Town gets grant for river land

- Mattapoisett has received a $35,000 grant to buy 16.6 undeveloped acres next to the Mattapoisett River. Protection of the property, which lies within the state Department of Environmental Protection drinking-water supply area, will preserve 1,880 feet of frontage on the river as well as wetlands and rare-species habitat. The grant is from the US Environmental Protection Agency, funneled through the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program and the state. There were eight grants totaling $180,958 for Buzzards Bay watershed communities, including Marion, which got $18,563 for storm water monitoring; Rochester, which got $15,000 to upgrade the town’s geographic information system and digitalize wetland boundaries; and Wareham, which got $18,653 to buy and protect 32.5 acres along the Weweantic River. - Paul Kandarian