Welcome                                                                           

Welcome to the home page of Friends of Herring River.   Our mission is to promote the restoration and ongoing environmental vitality of the Herring River Esturary.   We invite you to participate.

• Become a Friends of Herring River Supporter
• Sign up for our electronic newsletter

Please contact us with any questions or suggestions you may have.

End of Year Annual Contribution

Each year at this time, we ask for your help with our work. You have been very generous to us. This year, more than ever, your support will help us make a difference to restoration of the Herring River  Click here to read more.  You may make a contribution either through Network for Good (see button in the footer) or by clicking on "Become a Friends of Herring River Supporter" above.  Thank you.

Return of the Tide

The value of a healthy salt marsh can hardly be overestimated.  Watch the video below to view the history of the Herring River and the expected benefits of restoring tidal flow to the estuary. 

The video is being shown at the Cape Cod National Seashore Visitor's Centers in Truro and Eastham as part of their regular film series. 

Click here for early century photos of the dyke and estuary courtesy of the Wellfleet Historical Society.

Project Status and Some Interesting Questions

Click on the subjects below to view a fact sheet on each of these issues

• Project Summary June 2013
• The importance of Reconnecting Herring River with the Marine Environment
• Aquatic and Terrestrial Wildlife
• What will happen to Wellfleet shellfish when the Herring River is restored?
• Will tidal restoration in the Herring River produce odors?
• Mosquitoes and the Herring River Restoration
• Effects of Diking and Tidal REstoration on Natural Chemical Cycling

A Bit of Project History

While we look forward to continued progress in the work to restore tidal flow in the Herring River, it's interesting to look back to the time when the existing dike, constructed in 1909, was authorized.   Click here to review the record of a public hearing in 1908 that led to the original authorization for construction.  The record of the hearing presents some fascinating history of the times and  the issues that were debated by prominent local citizens.

Herring River Restoration Committee

The Herring River Restoration Committee was established in December 2007 through a Memorandum of Understanding among the National Park Service and the Towns of Wellfleet and Truro.  Under the provisions of this MOU the primary purpose of the Committee is to prepare the Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Report and a detailed restoration plan for the Herring River Salt Marsh.  

Click here to access more information about the Herring River Restoration Committee. 

News

Field Work Begins

Investigation of the foundation conditions at the site of the Chequesset Neck Dike has begun in preparation for the design of a new structure and tide gates that will allow tidal flow to return to the estuary. 

This work is being conducted by the engineering firm of Fuss & O'Neill under contract with Friends of Herring River.  Funding is provided by grants awarded to Friends of Herring River from NOAA  and  Massachusetts Environmental Trust to start design and prepare for permitting of the new dike structure.

In the meantime, preparation of the final EIS continues.  It is expected to be released in the spring.

Each of the alternatives for tidal restoration presented in the draft EIS include a replacement structure at the mouth of the Herring River so this work on design and permitting will be applicable once the final EIS is published and approved.  To review a copy of the draft EIS, click here.

Outreach to property owners in the Herring River Estuary

Last fall the Herring River Restoration Committee sent a letter to low-lying property owners within the estuary that explained the types of impacts that could be expected for that property, and invited the landowners to contact the HRRC if they wished to get further information.  Discussion to address specific issues or questions with property owners who have responded is underway.

 If you are a property owner who received a letter and have not yet responded but wish more information, you may contact the committee at herringriverrestorationcommittee@gmail.com  

We encourage all owners of property that abut the project boundary along the Herring River or its tributaries, especially Mill Creek and Pole Dike Creek, to contact us or the Herring River Restoration Committee (email address above) about any questions or concerns you have.

info@friendsofherringriver.org