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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAtt 2_Summary of Project Description-11 pages Project Description Bass River Ecological Restoration Project 1 ATTACHMENT 2: PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This document provides a summary of the project site as well as the proposed restoration actions. For more details on the existing site conditions, justification for the designs, data analyses, model results, and maps and figures, see the following documents in Attachment 5: • Basis of Design Report (Inter-Fluve) – revised in 2026, this document provides details about the existing site conditions and justification for the ecological restoration designs within the retired cranberry bogs. • Weir Road Alternatives Analysis (Tighe & Bond) – 2024; this document provides data and analyses for a range of alternatives related to the replacement of the Weir Road culvert at the Bass River (Hamblin’s Brook at this location). It includes attachments th at document the hydraulic modeling results, geotechnical analyses, and others. • Inundation Mapping Memo (Woods Hole Group) – 2025; this document provides data and analyses regarding the tidal modeling completed by Woods Hole Group for the Bass River watershed. It includes results and discussion regarding the replacement of the North D ennis Road crossing as well as the proposed work being completed in the headwaters of the Bass River, which is the subject of this ecological restoration Notice of Intent. Existing conditions and land uses on the project site: The Bass River estuarine system is the longest river on Cape Cod, extending approximately seven miles. Forming the town line between Dennis and Yarmouth, the river is an important waterway for boating, fishing, and swimming. Anthropogenic impacts have degraded the river’s water quality and ecological functioning. Although cranberry bogs in the headwaters were retired over 40 years ago, the headwaters stream remains hydrologically and hydraulically altered. The Project Site is owned by the Town of Yarmouth and is located south of Route 6A, north of Route 6, east of Union Street and west of Mill Pond. The area includes approximately 57 acres of retired cranberry bogs and the headwaters of the Bass River historically known as Hamblin’s Brook. Hamblin’s Brook emerges from groundwater springs north of Route 6 in a series of cranberry bogs upstream of Union Street. Hamblin’s Brook flows through flow-control structures at Union Street and then into Miss Thatcher’s Pond, an impoundment created by a dam and earthen berms as a water supply for the former cranberry bogs. The brook leaves Miss Thatcher’s Pond through a fish ladder and then flows under Weir Road and through more retired cranberry bogs before it drains into Mill Pond. Miss Thatcher’s Pond is the upstream extent of the Project Site (see map below), with a surface area of approximately 0.8 acres. The pond has a maximum depth of 4 feet and the average depth is approximately 2.5 feet. Project Description Bass River Ecological Restoration Project 2 Map from Sheet 3 of the preliminary design drawings indicating the project boundaries and the names of each work area. See the design drawings for more details. Project Boundary Earthen Berm and Walkway Dam and Fish Ladder Project Description Bass River Ecological Restoration Project 3 Miss Thatcher’s Pond is divided into two main components. The southern portion is larger and deeper and was the primary water source for farming. The northern portion was a cranberry bog before being converted to a pond between the 1930s and 1970s. The fish ladder at the eastern outlet of the northern portion of the pond now controls water levels of the pond. The fi sh ladder consists of a series of boards placed between two concrete slabs that extend 20 feet long. Each step is 3 feet wide. From the fish ladder, the river flows east towards Weir Road. Along the northern and eastern edges of Miss Thatcher’s Pond, an earthen berm was created to maintain water levels and separate the pond from bog Cells 2 and 4 (see map above for the location of the bog cells). This earthen berm remains intact, though portions of the berm are showing signs of deterioration with erosion around disused flow control structures. Two flow control structures had historically carried water from the pond to the cranberry bogs to the north, but these culverts have filled in and no l onger support flow. A former pump house was located on the earthen berm with only a portion of its concrete walls now remaining. Approximately 75 feet downstream of the fish ladder, trees have grown close to the channel and roots obscure portions of a nearby ditch leaving an active flow area of approximately 4 feet wide at the top of bank and 1 to 1.5 feet deep. Here, the water moves more swiftly than elsewhere, is close to the top of bank, and has created some scour around the roots. Further downstream where the water spreads into the adjacent vegetation, the active flow appears to be limited to an approximately 4 -foot-wide channel between hummocks. Much of the cranberry bog landscape is now a mix of hummocks of vegetation and deep pockets of water. The vegetation in Cells 1 & 3 is a mix of sphagnum moss, shrubs, and red maple saplings over 20 feet in height. In Cells 2 & 4, higher water levels limit woody growth and vegetation is mainly herbaceous, primarily grasses, rushes, sedges, and sphagnum moss. The Weir Road culvert, a stone masonry box culvert, has partially collapsed. On the downstream