Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration Program and Trust Fund

In 1996, following the North Cape oil spill, Lt. Governor Charles Fogarty introduced legislation establishing the Oil Spill Prevention Administration and Response Act (OSPAR). As part of this law, an oil spill response fund was created through a 5-cent fee on each barrel of petroleum products shipped into the state, along with any civil and criminal fines assessed. Under the law, the fund cannot exceed $10 million.

The legislation passed in July of 2003 created a Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration Program and Trust Fund restricted solely to fund habitat restoration projects by amending OSPAR. Under the change, the trust fund would receive a legislative appropriation in FY 03 of $250,000 of the monies generated through the 5-cent tax. The fund is also eligible to accept private donations and federal matching grants.

The money has been made available through a competitive grant application process for projects aimed at improving coastal habitats. These projects have been submitted to an advisory committee charged with evaluating them under a newly developed Statewide Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration Plan and have, in turn, been prioritized to receive funding. The advisory committee, comprised of public, agency, legislative and stakeholder participation, developed a Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) approved plan that incorporates the following elements: a description of the state’s coastal and estuarine habitats, restoration goals, inventory of restoration projects, projected comprehensive budget and timeline to complete the goals, funding sources, an outreach element, and provisions for updating the plan and project inventory. Members of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) are representative of the following agencies, organizations, and institutions: the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography, the Department of Environmental Management’s Office of Sustainable Watersheds, Narragansett Bay Estuary Program, Environmental Protection Agency Region 1, NOAA’s Fisheries Restoration Center, DEM Fish and Wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife, Save The Bay, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, DEM Mosquito Abatement, and Coastal Resources Management Council (Chair).

According to the plan, habitat restoration grant monies are dispersed in

accordance with §46-23.1-5(2) which allocates funding for design, planning, construction or monitoring. Eligible applicants include cities and towns; any committee, board, or commission chartered by a city or town; nonprofit corporations; civic groups; educational institutions; and state agencies.

The program, under the direction of the Executive Director of the CRMC, was introduced again in FY2004 to the General Assembly for a budget request for program costs. Legislation was amended (and approved) to fund the program in perpetuity in the amount of $250,000 per year.

Habitat Restoration Projects Funded in FY2003

A total of eight habitat restoration projects in FY03 have been allocated funding under the trust fund. The projects chosen by the TAC consisted of coastal wetlands restoration projects, the creation of anadromous fish runs, and restoration of eelgrass beds. The projects, and corresponding funding allocated to each, are listed below:

A. Explore The Bay, Fields Point, Providence ($24,323.45) Partners: Save The Bay and Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Photo of Fields Point (post-restoration) Photo credit: Save The Bay

Throughout the summer of 2004, Save The Bay, along with numerous volunteers, restored filled coastal marsh and intertidal habitats and a coastal buffer at Fields Point in Providence, Rhode Island. Save The Bay is currently in the process of constructing a Bay Education Center at Fields Point, located on the Providence River in Narragansett Bay, the Bay's most urbanized waterfront. The proposed restoration is part of the effort to restore a six-acre coastal urban brownfield that will demonstrate environmentally responsible design, brownfield redevelopment ethics, and ecological restoration. (See: www.savebay.org for more information).

Historically, Fields Point was once an island with salt marsh, intertidal sand and mud flats, adjacent subtidal areas, and barrier beach with public access to Narragansett Bay. In the 1950's, the city of Providence filled Fields Point with construction and demolition debris, thereby eliminating the island and its associated coastal wetland habitats. Today, the derelict land is characterized by extremely steep and unstabilized slopes with construction debris that juts out into Narragansett Bay.

Restoring the coastal salt marsh habitat at Fields Point, specifically intertidal low and high salt marsh, provides a wide range positive ecological changes to plant and animal communities and increase stewardship of this important estuarine habitat. It is anticipated that restoring the coastal habitats at Fields Point will result in increased utilization by salt marsh associated faunal assemblages (nekton, avian species, shellfish, and estuarine invertebrates, etc.). Atlantic Menhaden, Bay anchovy, tautog, Atlantic Silverside, winter flounder and other commercial and recreationally valuable finfish species, known to occur adjacent to Fields Point may benefit by the restoration of this site. (These finfish were located at this site in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Providence River Dredging FEIS survey data).

