Woods Hole Research Center

Pine Barrens

These lands are currently the most significant conservation opportunity in Massachusetts. The pine barrens, globally rare and largely intact, of this region (mostly in Plymouth, Carver, and Wareham) overlie and protect the Plymouth-Carver sole-source aquifer (see below).

Pine barrens (Pitch Pine) are underlain by sandy, nutrient-poor soils that typically support a stunted forest of pitch pine and oak that is maintained by naturally occurring fires.

Cranberry Bogs

Cranberry growers own about 60,000 acres of land in Massachusetts, almost all of which is in the southeastern region. Cranberry production increased steadily from 1970 to 1999, but then fell due to much lower prices for berries. Since then, prices have rebounded somewhat but poor yields have kept profits low. Decisions by growers about continuing their crops or selling their adjacent lands for development, could significantly impact the future of Bristol, Plymouth and Norfolk counties.

The combination of declining profits for cranberries, population pressure in the region due to a rapidly increasing population, better transportation networks, and large tracts of undeveloped land have created a significant threat to the remaining open lands of SE Massachusetts. For instance, some very large residential developments are partially completed (e.g. Plymouth’s “Pine Hills” which includes up to 2900 homes, 3100 acres, with 178 acres of business and commercial land) or are being planned (e.g. A.D. Makepeace Inc. in Carver, and Plymouth, 9600 acres, 6000 homes, 6 million square feet of commercial space).

Watersheds

Within Plymouth County there are four watersheds, Boston Harbor, South Coastal, Taunton, and Buzzards Bay. Bristol County contains portions of the Naragansett and Buzzards Bay, and Taunton watersheds. As the fundamental ecological units of Southeastern Massachusetts, the watersheds of the region should provide the basis for development planning. The largest watersheds are the Taunton River, in 38 cities and towns, and the Buzzards Bay, in 17 towns including parts of Cape Cod.

Sole Source Aquifers

A sole source aquifer is the principle supply of drinking water for an area where, if contaminated, may become a significant health risk to the local residents. There are at least three sole source aquifers in SE Massachusetts. The large 140 sq.mi. Plymouth-Carver aquifer is the second largest aquifer in the State. It contains more than 500 billion gallons of fresh water and is easily subject to degradation because of porous soils that can allow contaminants to travel widely.

Developable Land

There's a significant amount of developable land in Southeastern Massachusetts. Developable lands are those areas that meet all the currently legal requirements for human development (i.e. no wetlands) but still exist as open space. This may be the single best conservation opportunity left in the State. It is important to carefully plan the future use of these areas before they are further fragmented and consumed by rapid suburban development.