Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game

Today, DER awarded $6 million to twelve recipients to advance cranberry and coastal wetland restoration projects in Massachusetts! ?? These grants support all phases of restoration, from planning and design to advancing construction efforts. These projects will help communities increase resilience to climate change for people and nature, restore crucial wildlife habitat, and improve water quality. Learn more about this exciting announcement and see the list of funded projects here ?? https://bit.ly/3CG9qN6

Top story under the Climate section in The Washington Post today featuring one of MA DER's (Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration) cranberry bog restoration projects and partners! Buzzards Bay Coalition, Woodwell Climate Research Center, Massachusetts Cranberries https://lnkd.in/gNcrw4rM

On Thanksgiving Day 2022, MassWildlife launched the Hunters Share the Harvest Program to distribute venison to Massachusetts residents facing food insecurity. Now in its third year, this program has continued to expand, and we are excited to now have 10 participating venison processors and 14 food distribution organizations spread across Massachusetts. Learn more about this impactful program: https://lnkd.in/eVCBJcb5

Getting ready for Turkey Day! Although wild turkeys and Massachusetts seem to go hand in hand, wild turkeys actually disappeared from the Commonwealth for over 100 years, following European settlement. In the early 1970’s MassWildlife reintroduced these iconic birds and turkey populations rebounded. Wild turkeys are now found everywhere in Massachusetts (except Nantucket), and the estimated population is 30,000-35,000 birds.

When unneeded dams are removed, the surrounding community benefits from lower maintenance costs, improvements to the area’s ecology and water quality, and increased resiliency against flooding and erosion. In Southampton, MA, our team assisted the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration with removal of the Lyman Pond Dam. One year after removal, the Lyman Pond site showed a notable improvement in flood resiliency and the presence of sensitive species, including rare mussels. Learn more about how our team assists municipal & state partners with dam removal projects through design, permitting, and construction: https://ow.ly/Cf7p50U92R1

Apply today! #MassWildlife is hiring a Southeast District Aquatic Biologist. ??

We’re hiring! We are looking for a Southeast District Aquatic Biologist to join our team in Bourne. For a full job description and how to apply, visit https://lnkd.in/d6t6F3aC

To advance ecological restoration throughout the state, DER needs strong partnership. During this month of Thanksgiving, we are grateful to work with many talented and committed individuals who support our river and wetland restoration projects. We want to thank Jane Winn from Berkshire Environmental Action Team, Christa Drew from Friends of Herring River, and Curt Rogers from the Merrimack River Watershed Council for their kind words and strong partnership as we look back at #15YearsofRiverRestoration. Check out some other quotes from our partners in our profile! ??: DER; Locations include 1: Pittsfield, 2: Duck Harbor in Wellfleet, 3: River Meadow Brook in Lowell

Unfortunately, Massachusetts’ drought has progressed following unprecedented low precipitation this fall. Today, EEA Secretary Tepper elevated the Western, Connecticut River Valley, and Southeast regions to a Level 3 - Critical Drought. A Level 3 - Critical Drought persists in the Central and Northeast regions. The Cape and Islands Regions still remain at a “Level 0 - Normal Drought”. The dry conditions have also increased wildfire occurrence and intensity, with many brush fires being managed across the state. Residents and businesses are urged to follow water conservation and fire prevention steps to minimize impacts. Find more information including what residents and businesses can do to help here ?? https://bit.ly/3OfC4Hu

Another DER project is nearly complete! The project team is putting the final touches on the Cold Brook Eco-Restoration Project in Harwich after being under construction for most of this year. This project restored 50 acres of former commercial cranberry bog into healthy wetlands and created over 4,000 linear feet of river channel along Cold Brook. One of the unique aspects of this project is that it was designed to capture the groundwater through the newly crafted ponds and “treat” it naturally which improved water quality for the surrounding communities and ecosystems. The photos speak for themselves as they were taken in March and October! Primary project partners include DER, HARWICH CONSERVATION TR, the Town of Harwich, SumCo Eco-Contracting, Inter-Fluve and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).?