side of the road, the existing opening is 3.2 feet wide and 2.5 feet tall. On the upstream side of the road, the existing opening is 1.8 feet wide and 2 feet tall. The weir road crest elevation is 10.7 feet. In addition to its poor physical condition, the culvert restricts flood flows and elevates water levels upstream. The Project Site downstream of Weir Road consists of another area of retired cranberry bog. Approximately 75 feet downstream of Weir Road, the channel splits in two with flow control structures regulating water elevations in each channel. A straightened di tch conveys a portion of the flows to the northeast, while a more natural-looking sinuous channel conveys water to the northwest. These two channels generally flow north/northeast and under the earthen berm and walkway between Cheyenne Lane and Knollwood D rive. The more natural-looking channel ranges in width from 12 to 18 feet and becomes undefined in the middle of this former bog. The levee adjacent to the ditch on the south/southeast part of the bog has been converted into a walking path for public use. The vegetation within Cell 5 has grown substantially since the bogs were abandoned. In the middle of the bog along the main channel, vegetation is primarily shrubs and grass hummocks where water levels are elevated as a result of the undersized and clogged culvert downstream. Elsewhere, mature red maple and pitch pine trees have grown to more than 30 feet in height. The lateral and perimeter farm ditches remain visible, though many have partially filled in with sphagnum moss. Small patches of the invasive p lant Phragmites were observed in the northeastern portion of this bog. At the downstream end of Cell 5, the channel flows through an undersized, 18 -inch corrugated metal culvert beneath the earthen berm and walkway between Cheyenne Lane and Knollwood Drive. The culvert is partially filled and restricts flows, increasing the water elevations upstream of the crossing. Project Description Bass River Ecological Restoration Project 4 Downstream of the earthen berm between Cheyenne Lane and Knollwood Drive is another former cranberry bog (Cell 6) with a straightened ditch flowing along the southern edge and a more natural stream channel flowing east along the northern and middle portions of the bog. An earthen berm separates the ditch from the bog and is currently used as a walking path. The western portion of the bog has mature trees and understory vegetation, and the eastern portion is made up primarily of woody shrubs and other marshland vegetation. Phragmites has spread through the eastern portion of the marsh. At the eastern end of the bog, an earthen berm separates the wetland from Mill Pond. The channel exits through a gap in this berm with abandoned farm equipment and flow control structures nearby. This portion of the wetland and Mill Pond experience tidal fluctuations. To the south is another abandoned cranberry bog with wetland vegetation growing throughout (Cell 7). Ditches have filled in with sphagnum moss and other vegetation. In the wetter areas, shrubs and herbaceous plants thrive while maple and pitch pine trees grow in the drier areas. Groundwater from the nearby hillslopes flows through the ditches of this abandoned bog and into Mill Pond under the earthen berm and path. Alternatives Analysis The purpose of the Project is to holistically restore naturalized ecology, geomorphology, and hydrology of the headwaters of the Bass River and its adjacent wetlands that consist of retired cranberry bogs. A range of alternatives were evaluated for the Project in relation to channel and wetland morphology, berm removal and sediment management, culvert replacement, and plant community restoration. The current proposal was determined to provide the optimal balance of restoration, public access, and cost -effectiveness. There were four alternatives proposed for this project, which were generally: 1) no action; 2) proactive restoration and full sand removal; 3) proactive restoration and partial sand removal (preferred); and 4) passive restoration. Alternative 1 - No action. Under this scenario, no work would be done on the stream or bogs. The habitat would continue to degrade due to multiple stressors within the watershed: • Bogs –Natural water and sediment movement through these reaches would be compromised by the flow control structures found throughout the project area, leading to poor fish passage, higher water temperatures, and lower dissolved oxygen. The bogs have been i mpacted by human intervention for over 100 years. Since the alteration of the original wetland habitat into commercial cranberry bogs, water flows have been regulated, the wetland surfaces have been dewatered through drainage ditches, sand has been placed on the wetland surface, and pesticides have been used for cranberry cultivation. The manipulation of the wetland surfaces through ditching and sand application has resulted in a wetland surface that is now functioning as an upland ecosystem in some locations. The two to three feet of deposited sand on top of the natural peat and glacial substrate has resulted in a vastly different soil structure with different drainage rates, nutrient loads, pH, and chemical structure. The water table is generally further removed from the bog surface than under natural conditions, leading to the growth of pine trees and other upland plant species in these select locations. • Earthen Berms and Flow Control Structures – The earthen berms and flow control structures restrict terrestrial animal movement as well as the