Public Hearing With Possible Vote From The Conservation Commission

Harwich Conservation Commission - Herring River Conservation Area Bog Subcommittee 

For Discussion and Possible Vote by the Harwich Conservation Commission at their

November 4, 2020 meeting

The Herring River Conservation Area Bog, also known as the Bell’s Neck Bogs, was acquired by the Town of Harwich in May 1993 for conservation purposes and placed under the jurisdiction of the Harwich Conservation Commission.  The bog was leased a couple of times to private cranberry farmers, with the last lease running from 2008-2017. The last leasee abandoned the bog around 2015. After significant deliberation on future goals for this property, the Conservation Commission voted to post a new lease for bids in December 2017. A single bid was submitted for the lease solicitation in 2018. The Commission responded to the bidder with several questions, and that that time the bid was withdrawn by the applicant.   

The Conservation Commission discussed seeking bids again for the bogs in 2019 and eventually voted in March 2019 to not lease the bogs for farming and to update the Bell’s Neck Land Management Plan that was prepared by BCS Group in 2012 to include the Commission’s future management protocols for the bogs.  It will be both timely and efficient to address present bog management while reviewing other resource management priorities at Bell’s Neck as the original plan approaches its 10th year. This memo only addresses cranberry bog management options. A subcommittee of the conservation commission was formed to prepare a list of bog management options to consider for the management plan update. The subcommittee met on March 20, 2020 to discuss ideas and agreed to prepare the following options for the update of the management plan and the review of the whole Conservation Commission and the public.  

Option 1. Active Ecological Restoration.   

Ecological restoration of cranberry bogs is a growing practice in Massachusetts that involves complete reconstruction of the bog surface and stream channel, for the purpose of putting that land back in the condition it was in before it was altered to produce cranberries. This approach has been considered through consultation with Commonwealth of Massachusetts experts on bog restoration. However, it has not been favored by the Conservation Commission for the Bell’s Neck Bogs given the potential high cost relative to the expected benefit. The Bell’s Neck Bogs were created from wetlands and uplands and are not part of the main stem Herring River or a tributary.  Many cranberry bogs in Harwich have slowly naturalized after abandonment in the 20th century. Depending on the underlying soil and groundwater conditions these sites have transitioned towards a state of wetland or upland with diverse ecological and wildlife habitat benefits. 

This approach would likely require hydrologic, soil, and flora and fauna studies that would likely be done by an outside consultant.  The work to break up the cranberry mat so that the suppressed native seed could grow would require heavy machinery.  The goal would be to restore the altered bog area back to the state it was in prior to bog creation. 

Option 2.  Gradual Bog Naturalization. 

This option would set a naturalization process for the bogs with active plant control to allow sections of the bog to become wetland and others to become upland forest naturally. This option recommends allowing the bogs to naturalize with clear goals on habitat targets that are assisted with active plant and water flow management. This option has received the most support among Conservation Commission members during the two most recent public discussions due to: (1) overall high conservation benefit relative to low public cost; (2) low economic viability of cranberry farm leasing; (3) improvements to wildlife habitat; (4) potential reduction of river herring kills; (5) eliminatation of herbicide and pesticide applications to bogs; (6) potential contribution to reduce the Town’s TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) mandate to reduce nitrogen loading through ceasing of fertilizing and gains in nitrogen attenuation for the Herring River Watershed; (7) current state of the bogs. This low-cost approach can potentially be achieved with initial funding from either CPC or other Town resources, grants, and seasonal labor contributions from Conservation Commission members, and the Town’s Conservation, Natural Resources and Public Works departments.   

Bog Site Objectives.  The southern bog (“A” on map) is wetter than other sections and has established native wetland plants.  The southern bog would be allowed to naturalize to wetland with active invasive plant management. The northern bog (“B” on map) would be allowed to transition to upland forest. The eastern section of the middle bog (“C” on map) has viable cranberry plants that have produced high densities of cranberries in recent years with no farming.  This eastern section could be allowed to naturalize.  The western section of the middle bog (“D” on map) could be allowed to naturalize as wetland transitioning to upland or managed as a shrub nursery as described below.   

Water Flow Management.  Under this plan, no changes to water control features of the bog channels are proposed for 2020-2025.  Water would be allowed to flow from the West Reservoir through the bogs and through the outlet pipe back out to the Herring River. A seine net at the West Reservoir is presently deployed to keep river herring out of the bogs and the first flume downstream of the net also contains screening. These structures should be inspected weekly during herring migration periods. A specific management plan would be drafted and included in the management plan to manage board elevations at all flumes with consideration for spring diadromous fish migrations, mosquito control, aquatic life in the bogs, and wetland plant ecology. At the end of this period, the Commission would review responses and conditions and decide if any structural or operational changes are needed for the health of the bogs.  

Bog Perimeter. Maintain a 4-6' ft path around the perimeter of all bog sections that could function as a walking trail.   Occasional mowing of the path at the direction of the Conservation Administrator is permitted.  The meadow area around the bogs is to be mown once per year after November 1 to keep out woody vegetation. 

Invasive Plants.  Annual inspections will identify that status of invasive plants and remove them as necessary. Initially, several locations of phragmites and Russian Olive will need attention.  

Native Plants. A list would be developed of desirable native plant species for each bog sections. In some cases, when funding is available these species will be planted, and in other cases, existing species will be given space to flourish with active management.   

Road Gate.  Spring closures from April 1st to June 1st, 1900 to 0700 each day to reduce illegal night activity, including river herring and eel poaching, dumping, and substance abuse.  

Pump House.  Removed and surplus.   

Option 3. Farming Options for 2020-2025.   

This option would allow short-term management of the bogs in the public’s interest to provide some farming activity. The farming would be cooperative with the development of Town and educational partnerships to explore concepts for the period of 2020-2025. This option could be integrated with Option #2 (“C” on map), but not with #1 or #4. No private leasing of the bogs is recommended.  No chemical applications would be allowed. The following three concepts could be considered for the short-term, and revisited after 2025: 

Cranberry Growing.  Seasonal flooding of the eastern section of the middle bog to control pests and unwanted plant growth.  Allow the public to pick-your-own cranberries in the fall for five years and/or introduce an organic cranberry farming project for education or public demonstration.   

Upland Shrub Growing.  Develop a partnership with the Cape Cod Technical High School and  

interested Town groups to grow native plants, shrubs and trees in upland boundaries of the  

northern bog. Train students on permaculture growing practices and hold annual sale of    

plants to fund the operations.  

Harvest Cranberry Plants.  Allow cranberry farmers in Harwich to harvest plants to transplant for their own use during this period.  

Option 4. Cranberry Bog Farming Lease. 

This option would revisit the farming bid solicitation prepared in 2017-2018 to consider if a private cranberry farming lease could be compatible to the interests of the Town of Harwich and management of the Herring River Conservation Area Bog. This option has received public support at two recent Conservation Commission hearings on the issue. The heritage of cranberry farming is important to the Town of Harwich and keeping this tradition alive at the Belles Neck Bogs is a concept that should not be discarded without careful consideration. However, the economic viability and the compatibility of private cranberry leasing with conservation goals at this location was widely questioned during public discussions. Similar to option #1, this option should be considered but has not advanced among other options as preferred by most Commission members.