 |
Restoring and Preserving Estuarine Resources |  |
|
Renowned for its ecological resources, southeastern Massachusetts is among the fastest growing regions in the northeastern United States; its population may double in the next 20 years. The Buzzards Bay Watershed comprises over 275,000 acres, or 432 square miles, in 17 municipalities in this part of the state. The watershed is known for its variety of habitats, including salt marshes, tidal streams, eelgrass beds, tidal flats, barrier beaches, rocky shores and a number of subtidal habitats. In 1987, Buzzards Bay became one of four pilot estuaries in the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Estuary Program (NEP), a program which now includes 28 estuaries.
Restoring an Estuarine EcosystemThe Buzzards Bay Project National Estuary Program is a venture of the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management and EPA. It studies regional water quality and living resources, assesses watershed health threats and develops long-term restoration strategies. The program works with local and community organizations, such as the 1,500-member Coalition for Buzzards Bay and the Buzzards Bay Action Committee. In 1991, the Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan was approved by the Commonwealth and EPA. The plan identified the problems facing the estuary and established long-term strategies for each problem. Stakeholders initiated projects to control stormwater runoff and protect shellfish resources, wetlands and coastal habitat by preventing oil pollution and managing sewage, nitrogen sensitive embayments, wastewater disposal systems and land use.Shellfish Resources in Buzzards BayOne of the long-term strategies involved the restoration of the eco logically valuable shellfish beds in Buzzards Bay. Studies and analysis determined that shellfish bed closings were increasing as a result of fecal coliform contamination conveyed principally by stormwater. Watershed partners established a series of efforts to reopen and preserve shellfish resources in the bay.
One of these efforts focused on Spragues Cove, a resource area located in the western section of the Town of Marion. This effort involved the town, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service and Buzzards Bay NEP. A three-acre constructed wetland system was developed, consisting of a settling basin, shallow marshes, interior dikes and a stone-lined, vegetated channel. The system acts as a sediment and bacterial contamination treatment mechanism by increasing retention time and flow length while providing fish habitat. Area residents supported the construction initiative with wetland plantings and bank vegetation replantings. Local stakeholders also participated in follow-up monitoring, sampling and project assessment. These samplings indicate that the wetland system has increased the viability of the shellfish resource area by removing sand, silt, trash and other debris from the stormwater discharge and reducing the level of fecal coliform bacteria. The shellfish bed restoration strategy is typical of water quality efforts in the Buzzards Bay Watershed. For each problem identified by the management plan, coordinated education efforts, restoration activities and monitoring have begun to improve the area's water resources.
http://water.usgs.gov/owq/cleanwater/success/buzzards.html |
A decline in water quality and
degradation of shellfish beds and
wildlife in Buzzards Bay are the
results of the cumulative impacts of
local land uses, such as agriculture,
industry and recreation. Nonpoint
source pollution from failing septic
systems, farm animal wastes,
stormwater and boat discharges
contributes to the degradation of
the watershed’s resources. The
pollution leads to nitrogen enrich
ment, pathogenic contamination of
shellfish populations and the presence
of toxic pollutants.