movement of water, nutrients, and aquatic organisms. Under the no-action Alternative 1, these structures will continue to restrict this movement and degrade water quality and habitat. Tidal flows would continue to be restricted at the downstream end of the project. • Weir Road crossing – the existing culvert is old and degrading. If the no action alternative is chosen, this culvert will continue to degrade, restricting flows, and could result in risks to human health and safety. Project Description Bass River Ecological Restoration Project 5 The no action alternative continues to leave the most harmful and impactful stressors in place on the system. While no impacts from construction vehicles would occur, daily impacts to the form and function of the wetland and water quality would continue, and critical infrastructure would continue to degrade. Alternative 2 – The second alternative includes the removal of flow control structures and berms, reconstruction of the stream channel, replacement of the Weir Road culvert, and removal of sand across the platform of the retired cranberry bogs. In the retired cranberry bogs, flow control structures will be removed to provide full aquatic organism passage. In this alternative, anthropogenically -placed sand would be removed across the entire bog complex. This restoration action has been completed o n other similar projects in the region when the bog surface is disconnected from the groundwater and that sand removal is necessary to reconnect the groundwater to the ground surface and encourage wetland plant growth. For the Bass River headwaters, however, the bogs have been retired for decades and robust vegetation communities have developed, including wetland plant communities due to the flow restrictions at certain areas increasing the water elevations artificially. For this project, we do not see a need to remove all of this vegetation in order to remove additional sand. In addition, with sea levels rising, this slightly higher elevation caused by the sand placement may be beneficial in maintaining productive wetlands in the future. Therefore, we do no t recommend Alternative 2; rather, we recommend Alternative 3 described below that proposes select sand removal, ditch filling, and microtopography in certain areas. Alternative 3 - [preferred] The third alternative includes the removal of flow control structures, select removal of sand, reconstruction of a new meandering stream, filling of ditches and construction of microtopography, replacement of the Weir Road culvert, and nativ e plantings. In the retired cranberry bogs, flow control structures will be removed to provide full aquatic organism passage. A new, sinuous stream channel will be constructed that will be smaller at the upstream end and increasing in size as it meets the downstream area, which will be tidally influenced. Tidal influence at the downstream end of the project is currently restricted under existing conditions because of earthen berms and culverts. The proposed restoration includes removing these berms and culverts, thus al lowing for tidal flows to extend upstream (likely close to Weir Road at high tide currently). This new connectivity will allow for the progressive evolution of the existing freshwater wetland at the downstream end of the project to a more salt-tolerant wetland and eventually salt marsh. Some drainage ditches will be filled in and microtopography will be completed in select locations of the bog surface to re-wet the bog surface and create a variety of habitat opportunities for plant and animal species. Portions of the anthropogenically -placed sand will be removed, thus allowing the wetland surface to support wetland vegetation. The sand removed from the bogs will be reused on site to fill the ditches and complete the grading described on the design drawings. Native wetland vegetation will be planted to provide cover and shade for the channel and wetland habitat. Invasive plants will be removed and a weed -free site will be maintained by the contractor through a site warranty for the first three years after construction. Alternative 4 – The fourth alternative is less extensive than the second or third alternatives. This alternative would include the removal of flow control structures and passive restoration. This alternative would accomplish some habitat goals, such as fish passage (pr imarily American eel and herring), but restoration of the hydrologic connectivity and wetland ecosystems and habitat would not be achieved. The bog surface would remain too far from the ground water elevation in some locations to maintain a he althy wetland ecosystem. Portions of the site would likely continue to evolve into more upland ecosystems. It could take decades or hundreds of years for trees to grow, mature, and fall over onto the ground surface to provide the large wood habitat and microtopography typical of a freshwater wetland. Project Description Bass River Ecological Restoration Project 6 Proposed project and its programmatic and physical elements: The Friends of the Bass River and the Town of Yarmouth are looking to return the bogs to ecologically functioning wetlands, restore passage for aquatic organisms, and improve stream crossing infrastructure to meet the state stream crossing standards. Specific goals of the Bass Headwaters Restoration Project (the Project) are to: • Replace an undersized culvert (Weir Road); • Improve water quality through nutrient attenuation that occurs in healthy wetland habitats; • Improve fish passage; • Enhance habitat for aquatic and