The Quashnet Bog cranberry complex used to be the longest in the world, with cranberry production starting around the turn of the 20th century. From the 1950s to the 1990s, these bogs have gone out of commission due to hurricanes, concern over pesticides, groundwater contamination from an Air Force fuel spill, and a drop in cranberry prices. The project site, located in the upper Quashnet, is surrounded by the now abandoned and fallow cranberry bog complex.
In 1996, a fuel spill emanated from the Massachusetts Military Reservation to the north of the site. In order to prevent contaminated river water from entering the bogs, a 4,000 linear foot long earthern berm was constructed along the bogs in 1999. This berm, which was installed to prevent surface water contamination into the bogs and river, runs along the upland edge of the K-2 bog and along the K-6 bog where the bog meets the river. A 100 +foot section of the berm failed, severely impacting a section of the upper Quashnet River. The groundwater contamination plume has been remediated from the bog, although the impacts from the berm subsidence are still negatively impacting the river. These impacts include siltation of the river, reduced flow, increased water temperatures, river widening, increased aquatic vegetation in the river channel, and degraded water quality. Collectively, these effects have adversely affected brook trout habitat and diadromous fish passage. Brook trout and herring rely on cold groundwater upwelling regions, sandy substrates for spawning habitat, and refuge provided by vegetated banks.
The Upper Quashnet Restoration project goals include improved water quality conditions on the Upper Quashnet River (flow, clarity, temperatures and substrate), improved anadromous fish passage, restoration of cold water fishery habitat, restoration and improvement of riparian habitat, invasive vegetation removal, restoration of abandoned bogs to wetlands and improved recreational access with public education components.
There would be an increase in species diversity within the vegetation composition along the riparian edge communities. Increased rock and gravel substrates will also benefit macroinvertebrate habitat, providing food for a variety of native species.
The ecological benefits expected from this project are improved in-stream habitat for anadromous fish passage (river herring), re-establishment of cold water fisheries for native salter brook trout and reclamation of fallow bogs to wetlands to the greatest extent feasible. The overreaching ecological goal is to reestablish and reconnect a heavily disturbed and manipulated system to benefit native flora and fauna. The Quashnet River has undergone a series of successful restoration initiatives over last 30 plus years along it’s stretch from Waquoit Bay to Johns Pond. This restoration project seeks to restore one of the most heavily disturbed portions of the Quashnet River.
Thanks to the Horsley Witten Group, the Town of Mashpee and all the partners of the Refuge for their support and involvement.
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