Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration

????Drought Update: The critical and severe drought conditions persist across the state. Following nearly seven months of below-normal precipitation, the Connecticut River Valley region has been raised to a Level 3 – Critical Drought and the Western region has been raised to a Level 2 – Significant Drought. Across the other state regions, the drought conditions remain.? DER participates in the Drought Management Task Force, along with many other state and federal agencies and professional organizations, to collect information and make recommendations for drought management to the Secretary of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the Secretary of Public Safety and Security, and the Governor. Have you noticed drought conditions near you? You can submit photos and help support state drought monitoring efforts! Learn more about photo submission, as well as tips for residents and businesses to help conserve water here - https://bit.ly/3OfC4Hu

Attention drivers: watch for amphibians! ?? ?? For our state's amphibians, spring rains signal it’s time to emerge from winter retreats and migrate to breeding sites or disperse to new areas.?Unfortunately, many will?face the daunting task of crossing roads to reach?their?destinations. Spotted salamanders, wood frogs, blue-spotted salamanders, Jefferson salamanders, American toads, spring peepers, four-toed salamanders, northern leopard frogs, and eastern red-backed salamanders are frequently encountered on roads during early spring rains. Learn how you can help ensure they cross safely > https://lnkd.in/eQV7Eu4W

From initial reconnaissance to post-project monitoring, learn how to assemble the right team for a dam removal project! Dam Busters 201 is back next week (March 12th) with their newest free lunchtime webinar. Register below. ??

After safely passing under the road, this great blue heron is ready to fly! Culverts can be found where roads and streams intersection. However, with over 25,000 culverts throughout the state, many are undersized and aging. Unsafe culverts are not only a public safety issue but they can also prevent passage for fish and wildlife. DER works with many partners to replace culverts with those that meet the Massachusetts Stream Crossing Standards and benefit our communities, ecosystems, and the fish and wildlife that rely on them! Learn more - https://bit.ly/3Y4lRuy Credit for this incredible video goes to Berkshire Environmental Action Team, a Core Partner of the Berkshire Clean, Cold, Connected Restoration Partnership. #WorldWildlifeDay

DER Partnerships spotlight: As culverts age, assessments help evaluate their integrity and ensure they don’t impair the stream’s natural flow. But with thousands of culverts across Massachusetts, a lot of assessments are needed. Luckily, the Merrimack Restoration Partnership, with support from DER, completed the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC) training last fall and led the field days to equip others with the skills to assess culverts. More hands mean more assessments can be completed, allowing more culverts to be prioritized for replacement with structures that enhance passage for fish and wildlife passage and improve public safety! Since July 2025, the Merrimack River Partnership has reported 56 culverts assessed in their region! Partners include Merrimack River Watershed Council, Nashua River Watershed Association, OARS, Groundwork Lawrence, Merrimack Valley Planning Commission and Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust. Learn more about the Partnership and their work assessing culverts - https://bit.ly/3D7a078 ??: Merrimack Valley Planning Commission

Even with the recent rain and snow, we're STILL in drought - here's how you can help!

Pretend you are a fish swimming upstream, and you run into a literal wall. ?? ?? Even if you manage to get past it, it likely isn’t the only dam you may encounter! Massachusetts has over 3,000 dams on its waterways and very few serve their original purpose. Dams can block the movement of fish, impact water quality, and add additional stress to our rivers. DER is working with partners to remove those barriers and restore free-flowing rivers for fish and terrestrial wildlife, as well as eliminate public safety risks, and help communities build climate resilience. Learn more - https://bit.ly/3TJKfz8

We may be springing into a new month soon but as of now, Massachusetts is still in a drought. Check out these tips to make a difference right from your home.?? Have you spotted drought conditions firsthand? You can help play a part by reporting and submitting photos of dry environmental conditions - https://bit.ly/41rinDY Lastly, spread the word! Learn more about the drought and ways you can help - https://bit.ly/3OfC4Hu

If you ever wondered how quickly nature can rebound, check out these two images. Both photos were taken on the same day at different locations of a cranberry bog restoration project. The Windswept Bog Restoration on Nantucket, divided into two phases, is removing manmade structures to restore and reconnect 40 acres of wetland. The first photo shows one year of growth following construction during Phase One. The second photo is a bog cell currently undergoing construction as part of Phase Two. Give it a year, and the “muddy mess” will experience a glow-up just like Phase One did! This project is one of the many fantastic examples of how resilient nature can be when given the opportunity.

Why is there a golf ball in the middle of a #DERPriorityProject? Because the land used to be a former golf course! Chosen as a Priority Project in 2021, DER is working with the City of Northampton and Mass Audubon to restore Nashawannuck Brook and the historical wetlands that existed on the Pine Grove golf course. The area was heavily modified so restoration will include reversing those changes such as removing dams and undersized culverts, restoring the stream channel, and more. Currently in the design and permitting phase, this project when complete will increase stream and floodplain connectivity, improve stream and wetland habitat, enhance carbon sequestration, and provide opportunities for recreation on a parcel that is connected to other protected land in Northampton. In the meantime, keep an eye out for golf balls when you visit these trails!