wetland organisms; • Restore salt marsh habitat, improve coastal resiliency to flooding, and allow for future marsh migration; • Improve ecological diversity and health of the bog surface; and • Improve passive recreational opportunities. The project scope of work includes removing and/or replacing barriers to flow and aquatic organism passage throughout the former bogs within the Project Site. Other elements of work are realigning the stream to increase sinuosity and create habitat variabi lity; filling existing ditches and creating microtopography to help restore historical hydrologic and vegetative conditions; creating a new pond feature; and improving pedestrian access. The design team does not provide the means and methods for construction as those are decisions made by the selected construction contractor. However, in past similar projects, contractors have used a range of equipment to complete the work described above. This equipment has included, and we anticipate this project to include: • Excavators – multiple and a range of sizes • Front-end loader • Articulated site truck • Rubber-track dump trucks • Skid-steer • Rollers and pavers The contractor will also develop a construction sequencing plan to be reviewed by the Engineer and Owner. The construction sequence below is an estimate of the sequencing that may be used by the contractor : • Mobilization o Install traffic control measures o Install sediment and erosion control features o Install stabilized construction entrances o Create staging areas • Close Weir Road at the stream crossing o Establish water control o Complete clearing and grubbing o Complete culvert removal and excavation to subgrade o Install new crossing and streambed material o Complete roadway replacement o Remove water control o Open Weir Road • While Weir Road is closed and the culvert is being replaced: Project Description Bass River Ecological Restoration Project 7 o Establish access into Cell 3 o Improve access around Cell 2 • Cell 1 o Establish water control in Cell 1 o Remove dam and fish ladder o Excavate pond and channel o Complete bank treatment and large wood installation o Microtopography o Remove water control • Cell 2 o Fill ditches • Cell 3 o Establish water control o Complete grading and channel construction o Install large wood o Microtopography o Remove water control • Cell 5 o Establish water control o Complete channel construction o Install large wood o Remove water control o Invasive species treatment o Complete floodplain grading o Complete microtopography • Cell 7 o Establish construction access o Complete grading o Complete microtopography • Cell 6 o Establish water control o Remove earthen berm at downstream end o Complete channel construction at the upstream end o Complete floodplain grading o Complete microtopography o Remove earthen berm between Cells 6 and 7 o Construct boardwalk between Cells 6 and 7 o Construct footbridge across channel at earthen berm between Cells 5 and 6 o Remove water control • Complete planting • Remove traffic signs as appropriate • Remove sediment and erosion controls once site has stabilized As part of this work, appropriate stormwater components are included in the Weir Road designs (see drawings). Stormwater infrastructure is not necessary for the rest of the ecological restoration work as this does not include impervious surfaces. Sediment and erosion controls will be established on site as shown in the drawings and as required by the permit conditions. These may include silt fence, straw wattles, and turbidity curtains. The project sequencing will account for time of year restrictions for i n-water work and other restrictions provided by the regulatory agencies. Project Description Bass River Ecological Restoration Project 8 Dam Removal The non-jurisdictional dam and fishway at Miss Thatcher’s Pond will be removed. The concrete fishway will be completely removed, and the contractor will dispose of the concrete in an approved off -site location. The earthen berm portion of the dam will be partially removed. We pr opose leaving approximately one vertical foot of the earthen berm above the adjacent floodplain elevation to provide a drier and more stable walking path for continued pedestrian access. The earthen berm will be removed laterally to the edge of the valley to the north and to the adjacent earthen berm to the south with walking slopes no steeper than 5:1. Weir Road Culvert Replacement Proposed activities associated with the Weir Road culvert replacement include the removal of an existing and failing stone culvert and the installation of a bridge crossing for compliance with the Massachusetts River and Stream Crossing Standards (MA RSCS). The designs were completed by Tighe & Bond and are included in Attachment 4 – design planset. The Weir Road Culvert was assessed as part of a culvert study conducted by Tighe & Bond in 2021 for the Friends of Bass River. The study identified numerous deficiencies including collapsed stones, debris buildup, and settlement. The results of further ana lysis, including hydrologic & hydraulic modeling, determined that a span greater than 10 feet will be required to improve conditions at the site in order to meet the MA RSCS and accommodate the restored wetlands upstream and downstream of the crossing. The existing culvert consists of a stone slab and dry stacked stone masonry walls, and the openings are partially collapsed and vary between approximately two feet and four feet wide. The stone culvert and associated headwalls will be excavated and removed from the site. The