Hands-on Wetlands Restoration Workshop Agenda

Tuesday, June 23

8:30 am

Registration Opens 

Meet at Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary Visitor Center, 345 Bone Hill Road
Cummaquid, MA 02637.
9:00 am

Welcome, Ian Ives (light refreshments served)
9:15 am

Wetland Drainage Practices and How to Identify Drained Wetlands Presentation by Tom Biebighauser

There are many signs of historic drainage that remain evident today, and some can be seen while driving 70MPH. This presentation examines numerous drained wetlands so you can learn how to identify their ghosts on forested and open landscapes.
10:30 am

Wetland Restoration Techniques - Presentation by Tom Biebighauser

Springs and wetlands have been altered by farmers across the Northeast for generations. This presentation shows the steps necessary for restoring naturally appearing and functioning groundwater wetlands at a reasonable cost.
12:00 pm

Lunch
1:00 pm

Oak Island Salt Marsh Restoration: 101 Reasons to Think Twice about Tide Gates?Presentation by Eric Hutchins

This presentation will focus on lessons learned over 15 years of working on restoring the Oak Island Salt Marsh in Revere, MA. The project has numerous lessons learned that can be applied to salt marsh restoration and flood control projects that rely on tide gates.
2:30 pm

Field trip at Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary: Lead by Ian Ives, Tom Biebighauser and Bryan Windmiller

  • Examination of six newly restored groundwater and surface water wetlands.
  • Reading the landscape: How drained wetlands appear in the outdoors.
5:30 pm 

Supper on your own
7:00 pm

Field trip to visit four wetlands constructed for the eastern spadefoot using aquatic-safe liners.

Meet in the parking lot for the Mass Audubon’s Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary, opposite the home at 285 Ashumet Road, Falmouth, MA.

Wednesday, June 24

Wetland Restoration Using an Excavator. Meet at Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary, East Falmouth MA opposite the home at 285 Ashumet Road, Falmouth, MA.
Participants will work with the heavy equipment operator to restore a filled and non functioning groundwater wetland at the Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary.

7:30 am

Wetland Construction Begins

  • Safety discussion
  • Discuss project with heavy equipment operator
  • Salvage trees and shrubs
  • Save topsoil
  • Construct groundwater dam
12:00 pm

Lunch
1:00 pm 

Wetland construction Continues

  • Restore basin to specification and loosen compacted soil
  • Replace topsoil
  • Seed and mulch
  • Selectively replace vegetation/woody debris

While construction is taking place participants will complete exercises in the field that explain the groundwater, surface water, and liner techniques for building wetlands. Hands-on activities will focus on practical ways for determining slope, soil texture, and groundwater elevation. Participants will also run a design exercise for additional wetland restoration projects at Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary..
6 pm

Adjourn