NRCS Massachusetts and Coastal Zone Soil Survey Join Forces with Partners to Boost Westport, MA Coastal Restoration

Dynamic Alliances Drive Coastal Science

A collaborative coastal initiative in the Westport River system demonstrates how subaqueous soil survey data can support conservation planning, strengthen partnerships, and create new economic opportunities for agricultural and aquacultural producers. Subaqueous soils are soils that are continuously submerged in shallow water bodies like estuaries, lagoons, and lakes.

In 2024, The Nature Conservancy partnered with the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Massachusetts to support planning and permitting for critical coastal restoration projects focused on wild oyster reefs, seagrass, and salt marsh habitat. The work will create a first-of-its-kind statewide restoration plan, develop shovel-ready projects, and expand shellfish farmer-supported habitat restoration across Massachusetts.

The Westport River system was identified by The Nature Conservancy and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries as the highest-priority area for oyster restoration in Massachusetts. A key feature of this restoration plan is directly collaborating with local aquaculture farmers through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), using the Restoration of Rare and Declining Species practice to create new oyster reef habitat, which will improve wildlife habitat, water quality, and flood mitigation.

Local farmers will supply shell and live oysters for the restoration work, resulting in an estimated $1 million in farm product purchases over the life of the project. That investment creates direct market opportunities for growers and supports continued growth in the aquaculture sector. It also aligns with NRCS goals by helping reduce the loss of productive farmland and working waters while expanding economic opportunity in rural and coastal communities.

According to the NRCS Massachusetts State Conservationist (Acting), Catherine Magee this strategic approach puts farmers first and allows partners to draw directly on the practical expertise and localized capacity of commercial producers who are implementing the work while advancing public restoration goals. These partnerships accelerate conservation outcomes and ensure that public restoration investments support working private lands and waters.

To move this work forward, reliable subaqueous soils data is essential. Soil survey information helps identify suitable restoration sites, reduce uncertainty, and make sound decisions that improve the likelihood of long-term project success.

Multi-Agency Alliances Lay the Groundwork

NRCS played a key role by providing the coastal zone soil survey expertise needed to support restoration planning in Westport. Fieldwork involved soil scientists on a boat working together to pull subaqueous core samples from the Westport Costal Zone.

With logistical support from The Nature Conservancy, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, the Westport Conservation Commission, the town Harbormaster and Shellfish Warden, and the NRCS Coastal Zone Soil Survey team, crews successfully mapped approximately 3,500 acres of submerged and coastal lands.

As part of that joint effort, the team collected 45 subaqueous soil cores and completed 20 soil descriptions to characterize tidal marsh areas. This data will be incorporated into a soil survey to be published as part of the Massachusetts Soil Survey in fall 2026. This shared information will serve as an important resource for restoration planning, aquaculture development, and long-term coastal stewardship, protecting the value of existing conservation investments by ensuring projects are located where they have the highest potential to succeed.

This initiative demonstrates the power of NRCS partnerships, showing that collective action accelerates project delivery and enhances overall outcomes. By intentionally interlocking nonprofit, state, and local partners, NRCS helped build an enduring foundation for coordinated conservation in Westport.

Lasting Benefits on the Land and in the Water

Aquaculture contributes an estimated $30 million annually to the farm economy and supports thousands of jobs. In Westport, improved water quality associated with oyster reef restoration could help reopen hundreds of acres to aquaculture use. Each new farm could contribute an average of $150,000 annually to the local economy through wages, spending, taxes, and fees.

Healthy estuaries are essential to both the environment and the food system. Oyster reefs, seagrass, and salt marshes improve water quality, stabilize shorelines, and provide habitat for fish and shellfish that support commercial and recreational fisheries. In Westport alone, restored oyster reefs are estimated to provide about $100,000 each year in ecosystem services and avoid damages, with benefits likely to increase over time.

More broadly, restoration of these coastal habitats supports resilient ecosystems, sustainable seafood production, and healthier communities. This work in Westport is a strong example of how NRCS delivers conservation through science, service, and partnership. By investing in soil surveys and working alongside producers and partners, NRCS is helping build a stronger future for Massachusetts agriculture, coastal resources, and local communities.

Highlight written by Zoraia de Jesus Barros, Public Affairs Specialist- NRCS Massachusetts, Maggie Payne, State Soil Scientist - NRCS MA and Cedrik Park, Soil Scientist - NRCS Coastal Zone Soil Survey