crossing will be upgraded to meet the MA RSCS. The new bridge will span approximately 24 feet and will be constructed of a precast concrete arch and footings. The proposed streambed will contain riffle substrate material to match existing streambed composition, and will be underlain by 36 inches of riprap and a 12-inch-thick layer of crushed stone lined with geotextile fabric for permanent erosion control. The anticipated width of the new stream channel is 14 feet. Also proposed is the reconstruction of Weir Road in the vicinity of the culvert and a new insulated 12- inch-diameter insulated watermain in the roadway. Additionally, the 2 -inch gas main will be reconstructed in the roadway and utility poles will be adjusted. Approximately 158 cubic yards (cy) of dredging is proposed for removal of the existing crossing below the mean high water line of Hamblins Brook. Dredging ranges from 1 to 8.5 feet in depth. Native streambed material will be stockpiled on -site to be reused for establishment of the new stream channel. The bridge work will require temporary and permanent impacts to regulated resource areas. Impacted resource areas will be restored following construction to tie into and complement the surrounding bog restoration work. As a result of the bridge installation, hydraulic conditions and aquatic organism passage will be improved. Temporary cofferdams will be installed to create a dry work area during construction. The material of the cofferdams may vary depending on the selected contractor, but will consist of sandbags, jersey barriers, water filled barriers, or equivalents. A temp orary stream bypass system, consisting of either a passive flume pipe or a pump and discharge hose with a temporary splash pad, will be installed to maintain flows during construction. If necessary, sediment-laden water that collects in excavated areas will be pumped using a discharge hose into a filter bag underlain by a filter fabric mat and surrounded with straw bales in a stabilized area. All dewatering structures will be placed as far away from wetland resources as possible. Filter bags used during construction will be bundled and removed for proper disposal. Project Description Bass River Ecological Restoration Project 9 Channel Form and Habitat Upstream of Weir Road, the current channel is straight with uniform widths and depths and channel bed and banks primarily made of sand. The proposed channel will be a meandering channel with sinuosity calculations based on channel size, watershed size, slo pe, and regional reference reaches. Large wood logs and root wads will be installed throughout the new meandering channel to provide in -stream cover and aquatic habitat. Downstream of Weir Road, the channel will remain untouched for most of Cell 5. A new channel will be constructed where the new stream crossing is located at the earthen berm and walkway between Cheyenne Lane and Knollwood Drive. This channel will be approximately 20 feet in width to match the existing tidal channel downstream. Vegetation We propose to replant disturbed areas with native seed and native potted trees and shrubs. Different areas of the site will develop into different vegetative ecosystems: • The wetlands east of the pedestrian path between Cheyenne Lane and Knollwood Drive will be influenced more by tidal flows with the removal of downstream constrictions. Therefore, we propose a mix of salt marsh vegetation species and transitional species th at do well in the mixing zone between salt marsh and freshwater wetlands. • In the area of sand removal south of Mill Pond, we recommend planting potted Atlantic white cedar trees. • In the disturbed areas between the pedestrian path and Weir Road, we recommend a mix of Atlantic white cedar, American holly, and wetland shrubs for the wetland surface. Along the edges in the areas of ditch filling to the east and south of this work area, more upland species such as pitch pine or white oak would be appropriate. • West of Weir Road in the upstream portions of this restoration, we recommend focusing on developing a robust Atlantic white cedar forest with a mix of wetland shrub species. The final species, quantities, and planting specifications will be developed during final design. In addition to the areas of installed plantings described above, the project includes management of invasive plants within the project boundaries. Several areas of existing invasive plants are identified on the design drawings and will be treated by the construction contractor. The construction contractor, per the contract technical specifications, will be required to maintain a weed -free site for three years following construction. They will return each year within this warranty to monitor the spread of in vasive plants and treat them as needed. The management and treatment of the invasive plants will comply with state and municipal regulations. Impacts to Resource Areas The preferred alternative described above is the subject of this ecological restoration NOI. This restoration project involves removal of earthen berms, removal of anthropogenic sand within former wetlands, and creation of stream and wetland habitat within a former farm complex. Because the proposed project involves work within wetlands, it will necessarily impact the following natural resources of the Commonwealth: bordering vegetated wetland, bank, land under water, and aquatic and wetland habitat. These resource areas are identified and quantified in the NOI form and on the design plans. The discussion below, therefore, describes the