Why is this happening to our estuaries?

Nitrogen from septic systems, wastewater treatment plants, lawns and storm water leaches into groundwater and flows underground and is discharged to surface water bodies. Unlike other contaminants that are slowed down as they pass through soil particles, nitrogen goes directly into the groundwater to be transported to streams and rivers that flow into coastal estuaries. The tidal flushing that occurs when the tides change is not sufficient to remove the nutrients from the estuaries. Stagnant nutrients prompt the accelerated growth of nuisance plants, weeds and algae, using up all of the oxygen in the water. This forces out finfish, shellfish, and indigenous plant species. The result - a water body that is visually displeasing, smells bad, and cannot support the natural uses that the estuaries have historically offered.

How can we fix this problem?

The Massachusetts Estuaries Project effort will begin to fix this problem by determining all of the factors specific to each estuary that are causing the problem. Project partners will determine the geographic area contributing nutrients to a specific estuary, determine what the nutrient sources are, what the nutrient load is, and how great a nutrient load the estuaries can tolerate without dramatically changing their character and usages. In most cases, returning the estuaries to the water quality conditions that support sensitive shellfish habitats and lush eel grass beds, it will be necessary to remove a significant percentage of the nutrient loadings coming from an estuary's watershed. Nutrient removal may come primarily in the form of wastewater treatment and secondarily through stormwater management programs including limiting use of lawn fertilizers. In some scenarios, changing the water flow within an estuary to increase flushing may complement nutrient reduction and removal efforts. 

What will this project do?

This project will provide water quality, nutrient loading, and hydrodynamic information for 89 estuaries in Southeastern Massachusetts. This information will be combined through the use of a linked watershed/estuary model that will predict the water quality changes that will result from land use management decisions. Over the next six years a report for each of the 89 estuaries will evaluate several water quality conditions and how that relates to the health of the estuary and the land use changes necessary to bring about that improvement. This project is a collaborative effort by two state agencies, the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (through the Department of Environmental Protection) and the University of Massachusetts's School of Marine Science and Technology and is subsidized by funding that allows communities to undertake this evaluation at approximately 40 percent of the actual cost.

What can I do? How can I help?

There are several ways to become involved in this grass roots effort. Find out from local officials about citizens water quality monitoring programs and volunteer! If there isn't a program, start one! Three years worth of background water quality data is needed to improve your estuary. Get involved in citizens groups forming to discuss and act upon this problem. Express concern to local officials and support them when they propose allocating funds to pursue estuarine water quality improvements through land use management. Participate in public meetings associated with this effort and express a willingness to help. You can make a difference by supporting this project! Call the numbers listed below for more information or print a version of this brochure. 

Contacts

For more information about this project, contact:
Brian Dudley (MassDEP): 508-946-2753
Brian Howes (SMAST): 508-326-0912
Ed Eichner or Tom Cambareri (Cape Cod Commission): 508-362-3828

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