The restoration has focused on the existing marsh point and the eastern shoreline of Fields Point. Approximately one acre of salt marsh habitat has been created. Methods of restoration included removal of debris, regrading, spreading of suitable planting medium for salt marsh plants, planting, establishment of protection for newly planted areas, and maintenance of the newly planted area. Community participation in the project was be supplied by volunteers who assisted in the salt marsh and coastal buffer planting.

The coastal upland restoration included planting the slope and top of the bluff with a combination of warm season grasses and native shrubs to act as a buffer demonstration site for coastal property owners and for future Brownfield redevelopment projects on the Providence and Seekonk Rivers. The estimated size of the coastal buffer planting is 1.5 acres.

B. Narragansett Bay Seagrass Restoration, Narragansett Bay

($29,096.45) Partners: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s (RIDEM) Narragansett Bay Estuary Program; National Marine Fisheries Service; URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography; and Save The Bay

Photo of eelgrass transplant using TERF™ method Photo credit: Save The Bay Rhode Island’s primary seagrass is Zostera marina or eelgrass. Eelgrass produces

organic material that becomes part of the food cycle, provides a settling substrate for scallops, helps cycle nutrients, prevents shoaling and erosion by binding sediments, and provides nursery habitat for many finfish and shellfish. There are approximately 100 acres of eelgrass remaining in Narragansett Bay (NBEP 1999). Historical accounts indicate that eelgrass once covered many acres in the upper bay where today only a few remain. The coastal ponds of the state are seeing similar losses of seagrass beds; Ninigret Pond on the south shore of the state has lost an estimated 41% of its seagrass since 1960.

The major causes of eelgrass loss in Rhode Island include nutrient loading from

development and sewage outfalls, physical damage from dredging and boating activities, disease, and shading from fixed piers and docks. The most serious threat to Rhode Island’s eelgrass is increased nutrient levels (usually nitrogen) from polluted runoff,

septic systems, and sewage treatment plants. The resulting enrichment leads to excessive blooms of algae -- both microscopic plankton and large nuisance drift algae such as sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) -- which limit the available light required by eelgrass to grow.

Eelgrass is also being directly transplanted into areas of the harbor using volunteer divers and eelgrass grown in aquaria from local schools. Previous efforts to transplant eelgrass have been undertaken by Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s (RIDEM) Narragansett Bay Estuary Program, National Marine Fisheries Service, and URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography. Save The Bay is incorporating the knowledge gained from these efforts to transplant eelgrass to other areas of the bay, such as Wickford Harbor. (See: www.savebay.org or www.gso.uri.edu/eelgrass/Index.htm or www.edc.uri.edu/restoration or www.nbep.org for more information on eelgrass restoration initiatives)

C. Stillhouse Cove, Cranston ($7,323.45)

Photo credit: CRMC Partners: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s (RIDEM); Environmental Protection Agency; Save The Bay; DEM Mosquito Abatement Coordination Program; Friends of Stillhouse Cove, Natural Resources Conservation Service; Northern RI Conservation District; and the City of Cranston. The Stillhouse Cove revitalization project, located in Cranston, includes wetland restoration and storm-drain improvements. Stormwater run-off into the salt marsh has created a sediment plume in the marsh, allowing phragmites to grow uncontrollably. Two units will be constructed to remove sediment from the marsh in order to eradicate or stop the spread of phragmites. Buffer restoration will also take place as a component of the habitat restoration project.

D. Palmer River, Warren ($14,323.45) Partners: Save The Bay; Warren Land Trust; Natural Resources Conservation Service; RI Department of Environmental Management/Aqua Fund; and Narragansett Bay Estuary Program.

The Palmer Avenue restoration project is taking place on the eastern shore of the Palmer River, north of Belcher Cove. The Warren Land Trust, owners of the property, has received funding under WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program) and the Aqua Fund (administered by RIDEM) to remove fill material from the site. Marsh filling occurred on the project site, originally from an adjacent site. The project will remove the fill and plant a buffer of native upper marsh vegetation. Subsequent studies conducted on-site revealed more historic fill; therefore, additional funding is necessary to complete the project.

