Project Need and Description

Jenney Pond Dam results in the artificial impoundment of water known as Jenney Pond. Like all dams, Jenney Pond Dam, impounds both water and sediment that would otherwise migrate downstream through natural processes. Deposition of sediments allow excessive plant growth in the accumulating nutrient rich sediment. Decreased DO and eutrophication of the pond which has decreased the ecological health of the pond. The pond was last dredged in 1967 and needs dredging to restore depth, dissolved oxygen levels and water quality. Lastly, this impairment has decreased its ability to support fish and wildlife populations. 

Approximately 6,350 cubic yards (cy) of sediment will be removed using hydraulic dredging methods, which will not require any drawdown of the pond. Due to time-of-year restrictions the work will be performed in the winter months. All material will need to be dewatered, trucked, and disposed of in a lined landfill. 

Cost and Schedule

The estimated cost of the project is $2,100,000. Half of the required funds have been provided by the Community Preservation Committee and DMEA is working to secure the other half in state and/or federal dollars. As a result of the need to secure grant funds the project timeline is grant dependent. Once funds are secured the project will be put out to bid for an anticipated winter construction window. 

Project Need and Description

Jenney Pond Dam is the first, and only, remaining obstruction on Town Brook. All other dams have been removed as part of the ongoing Town Brook Restoration Program. As part of that effort, DMEA has been working with long-time partners on engineering and permitting a nature-like bypass channel at this location. The bypass channel will accomplish several goals. First it will allow for improved upstream and downstream passage of both resident and diadromous fish including trout, white suckers, river herring and American eel. In addition, it will increase the very limited spillway capacity at the dam allowing for larger storm flows to pass around the dam allowing the structure to become more resilient to increase precipitation events as the climate changes. Necessary dam repairs like upstream and downstream stabilization of the dam, spillway maintenance, stormwater and utility upgrades and other improvements will also be done. 

Lastly, the nature-like bypass channel will be beautifully landscaped with new paths, lighting, plantings, benches, and signage allowing for a unique walking path alongside the fish run to be established. This will enhance the historic feel of the area and be a welcome attraction for residents and visitors alike. 

Cost and Schedule

The estimated project cost is $5,000,000. Since all the Town Brook restoration projects have been primarily grant funded the anticipated schedule is largely dependent upon securing the necessary funds to bring the project to implementation. Like dredging it will be a winter project based upon environmental time-of-year restrictions for migratory fish. 

Project Need and Description

The Town Boat Ramp is located between the Maritime Facility and Lobster Hut. The ramp needs complete reconstruction with spalling concrete, exposed re-bar and poor slope and depth design. The new ramp will provide needed access for commercial fishermen, especially aquaculture growers and provide an effective and efficient way to load off load their products from their lease areas and meet all the necessary timing requirements including Vibrio. 

Cost and Schedule

The project will begin after the busy summer season right after Labor Day weekend. DMEA secured $1,000,000 from the Seaport Economic Council for the project with the Town contributing $351,516 towards the construction. 

Project Need and Description

The Seaside Trail is an approximately 2 mile length trail running from Hedge Road to Nelson Park. Over the years the trail has been extended from Hedge Road to Cordage Park and the most recent project extending it from Nelson Park to Lothrop Street. This latest phase included the clearing of the old railroad, removal of hundreds of buried creosote covered railroad ties, site grading, placement of new trail bed material and paving of a 10’ surface. Drainage swales, plantings, chicanes, signage, and crosswalks have been installed and flasher lights at various locations will be installed this summer for safety reasons, especially while crossing Nelson Street. The path and adjacent sidewalks are ADA compliant. 

We have filed an RDA permit application to begin the paving procedure. At the end of September, the Conservation Commission will be hearing a portion of the project that will impact wetland resource area buffers due to paving.

This fall/winter we hope to pave other existing sections of the trail and add a crosswalk and new sidewalk on Hedge Road to connect the trail safely to Sandri Drive and into Cordage Park. 

