A Night of Thanks
Coalition Completes 18th Baywatchers Season
Thursday night, October 15, was a night of appreciation and celebration at The Coalition for Buzzards Bay’s office in New Bedford. Putting the wrap on a very successful 18th water quality sampling season, the Coalition threw a thank you party for all of its Baywatcher Water Quality Monitoring Program volunteers complete with food, drinks, and a special presentation by Massachusetts’ own Dr. Greg Skomal – one of world’s leading shark experts. Dr. Skomal, who works for the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, gave a lively presentation about his research on the physiology, life history, behavior, and habitat associations of several shark species that frequent North Atlantic waters. He also shared his support for the volunteers and their efforts in collecting water quality data in Buzzards Bay, as it proves useful to his research when trying to determine why sharks may prefer one habitat area over another.
The evening was not only an opportunity for the Coalition to express thanks to these dedicated volunteers, but it was also an opportunity for Baywatchers to meet fellow volunteers and share experiences. More than 40 Baywatchers attended, including some who have volunteered since the program’s inception in 1992.
This year, a total of 134 volunteers participated in the Baywatchers Water Quality Monitoring Program between May and September. The Coalition is deeply indebted to its Baywatcher volunteers for their hard work and dedication in support of a clean and healthy Buzzards Bay. After all, Baywatchers are the Coalition’s eyes ...and sometimes ears and noses ...on the water. Each volunteer provides important information and data on the harbors and coves in Buzzards Bay, which is useful when making informed, science-based decisions about the restoration and protection of the Bay.
“We thank each and every one of our Baywatcher volunteers and hope everyone enjoyed their time on or along the water this season. We look forward to working with these great “citizen scientists” again next summer and encourage their friends and family to participate as well,” said Coalition Director of Monitoring Programs Tony Williams.
The Coalition’s Baywatchers Water Quality Monitoring Program is the primary source of long-term data on the health of the Bay's 30 major harbors and coves from Westport Rivers on the western shore to Quissett Harbor (Falmouth) on the eastern shore. To learn more about this program and volunteer opportunities, click here or contact Coalition Director of Monitoring Programs, Tony Williams, at williams@savebuzzardsbay.org or call 508-999-6363 ext. 203.