Construction Starts on Century Bog Restoration

The Buzzards Bay Coalition, MassWildlife, and partners have begun construction to restore Century Bog, a retired cranberry bog in Plymouth and Wareham.

This project will transform the former Century Bog into a healthy network of streams, wetlands, and native uplands. The project marks the final major step in a years-long effort to restore the Red Brook watershed, creating lasting benefits for fish and wildlife, clean water, and the public. Red Brook is the primary tributary stream flowing into Buttermilk Bay in Wareham and Bourne.

Restoration teams will reshape portions of the former bogs, remove drainage ditches, and reconnect the land with groundwater. Native vegetation will be planted where needed, while other areas will be left to recover naturally. Efforts will result in the following: 

· Restoring nearly 48 acres of wetlands and approximately 6,900 feet of Red Brook;

· Removing four barriers to fish passage and improve two others;

· Bringing back more than 45 acres of native upland habitat, including barrens shrubland, sandplain grassland, and pitch pine-oak woodland; and,

· Reconnecting wetlands and uplands so water, plants, and wildlife can once again move naturally across the landscape.

One of the first tasks at hand: To distribute sections of recently cut trees to water ditches to provide habitat for marsh critters and fishes.

“Healthy wetlands improve water quality, reduce flooding, store carbon, and create resilient natural systems that are able to adapt to climate change” said Beth Lambert, Director of the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration (DER). “Restoring sites like Century Bog helps revitalize our rivers and wetlands while providing lasting benefits for surrounding communities.”

The Century Bog project is the culmination of more than a decade of partnership between MassWildlife, Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, The Trustees of Reservation, Mass Audubon, NOAA, Buzzards Bay Coalition, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game, Trout Unlimited, and many others working to restore the Red Brook watershed.