Statement of need: the coonamessett river (falmouth, MA) is one of cape cods largest rivers, flowingabout 3 miles from the 158 acre kettle-hole coonamessett pond to the great pond estuary and then…

Statement of need: the coonamessett river (falmouth, MA) is one of cape cods largest rivers, flowingabout 3 miles from the 158 acre kettle-hole coonamessett pond to the great pond estuary and then 2MILES to vineyard sound. The river is a high-priority watershed for diadromous fish restorationaccording to the NOAA restoration centers regional fish passage prioritization and the massachusettsdivision of marine fisheries. For the past 300 years the river has been impacted by industrial activities, first a series of dams for mills, and the past more than 100 years, cranberry agriculture, which also impedes fish passage. The five species of diadromous fish in this river have all been impacted by blockages to fish passage and degradation of habits.purpose: the upper coonamessett wetland complex restoration project (ucwc) will use the samenature-based approaches to enhance community and ecosystem resilience that were successfullyemployed in the recently completed (2020) coonamessett river restoration project (crrp) thatrestored a mile of the lower river. IT improves habitat for flora and fauna creating a mosaic of channeland floodplain habitats) increases coastal resiliency by establishing floodplain connectivity and providesrecreational and educational opportunities.objectives: during the grant period (JUL 2023 - SEP 2025), the town of falmouth will work in the upperriver and remove 7 culverts, 4 replaced with river crossings connected by public trails, andrestore riparian and in-stream habitat in 2700 linear feet of river in five small former cranberry bogs.completing this work will result in 18.5 acres of restored floodplain and 4000 linear feet of improvedstream channel, this includes 800 linear feet of stream channel created in removing a DAM to animpoundment. Upon completion there will be no significant impediments to fish passage between theocean and the spawning pond.coonamessett river restoration is possible through a collaboration of partners, including the town offalmouth, two key ngos (coonamessett river trust and the 300 committee land trust), wampanoagtribe, air force civil engineer center, MA division of ecological restoration, MA audubon communitypreservation fund, MA DIV of fisheries and wildlife, MA DIV of marine fisheries, contractors and localbusinesses and organizations. A key objective of this partnership is to ensure public access and publicprograms to develop stewardship in our communities.