Two bogs in Mattapoisett and Rochester will be part of a $10 million federally-funded restoration project for bogs across the state, transforming them into protected open spaces with walking trails for the public. 

The funds to restore Stuart Bog in Rochester and The Bogs property in Mattapoisett come from the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, but are administered at the state level by the Division of Ecological Restoration. 

Alex Hackman, who works at the state division as a restoration ecologist, said that it’s too early to know how much each site will get, because his division is still negotiating on that. 

But he does know what the money will be used for in both cases. 

Hackman and his organization have been working to provide technical support to the Buzzards Bay Coalition on both projects. The coalition already owns the property at The Bogs, but Stuart Bog is still an active, privately-owned farm. Given that, both projects are in different stages. 

At Stuart Bog, the funds will be used to purchase a conservation easement on the land, which limits the uses of the land so it can be conserved. Hackman and the Buzzards Bay Coalition will also start talking about the very early stages of the project and try to decide to what degree the bog should be restored to its natural state as a wetland. 

At the Bogs, the Buzzards Bay Coalition has already completed those initial steps and will use the funds for the design phase, working on the engineering and permitting for the site. The goal would be to begin construction in fall 2021. 

The Department of Ecological Restoration picked the two sites through a formal call for projects, based on their high ecological and community impact. 

Hackman spoke glowingly of the Buzzards Bay Coalition, calling it “a capable and sophisticated organization. They are good at what they do.” 

For his part, Brendan Annett, the vice president of watershed protection at The Buzzards Bay Coalition, said, “this funding will be a great boost to Buzzards Bay Coalition’s efforts to advance restoration in our watershed. We are very pleased to learn that this important funding has been approved and happy to be partnering with MA DER on these projects.”

The restoration ecologist sees huge potential for both projects, not just for the local residents that will get to enjoy them, but also beyond that.

“These projects could be an example of what’s possible in this region,” as more bog owners find it harder and harder to farm and look to convert their bogs, Hackman said.