Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game

Looking for a career at the Commonwealth? Division of Marine Fisheries is hiring! 🐟 Aquatic Biologist 🐋 Protected Species Acoustician 🦞 South Shore & Cape Cod Fisheries Technician Apply today > https://lnkd.in/ddn-MKF

Grant opportunity! #MassWildlife's Habitat Management Grant Program is accepting applications for projects that improve habitat on lands open to outdoor recreation. Private and municipal landowners of conserved lands can apply for grant funding to support active habitat management projects that benefit wildlife and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities. Do you have a project that will: ✅ Improve habitat for game species (species that are hunted, fished, and trapped)? ✅ Manage for State Wildlife Action Plan species (Species of Greatest Conservation Need), with an emphasis on State Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern species? ✅ Enhance habitat in ecological communities disproportionally susceptible to climate change? Apply today > https://lnkd.in/e9tYdgbq #GrantOpportunity #Conservation #HabitatManagement

Last month, DER successfully completed an emergency removal of a high hazard, unsafe dam in Shutesbury, MA! After a study by American Rivers and an investigation by DER in early 2024, it was found that the Dudleyville Pond Dam, a small privately-owned structure, was an imminent public safety risk. The state of severe disrepair posed a threat to downstream residents and infrastructure if it failed. Additionally, the dam blocked native brook trout and other coldwater species from reaching important habitat upstream. Thanks to the quick action of the dam owner, partners, and funders, the Town of Shutesbury’s Conservation Commission issued an emergency certification to remove the dam and by August 28th, the dam was removed! DER thanks the partners involved on this project for their quick action including Connecticut River Conservancy, Stantec, and SumCo Eco-Contracting, and funding by DER, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Trout Unlimited, American Rivers, and the THE CONNECTICUT RIVER SALMON ASSOCIATION INC. Learn more about this incredible story of partnership ➡ https://bit.ly/3XacAiO

Here are some great photos of a restoration project led by Buzzards Bay Coalition that Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration has supported. The majority of cranberry bog rewilding / restoration projects include improved public access and outdoor recreation opportunities. Congratulations Sara Quintal and team!

A few photos from the recently removed Dudleyville Pond Dam in Shutesbury, MA! And a video summary with CRC's Restoration Program Manager, Rebecca Budd. This was an unusual project as it was an emergency removal of a high hazard dam so it was completed much faster than most dam removals (months instead of years). Connecticut River Conservancy worked with Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, local chapters of Trout Unlimited, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), American Rivers, Stantec, and other local partners to remove the dam which, while it held decades of memories for the family that owned it, became a hazard to downstream residents and infrastructure due to years of disrepair. Native brook trout and other coldwater species will now be able to reach more habitat upstream. Watch Becky's video summary here: https://lnkd.in/eBCqqcnT And you can read more about it in the Boston Globe article here: https://lnkd.in/ed8grQ4i

How’s Herring River Estuary Restoration going? With traffic flowing over a temporary bridge through Wellfleet that was finished earlier this year, construction has been steadily progressing on the largest tidal restoration in the northeastern U.S. This summer, work has been focusing on completing the coffer which controls water around excavation of the old roadway, excavating the old tidegate structure and roadway, beginning the foundation for the permanent bridge, and many other construction elements. Learn more about this #DERPriorityProject from our friends at Friends of Herring River ➡ https://lnkd.in/e6qQRsB8 📷: Wes Stinson/EP

#MassWildife hiring! We are looking for BioMap Outreach and Development Specialist to join our team. #BioMap, a joint project of MassWildlife and The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts, is a framework for strategic protection and stewardship of those lands and waters that are most important for ensuring a climate-resilient landscape that protects the Commonwealth’s rich natural heritage for current and future generations. For a full job description and how to apply, visit https://lnkd.in/dy3GYCiC #Hiring #ConservationJobs #Apply

NEW: A pond at her parents’ house was the backdrop to Lois Brown’s life. The dam that held it was about to fail. I had the joy of getting to know Lois for this story about a dam removal project. She shared her lifetime's worth of memories made around the century-old Dudleyville Pond, which was unfortunately one of the many with a dam that state regulators have deemed unsafe or in poor condition. Moving forward with removal is a triumph for the state, but Brown’s family is grieving. Yes, the 8-acre pond was man-made. Nevertheless, removing it and seeing all those memories of ice skating and fishing flow away feels unnatural. Lois told me that she misses rowing the most. Twilight was the best time to go: Her rowboat would carve a path through the fog and the setting sun, with the smooth, dark water below her paddle. #water #environment #environmentalscience #climate #climatenews #damremoval #dam #infrastructure #flood #climateadaptation #climateresilience #damremoval #infrastructureproject #waterquality #watermanagement #disastermanagement https://lnkd.in/gT2CmuaG

#ICYMI Read about Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game's five-year strategic plan "Connections: Working Together for Nature" in the Greenfield Recorder! 🐟 “This is an urgent time for all of us: things like extreme weather, heat, and climate change are impacting our natural resources,” said DFG Commissioner Tom O’Shea. “In order to meet that urgency, we need to be really clear about what our priorities are.” https://lnkd.in/e7tYjxSz

Congratulations to the Town of Warren, on securing a grant through the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration's Culvert Replacement Municipal Assistance Grant Program for FY25, with assistance from CMRPC in the application process. Warren is among the 14 municipalities awarded funding. With the $140,000 grant, Warren will undertake crucial field data collection and design work to replace two undersized culverts on New Reed Street over Tufts Brook. These culverts, are an essential Coldwater Fisheries Resource and have faced repeated flooding issues, risk of failure, and significant roadway damage. Once complete, this project will make the existing infrastructure more resilient in severe weather events. Additionally, the Town of Dudley MA and the Town of Westborough have also received funding through this initiative to support similar projects. Learn more by viewing the official press release:https://lnkd.in/ebfVct7K Thanks to Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game, and Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.