Last month, we received our first-ever Habitat Management Grant from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife to support land management efforts across they Coalition’s Cuttyhunk Hills Reserves, aiming to restore increasingly rare sandplain grassland habitat.

The 2025 Burn on Cuttyhunk

This will further the efforts we’ve already begun. Last April, we partnered with state and local fire agencies to complete a third prescribed burn on the island. The controlled fire, covering approximately 30 acres near Tower Hill, plays a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Prescribed burns help reduce the risk of wildfires by clearing potential fuel sources, decreasing tick populations, and removing encroaching woody vegetation that threatens grassland restoration. These efforts are a key part of our long-term commitment to restoring and preserving the unique natural landscapes of Buzzards Bay.

The grant will allow us to remove larger, woody debris and small trees that cannot be managed by prescribed fire alone. This thinning of the vegetation will complement this spring’s planned burn that extends even farther into the West End of the island.

This year, these efforts will be assisted by new Coalition staffer Scott Zolkos as our new Island Stewardship Manager. His passion for the island and environmental stewardship stems from a lifelong connection to the Bay through Cuttyhunk, where many days were spent working on the oyster farm, teaching sailing, and exploring nature – all gifts he now shares with his own family. Scott earned his Ph.D. in ecology from the University of Alberta and led postdoctoral research at Harvard University and the Woodwell Climate Research Center on water chemistry, land-water linkages, and ecosystem health.

Scott will be responsible for all of our work on Cuttyhunk: from keeping our trails clear, managing beaches for the benefit of both people and wildlife, and improving landscapes through actions like the prescribed burns.