Cold Brook Preserved Gets Excellence in Conservation Award

Mass Land Trust Coalition gives nod to Harwich restoration project.

What was the 2025 Excellence in Conservation award?

08 April 2024 - HARWICH, MA - The Harwich Conservation Trust received the prestigious Excellence in Conservation award from the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition in recognition of its transformative Robert F. Smith Coldbrook Eco Restoration Project. This initiative, spanning over a decade, successfully revitalized a once-overgrown cranberry bog into a thriving ecological habitat. The central focus of the project was the restoration of Cold Brook, a crucial local waterway, as well as the improvement of regional water quality through the reduction of nitrogen pollution.

What made the project successful?

The project's success was largely driven by a combination of innovative engineering solutions by award winning Inter-Fluve and strong community involvement. Through strategic planning and collaboration, the Trust navigated environmental challenges and implemented sustainable restoration techniques. These efforts not only brought new life to the ecosystem but also contributed to broader environmental goals, such as improved groundwater health and enhanced biodiversity.

Trust Executive Director, Michael Lach says the recognition of this project highlights the powerful role grassroots organizations can play in environmental stewardship. He said the Harwich Conservation Trust's achievement serves as a model for how local action, informed by science and supported by community engagement, can lead to meaningful environmental change and receiving the award underscores the long-term value of investing in nature-based solutions and preserving ecological integrity for future generations.

You might also like ... Profile on the Cold Brook Restoration Project (January 2024)

https://vimeo.com/899869297