Restoration Project Beginning At Duck Harbor In Cape Cod National Seashore

By Compiled From N... - January 30th, 2023

Removal of dead vegetation on the Duck Harbor floodplain at Cape Cod National Seashore should allow salt-tolerant native vegetation to return/NPS file

Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts is beginning a vegetation removal project that aims to remove dead trees and shrubbery from the Duck Harbor floodplain in Wellfleet. Park officials say two years of periodic dune overwashes led to substantial saltwater accumulation in the area and caused a massive die-off of freshwater plants. Removing the dead vegetation will allow salt-water tolerant vegetation to recolonize the area, they say.

Since January 2021, the 120-acre Duck Harbor floodplain has had periodic over wash of saltwater breaking over the dunes on Cape Cod Bay. Higher high tides occurring for 3-5 days during most months allowed saltwater to flow rapidly inland and slowly drain back out through the Herring River and into Wellfleet Harbor. The saltwater accumulation in Duck Harbor caused a massive die-off of upland and freshwater trees and plants that had colonized to the area following the diking of the Herring River in 1909.

Removing the dead vegetation at Duck Harbor will promote the natural recruitment of salt marsh plants and increase the ecological productivity of the area, while helping to minimize breeding habitat for mosquitoes by facilitating flow and drainage of water. Tree and shrub removal will be accomplished with heavy duty mulching equipment and will be accompanied by intensive scientific monitoring to document ecological changes. Park staff will be on-site regularly to monitor the work area. The dead vegetation will be mulched and spread amongst the area to promote growth and vitality for the native species.

Seashore to Remove Dead Vegetation at Duck Harbor from Lower Cape TV on Vimeo.

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