Save some ditches with native plants

The Nantucket Conservation Foundation observed during a June 2025 site visit of the completed restoration site: Consider saving some ditches that are full of native plants. We don't need to close all ditches, nor destroyed all plants through pit and mound topography. Leaving some native plants in place may help with recolonization post-earthwork
(Note: Alex loves this).


Comments

posted on November 24, 2025

A large ditch/conveyance channel was also preserved around the perimeter of the site because spotted turtles were known to use them. So rather than bulldozing the dike and filling the entire channel, they punched a hole through the dike and filled a small area to slow the water. This preserved the turtle habitat and increased site connectivity, and reduced the earth moving (and associated cost). Designing for the nature already present can be a win-win-win.

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