On December 7, 2020, the Buzzards Bay NEP announced $125,606 in federally funded grant awards for land protection, septic system tracking, and town bylaw amendments that will protect water quality and habitat in the Buzzards Bay watershed. The six grants are matched by over $203,000 in private and municipal contributions and in-kind services. The grants are being awarded by the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program (NEP) through the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Southeast New England Program.
“The Baker-Polito Administration is committed to supporting local efforts to protect water quality and habitat while improving access to natural resources for recreation,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “These grants are an excellent example of a strong local, state and federal partnership that supports land protection for environmental protection and public access.”
“The Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program ensures that federal funds go a long way by selecting excellent land protection projects for funding,” said CZM Director Lisa Berry Engler. “CZM is proud to work with them to help promote permanent environmental protection and recreational access in the Buzzards Bay region, and we congratulate these grant recipients.”
The following municipalities were awarded grants:
Acushnet – $15,000 – Working with its partner, the Buzzards Bay Coalition, the town will purchase and permanently protect several parcels of undeveloped forest land, for a total of 99 acres. This land is located in the headwaters region of Tripps Mill Brook—an important tributary to the Mattapoisett River, which is the primary source of drinking water for Acushnet and four surrounding towns. Protection of these lands, which contain designated habitat for rare species, will protect water resources and wildlife habitat, and will expand trail-based recreational opportunities.
Carver – $8,500 – The town will revise its existing Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) bylaw to better position the town to preserve land and encourage appropriate and balanced development. Transfer of Development Rights is a zoning tool that protects environmentally sensitive areas while simultaneously concentrating development in a denser, smart-growth pattern along main town arteries and service areas and encouraging the new development to tie in to existing infrastructure. An improved TDR bylaw will more effectively achieve the preservation and development goals of the town’s Master Plan and achieve conservation and water resource management goals for the Plymouth Carver Sole Source Aquifer, a drinking water source for seven communities in Southeastern Massachusetts.
Carver – $20,946 – The town will work with its partner, the Buzzards Bay Coalition, to purchase and permanently protect two parcels of forested land totaling 32 acres. The properties are located over medium and high yield drinking water aquifers, lie along a tributary of Indian Brook in the Upper Weweantic River watershed and abut existing conservation lands. Acquisition of these lands will protect valuable forest, ecological and water resources, and provide passive recreational opportunities to the public.
Marion – $50,000 – The town will work with its partners, the Buzzards Bay Coalition, Sippican Lands Trust and two private landowners, to protect more than 36 acres of land in the Aucoot Cove watershed through a combination of land acquisitions and conservation restrictions. Protection of these lands, which contain designated habitat for rare species, will build on a larger block of existing conservation land and protect wetlands, associated uplands and portions of two streams, as well as expand opportunities for the public for passive recreation.
Rochester – $20,946 – The town will work with its partner, the Buzzards Bay Coalition, to purchase and permanently protect 232 acres of land located within a large contiguous undeveloped forest area at the headwaters of the west branch of the Sippican River. The property includes Atlantic White Cedar Swamp, important State-designated habitat and 65 acres of cranberry bogs. The Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration has identified the restoration of the cranberry bogs on this property as a priority project.
Westport – $10,214 – The town will join the Barnstable County Department of Health and the Environment’s Innovative and Alternative Septic System Tracking Program. These innovative septic systems are designed to release significantly less nitrogen than conventional Title 5 septic systems, but are also more complex, and require regular monitoring to ensure they are meeting established nitrogen standards. The Westport Board of Health is currently developing a regulation that will require new construction in town to use nitrogen removal septic systems. The town anticipates this regulation will accelerate the installation of these new and innovative systems, which will contribute to water quality improvements of the town’s water resources, while enabling the town to track their performance.
“Our local economy depends on healthy estuaries, and protecting those estuaries requires innovative, locally based solutions,” said Congressman Bill Keating. “When federal dollars are used to leverage local and private funds and actions, I know we are taking appropriate steps to protect our important natural resources.”
“I would like to thank the EPA Southeast New England Program for funding our municipal grants this year,” said Buzzards Bay NEP Executive Director Joe Costa. “This diverse group of projects will support the water quality and habitat protection goals of the Buzzards Bay NEP.”
“I am very pleased that the Towns of Carver and Marion have been selected to receive grant awards that will help protect the local ecosystem and ensure residents have access to clean, high-quality water,” said Dean of the Massachusetts Senate Marc R. Pacheco (D-Taunton). “As economic challenges from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continue to take their toll on municipal budgets, these valuable resources will provide the local communities some additional fiscal flexibility at a critical time. I would like to express my gratitude to our federal delegation for their advocacy on behalf of the Buzzard’s Bay Watershed and all those who contributed to this successful grant proposal process.”
“Our local officials in the town of Carver have worked tirelessly for many years to protect sensitive environmental areas while promoting smart growth planning,” said Representative Susan Gifford (R-Wareham). “These grant awards are well deserved and will provide much needed financial resources to accomplish their goals and objectives.”
