The Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program (NEP) has retained the Horsley Witten Group to prepare engineered designs and supporting calculations for a series of projects aimed at treating pollutants from stormwater runoff. The goal of the project is to develop construction ready stormwater management plans for three or four critical drainage catchments that currently discharge to Buzzards Bay with no treatment. The sites will be selected from among fifteen high priority catchments in five Buzzards Bay municipalities (Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, and Wareham). The fifteen catchments were selected based on monitoring data and stormwater network information gathered through the Buzzards Bay Stormwater Collaborative, potential interest from municipalities, soils, groundwater elevation, land available for potential treatment options, and other factors. Based on review by the Horsley Witten Group, the NEP, and town recommendations, six of these sites will be selected for conceptual designs. Upon further review and town recommendations, permit-ready designs will be developed for three or four sites, which will then be finalized after permits are secured. The target date for the development of final construction-ready designs is December 31, 2020. The Buzzards Bay NEP intends to work with municipalities to secure funds to implement the final designs. More information about the project is posted at https://buzzardsbay.org/buzzards-bay-pollution/stormwater-pollution/development-of-construction-ready-stormwater-management-plans/.

Due to the ongoing public health emergency, the Buzzards Bay NEP office in Mattapoisett will remain closed until further notice. While our physical offices are closed, staff will work remotely via phone, email, and video conference to continue serving watershed municipalities, area non-profits, and our other partners. Go to our contact us page to reach out to NEP staff.