No Way to Run a Business

Living on Cape Cod is a joy and a privilege, but there’s always more work to be done to make it a better place. For the Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT), that means preserving land that protects woods, water, wildlife and our shared quality of life.

HCT also takes on ambitious ecological restoration projects. The recent rewilding of the Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve in Harwich Port is a shining example. The eco-restoration success has rejuvenated wildlife habitats, established a half-mile wheelchair accessible All Persons Trail, and is improving water quality. For the first time in over a century, Cold Brook now runs wild and free through the 66-acre property on its way to Saquatucket Harbor on Nantucket Sound.

These profound eco-restoration results are made possible by partnering with town, state, and federal agencies as well as an experienced team of engineers, scientists, and many other experts. Complex eco-restoration endeavors create lasting benefits for the region like enhanced biodiversity, flood water absorption from increasingly intense storms, new opportunities to watch wildlife (for instance, otters have rediscovered Cold Brook), and scenic views that make you smile.

This transformative work becomes harder to do when vital federal funding is frozen or becomes unpredictable.

HCT’s upcoming eco-restoration project at the Hinckleys Pond – Herring River Headwaters Preserve opposite Cape Tech could be in jeopardy. The plan is to restore native habitat to about 30 acres of retired cranberry bogs and 500 feet of pond shoreline on Hinckleys Pond, which is a herring spawning pond. This project will improve water quality in Hinckleys Pond, revitalize freshwater wetlands that benefit wildlife, restore views, and enhance recreational opportunities, including a wheelchair accessible trail for all abilities and ages.

The $2 million project is made possible by federal funding approved by Congress last year from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This eco-restoration was poised to get underway in January, when federal funds were frozen.

Recently, access to those funds was restored. However, the federal funds are reimbursement only, meaning we have to pay the eco-restoration costs upfront and then wait until NOAA/EPA reimburses us. Given the unpredictability of the federal funding flow and the gutting of dedicated staff at NOAA and EPA, there is considerable uncertainty about whether this project will survive and if you’ll ever get to experience its many benefits.

The Hinckleys Pond-Herring River Headwaters eco-restoration project is slated to take six months. During that time frame, we have no idea if federal funds will be blocked again or eliminated entirely. We are proceeding with caution and plan to move forward in a few weeks after the threat of a government shutdown passes.

As one might say about the funding chaos caused by the current administration, “it’s no way to run a business.”

At least one thing is certain: your strong, steady generosity is vital to our land-saving success and the important work of other conservation organizations across our beautiful peninsula.

We can’t emphasize enough how critical your support is at this time of haphazard federal decision-making. We are grateful for your donations that make a lasting, local difference for land, water, wildlife and people.

Together, we will get the job done.