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Bay Health Continues to Decline
The health of 70% of all of the Bay's harbors, coves and tidal rivers monitored by The Coalition for Buzzards Bay declined between 2002 and 2007 (click here to download PDF table of scores). Driving this decline is the continued expansion of nitrogen pollution from septic systems, inadequately treated wastewater, poorly-planned watershed development, and the use of fossil fuels and fertilizers.
The impacts are becoming all too recognizable around the Bay - murky waters, floating and bottom-smothering green algae, bad odors, and the loss of eelgrass and shellfish. The recently analyzed 2006 and 2007 data was combined with the entire 15-year data set created by our Baywatchers water quality monitoring program to track trends and guide protection and restoration efforts... Read more here
Photo: Baywatcher data show Hadley Harbor (pictured above) is one of the healthiest segments of Buzzards Bay.
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State Loses Rights to Protect Buzzards Bay from Oil Spills -
One Phone Call Can Help Protect the Bay
 After three and a half years of litigation, the U.S. District Court has stripped the state of its rights to protect Buzzards Bay from future oil spills. On Friday, June 6, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted the United States' motion for a preliminary injunction, halting the Commonwealth's enforcement of the escort tug and manning provisions of the 2004 Oil Spill Prevention Act. This means that double-hulled oil barges will not be required to use an escort while in the Bay.
"The injunction will go into effect in a matter of weeks and will remain in effect while this case is pending, which leaves the Bay vulnerable to another oil spill this summer," said Coalition President, Mark Rasmussen... Read more here
Photo: Oil barge with tug escort in Cape Cod canal.
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Nitrogen Limit Set For West Falmouth Harbor
 The murky, algae-laden and often foul-smelling waters of West Falmouth Harbor may soon be a sight and stench of the past. The Coalition is pleased to report that on May 7, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gave final approval to setting an enforceable limit to the amount of nitrogen that can be legally discharged into the harbor.
The limit, called a "Total Maximum Daily Load" or "TMDL," is the maximum amount of a pollutant that can be discharged into a body of water and still avoid harming the water quality... Read more here
Photo: Dennis Aubrey
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Swimmer Spotlight: Gerry Payette
 For some, Swim Buzzards Bay is about doing something they love and competing to be the fastest swimmer in a fun and challenging open-water swim event. For others, the Swim is about doing something they love for a great cause. But for Gerry Payette, a 10-year veteran of Swim Buzzards Bay, it's about doing something he doesn't love, but it's for a great cause and that's reason enough.
"I like the concept of open-water swimming, and I like being in the water and at the beach, but I don't like swimming," said 56-year-old Payette, who was born and raised in New Bedford and now resides in Acushnet... Read more here
It's really that easy!
Jump in and join Payette and more than 100 other swimmers on Saturday, July 19. But hurry! The registration fee goes up from $10 to $15 after July 1 and registration closes July 17 at 6 PM.
Above Photo: Gerry
Payette, pictured with his daughter Jenn (left) and wife Doreen (right)
is always happy to be on dry land again after swimming Buzzards Bay. Credit: Laurie Bullard.
Illustration: Daniel Vasconcellos
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 Swim Buzzards Bay - One of America's Top 50 Open Water Swims
After years of research traveling around the world, participating in and observing short swims, pier swims, river swims, marathon swims, charity swims, pro swims, cold-water swims and tropical events in lakes, rivers, bays, oceans, rowing basins and reservoirs, Steve Munatones of 10kswim.com has chosen his top 50 open water swims in the U.S. Go to www.10kswimmer.com to view the complete list. And now it's time to vote for the Top 3 open water swims in the U.S.!
Vote this week for Swim Buzzards Bay at the link above.
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Second Annual Watershed Ride, Sunday October 5 - Registration Now Open!
Timed to take advantage of the great autumn foliage, the cools days of early fall, and the quiet of off-season roads, the Watershed Ride is a terrific opportunity for cyclists of all levels. Cyclists enjoy a fully-supported ride, raise much needed funds for the work of the Coalition and raise awareness of the rich variety of our watershed.
So start pedaling and help us Save Buzzards Bay!
Each cyclist needs to register by October 2, and, in addition to a registration fee, everyone who rides is required to raise a minimum of $300 to support the programs of the Coalition.
Click here to learn more and register for this year's event.
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 Help the Coalition -
Join Our Staff or Become a Volunteer
Employment Opportunities
Vice-President for Watershed Protection
We are seeking a passionate, experienced self-starter to lead our land conservation, land stewardship, and natural resource restoration programs. Click here to learn more.
Advocacy Specialist
The
Coalition is seeking a highly-motivated, talented, and articulate
Advocacy Specialist to provide policy and legal support to help save
Buzzards Bay. If you have the right skills, the right experience, and
especially the right commitment, check out the job description and contact Korrin Petersen.
Volunteer OpportunityJoin Our Baywatcher Volunteer Team
Baywatchers are volunteers that monitor water quality and long-term ecological trends in the Buzzards Bay's harbors and coves from Westport to Woods Hole. Each year approximately 130 volunteers measure water quality at 200 locations Baywide. To learn more, click here or contact Coalition Director of Monitoring Programs, Tony Williams at 508-999-6363 ext. 203.
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Of Interest to CBB Members
Tern Cam OnlineBird enthusiasts are invited to visit a Tern Cam Web site that recently went live on the MassWildlife Web site. Tern Cam enables viewers to observe activity at a Common Tern nest located on Bird Island, a small, but important tern nesting location off the coast of Marion. Bird Island, owned by the town of Marion, is one of three islands in Buzzards Bay where MassWildlife has been actively working towards restoration of Common and Roseate Terns. Bird Island is home to about 12% of Massachusetts' Common Terns, (state-listed as a Species of Special Concern) and 22% of the Northeastern population of the Roseate Tern (federally and state-listed as Endangered). Visit the tern cam here. Web users are advised that they may need to load AXIS Media Control software to view streaming video. Click on the "Snapshot" icon for still images.
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CBB in the News
Much of the Coalition's work puts us at the
forefront of the region's top environmental issues.
Here are a few recent stories that mention our effort: |
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