Geographic Location:

                                 

Site Description:

The Herring River is one of the larger estuarine systems on Cape Cod, running from Herring Pond to Wellfleet Harbor. For years, it has been at the center of local controversy regarding the removal of the dike, constructed in 1908. From an environmental standpoint, diking and drainage of the Herring River destroyed the native ecosystem (wetland loss, water quality degradation). Currently, steps are being taken to restore this area by opening the dike and restoring natural tidal exchange and native wetlands, to the extent possible. By restoring tides in the Herring River, Wellfleet will benefit from an increased diversity of fish, shellfish and crustaceans in the river, improved water quality, and buffering of storm surges. Monitoring this site and collecting water quality data during this restoration project will add valuable insight regarding the success of this restoration project.