State Awards $600,000 to Herring River Estuary Restoration

Conceptual plans for the Herring River estuary restoration.

WELLFLEET – The Friends of Herring River has received a $600,000 grant from the state to advance the Herring River Estuary Restoration in Wellfleet and Truro.

The Herring River Estuary encompasses over 1,000 acres of wetlands and six miles of waterways.

Over the past decade, Wellfleet and Truro had worked on plans that will allow carefully controlled restoration of tidal flow to the estuary while protecting low-lying roads and other structures from flooding.

Reconnecting the estuary to Cape Cod Bay is expected to improve water quality, restore large areas of shellfish habitat and increase boating, fishing and other commercial and recreational opportunities.

The state grant will support engineering design for multiple infrastructure elements and will advance other tasks like the preparation of permit applications.

The grant will be matched by another $700,000 from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Restoration Center.