HCT’s Hinckleys Pond — Herring River Headwaters Eco-Restoration Project, which is nearing completion. At our recent site visit, those assembled marveled at the flourishing native plants in the restored bog areas. What looked like a moonscape shortly after the project began in March is now a green boomtown, filled with wetland plants that seem delighted to stretch their legs.

“Plant biodiversity goes way up after restoration,” said Neill. “You get a huge flush of native plants from the seed bank. They start coming up within a few weeks, and they’re almost all native species. That’s very typical of all of these projects, but it’s also amazing.”

Project refresher

The Hinckleys Pond – Herring River Headwaters Eco-Restoration Project 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.

Harwich Conservation Trust’s Hinckleys Pond — Herring River Headwaters Eco-Restoration Project includes the rewilding of two retired cranberry bogs that bracket Hinckleys Pond, indicated with red circles. The blue arrows pointing into the three ponds show upstream migration of river herring each spring.

By the late 1990s, much larger off-Cape bogs were producing an extra supply of cranberries that caused the price to fall. This shift in the industry makes it more difficult for local growers to continue farming. Some are looking to exit the industry.

Farmers have a choice. They can either sell their properties for conversion of the upland to subdivisions which can cause water quality changes and end up closing off public access to the land. Or they can seek a conservation future by selling to local land trusts and towns. In 2021 at Hinckleys Pond, the Jenkins family finished their farming chapter and chose to sell their 31 acres to HCT for the next chapters of conservation and eco-restoration.

The Brown family, who owns a retired bog on the other side of the pond, is also partnering with HCT on the project. The collaborative eco-effort will increase biodiversity and restore freshwater wetland habitat as well as enhance opportunities for everyone to enjoy the trails, views and wildlife watching.

The eco-restoration project is funded by HCT donors, the Brown family, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Southeast New England Program (SNEP) Watershed grant, EPA National Estuary Program Coastal Watershed grant under cooperative agreement with Restore America’s Estuaries, Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation MassTrails grant, foundation funds through the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, and a Transformational Habitat Restoration & Coastal Resilience grant through the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.

—Sign up for HCT eNews, a great way to stay in the loop about exciting HCT events, guided walks and other interesting news.

—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.