E. Big Mussachuck Creek, Barrington ($9,323.45) Partners: Save The Bay; Natural Resources Conservation Service; and Rhode Island Country Club. The habitat restoration project at Big Mussachuck Creek, located in Barrington, will restore salt marsh and create an anadromous fish-run. Tidal flow will be restored at Big Mussachuck Creek by installing a self-regulating tidegate at the Washington Road culvert (or tidal restriction). The project will also facilitate fish passage to Echo Lake and Brickyard Pond. (See: www.savebay.org for more information)

F. Napatree Dunes Restoration, Westerly ($6,323.45) Partners: NOAA Restoration Center; US Fish and Wildlife; and Watch Hill Fire District

Napatree Point Conservation Area (post-restoration) Photo credits: NOAA Restoration Center and CRMC Napatree Point Conservation Area, located at the southwestern tip of Rhode Island, is owned and managed by the Watch Hill Fire District. This long barrier beach separates Little Narragansett Bay from the ocean and contains one of Rhode Island’s few, and most valuable, natural dune systems. Its sandy spit is one of the most important migratory bird stopover points on the East Coast and is also nesting habitat for the federally endangered piping plover (Charadrius melodus) and state threatened least tern (Sterna antillarum).

Napatree Point is heavily used by walkers, fishermen, and beachgoers alike. Foot traffic across the dunes has created many sandy paths, damaging native dune grass

(typically beachgrass, Ammophila breviligulata, and seaside goldenrod, Solidago sempervirens) and slowly fragmenting and eroding the dunes. In addition to erosion, the pathways facilitate human disturbance to both nesting and migratory species as walkers access their habitat by these pathways. Plovers and terns are especially vulnerable to human disturbance during the nesting season, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) must expend additional staff time and resources to rope off these paths in an attempt to reduce disturbance.

A community-based restoration project is necessary to restore vegetation to the paths, slow erosion, reduce human disturbance to nesting and migratory birds, and help promote the environmentally-sound stewardship of this fragile dune system. Snow fencing will be needed to reduce the number of cross-dune pathways to walkers. The pathways would then be planted with native dune plants by community volunteers and allowed to revegetate.

G. Narragansett Bay Journal Habitat Restoration Issue, statewide

($6,323.45) Partners: New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission; and RIDEM’s Narragansett Bay Estuary Program.

Issue #6 of the NBJ Courtesy of the NBJ (See: www.nbep.org for more information on this issue)

Funding was provided for the mailing and production costs for the fall 2003 issue of the Narragansett Bay Journal. Issue #6 of the Narragansett Bay Journal, entitled “Restoring the Bay,” was dedicated primarily to habitat restoration projects which have received funding from the Trust Fund. The statewide distribution will enable citizens of Rhode Island to be informed about habitat restoration projects within their watershed and beyond. The Narragansett Bay Journal was chosen as the sole source to produce the issue because of such factors as its current mailing list of 8,000 recipients, the 7,500 bundles of newspapers found at various state, federal and non-profit agencies, and the 115,000 inserts into local newspapers around the state.

H. The Lonsdale Drive-In Environmental Restoration Project, Lincoln ($152,962.85)

Partners: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management; United States Army Corps of Engineers, New England District; United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and United States Environmental Protection Agency

Site of Lonsdale Drive-In (pre-restoration) Post-restoration Photo credit: CRMC Photo credit: CRMC

Lonsdale (post-restoration) Photo credit: USACOE

The Lonsdale Drive-In is located along the Blackstone River in Lincoln, RI and is owned by the Department of Environmental Management. The site is within the Blackstone River National Heritage Corridor and the Blackstone River Watershed, and is also upstream from the Valley Falls Marshes, one of the most highly valued freshwater wetlands in Rhode Island. It is intended that the Blackstone Bikeway to be constructed in the Spring 2003 will run along the outer perimeter of the drive-in property

The Lonsdale Drive-In site is a broad floodplain terrace that was developed as a drive-in theater in the early 1950’s. Before construction of the theater, the site was used as a pasture and farmland for many years. Approximately 20.4 acres of the 36.8-acre site were paved to construct the drive-in. The theater was closed in the early 1980s and the site has been abandoned and unused since that time. The State of Rhode Island

purchased the site in 1998 with the intention of restoring wetland and riparian habitat in conjunction with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE).

