Stewarts Creek Conservation Area (Barnstable, Massachusetts)

 birdwatching area, wetland, wildlife sanctuary, estuary, salt marsh, woodland

Town of Barnstable Conservation woodland, wetland and salt marsh, located on the north side of Ocean ave. and Orin Keys Beach in Hyannis, MA. The 14 acre area is roughly bounded by Harbor village and Marston Ave. to the SW and Greenwood Ave. to the West, Twin Brooks Golf Course to the North and Studley Ave. and Stetson Lane to the East. The area is about 2,300 ft long north to south and 1,300 ft wide east to west. A proposed 1 1/2 mile long hiking trail passes through mostly woodland along the perimeter of the wetlands and salt marsh.
This estuary has suffered habitat degradation due to:
-sedimentation from soil erosion from deforestation, overgrazing, and other farming practices;
-drainage and filling of wetlands;
-eutrophication due to excessive nutrients from household sewage, animal wastes and agricultural fertilizers;
-and chemical pollutants from sewage inputs.
Blocking of the original Stewarts Creek and for flood control and road construction has resulted in restriction of natural tidal flushing by ocean water.
In recent decades the area has been taken over by the invasive reed Phragmites, further accelerating sedimentation and eutrophication of the estuary.
Recent replacement of the previous 18 inch culvert under Ocean Ave. with a 50 foot long, 3 foot diameter culvert is intended to restore significant tidal salt water flushing of the estuary to gradually kill the Phragmites reeds and help restore the original natural habitat. www.town.barnstable.ma.us/PublicWorks/CWMP/
The Town of Barnstable is the project sponsor. The Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration are partners in the project. The project is being implemented under the Estuary Restoration Act Authority.
Details at: The The Town of Barnstable Conservation Department
www.town.barnstable.ma.us/PublicWorks/CWMP/

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers web link to the Stewart's Creek project is
www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/ProjectsTopics/Stewarts...

Read some news on the culvert project:
www.wickedlocal.com/barnstable/news/x846050959/Construc...

Mammals known in the area include: Deer, skunk, raccoon, coyote, fox, red and grey squirrel, rats, field mice, moles
Birds seen in the area include White swans and Great Horned Owl.
There are many bird birdwatching opportunities here for patient observers.