On August 1, a delegation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency came to the Wareham Middle School to view the stormwater investigative work being conducted by the Buzzards Bay Stormwater Collaborative. The delegation was led by David Cash, Regional Administrator for EPA Region 1. Other participants included Doug Gutro, Assistant Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and Martin Gerard, Deputy Southeast Regional Director Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup, and a staff member of the U.S. Senate Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee.
The Buzzards Bay Stormwater Collaborative is a partnership between the Buzzards Bay NEP, Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA), and eight Buzzards Bay towns (Bourne, Wareham, Marion, Mattapoisett, Acushnet, Fairhaven, Dartmouth, and Westport). At the site visit, NEP Executive Director Dr. Joe Costa described how the Stormwater Collaborative is organized, the role of the participants, and how the effort has been funded by Buzzards Bay towns, Massachusetts DEP, EPA’s Southeast New England Program for Coastal Watershed Restoration (SNEP), and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The NEP guides the work of the Stormwater Collaborative, with towns funding co-op and work study students who in turn obtain credits toward their environmental science degree and develop practical skills they can apply in their careers. Details about the Stormwater Collaborative are contained in this fact sheet.
NEP Stormwater Specialist, Kevin Bartsch, then described how illicit discharge investigations are undertaken and brought the invitees to different stations of activity. MMA Stormwater Coordinator, Maura Flaherty oversaw the co-op students and Wareham Municipal Maintenance worker Chris Rebhan supervised access to the school’s stormwater network.
The Stormwater Collaborative is an excellent example of how NEPs can promote efficient partnerships to meet our collective goals to protect and restore water quality and living resources. The EPA delegation was most impressed with the work of the MMA students and how this program helps advance the completion of their degrees. Below are some photos of the event.