Vestiges of the old drive-in, including two dilapidated movie screens, a 75-foot radio tower, and several small structures remain on the site. Significant testing indicated no hazardous materials or hazardous wastes exist on the site. Although the pavement has deteriorated somewhat over the years, most of the site remains very sparsely vegetated and provides little wildlife habitat value.

A restoration plan was developed by an interdisciplinary team, including engineers, biologists, hydrologists, ecologists, and economists. The team included representatives from the USACOE New England District, RIDEM Division of Planning and Development, RI Natural Heritage Program, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the University of Rhode Island, and the National Marine Fisheries Service.

The restoration plan consists of construction of a 7-acre wetland and restoration of 13.4 acres of upland riparian habitat. Constructed wetlands include 3.6 acres of emergent and open water habitat and 3.4 acres of scrub/shrub and forested wetlands. The plan includes establishment of a continuous wooded riparian buffer along the Blackstone River.

RIDEM will monitor wildlife use of the site after construction before determining how to manage upland vegetation. Uplands will be either maintained as grassland or allowed to develop into forest through natural succession. The USACOE will monitor development of wetland vegetation as well as areas with the potential for erosion during a 3-year initial establishment phase. No long-term maintenance of constructed wetlands is expected to be required.

Habitat Restoration Projects funded in FY2004 (NOTE: The remainder of the funding for FY04 has yet to be allocated)

A. Walker Farm Salt Marsh Restoration, Barrington ($30,000) Project Manager: Wenley Ferguson, Restoration Coordinator, Save The Bay

Project Partners: Town of Barrington-landowner and technical assistance, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)-technical and financial assistance for the construction of the restoration plan through the Wetlands Reserve Program, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-technical and financial assistance for site assessment, pre-restoration monitoring and design, engineering and construction, Ducks Unlimited (DU)-design engineering, construction oversight and construction funding, ESS/Corporate Wetlands Restoration Program Partner- permit application development and submittal, Save The Bay-project coordination, restoration monitoring and grant management for construction funds

Funding Partners NRCS: Wetlands Reserve Program $69,900; NOAA-Restore America Estuaries Partnership: $15,000; NOAA-Ducks Unlimited Partnership: $69,000; Ducks Unlimited (private funds): $20,000; RI Department of Transportation mitigation funding: $10,000

Project Narrative:

The Walker Farm salt marsh is a 15-acre marsh that has been tidally restricted for the last 60 years. The tidal hydrology has been altered by a number of roads and dam structures that restrict tidal flow to the entire marsh. These structures include a flap-gated earthen dam built to allow agricultural use of the marsh. In the late 1960s, the Town of Barrington made this original dam permanent to establish waterfowl habitat. The dam created a brackish pond that flooded the former salt marsh and restricted saltwater flow into the marsh, allowing the expansion of Phragmites australis.

The goal of this restoration project is to restore the tidal hydrology of the Walker Farm salt marsh. The restoration will entail addressing the five tidal restrictions, two former dirt farm roads and three culverts. Tidal exchange will be improved by removing restrictions to tidal flow, increasing culvert sizes, and removing fill placed upon the marsh surface. Restoring tidal hydrology will facilitate the return of a diverse salt marsh plant community, increase nekton production and diversity, and benefit coastal bird diversity and abundance.

Walker Farm salt marsh is located along the Wampanoag Trail in Barrington, Rhode Island. The salt marsh is approximately 15 acres and the open water area, former salt marsh, is approximately 8 acres. Walker Farm salt marsh is part of the Hundred Acre Cove estuary, identified in the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) North American Waterfowl Management Plan.

