Marstons Mills Cranberry Bog Eco-Restoration Project

Barnstable Clean Water Coalition (BCWC) is restoring wetlands across 64 acres of retired cranberry farmland near the headwaters of the Marstons Mills River. Fed by groundwater from surrounding residential areas, the river carries more than 8,000 kilograms of nitrogen annually toward the Three Bays estuary, according to BCWC’s monitoring—approximately 40% of the watershed’s excess nitrogen load.

A Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration priority project, the restoration aims to reduce nitrogen pollution, restore wetland habitat, and provide opportunities for recreation and education.

A 17-acre portion near the headwaters serves as the Comprehensive Study Area, where treatment trials will inform the broader restoration while funding is sought for the remaining area. Living Observatory is helping document the work through photographs, field observations, and long-term monitoring.

Read more on BCWC’s official website.