HCT Receives Excellence In Conservation Award

AMHERST – The Harwich Conservation Trust received the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition's inaugural Excellence in Conservation Award at the 2025 Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference March 21 at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

  The award is in recognition of the Harwich Conservation Trust's Cold Brook Eco-Restoration Project at the Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve. The multiyear restoration project was undertaken in partnership with the town of Harwich, the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Cold Brook Preserve restoration was one of 13 projects nominated for the inaugural award from across the state. Choosing just one was tough, said Loring Schwarz, a MLTC board member and co-chair of the Conservation Advisory Council.  

“The restoration enhanced nearly a mile of stream and over 44 acres of wetland habitat, improving fish passage, habitat diversity, stormwater absorption, and climate resilience,” said Schwarz. “Today the site features a more sinuous stream course, ponds of varying sizes, a salt marsh, large woody habitat installations, and native tree and shrub plantings.”

  The project has already seen notable ecological benefits, such as increased habitat diversity, improved water quality in the stream, improved fish passage, and increased wetland stormwater absorption. Additionally, the project improved community access to public lands through the addition of a half-mile wheelchair accessible trail, according to HCT Executive Director Michael Lach.

  A town of Harwich feasibility study commissioned during the design process concluded that the restored wetlands' ability to reduce nitrogen releases in the Saquatucket Harbor watershed will help the town avoid $6 million in sewer installation costs.

An audience of 600 was on hand for the presentation, which followed a keynote address by Congressman Jim McGovern. The Massachusetts Land Conservation Coalition includes 140 land trusts and their partner