Cape Cod Conservation District Selects Martha Craig to Direct Cape Wide Coastal Restoration Initiative.

Former Wellfleet Herring River Restoration Leader to lead $42 million program, help Cape towns

The Cape Cod Conservation District (District) announced today that it has hired Martha Craig to lead its Cape Cod Waster Resources Restoration Project – a joint initiative of the District and the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). 

"Martha is the perfect person to head up our work with the local towns and indigenous tribes on the Cape," said Mark Forest, Chairman of the Conservation District. "The Cape needs funding and resources to improve water quality. We have secured significant support from the NRCS and are now putting these resources to work. Martha's experience in coastal wetland restoration, project management, and public outreach will be instrumental in moving our projects forward."

Last year, the District announced federal approval of the District’s application for $42.5 million.  The funding is targeted to restore shell-fishing areas, revitalize degraded salt marshes, and restore herring runs and fishways across Cape Cod.  As Program Manager, Martha Craig brings over 30 years of experience as a wetland ecologist with direct knowledge of wetland restoration on Cape Cod.

The District has identified over 76 sites (including stormwater discharge sites, tidal-restricted salt marshes, and numerous fish passage projects) on Cape Cod that are included in the Cape Cod Water Resources Restoration Project (CCWRP). The CCWRP would improve water quality for 7,300 acres of shellfish beds, restore an estimated 1,500 acres of degraded salt marsh and improve fish access to 4,200 acres of spawning habitat.

 "The Cape has many challenging environmental issues, including development and climate change that have resulted in the loss of water quality." Said Martha Craig, Program Manager of the Conservation District. "We are here to work with towns and tribes on Cape Cod to identify priorities and then take action. The Conservation District can help increase capacity within the towns to fill in gaps and take steps wherever possible to make improvements."

 The District constantly reviews projects for inclusion in the CCWRP. The process for adding projects is simple. Restoration projects are first brought to the attention of the Conservation District by local officials and then evaluated by a team of ecological restoration experts from local, state, and federal agencies. The District also relies on the guidance of the 15-town member Barnstable County Coastal Resource Subcommittee. The District seeks restoration projects that improve shellfish and fisheries and marsh habitat and have a strong community impact.