All National Estuary Programs (NEPs) are required under Clean Water Act §320 to produce a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) with community input and in partnership with decisionmakers. According to the law, a CCMP:
… recommends priority corrective actions and compliance schedules addressing point and nonpoint sources of pollution to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the estuary, including restoration and maintenance of water quality, a balanced indigenous population of shellfish, fish, and wildlife, and recreational activities in the estuary, and assure that the designated uses of the estuary are protected…
2018 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan
Beginning in 2014, MassBays initiated a CCMP revision process to:
- Implement our mission of protecting, restoring, and enhancing the estuarine ecosystems of Ipswich Bay, Massachusetts Bay, and Cape Cod Bay.
- Identify realistic ecological and programmatic goals, and means for measuring progress toward those goals.
- List strategic actions and activities to be undertaken over the next 8 to 10 years.
- Set out frameworks for MassBays-wide monitoring, effective outreach to multiple audiences, and financial sustainability.
- Define MassBays’ contribution to regional (Gulf of Maine/New England/Northeast) monitoring efforts.
MassBays will submit a final revised CCMP to EPA’s National Estuary Program by the end of 2018 that reflects community input from across the planning area and priorities set by the Management Committee. The revision process included:
- Inventory of existing plans and assessments.(2015)
- Estuary delineation and assessments. (2013, 2017)
- Formal regional stakeholder meetings. (2013 and ongoing)
- One-on-one interviews with 36 individuals not previously engaged in MassBays’ work. (2014)
- Discussion sessions with state agency representatives to discuss synergisms and prevent duplication of effort. (2014)
- Management Committee workshops and Subcommittee efforts.
- A full-day State of the Bays Symposium to introduce the 2015 Public Review Draft CCMP.
In 2016, EPA published new Guidelines for Preparing CCMPs and MassBays has moved to respond to changes in the required scope. In March 2017 the Management Committee approved an updated suite of goals and strategies (2017 CCMP Goals, see below).
Additional Resources for 2018 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan
The first plan: 1996 CCMP
MassBays’ first CCMP was published in 1996. At that time, a primary concern was upgrading wastewater treatment and reducing combined sewer overflows. Since that time, and with successful improvement of water quality, other significant issues have emerged – climate change impacts (increased stormwater volumes, sea level rise, changes in biodiversity due to increased temperature), and shifts in population and land development – which will be addressed in the 2018 CCMP.
The update: 2003 Addendum
In 2000, MassBays produced a progress report for the 1996 CCMP, identifying many completed projects. Subsequently, and building upon the original CCMP, MassBays developed a companion piece that could be reviewed alongside the original plan. The 2003 addendum document identified new action items and two new action plans.