Through trails and trees: Community members offer land restoration input
A group listens to a member of the engineering firm helping restore Marks Cove Conservation Area talk about where they are in the conservation area. Photos by Bobby Grady
A pond in Marks Cove Conservation Area that formed during the 1990s.
A community member looks out at what used to be a cranberry bog and is now long grasses and invasive trees.
A group listens to a member of the engineering firm helping restore Marks Cove Conservation Area talk about where they are in the conservation area. Photos by Bobby Grady
A pond in Marks Cove Conservation Area that formed during the 1990s.
A community member looks out at what used to be a cranberry bog and is now long grasses and invasive trees.
As old abandoned cranberry bogs lay tucked away, those that own them are looking to the people of Wareham to figure out how to best restore the bogs and turn them into an asset for the town.
Marks Cove Conservation Area is owned by the Buzzards Bay Coalition, Wareham Land Trust, Wildlands Trust and the town of Wareham and is comprised largely of old, abandoned cranberry bogs.
The ownership groups are coming together with the help of an engineering firm to restore the land to its pre-bog state, which was largely wetland.
Before restoration can begin, the ownership groups hosted a guided tour of the property on Sunday, March 2 for people to see the land and offer suggestions on how the plan to restore it can incorporate what Wareham residents want.
"I'd like to see the evolution of agriculture back to wildlife," said Tracy Hellerman who lives right next to the property. "I think it's kind of cool to watch Mother Nature take the land back."
For those in attendance, many wanted to make sure there are still trails on the land so it can be accessed for walking and observing nature.
During the guided tour, members of the ownership groups explained that in order to restore the land to its pre-bog state, the old ditches, berms and irrigation pipes from the bogs would need to be removed to allow water to flow freely.
"We want to allow the water on the property to be connected and speak to each other again because right now the berm is preventing that," said Mass Audubon representative Emily Jones.
Andrea Jerbek, a representative from Mass Audubon said that in order to connect the water on the property, they would have to dig out the ditches and berms and that could have an impact on the trails currently on the property.
She added that the community feedback they received will help them create a tentative plan of action.
"All of the groups who own Marks Cove are going to come together, reflect and create designed restoration processes," said Jerbek.
The designs will be presented to the community Tuesday, March 4 at 6 p.m. at the Wareham Free Library located at 59 Marion Road.
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