Author: Joe Costa

Buzzards Bay NEP Awards $110,640 to Three Towns

Posted on by Joe Costa

The Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program (NEP) awarded three grants totaling $110,640 in federal funds to three Buzzards Bay municipalities. The three grants, which are being matched by over $194,000 in private contributions and state grants, are awarded through the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Southeast New England Program.

The following municipalities were awarded grants:

  • The Town of Mattapoisett will receive $45,000 to work with its partner, the Mattapoisett Land Trust, to purchase and permanently protect a forested 4-acre parcel of riverfront land. The property is located on the west bank of the Mattapoisett River and contains important state-designated habitat, including habitat for rare species. The property lies across the street from the state-owned Nasketucket Bay State Reservation. Protection of this parcel is part of a larger conservation effort by the Mattapoisett Land Trust to conserve the entire west bank of the Mattapoisett River from Route 6 south to the multi-use path. The Mattapoisett Land Trust intends to create a trail system and small parking area on the property to allow for public access to the property and river.
  • The Town of Carver will receive $45,000 to work with its partner, the Buzzards Bay Coalition, to purchase and permanently protect 28 acres of undeveloped forest land on the southern side of the 600+ acre Great South Meadow Cedar Swamp on Mayflower Road in Caver. The property contains important state-designated habitat and lies over the Plymouth/Carver Sole Source Aquifer. The project will protect the ecological resources associated with a large and significant Atlantic White Cedar stand, as well as protect the headwaters source for multiple small tributary streams that form the upper reaches of the Weweantic River. In addition, acquisition of the property will provide a long sought after gateway access to the Great Cedar Swamp.
  • The Town of Rochester will receive $20,640 to work with its partners, the Buzzards Bay Coalition and Rochester Land Trust, to purchase a conservation restriction that will permanently protect 20.5 acres along Doggett Brook, a principal tributary of the Sippican River. The project is part of a larger effort to protect a 58-acre undeveloped farmland parcel along a principal road to the central village area of Rochester. The property contains important state-designated habitat, including habitat for rare species. The conservation restriction will remove the current agricultural use from within 300 feet of Doggett Brook, and this area will be restored to enhance its ecological functions. In addition, a small roadside gravel parking area and a walking trail will be developed.

For more information about the grant awards, please read this EEA press release.

MMA students start new year with Stormwater Collaborative

Posted on by Joe Costa

In 2015, the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program (NEP), in partnership with the Buzzards Bay Action Committee, and five Buzzards Bay municipalities (the Towns of Dartmouth, Acushnet, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett and Wareham), established the Buzzards Bay Stormwater Collaborative. The goal of the Collaborative was to help municipalities manage stormwater pollution, primarily by mapping stormwater networks and monitoring stormwater discharges. These are among the most difficult, time consuming, and costly tasks towns face in their stormwater management programs.

In the fall of 2018, the Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA), a Massachusetts state college, joined the effort by establishing a program for their students to participate. Three more towns joined the Collaborative as well (the Towns of Bourne, Marion, and Westport). Through the college’s Co-op program, students in the Marine Science, Safety and Environmental Protection Department work for the program and earn required course credits for their degree.

This past summer, now in its third year at the college, five new Stormwater Collaborative students joined the program. Some of these students will continue in subsequent semesters, or new students will join in the fall and spring sessions. Co-op students in the Stormwater Collaborative are taught a variety of skills including the use of GPS equipment, geographic information system software, laboratory testing of water samples, use of field monitoring test equipment, and learning how to collect samples from stormwater networks, and inspect stormwater networks with remote cameras. The photos below illustrate some activities and tasks undertaken by the students. All photos credited to Maura Flaherty, MMA.

In 2019, MMA received a grant from Massachusetts DEP to outfit a trailer with equipment and supplies to undertake field investigations. The NEP guided the design and selection of equipment in the trailer.
Students, under the guidance of municipal and program staff learn how to safely access stormwater networks to inspect them and collect water samples for testing. Left: loosening a catchbasin with a sledge. Middle: removing a manhole cover with a magnetic lift. Right: winching a fallen catchbasin cover.
The students may use a smoke machine to determine network connectivity or to locate an obscured outfall pipe.
After access is achieved, a hand operated clam shovel (left) may be used to clear debris from the catchbasin to observe pipe connections or to collect water samples from connected pipes. A water jet (middle) may be used to clear connecting pipes. Water samples are collected during dry weather and wet weather flows.
While the stormwater system is accessible, the students conduct inspections and may deploy a video camera.
Students also collect samples from pipe discharges, some of which are difficult to access.
Training also includes learning to conduct water quality tests using field meters (middle) and benchtop kits (right). The students also bring samples to certified laboratories for analysis of contaminants, such as bacteria.
The program also trains students on the use of field survey and GPS equipment, and the students record numerous field observations.
The students are trained on basic ArcGIS software skills, like data entry and georeferencing engineering plans, to produce maps they can use in their field work.
Through the Stormwater Collaborative, participating Massachusetts Maritime Academy students are learning many skills that they can use in their careers.

Municipal Mini-Grant RFR Posted

Posted on by Joe Costa

The Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program is seeking proposals for its next round of the Buzzards Bay Watershed Municipal Mini-Grant Program. There is $110,640 available. Projects (up to $45,000 per project) must implement a recommendation(s) in the Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan to protect and restore water quality and living resources in Buzzards Bay and its surrounding watershed. Eligible projects include stormwater remediation designs for discharges affecting marine waters, wetland/open space/habitat acquisition, migratory fish passage restoration, construction of boat pumpout facilities, and many other activities that support the management plan. A 33 percent match of requested funding is required, and only municipalities are eligible to apply. For more information, to view the RFR, and download required forms, see our funding information page. Proposals are due by Tuesday, September 21, 2021, by 4:00 PM.