Nuts and Bolts of Restoration Implementation

Nuts and Bolts of Restoration Implementation: Lessons from the

Cape Cod Water Resources Restoration Project

Martha Craig Rheinhardt Coastal Wetland Restoration Project Manager

Cape Cod Conservation District

Buzzards Bay Coalition Restoration Workshop April 5, 2012

Restoration Implementation

• Cape Cod Water Resources Restoration Project

• Planning and Design

• Partnerships

• Funding Sources

• Permitting

• Monitoring

• Construction and

Construction Management

Project Inception

Replace failing fish ladders

Restore anadromous fish runs

Improve water quality for shellfish growing areas

Install stormwater BMPs

Restore tidal flows to restricted salt marshes

Remove tidal restrictions

Cape Cod Water Resources Restoration Project

• 26 Tidal marsh projects

– 1,500 acres of marsh – $ 15 million

• 24 Fish passage projects – 4,200 acres of spawning habitat – $ 5 million

• 26 Stormwater projects – 7,300 acres of shellfishing areas – $ 8 million

Partners and Stakeholders

•Cape Cod Conservation District

•Natural Resources Conservation Service

•Barnstable County Commissioners

•Coastal Resources Committee

•15 Towns of Cape Cod

•Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe

• Commonwealth of Massachusetts

• MA Dept. Fish and Game

•Division of Ecological Restoration

•Division of Marine Fisheries

• MassDOT

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Adm.

• National Park Service

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Coalition Support Members

Association to Preserve Cape Cod

Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce

Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen’s Association

Cape Cod Salties

Ducks Unlimited

Massachusetts Audubon Society

Trout Unlimited

• Feasibility Studies

• Topographic Survey

• Low-Property Assessments

• Tide Monitoring

• Hydraulic/Hydrologic Modeling

• Alternatives Analyses

• Public Outreach

• Design Stages and Review

Planning and Design

Monitoring

• Association to Preserve Cape Cod

• Pre-construction: Baseline Data

• Vegetation

• Neckton

• Salinity

• Post-construction: Changes

• Phragmites

Funding

• Funding needed every step of the way

• Partner Sources: NRCS, DER, NOAA, USFWS

• Corporate Wetland Restoration Partnership

• State and Federal grants

• Foundation grants

• Be clear about tasks, match

• Priority Status

• Keep asking

Implementation–PL 83-566 (Small Watersheds Program)

• Planning and design costs: 100 percent federal

• Permits and land rights: 100 percent sponsor

• Construction costs: 75 percent federal 25 percent sponsor

Permitting

• Order of Conditions • 401 Water Quality Certification • Chapter 91 • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers • MA Environmental Policy Act • CZM Federal Consistency • MA Endangered Species Act • MA Historical Commission • MassDOT • Other Reviewers: EPA, NMFS, DMF, Wampanoag Tribe

Preparing for Construction

• Final Plans and Specs

• Cost Estimates/Budget

• Bidding: Materials, Labor

• Ordering Materials

• Shop Drawings

• Engineer Review and Sign-off

• Permit Notifications

• Ready to Go!

Construction

• Pre-construction Meeting

• Site Preparation/Limits of Work

• Dewatering (Coffer dams, pumps, flow diversion)

• Culvert Removal/Installation

• Open flow and close-up site (Paving, planting)

• Engineering Oversight: Check grades, inverts; Reporting; Sign-offs

• Permit compliance/notifications

What happens after construction?

• Restoration Begins!

• Monitoring

• Operations and Maintenance

• Plantings

• Check for erosion/slumping

• Permit compliance and close-out

Sunken Meadow, Eastham

Sunken Meadow

• Removal of 610’ earthen berm and culvert • No culvert replacement/No hydrologic modeling • Pre- and Post-construction monitoring • Town DPW did work (25% match) • Funding Partners: DER, USFWS • Permitting: 3 months (no Chapter 91!) • Construction Timeline: 5 days • Costs: Construction: $57,000

Engineering/Design: $32,000 Permitting: $18,000

Red River Beach, Harwich

Red River Beach, Harwich

• Replace 2 24” pipes with 3’x4’ and 4’x8’ culverts • Low property: Tide gate needed on upstream

culvert • Town Highway Dept. doing construction (25%

match) • Funding Partners: DER • Permitting: 7 months • Timing of Construction/Arrival of materials • Costs: Construction: $354,000;

Engineering/Design: $94,500 Permitting: $30,000

Rushy Marsh, Cotuit (Barnstable)

Rushy Marsh

• Reconnect tidal flow with new 5’x10’ culvert and channel

• Town initiated design and permitting

• Permitting adjustments and O&M plan

• Bid Range: $149,000-$424,000

Freemans Pond, Brewster

Freeman’s Pond

• Replace 36” diameter pipe with 6’x10’ culvert

• Restore tidal flow to salt pond

• TOY restrictions for herring

• Safety requirements

• Funding Partners: DER, NOAA, CWRP

• Costs: Construction:$400,000 Engineering/Design: $62,250

Permitting: $30,000

Lessons Learned: Planning and Design

• Technical Expertise Important

• Property Ownership

• Low Properties

• Culvert Selection: Safety; Constructability; Cost-Effectiveness

• Every site is different!

• Don’t get “over-engineered”

• If something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Lessons Learned: Permitting

• Pre-application meeting VERY helpful

• Know your regulators (and have them know you)

• Definitions are important

• Pay attention to permit conditions

• Think about timing

• Expensive and often grueling

Lessons Learned: Construction

• Dewatering is KEY

• Experience of contractor critical

• Order materials well ahead of time

• Get easements/entry agreements in place

• Coordinate utilities

• Give yourself plenty of room to work

• Timing: TOY restrictions, fish, plantings, summer season

• Troubleshooting: Expect the unexpected!

Project/Construction Management

• Define roles as early as possible

• Strong local support important

• Remember your partners and experts

• Ask questions

• Document everything

• Work with a comfortable budget

• Understand invoicing, billing, etc.

• Have cell phone and phone numbers handy

Questions

Questions?

Martha Craig Rheinhardt

Coastal Wetland Restoration Project Manager

martha.rheinhardt@ma.usda.gov