temporary impacts to the resource areas during construction and the overall net benefit to the natural resources rather than quantifying the resource area impacts. While the restoration necessarily impacts regulated resource areas, the work described in the design drawings and the supporting documentation complies with the performance standards of 310 CMR 10. Project Description Bass River Ecological Restoration Project 10 Bordering Vegetated Wetlands Cranberry farming is considered one of the four most impactful types of development to bordering vegetated wetlands in MA according to MassDEP. While the retired bogs in the Bass River headwaters are considered wetlands, they are degraded wetlands with les s ecological value than the wetlands that historically occupied these river valleys and wetlands. This restoration work will impact portions of the platform of the former cranberry farming areas. These impacts include the grading of the floodplain surface, construction of microtopography, construction of a new stream channel in select areas, and installation of large wood and slash. In contrast to the existing bog surface, the restored wetland area will be more hydrologically connected to the Bass River as well as to the groundwater. Bank The channel bank within the middle of the project area will remain untouched, while the bank upstream of Weir Road and the bank downstream of the trail connecting Cheyenne Lane and Knollwood Drive will be reconstructed along with a new, more sinuous stream channel. The channel upstream of Weir Road will be narrow, sinuous, and will have some large wood and biodegradable fabric as part of the bank construction. In the area of the trail between Cheyenne Lane and Knollwood Drive, the stream crossing will be re located to the south, so a new and wider crossing will be constructed. The new channel will match the channel dimensions further downstream. Land Under Water In areas where the channel will be reconstructed, the existing channel and land under water will be filled in with the excavated soils of the new channel. Across the site, there will be an overall loss in land under water as perimeter ditches will be filled in and the dam upstream of Weir Road will be removed, reducing the area of open water just downstream of Miss Thatcher’s Pond. However, the restored channel will be more hydrologically connected and will provide important in-stream habitat. Aquatic and Wetland Habitat The current bogs are compromised by multiple flow control structures that block the natural flow of water and sediment as well as the passage of fish and other aquatic organisms. Habitat is compromised by this altered hydrology as well as by the warmer wat er emanating from the impoundment at the upstream end of the project area. This restoration project aims to reverse these trends and improve the aquatic habitat through the construction of a new more sinuous channel in select locations, removal of flow barriers, select filling of ditches and microtopography, and planted trees and shrubs throughout the wetland complex. To complete this restoration work as described above, portions of the existing aquatic and terrestrial habitat within the work area will be disturbed and impacted by heavy machinery. Managing water will be an important part of the construction effort. As on other similar projects, the contractor will likely use the existing ditches to help move water around the site while construction activities are completed outside the actively flowing river. The contractor will develop their erosion and sediment control plan to be reviewed by the Town and Inter-Fluve, but we anticipate silt booms being placed at the downstream end of distinct work areas. These silt booms will contain turbidity if it is formed during construction activities. Other sediment and erosion control measures that will be employed during construction to reduce impacts to surrounding habitat include silt fence or similar method on the down-gradient side of the stating and access areas to limit the movement of material into adjacent wetlands. After c onstruction, all disturbed areas will be seeded and planted to limit erosion of soils. Project Description Bass River Ecological Restoration Project 11 Erosion and Sediment Mobilization The proposed work has the potential to mobilize sediment through movement of heavy equipment across the wetlands. The contractor will likely divert flowing water through existing channels and ditches away from the active work area to limit sediment movemen t and turbidity. Pumps may be needed to move water out of a work area and appropriate erosion and sediment controls will be deployed to minimize turbidity in the stream when reintroducing the pumped water. Climate Change and Sea Level Rise This restoration project has only positive impacts on resource areas and community resiliency in mitigating as well as adapting to the effects of climate change. Through the creation of a self -sustaining, holistically- designed, ecologically-focused wetland restoration site, the bogs will be able to adjust naturally to the extreme hydrologic highs and lows resulting from climate change. After restoration, the site will be more able to retain stormwater and limit the release of stormwater into the Bass River, Mill Pond, and downstream reaches. The removal of earthen berms and flow control structures will allow for the expansion of salt marsh habitat at the downstream end of the bogs as sea levels rise. The wetlands will become protective flooding areas to accept water and tides from storm events.