- The Division of Ecological Restoration works with community-based partners to restore aquatic ecosystems. The Division’s ecological restoration work brings clean water, recreation opportunities, healthy commercial fisheries, and other ecosystem services to the citizens of Massachusetts.
DER is pleased to share a new tool to assess the Greenhouse Gas impacts of aquatic ecological restoration projects - Blue Carbon Calculator
Building the Restoration Economy
DER river and wetland restoration projects produce an average employment demand of 12.5 jobs from each $1 million spent.
Restoring Ecosystems
DER’s award-winning projects include dam removal, salt marsh and freshwater wetland restoration, and urban river revitalization, to name a few.
Leveraging State Dollars
DER projects attract millions of grant (federal & private) dollars each year at an average ratio of 1 to 7 (state to non-state). Projects evaluated in our Economic Impact Report averaged 1 to 12 (state to non-state funding).Enhancing Quality of Life
Abutters to a newly restored river in the Jones River Watershed tell us "People ask us 'where did your dam go?' - we tell them we traded it for a healthy river."
The benefits of restoration multiply over time. Restoration generates substantial economic value by improving ecosystem services (i.e. flood protection)