We will be visiting a nursey to purchase additional plantings to be placed between Lothrop Street and Muster Field in September. Plants will go in this fall to prepare for germination and blooming next spring.

Cost and Schedule

The Lothrop Street Extension has a few items remaining including some plantings in the fall while the additional paving should take place this summer. The Hedge Road crosswalk and sidewalk will also be done this summer. The funding for all of these phases were $300,000 from the Community Preservation Act, $100,000 in Mass Trails Grant funds and $95,000 from the Visitor Services Board. 

Project Need and Description

The Kapell/Pinnacle Bog project involves the acquisition of 50.23 acres of land, of which approximately 15 acres are cranberry bogs. The bogs were taken out of agricultural production by the current landowner through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Wetlands Reserve Program. Over the last several years the Town of Plymouth has been working with the landowner, NRCS, and the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) to engineer and permit the restoration of the bogs back to naturally occurring wetlands. This involves the removal of all water control structures, removal of dikes, filling of channels, grading, and restoring natural hydrology to the site. Seeding, plantings, placement of woody habitat, and a trail system will also be undertaken. The property falls within Zone II of the South Pond wells, within the Great Thicket as designated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and directly abuts existing conservation land. Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge is a unique refuge dedicated to conserving and managing shrubland and young forests in New England and eastern New York. The refuge was established in 2016 to conserve at-risk species that rely on young forests and early successional habitats.

Cost and Schedule

Engineering and permitting are underway with the goal of completing all plans and specifications for bidding on the project in the next year. Funding for this work has been provided by DER. Current estimates for the restoration is $400,000 and this price is consistent with the NRCS funding set aside for this work. The goal is for the Town to acquire the property at the Fall Town Meeting in October of 2023. The appraised value of the land is $205,000 but Mr. Kapell is selling for $175,000. The Town proposes to use CPA funding for the purchase.  Restoration is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2024. 

Project Narrative and Description

This long-awaited project would reconstruct and improve upon the existing park. The work would include relocation of park amenities away from the coastline and areas of flooding. The two existing buildings would be demolished, and a new bathhouse and concession building would be constructed outside of the FEMA flood zone. 4 new pickleball courts, 3 new tennis courts, a new playground structure, a new basketball court, sidewalks, a stormwater system, a parking lot, and landscaping improvements round out the project. Work will be done in compliance with the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (MCP) to deal with contaminated soil issues that are a legacy of the former industrial uses at the site. Upon completion, this project should provide open space and recreational opportunities for residents and tourists alike. 

Cost and Schedule 

The funding for this project comes from the Community Preservation Act ($4,550,000) and $1,000,000 in ARPA funds approved by the Select Board. Demolition and the mobilization of the contractor should begin in late September 2023. 

Project Need and Description

This project involves the replacement and upgrade of three outdated culverts, including over two channels from the Billington Sea to Plymouth Harbor. Outdated culverts and other infrastructure can cause roads to flood and severely restrict or altogether block fish passage, which is key to the health of fish runs and important to commercial and recreational fishing, and the health of Tribal communities. The projects also increase the ecological connectivity of rivers and streams and create more climate resiliency in our landscapes and communities.

The first connects the area of Town Brook known as Deep Water to the Halunen bogs under the gravel road leading into the park. The second is the stone bridge over Town Brook near the area known as Frost Cake. These aged and undersized culverts have become flow restrictions during high-flow events and provide poor passage for river herring migrating upstream in the spring. 

Cost and Schedule

The project has just recently begun with survey and geotechnical investigations being conducted now. Engineering and permitting will take the next 18 months and the goal will begin construction in the fall of 2025. To date, engineering and permitting costs have been covered by the Environmental Affairs Fund and $2,000,000 in grant funds towards construction have been awarded through the  U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration National Culvert Removal, Replacement and Restoration Grants Program.