The hydrology of the Walker’s Farm salt marsh has been altered by a number of roads and dam structures that restrict the amount of salt water entering the marsh. Restricted tidal flow, decreasing salinity, and impoundment of water are believed to have resulted in approximately 7 acres of the common reed, Phragmites australis, throughout the wetland. The tidal restrictions (from north to south) include an earthen dam, two dirt farm roads, the access road to the composting facility and a permanent breakwall with 3 culverts and defunct flapgates along the southern most portion of the marsh. At the northern end of the marsh, the earthen dam has a culvert and riser water control structure that was built in the early 1900s to allow agricultural use of the marsh. Between 1965 and 1970, the Town of Barrington made the original dam permanent to establish waterfowl habitat. This dam created a brackish pond that only received tidal flow during extreme high tides and storms. This dam restricts salt-water flow and impounds the freshwater within the pond. The impounded water has also resulted in subsidence of the marsh surface. The two farm roads have not been used for a number of years but still restrict tidal flushing to the interior of the marsh. The entrance road off the Wampanoag Trail also contains a small culvert, allowing minimal tidal flow into the interior marsh northwest of the entrance road. The breakwall culverts allow tidal flow into a small portion of the marsh, north of the dam and south of the access road off of the Wampanoag Trail (Route 114).

These tidal restrictions have altered the topographic and hydrologic conditions of the marsh. Due to the impoundment of freshwater in the northern section of the marsh, the historic high marsh vegetation was lost due to flooding and the marsh surface has subsided due to the prolonged flooding. Due to the reduction of tidal flow, Phragmites australis has become established in the marsh and has out-competed characteristic salt marsh grasses and other plants resulting in less diversity of plant and animal life in the marsh. Restoration Benefit: Restoring tidal flow to Walker Farm salt marsh will result in positive ecological changes to plant and animal communities. Based on similar restorations, it is anticipated that Walker Farm marsh restoration will result in decreased density, height, and vigor of Phragmites australis; allowing for the recolonization of characteristic high and low salt marsh plant assemblages. Restoration of the marsh community and reintroduction of tidal flow will result in increased utilization by salt marsh associated faunal assemblages (nekton, avian species, etc.).

The restoration will result in revegetation of the majority of the 8 acres of open water. Due to the subsidence that has occurred since the flag gate was installed, approximately 30 years ago, the majority of the northern marsh area will be low marsh vegetation. Restoration of tidal hydrology will also result in the replacement of the monotypic stands of Phragmites australis with native marsh vegetation.

The community will also benefit from the salt marsh restoration through the enhancement of the bird and fish habitat. The existing bird blind built by the community is surrounded by Phragmites preventing a view of the marsh and open water area.

Increased use of the marsh by nekton will enhance visitation to the marsh by avian species, as well as increase local stocks of fish species which are food for recreationally and commercially important fish species. The site is publicly accessible from two access points, the Osamequin Farm nature trail (used by the community and school groups) and the boat ramp/composting facility. The Barrington Conservation Commission will be involved in the ongoing stewardship of the site after restoration implementation.

B. Kickemuit Reservoir Fish Ladder, Warren ($40,187)

Project Manager: Joseph Bachand, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Project Partners: Bristol County Water Authority, RI DEM NPS Program, USDA-NRCS (Financial and Technical Assistance), Renew the Resources for the Bay, Power Generation and Electric, NOAA (Technical Assistance/Funding), RIDEM Coastal Fisheries (Management/Stocking/Monitoring), Town of Warren (Administrative Assistance), Kickemuit Watershed Council (Public Outreach/Advocacy), Save the Bay (Technical Support), USFWS (Technical Support), and ESS Consultants/Corporate Wetland Restoration Program Project Narrative

The Bristol County Water Authority (BCWA) in partnership with the Town of Warren, is seeking to restore river herring populations to the Kickemuit River. The river once supported an important anadromous fishery, including alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and blueback herring (A. aestivalis). These river herring spend most of their lives in the ocean and return to freshwater habitat to spawn. In Southern New England, adult river herring typically migrate in early April through June. Juvenile herring often remain in their natal habitat through the summer, migrating downriver to the ocean from July through November.

The Dam at the Kickemuit Reservoir. The fish ladder will be installed on the left side of the dam as seen in the photograph

The Kickemuit (Warren) Reservoir Dam, located at the head of tide, currently prevents the passage of migrating river herring and other fish species. The proposed project includes the installation of a Denil fish ladder and plunge pool to allow both upstream fish access to the reservoir during the spring adult migration, as well as out-migration by adults and juveniles in the summer and early fall. This fish ladder will allow

river herring access to 26+ acres of spawning and nursery habitat in the Kickemuit Reservoir and is an excellent opportunity to restore a historic river herring run to Narragansett Bay.

