# The Salt Marsh: More Than Just A Wet Land

Before you stretches a living coastal wetland - the salt marsh. Many animals, including most of the fish and shellfish eaten in New England, spawn, grow and forage in this habitat sometime during their life cycles.

In one year, ten tons of plant material can grow in a single acre of salt marsh. When marsh grasses die, their leaves break off and settle in a thick spongy network of roots and sediments called peat. Microscopic bacteria feed on the decaying grasses and other decomposing organic matter, collectively known as detritus (dí trit' əs). This process releases vital nutrients which nourish new plant growth. Marsh animals, including crabs, fish, and snails, feed on detritus and bacteria.

This intricate food web is linked to the sea through the tides. Incoming tides flood the marsh with water, distributing sediments and nutrient resources throughout the marsh. Outgoing tides flush detritus out of the salt marsh and into nearby tidal flats and coastal waters, nourishing even more plants and animals.

Salt marshes are one of the most productive habitats in the world. Unfortunately, at least half the salt marshes in Massachusetts have been filled in or otherwise destroyed. It is essential to protect these wetlands and the abundant life they sustain.

MASHPEE

COMMONS

MASHPEE
COMMONS
SHOPS • DINING

DIRECTORY OF
SHOPS & SERVICES

North Market
Street

Route 151

Mashpee
Commons

Legend: MC = Mashpee Commons, NM = North Market Street, the number indicates the building the shop or service is located in.

Award winning shopping,
dining and entertainment!

Our over 80 delightful shops
brim with everything from the
basic to the sublime. Check out
the latest fashions, jewelry, and
accessories. Choose from fine
American crafts, collectibles,
art and more.

Relax at the cafes, or plan to
share a meal with friends at one
of our fine restaurants. And be sure
to get to one of our FREE outdoor
summer concerts on Wednesday and
Friday nights in the Festival Tent

Shops open daily at 10:00am,
Sundays at noon.

508-477-5400

Located at the Mashpee Rotary,
Intersection of Routes 28 and 151.

Apparel, Jewelry & Accessories

MC-19 Baby Boutique
MC-11 Banana Republic
MC-15 Born Shoes
MC-12 Euston Silver and Gold
MC-11 GAP
MC-11 GAPKids
MC-08 Irresistibles
MC-15 Nantucket Natural Oils
MC-18 The Nine's Golf and Apparel
MC-21 The P.A. Company
MC-13 Puritan of Cape Cod
MC-12 Purple Poppy
MC-10 Sharon's
MC-19 Soft As A Grape
MC-10 The Sporting Life

Shoe Cellar

MC-12 GAP

MC-11 GAPKids

MC-08 Irresistibles

MC-15 Nantucket Natural Oils

MC-21 The P.A. Company

MC-13 Puritan of Cape Cod

MC-12 Purple Poppy

MC-10 Sharon's

MC-19 Soft As A Grape

MC-10 The Sporting Life

Shoe Cellar

MC-15 Unique Boutique

MC-18 Wendy Wheeler

Banks & Family Needs

MC-08 BankBoston ATM

NM-01 Cape Cod Bank & Trust Co.

NM-04 Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank

MC-16 Fleet Bank

MC-18 CVS Pharmacy

NM-03 Liberty Liquors

MC-20 Star Market

NM-01 Stop 'N Shop

Entertainment

NM-05 Blockbuster Video

NM-21 Hoyts Mashpee Cinemas

MC☆ Mashpee Commons Festival Tent

MC☆ Reflection Garden

Services

MC-19 Alberico's Altering & Tailoring

MC-12 Banker's Life
and Casualty Company

MC-12 Bayview Optometrics

NM-02 Beyond Beauty

NM-05 Cape Cod Photo

and Art Supply, Inc.

NM-05 Capeway Cleaners

MC-12 Century 21 Regan Realtors

MC-17 Fitz's Barber Shop

MC-08 Illusions Hair Salon

NM-02 Mail Boxes Etc.

NM-04 Mashpee Chamber of Commerce

MC-08 Mashpee Commons Management

MC-07 Mashpee Post Office

MC-08 Real Estate Associates

NM-02 Thomas J. O'Neill, Design

MC-07 Mashpee Post Office

Restaurants, Cafes
& Specialty Food Shops

MC-18 Bobby Byrne's Restaurant & Pub

MC-13 Contrast @ The Commons

MC-12 Fountain of Juice

MC-19 Ghelfelt Candles of Cape Cod

MC-21 Gone Tomatoes

MC-19 Inside Scoop Ice Cream

MC-18 Jade Chinese Restaurant

MC-13 Starbuck's Coffee House

MC-08 The Tea Shoppe

MC-19 Ultimate Edibles Cafe

MC-12 Zoe's Pizza

Specialty Shops & Gifts

MC-12 Cape Cod Toys

MC-12 Williams Sonoma

MC-21 Dianthus, Ltd.

MC-08 Eldred Wheeler

MC-12 Funky Monkey

MC-18 Hatfield's

MC-19 Homecomings

MC-17 The Irish Rover

MC-18 Kensington's at Mashpee Commons

MC-07 Little Fan

MC-13 Mashpee Commons Florist

MC-12 M. Brann & Co.

NM-05 Pine By Design

MC-12 Port Cargo International

MC-15 Sandy Paws

MC-19 Signature

MC-17 South East Communications

MC-14 Thomas Dunlay Fine Art

MC-13 Thomas Kinkade Gallery

MC-13 Tinder Box International

NM-03 Vintage Furnishings

MC-21 Village Trading Company

MC-12 The Write Choice

MC-08 Woodruff Art Center

MC-12 Woodruff Art Center

Look for the
map above if
your location

# I INTRODUCTION

## Setting

Otis Air Force Base is located at the western edge of Cape Cod and is in the midst of the Towns of Bourne, Falmouth, Mashpee and Sandwich. (See Figure I-1.) In addition to being well located to participate in the amenities offered by Cape Cod, it is less than a one and one half hour drive from both Boston, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island.

According to a report prepared by the Department of Community Affairs in June of 1973, approximately 19,600 acres of land were leased by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to the United States Air Force in 1947 for its use as Otis Air Force Base. Although the lease in force actually runs to the year 2016, it is now the intention of the Air Force to renegotiate it, probably in 1974. As a result, the Commonwealth may regain control over approximately 5,300 acres of this land. Camp Edwards, to the immediate north, will continue to function as an artillery practice range for various states National Guard units. Of the total 1,193 family housing units built at Otis, 405 dwelling units have been transferred to the U. S. Coast Guard for the use of their personnel and other service personnel. The remaining 788 dwelling units are being declared surplus and are the subject of this study. These units occupy two sites of 57.9 acres (Tishman Area) and 110.2 acres (Beacon and Jefferson) according to figures obtained from the Base Engineer's Office. All of the units are located within the boundaries of Bourne, with the exception of 5 buildings at the southern extremity of the site containing 20 dwelling units,

INTRODUCTION / I-1