After years of planning and debate, the Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission says it’s time to move forward with a restoration project for Grassi Bog.

The former cranberry bog, located on Route 6 by the Frigate Steakhouse, was purchased by the commission with the intent of restoring the pond, surrounding wetlands and habitat.

During the Jan. 25 commission meeting, member John Rockwell said the plan had gone through several drafts over the years, and now the group must decide on a course of action.

The Natural Resource Conservation Service, a national agency that works with towns on improving wildlife habitats, has such a course of action in mind.

The agency has been working on a plan for the bog for the past eight years that would change the flow of water in the pond from an existing bypass by removing the flumes. This, Rockwell said, will help prevent the water from overflowing during a heavy rainfall without changing the elevation of the pond.

“The problem with those openings is that, as you get more and more rain, they don’t get any bigger,” Rockwell said.

Commission member Randy Parker said his concern with the project would be a drop in the water levels.

“That pond is the nicest piece of land we own,” Parker said. “It’s a nice little area over there, and I just want to make sure that the water level maintains.”

The existing bypass was artificially created to change the flow of water, Rockwell said. The water levels would remain the same because the project would be restoring the pond back to its natural flow.

The Natural Resource Conservation Service would pay for the project, Rockwell said.

The members of the Commission agreed to schedule meetings with the Natural Resource Conservation Service and with the neighbors of the Grassi property before moving forward.