Natural Resources - Activities

Natural Resource Program

The Corp's Natural Resource Stewardship Mission is to manage and conserve the Canal's natural resources consistent with ecosystem management principles while providing quality public outdoor recreation experiences to serve the needs of present and future generations.

Project Description

The Cape Cod Canal is located within the coastal eco-region of the state of Massachusetts. The waterway bisects the town of Bourne, with the eastern end in Sandwich. The property includes 982 acres of project land situated along the 7.4 mile land cut. The Canal's project land also includes areas at Stony Point and Mashnee Dikes and Wings Neck. Much of the Canal consists of a narrow (generally less than 500 foot wide) strip of land. More extensive government holdings exist at Scusset marsh and beach, the Midway area and areas near the Cape Cod Canal Railroad, Bourne and Sagamore Bridges and the Cape Cod Canal administration office.

Overall, about 20 percent of the project area has been developed, which is defined as roads, buildings, parking areas, turf (lawn) and other areas without natural self sustaining plant communities. The remaining 80 percent of the land (885 acres) is undeveloped and primarily forested. About 85 percent of the undeveloped land is upland and 15 percent wetland. The project includes about 575 acres of sub tidal habitat within the land cut and about 750 acres within the Buzzards Bay channel reaches.

Land adjacent to government property near the canal varies from undeveloped forestland to heavily developed residential and commercial areas. Project land at the western (Buzzards Bay and Bourne) and eastern (Sandwich) end of the canal is most heavily developed. Land near Corps property between the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges is lightly developed or undeveloped. At the Midway area south of the canal, the project is contiguous with lightly developed land belonging to Otis Air Force Base.

The Canal property includes many plant and animal species more commonly found more to our south. These species survive this far north courtesy of a marine climate that moderates the heat of summer and the cold of winter. The Canal receives on average about 46 inches of precipitation per year, which varies greatly from year to year. There is more than sufficient precipitation to support forests and mesic (neither very wet nor very dry) conditions. In areas where the soils drain quickly, (such as on sand) have few nutrients available, or there is strong salt spray or wind influence from the ocean, the natural vegetation usually reflects the more stressful conditions, and species of drier areas predominate. The most stressed areas will often support more open, shorter vegetation, and an animal community that has adapted to the harsher conditions.

Overall, Canal property is a highly disturbed area, which adds to the diversity of habitats occurring throughout the land-cut. However, there are many species of non-native plants that detract from the habitat for native species.