The Buzzards Bay region is home to 18 communities, stretching from Sakonnet Point in Rhode Island to Woods Hole on Cape Cod. These communities are part of the Buzzards Bay watershed: the area of land where water drains to Buzzards Bay. Some communities lie along the coast, while others are farther inland but have rivers and streams that flow to the Bay.The Coalition works in all of these communities to protect clean water, conserve land, and engage people. We also work to protect the Elizabeth Islands and the waters of Vineyard Sound.
Find your community below to learn more about its connection to Buzzards Bay, our work there, and what you can do to make a difference.
Although Acushnet doesn’t touch Buzzards Bay’s coastline directly, the entire town lies within the Buzzards Bay watershed.
The entire town of Dartmouth is located within the Buzzards Bay watershed, with Westport to the west, New Bedford to the east, and Freetown to the north.
A significant portion of Freetown and Lakeville is located within the Assawompsett Ponds watershed, which provide drinking water to the city of New Bedford.
The Martha’s Vineyard towns of Tisbury, West Tisbury, Chilmark, and Aquinnah lie on 37 miles of shoreline along Vineyard Sound, just beyond the edge of Buzzards Bay.
Mattapoisett sits on the shores of Buzzards Bay with Fairhaven to the west, Marion to the east, and Acushnet and Rochester to the north.
Although Middleborough is located away from Buzzards Bay’s coastline, nearly a quarter of the town lies within the Buzzards Bay watershed.
The city of New Bedford is sandwiched between Dartmouth to the west, Acushnet and Fairhaven to the east, and Freetown to the north.
The towns of Tiverton and Little Compton are the only two Rhode Island communities located within the Buzzards Bay watershed.