The Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program (NEP) awarded three grants totaling $110,640 in federal funds to three Buzzards Bay municipalities. The three grants, which are being matched by over $194,000 in private contributions and state grants, are awarded through the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Southeast New England Program.

The following municipalities were awarded grants:

• The Town of Mattapoisett will receive $45,000 to work with its partner, the Mattapoisett Land Trust, to purchase and permanently protect a forested 4-acre parcel of riverfront land. The property is located on the west bank of the Mattapoisett River and contains important state-designated habitat, including habitat for rare species. The property lies across the street from the state-owned Nasketucket Bay State Reservation. Protection of this parcel is part of a larger conservation effort by the Mattapoisett Land Trust to conserve the entire west bank of the Mattapoisett River from Route 6 south to the multi-use path. The Mattapoisett Land Trust intends to create a trail system and small parking area on the property to allow for public access to the property and river.
• The Town of Carver will receive $45,000 to work with its partner, the Buzzards Bay Coalition, to purchase and permanently protect 28 acres of undeveloped forest land on the southern side of the 600+ acre Great South Meadow Cedar Swamp on Mayflower Road in Caver. The property contains important state-designated habitat and lies over the Plymouth/Carver Sole Source Aquifer. The project will protect the ecological resources associated with a large and significant Atlantic White Cedar stand, as well as protect the headwaters source for multiple small tributary streams that form the upper reaches of the Weweantic River. In addition, acquisition of the property will provide a long sought after gateway access to the Great Cedar Swamp.
• The Town of Rochester will receive $20,640 to work with its partners, the Buzzards Bay Coalition and Rochester Land Trust, to purchase a conservation restriction that will permanently protect 20.5 acres along Doggett Brook, a principal tributary of the Sippican River. The project is part of a larger effort to protect a 58-acre undeveloped farmland parcel along a principal road to the central village area of Rochester. The property contains important state-designated habitat, including habitat for rare species. The conservation restriction will remove the current agricultural use from within 300 feet of Doggett Brook, and this area will be restored to enhance its ecological functions. In addition, a small roadside gravel parking area and a walking trail will be developed.

For more information about the grant awards, please read this EEA press release.

The Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program is seeking proposals for its next round of the Buzzards Bay Watershed Municipal Mini-Grant Program. There is $110,640 available. Projects (up to $45,000 per project) must implement a recommendation(s) in the Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan to protect and restore water quality and living resources in Buzzards Bay and its surrounding watershed. Eligible projects include stormwater remediation designs for discharges affecting marine waters, wetland/open space/habitat acquisition, migratory fish passage restoration, construction of boat pumpout facilities, and many other activities that support the management plan. A 33 percent match of requested funding is required, and only municipalities are eligible to apply. For more information, to view the RFR, and download required forms, see our funding information page. Proposals are due by Tuesday, September 21, 2021, by 4:00 PM.

On June 7, The Buzzards Bay NEP announced, through EEA and MCZM, $95,419 in federal grant awards for land protection and water quality projects in the Buzzards Bay watershed. The funding will help the Towns of Rochester and Gosnold protect critical habitat and allow the Town of Mattapoisett and its partner, the Buzzards Bay Coalition, to continue important water quality monitoring in Buzzards Bay. The three grants are being matched by $79,540 in private contributions and in-kind services that will support the protection of important habitat in the region.

The Town of Rochester, and its partner the Rochester Land Trust, will receive $45,000 to purchase and permanently protect 20.9 acres of undeveloped land in the Mattapoisett River aquifer, which provides drinking water to four communities in the Buzzards Bay watershed. The property, which is mostly wooded with a perennial stream, contains designated habitat for rare species. Once acquired, the land will be owned and managed by the Rochester Land Trust, which will provide access to the public for passive recreational activities.

The Town of Mattapoisett, and its partner the Buzzards Bay Coalition, will receive $30,000 to continue the Baywatchers monitoring program, which measures nutrient pollution in Buzzards Bay. For 27 years, this long-term monitoring program has collected basic water quality, nutrient, and algal pigment information at over 200 locations around Buzzards Bay during the summer months. The program also educates the public on their local water quality. The data collected is used by both state and local natural resource managers to make informed water quality related decisions.

The Town of Gosnold, and its partner the Buzzards Bay Coalition, will receive $20,419 toward the permanent protection of over 300 acres of undeveloped land on the island of Cuttyhunk. The funding will help match other state grants to acquire and protect 79 acres of privately owned, undeveloped land and secure a permanent conservation restriction on approximately 230 additional donated acres. The project area contains designated habitat for rare species. This project will also protect more than five miles of coastal shoreline and the island’s only drinking water supply.

See this EEA press release for more information.