Nature in Your Backyard
The Marks Cove Wetland Restoration Project
Welcome to Marks Cove
Located in the Town of Wareham, MA, Marks Cove Conservation Area includes approximately 118 acres of former cranberry farmland, freshwater wetlands, saltmarsh, and forested area. As permanently protected open space and critical coastal habitat, it provides many benefits to the surrounding neighborhoods, including floodwater storage, water purification, biodiversity, and recreation.
Marks Cove is currently at the beginning of a new ecological restoration journey. This project hopes to increase the integrity of the ecosystem and its ability to adapt to the effects of climate change, so that local communities can continue to enjoy and benefit from it far into the future.
Marks Cove, 2016
What is ecological restoration?
Ecological restoration is the act of helping a damaged or degraded ecosystem to heal and recover. Goals include better wildlife habitat, more biodiversity, and an improvement to the services nature already provides for our human community.
Marks Cove today is not at full health. Old ditches, earthen and rock berms, and irrigation pipes still change how water flows across the land, drying out places that would normally remain wet. Layers of sand added to the cranberry farm over years now limit wetland plant communities from fully establishing. Invasive species crowd out native ones, decreasing the overall quality of wildlife habitat. These and other problems persist, weakening the health of the ecosystem as a whole.
Which is why the Marks Cove restoration project is needed. The aim of this project is to create a dynamic, self-sustaining, and diverse wetland ecosystem that can adapt to and mitigate the disturbances that climate change brings.
Restoration at Marks Cove might look like...
Removing the earthen berms, ditches and irrigation pipes.
These legacies of past cranberry farming now hinder the natural development of a healthy wetland ecosystem by quickly moving water off the site. The project can improve wetland hydrology.
Diversifying the forest monoculture.
This new forest is made of trees of one species and roughly of the same age. These trees all began growing when the cranberry farm was abandoned. The lack of diversity makes it poor wildlife habitat and vulnerable to disturbance. Other more diverse habitats are possible here.
Limiting the growth of invasive species.
Species like Gray willow (Salix cinerea), Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), and Common reed (Phragmites australis) will often outcompete native plants and form a monoculture. More native species will benefit local wildlife.
Making new opportunities for trails and boardwalks.
While improving habitat, the project will also improve neighbors' ability to observe and enjoy nature.
The future of Marks Cove
Please help us shape and steward the future of the Nature in your backyard! Here are some opportunities to add your input to the restoration design:
Walk & Talk: Take a guided tour of the area and share your ideas. We’ll talk about how the space could be used, what the community needs, and the opportunities and challenges of the site. Your thoughts will help guide the design process. When: Sunday, March 2nd 1-3pm Where: Marks Cove Conservation Area 37 Nicholas Dr, Wareham, MA 02571
Public Meeting: We’ll meet for a presentation with dinner provided to review conceptual designs and make adjustments based on your input. When: Tuesday, March 4th 6-7:30pm Where: Wareham Free Library - Community Meeting Room 59 Marion Rd, Wareham, MA, 02571
Come learn about wetland restoration, contribute your ideas, and help create a valuable resource for the community! RSVP optional but recommended. To RSVP, please follow the link to fill out the form: Marks Cove Restoration Project Community Design Workshop RSVP
Check back here for updates!
As we advance this project together, updates will be added to this page for those interested in following along and learning more. We will also be using this page to share the results of the March community design workshops, so stay tuned! You can also sign up for newsletters from the project partner organizations, which will include other opportunities for you to enjoy nature and get involved.
