Transcript High Toss Road Existing Conditions High Toss Design Process

Herring River Restoration Project
“Return of the Tide”
Concept for marsh
level crossing at
High Toss Road
February 11, 2016
Council on Aging
Wellfleet, MA
www.friendsofherringriver.org
Tonight’s Agenda
• Welcome – Friends of Herring River
• Herring River Restoration Project
• Objectives of overall project and modifications at
High Toss
• History of the restoration initiative and Herring River
and marsh crossings at High Toss
• Importance of unrestricted tidal flow at High Toss
marsh crossing
• Board of Selectmen review of High Toss crossing
concepts
• ESS Group – Conceptual Design for Bridge & Marsh
Level Crossing
Friends of Herring River
Mission
Promote the restoration and environmental
vitality of the Herring River Estuary
• Conduct public
education, awareness
and outreach activities
• Administer grants and
contracts
• Raise funds
The Restoration Project
Objective:
•Restore the 1000+ acre Herring River Estuary to a
healthy and projective tidal salt marsh
How:
•Remove existing restrictions in the river and its
tributaries
•Manage controlled incremental return of natural
tidal flow to and from the estuary.
•Why?
• Prevent ongoing degradation of the estuary
• Achieve ecological and social benefits
How is the work being done?
• Representing the project partners, the Herring
River Restoration Committee directs planning
and provides technical direction
• Partnerships provide support, funding,
expertise, etc.
• Public participation in the planning process
• Friends of Herring River seeks funding,
awards and administers contracts with private
organizations and continues public outreach
Supporting Organizations
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Association to Preserve Cape Cod
Cape Cod Conservation District
Cape Cod National Seashore **
Coastal America Foundation
Conservation Law Foundation
Ducks Unlimited
Friends of Cape Cod National
Seashore
Friends of Herring River
Herring River Technical &
Stakeholder Committees
MA Bays Program
MA Division of Ecological
Restoration *
• MA Environmental Trust
• National Park Service
• Natural Resource
Conservation Service *
• The Nature Conservancy
• National Oceanic &
Atmospheric Administration *
• Town of Truro **
• US Geological Survey
• US Fish & Wildlife Service *
• Town of Wellfleet **
• Wellfleet Conservation Trust
* Herring River Restoration Committee
** Executive Council
Project Timeline
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2016 – Final EIS, Record of Decision & MOU III
2016 – Complete permit ready designs
2016 / 2017 – Apply for and obtain permits
2016 / 2018 – Secure project funding
2017 / 2018 – Complete final design
2018 / 2019 – Begin construction
Major Project Elements
• Chequessett Neck Road
Bridge & Tide Control
Gates
• Mill Creek Dike & Pole
Dike Control Gates
• High Toss Road
• Low-Lying Roads
• Private Property
• Other Tasks
History of Crossing Herring River
at High Toss Road location
• Herring River was first bridged at High Toss to
provide overland passage at low tide from
Griffin Island settlement to Holbrook Neck
• This was the only dry (at low tide) crossing
available from 1773 until the completion of the
Chequesset Neck dike in 1909
• Marsh level trail at High Toss remained “dry”
throughout tidal range only after dike impeded
full tidal exchange
Project Area Overview
Roadwork
Pole Dike Tide
Control Structure
High Toss Road
CNR Dike to be
replaced
Mill Creek Dike
Modeled Extent
of Salinity
Existing
Conditions
Restored
Conditions
High
Toss
Road
High Toss Road
Existing Conditions
High Toss Design Process
• February 12, 2015 – Public meeting to receive input
on the important criteria for designing a crossing of
the marsh at High Toss
• June 2, 2015 – Public meeting to present alternative
concepts and receive public feedback
• June 9, 2015 - Present alternative concepts at a
meeting of the Wellfleet Board of Selectmen.
o Selectmen vote to eliminate options B, C and D and
directed Friends of Herring River to develop a marsh level
crossing (Referred to as Option A+)
High Toss Design Process
continued
• February 11, 2016 – ESS presents current Option
A+ design for public feedback
• February 23, 2016 – Presentation of Option A+
and tonight’s public meeting comments to BOS
• Spring 2016 – Proceed with permit level design in
accordance with BOS direction
• Resolution of outstanding technical and
regulatory issues e.g. regarding accessibility
requirements
Introduction of the ESS Group
• The ESS Group is the contractor for the design of
the High Toss bridge & marsh crossing
• ESS has developed the concept being reviewed this
evening in response to BOS request at June 9, 2015
meeting
• Craig Wood, ESS’s project manager will lead review
of current design plans
Concept Design
Concept Design
Boardwalk Plan View
Concept Design
Boardwalk Elevation View
Concept Design
Source: American Access Board
Accessible Fishing Piers & Platforms Design Manual
Marsh Plane Subsidence