Masthead photo by Lisbeth Wiley

Chapman, Boring machine photo, Don Palladino.

Soil borings were conducted this week to obtain soil samples along the centerline of the Chequessett Neck Road Dike at the Herring River.   The samples will then be analyzed in the Fuss & O'Neill laboratory to provide the data necessary to make decisions about the type of new dike to recommend and then to design.  This preliminary work is also required when any change is considered for a bridge longer than 10 feet for local, state and Federal permitting processes to begin in 2014, .

Although there is much more work to be done, this is a significant demonstration of the forward movement of the restoration project. 

Prior to the awarding of the Fuss & O'Neill contract, a great deal of work was accomplished over the past year by the Herring River Restoration Committee and the Friends of Herring River, including:

* Completion of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report (DEIS/EIR), which was released for public review and comment in late 2012; the Final EIS/EIR is expected to be completed in early 2014.

Several successful grant applications by Friends of Herring River have allowed engineering design work to proceed, including:

*  A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) grant to fund engineering design for a new Chequessett Neck Road bridge, a new dike at Mill Creek, needed roadwork and related activities.  Restoration of the Herring River Estuary directly advances NOAA's mission to protect and restore marine and coastal habitats;                

*  A Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET) grant to  support the 25% design of the Chequessett Neck Dike replacement; 

*  A Massachusetts Bays Program (MBP) grant to support the hydrodynamic modeling necessary to design the new tidal control gates;           

*  Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) and Conservation Law Foundation grants to fund project coordination. 

* Private contributions and in-kind volunteer labor and resources by Friends of Herring River and project partners provide matching funds for the ongoing work.                                                                                                                   

By restoring tidal flow into the estuary, the Herring River Restoration Project will provide significant ecological benefits for estuarine fish and shellfish, improve water quality and provide long-term benefits to shellfish populations and potential increased opportunities for shellfish harvest.