ABOUT
Bass River bridges connect towns; we connect communities.
Formed about 12,000 years ago by a rapidly melting glacier, the Bass River is the longest on Cape Cod – nearly dividing the Cape in half and serving as a natural divider between the towns of Yarmouth and Dennis. Starting from freshwater streams in Yarmouth Port, the river flows nine miles south to Nantucket Sound, with a number of bridges connecting the bordering towns since the 1800s. Friends of Bass River was created to serve as an additional bridge - connecting our nearby communities and focusing on the critical health of the river. Together, we can improve Bass River’s resilience for future generations.
Bass River Needs Help
Education
Friends of Bass River works to educate all ages about topics pertinent to the health of the river – from our newsletters & social media content to early education programs in the Dennis-Yarmouth School system and our seasonal water testing program with the Stonehill College Ecology Department.
Collaboration
We collaborate with local organizations in Yarmouth and Dennis, such as the Yarmouth Water Resources Advisory Committee, to create a comprehensive and sustainable wastewater plan that supports the Bass river’s long-term health.
Restoration
The Upper Bass River Restoration project will transform over 57 acres of abandoned cranberry bogs back to wetlands. This $4.66M project will replace and restore the river’s culvert system to improve the river’s habitat and waterflow, create coastal resiliency across 160 acres, and effectively manage carbon/nitrogen levels.
Did You Know?
9
The number of miles that make up the Bass River – the longest river on the Cape!
47%
The percentage of total nitrogen reduction needed to restore the river’s health
82%
The percentage of total nitrogen currently contributed through septic systems.
FEATURED CASE STUDY
Bay Scallop Restoration Project
In 2024, 100,000 scallops were released into the Bass River in a community-driven effort to bring back the once-flourishing bay scallop population. After months of growth in lantern nets, the scallops reached an ideal size for survival, demonstrating strong potential to once again thrive in the river. After a second release in November 2025, Friends Of Bass River and the town of Yarmouth say limited scalloping could soon return to this historic estuary – more than 50 years after the mollusks virtually disappeared.
IT TAKES ALL OF US
Bringing Our Community Together To Protect Our River
River Spotlight
Bass River dates back 12,000 years ago to the end of the last Ice Age when meltwater poured off the retreating Laurentide Ice Sheet, carving the beginning stages of the river. As global sea levels rose and the continental shelf flooded, ocean water gradually pushed inland. Freshwater mixed with incoming saltwater, transforming Bass River into the dynamic estuary we know today.
SAVE OUR RIVER SYMPOSIUM | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23RD 2-5PM