A presentation about implementing ecosystem restoration projects. Presented by Martha Craig Rheinhardt, Coastal Restoration Project Manager with the Cape Cod Conservation District, during the Buzzards Bay Coalition's 2012 Decision Makers Workshop series. Learn more at www.savebuzzardsbay.org/DecisionMakers

1. Nuts and Bolts of Restoration Implementation:
Lessons from the
Cape Cod Water Resources Restoration Project
Martha Craig Rheinhardt
Coastal Wetland Restoration Project Manager
Cape Cod Conservation District
Buzzards Bay Coalition Restoration Workshop
April 5, 2012

2. Restoration Implementation
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Cape Cod Water Resources Restoration Project
Planning and Design
Partnerships
Funding Sources
Permitting
Monitoring
Construction and
Construction Management

3. Project Inception

4. Restore anadromous fish runs
Replace failing fish ladders

5. Improve water quality for
shellfish growing areas
Install stormwater BMPs

6. Restore tidal flows to restricted
salt marshes
Remove tidal restrictions

7. Cape Cod Water Resources
Restoration Project
• 26 Tidal marsh projects
– 1,500 acres of marsh
– $ 15 million
• 24 Fish passage projects
– 4,200 acres of spawning habitat
– $ 5 million
• 26 Stormwater projects
– 7,300 acres of shellfishing areas
– $ 8 million

9. Partners and Stakeholders
•Cape Cod Conservation District
•Natural Resources Conservation
Service
•Barnstable County Commissioners
•Coastal Resources Committee
•15 Towns of Cape Cod
•Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• MA Dept. Fish and Game
•Division of Ecological Restoration
•Division of Marine Fisheries
• MassDOT
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Adm.
• National Park Service
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

10. Coalition Support Members
Association to Preserve Cape Cod
Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce
Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen’s Association
Cape Cod Salties
Ducks Unlimited
Massachusetts Audubon Society
Trout Unlimited

11. Planning and Design
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Feasibility Studies
Topographic Survey
Low-Property Assessments
Tide Monitoring
Hydraulic/Hydrologic Modeling
Alternatives Analyses
Public Outreach
Design Stages and Review

12. Monitoring
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Association to Preserve Cape Cod
Pre-construction: Baseline Data
Vegetation
Neckton
Salinity
Post-construction: Changes
Phragmites

13. Funding
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Funding needed every step of the way
Partner Sources: NRCS, DER, NOAA, USFWS
Corporate Wetland Restoration Partnership
State and Federal grants
Foundation grants
Be clear about tasks, match
Priority Status
Keep asking

14. Implementation–PL 83-566
(Small Watersheds Program)
• Planning and design costs:
100 percent federal
• Permits and land rights:
100 percent sponsor
• Construction costs:
75 percent federal
25 percent sponsor

15. Permitting
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Order of Conditions
401 Water Quality Certification
Chapter 91
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
MA Environmental Policy Act
CZM Federal Consistency
MA Endangered Species Act
MA Historical Commission
MassDOT
Other Reviewers: EPA, NMFS, DMF, Wampanoag Tribe

16. Preparing for Construction
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Final Plans and Specs
Cost Estimates/Budget
Bidding: Materials, Labor
Ordering Materials
Shop Drawings
Engineer Review and Sign-off
Permit Notifications
Ready to Go!

17. Construction
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Pre-construction Meeting
Site Preparation/Limits of Work
Dewatering (Coffer dams, pumps, flow diversion)
Culvert Removal/Installation
Open flow and close-up site (Paving, planting)
Engineering Oversight: Check grades, inverts;
Reporting; Sign-offs
• Permit compliance/notifications

18. What happens after construction?
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Restoration Begins!
Monitoring
Operations and Maintenance
Plantings
Check for erosion/slumping
Permit compliance and close-out

19. Sunken Meadow, Eastham

24. Sunken Meadow
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Removal of 610’ earthen berm and culvert
No culvert replacement/No hydrologic modeling
Pre- and Post-construction monitoring
Town DPW did work (25% match)
Funding Partners: DER, USFWS
Permitting: 3 months (no Chapter 91!)
Construction Timeline: 5 days
Costs: Construction: $57,000
Engineering/Design: $32,000
Permitting: $18,000

25. Red River Beach, Harwich

30. Red River Beach, Harwich
• Replace 2 24” pipes with 3’x4’ and 4’x8’ culverts
• Low property: Tide gate needed on upstream
culvert
• Town Highway Dept. doing construction (25%
match)
• Funding Partners: DER
• Permitting: 7 months
• Timing of Construction/Arrival of materials
• Costs: Construction: $354,000;
Engineering/Design: $94,500
Permitting: $30,000

31. Rushy Marsh, Cotuit (Barnstable)

32. Rushy Marsh
• Reconnect tidal flow with new 5’x10’ culvert
and channel
• Town initiated design and permitting
• Permitting adjustments and O&M plan
• Bid Range: $149,000-$424,000

33. Freemans Pond, Brewster

34. Freeman’s Pond
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Replace 36” diameter pipe with 6’x10’ culvert
Restore tidal flow to salt pond
TOY restrictions for herring
Safety requirements
Funding Partners: DER, NOAA, CWRP
Costs: Construction:$400,000
Engineering/Design: $62,250
Permitting: $30,000

35. Lessons Learned: Planning and Design
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Technical Expertise Important
Property Ownership
Low Properties
Culvert Selection: Safety; Constructability; CostEffectiveness
Every site is different!
Don’t get “over-engineered”
If something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t
Don’t be afraid to ask questions

36. Lessons Learned: Permitting
• Pre-application meeting VERY helpful
• Know your regulators (and have them know
you)
• Definitions are important
• Pay attention to permit conditions
• Think about timing
• Expensive and often grueling

37. Lessons Learned: Construction
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Dewatering is KEY
Experience of contractor critical
Order materials well ahead of time
Get easements/entry agreements in place
Coordinate utilities
Give yourself plenty of room to work
Timing: TOY restrictions, fish, plantings, summer
season
• Troubleshooting: Expect the unexpected!

38. Project/Construction Management
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Define roles as early as possible
Strong local support important
Remember your partners and experts
Ask questions
Document everything
Work with a comfortable budget
Understand invoicing, billing, etc.
Have cell phone and phone numbers handy

39. Questions?
Martha Craig Rheinhardt
Coastal Wetland Restoration Project Manager
martha.rheinhardt@ma.usda.gov
Questions