Site Location and Description The Kickemuit River drains a 5-square mile watershed in Southeastern

Massachusetts and Rhode Island, discharging into Mount Hope Bay. Three water supply dams impound the river along its length, creating the 26+ acre Kickemuit Reservoir and the 84-acre Swansea (Warren) Reservoir in Swansea, Massachusetts. Currently, fish passage is obstructed at all three dams.

The Kickemuit Reservoir Dam is the lowest dam in the watershed, located immediately north of Route 103 in Warren at the head of tide. This 4-foot high, earthen and rubble faced dam was built in the late 1800’s and is owned and operated by the BCWA. The BCWA manages water withdrawals from the reservoir to supply local drinking water. Water flows from the reservoir over a concrete spillway with sheet metal weir before continuing through a box culvert under Route 103. Immediately downstream of the dam, the Kickemuit River is tidal and has been designated a Type 2 waterbody by the CRMC. The reservoir is surrounded primarily by cropland and other open spaces, with small patches of moderate to high-density residential development to the north and south. A water treatment facility, operated by the BCWA, is located on property immediately to the west of the dam. The Waterview Condominium Association owns the property immediately to the east of the dam. The proposed fish ladder will be located on the west side of the dam, on a BCWA access easement, abutting the Association’s property.

Project Description and Need Historically, the Kickemuit River supported an important anadromous fishery,

including alewife and blueback herring. Installation of the Kickemuit Reservoir Dam during the late 1800’s effectively prevented passage of herring and other fish species to upstream waters. At one time, local fisherman used dipnets to transfer alewife from one side of the dam to the other. However, these efforts failed to sustain the alewife population, and the once significant numbers ultimately disappeared from the river. The installation of a fish ladder at the Kickemuit Reservoir Dam is expected to restore an anadromous fish run on the river by allowing adult alewife access to 26+ acres of ideal spawning and nursery habitat within the Kickemuit Reservoir. It is possible that a herring run containing tens of thousands of fish annually may eventually be present in the river.

The proposed project calls for the installation of a Denil fish ladder on the western side of the concrete spillway and abutment, approximately 10-feet from the edge of the channel and within the embankment of the earthen dike. The fish ladder will be 35-feet long, with an additional 6-foot long entranceway and plunge pool below the dam in tidal waters. The fish ladder is designed to be operational from mid to high tide under most flow conditions. Three removable baffles will be used to control the water flow within the fishway. An operations plan will be developed and managed by RIDEM, using water level readings to determine when the baffles should be inserted and removed. During high water levels within the head pond, all of the baffles will be installed to minimize

water flowing through the fishway and still maximize upstream migration by fish. As water levels drop, the baffles will be removed to ensure the fishway remains operational. Upon completion of the fishway, the RIDEM Division of Fish and Wildlife will conduct four years of jump-start stocking, long-term maintenance of the fish ladder and monitoring of the fish run.

C. Town Pond (Boyd’s Marsh) Salt Marsh Restoration Project, Portsmouth ($80,088)

Project Manager: James D. McGinn, RIDEM Project Partners: RIDEM, Army Corps of Engineers, Narragansett Bay Estuary Program, Aquidneck Island Land Trust, Town of Portsmouth, Ducks Unlimited, R.I. Corporate Wetlands Partnership; Save The Bay, R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council Project Narrative: Until 1950, Town Pond was a tidal salt pond and salt marsh system of about 40 acres. In the early 1950’s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) filled the wetland system while dredging the Mount Hope Bay shipping channel. Under Section 1135 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 the Corps, RIDEM, and project partners propose to remove approximately 100,000 cubic yards of existing dredge material, restoring tidal exchange and transforming a degraded brackish-water system back to high-value salt pond and salt marsh habitat. The project will also protect nearby freshwater resources, alleviate coastal erosion in the area of Bay Shore Road, and improve public access to the shoreline.