We hope to see many of you at this year's State of Wellfleet Harbor" Conference.  This event was envisioned to share science generally not available to the public and is much anticipated each year by participants.  Presentations will include:

·       What filter feeding bi-valves really eat

·       Important diseases of oysters and quahogs

·       Mercury Contamination in Wellfleet Ponds

·       Sand Transport on Beaches

·       Sediment Transport in Salt Marshes

·       Some Causes of Salt Marsh Dieback in Wellfleet

·       Herring River Restoration Alternatives

The goal of the conference is to distribute information about current and ongoing research and monitoring projects that are taking place in Wellfleet Harbor and to identify citizen's concerns and questions about the health of Wellfleet Harbor.

The conference is free.  A continental breakfast in included. 

No registration is required.

The Herring River Restoration Committee, as part of the development of a comprehensive plan in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act has developed alternative concepts for the restoration of the estuary. 

The Committee is also pursuing a cultural resource study, additional work on hydrological modeling and the development of an adaptive management plan that will set forth the methodology to monitor key impacts over the life of the project.

The alternatives can be viewed by visiting our website, www.friendsofherringriver.org or if you wish to receive a copy of the alternatives brochure by mail, contact us through info@friendsofherringriver.org  and send your mailing address.

The Friends of Herring River has commissioned the production of a video that will address the environmental history of tidal rivers - what happens and what are the consequences when salt marsh areas are impacted by man-made activities. 

Prior to 1909, when the river was open to Wellfleet Harbor, it was bordered by nearly 1,100 acres of coastal wetlands with a productive river herring run and shellfishery.  The dike across Chequessett Neck changed all that. 

The video we are producing will demonstrate for public audiences the effects of modification of natural conditions.  Using the Herring River as an example, the video will address the values of salt marsh estuaries, how alterations and practices affect natural processes and modern efforts to restore natural functions in line with contemporary social values. 

We expect the video to be of educational use for other groups concerned about other degraded salt marsh estuaries.

We would appreciate any photographs or stories about the Herring River that we could incorporate in the video.  Contact us at info@friendsofherringriver.org  

OysterFest 2010 was another successful event where Friends of Herring River had a booth with maps and display of the restoration alternatives under study.  Several hundred individuals visited our booth to ask questions and obtain current information on the status of the project.   Visitors who left their e-mail addresses helped push our newsletter list to over 500 recipients.