Last week Buzzards Bay experienced a major victory and a major blow. Here is an update on how the Coalition's advocacy program is working on these and other issues through the regulatory and legal process at the state and federal levels.

New Law Bans Dredge Dumping
A significant victory for the Bay was claimed on Friday, July 28 when Governor Mitt Romney signed a law permanently banning the dumping of dredge spoils in Buzzards Bay. The legislation, which the Coalition helped to draft, was filed on March 6 in response to a State proposal to open a disposal site off of West Falmouth for dredged material from the Cape Cod Canal and other harbors around the Bay...Read more [here]

Judge Guts State Oil Spill Act
On July 24, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph L. Tauro issued a decision preventing the State from enforcing essential provisions of the Oil Spill Prevention Act, unanimously passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Mitt Romney in 2004. The ruling strikes down regulations on oil shipping in Buzzards Bay that included mandatory tug escorts and navigational routes, as well as minimum staffing on oil tankers and barges. Tauro ruled that major provisions were unconstitutional because they covered areas of maritime law regulated by the Coast Guard...Read more [here]

Windfarm Advocacy
The Coalition submitted extensive comments on the Environmental Notification Form for the proposed Buzzards Bay Wind Farm on July 31. Boston developer Jay Cashman of Patriot Renewables LLC seeks to place 90 to 120 turbines in various locations throughout the Bay. We expect the Secretary of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs to issue a certificate on this Environmental Notification Form within the next couple of weeks outlining what the proponent must further investigate for the Environmental Impact Report.

Download a full copy of CBB's comments (PDF file) [here].

Top photo, courtesy of New England District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Middle photo by Natalie Garfield.

On July 5th, the Coalition announced the completion of the Viveiros Dairy Farm Preservation Project, an ambitious land deal that permanently protects 120 acres of open space on Fairhaven’s Sconticut Neck. The property contains one of the largest salt marsh systems on Buzzards Bay and is one of the few remaining dairy farms east of New Bedford. The closing of the four-year project, led by the Coalition, marks the conclusion of the most ambitious land conservation endeavor ever undertaken in Fairhaven.

The property has been used as a coastal farm for more than 100 years. Today, it is owned and operated by the Viveiros family who maintain a herd of 60 dairy cows on the parcel’s uplands. The Viveiros’ property lies just north of the existing FALPT-owned Winsegansett Marshes Reserve. Its protection now creates a permanently protected reserve of nearly 400 contiguous acres of coastal habitat...Read more [here]

Photo courtesy of skypic.com

Seventy-five swimmers gave it all they had in support of Buzzards Bay at the Coalition’s 13th Annual Swim Buzzards Bay held Saturday, July 15. Swimmers from ages 12 to 73 navigated the 1.2-mile course from Davy's Locker in New Bedford to Fort Phoenix State Beach in Fairhaven with the help of a fleet of kayak escorts, and state and local authorities.

Matt Shenker of Pocasset, defending his title for the fourth year in a row, set a new record for the fastest finish with a time of 21:16. Fourteen-year-old Noelle Cook of Mendon was the fastest female with a time of 28:41. The fastest team of swimmers—Brett Silva of Fairhaven, Matt Tweedie of Bridgewater, and Dan Vasconcellos of Pembroke—representing Katman Sports of New Bedford, swam an average time of 33:31. Joining the Cuttyhunk Club with her 10th Swim Buzzards Bay was Deborah Gabriel of New Bedford. Bridgewater’s Christopher Ford and Matt Tweedie and Richard Mack of Bristol, RI each completed their 5th Swim, and joined the Six-Mile Club.

Click [here] for a complete event wrap-up, swim times, and photo gallery.

Photo by Nick Santos.

More than 640 acres of critical migratory bird habitat in the Buzzards Bay watershed are one step closer to being permanently protected from development thanks to funding provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). NAWCA recently selected four Coalition-led proposals to receive $2.4 million for land acquisition or salt marsh restoration projects in Bourne, Dartmouth, Falmouth, Mattapoisett, Plymouth, Wareham and Tiverton, RI. The Coalition, as the grantee, will administer and coordinate the grants and work with specific partners on each project by making funds available for use as requested, providing regular progress and financial updates to NAWCA, and ensuring that the process runs as smoothly as possible...Read more [here]

Photo by Tim Sylvia.

The Cape Cod Committee of The Coalition for Buzzards Bay invites you to learn more about our efforts to SAVE BUZZARDS BAY.

Join us Friday, August 4 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Parker's Boatyard located in picturesque Red Brook Harbor, Cataumet. Wine, beer and light hors d'eourves will be served.

RSVP to John Vasconcellos at 508-999-6363, ext. 202.

Members and non-members are welcome to attend. Click [here] for directions.

Baywatcher Water Quality Monitoring
There are a number of sampling sites throughout the watershed in need of Baywatcher weekly water quality monitoring volunteers. Click [here] to view available locations. Volunteers are also needed on August 7 and August 21 in Aucoot Cove and a few locations in Bourne and Falmouth for Bay nutrient sampling. If you would like to volunteer contact Tony Williams, Director of Monitoring Programs, at 508-999-6363, ext. 203.

Adopt A Shoreline
Adopt A Shoreline beach cleanups are scheduled for August 19 and September 16 from 9:00-11:00 AM at Marsh Island in Fairhaven. To sign up or for more information, contact Donna Cobert, Coalition Volunteer Coordinator, at 508-999-6363, ext. 200.

Working Waterfront Festival
We are looking for volunteers to help in various shifts at a Coalition information/merchandise table to be set up at New Bedford's Working Waterfront Festival. Volunteers are needed from 10:00 AM-7:30 PM September 23 and 11:00 AM-6:00 PM September 24. The festival celebrates the commercial fishing industry and will feature tours of fishing boats, demonstrations and contests of occupational skills, food, music, and more. Contact Donna Cobert at 508-999-6363, ext. 200 for more information

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 efforts.

• Tighter Oil Spill Rules Sought (Cape Cod Times)
• Federal Judge Says Mass Oil Spill Act Unconstitutional (Boston Globe)
• Deal Secures Farmland Protection (Boston Globe)
• Swimming Event Aids Bay's Recovery (Standard Times)

The Coalition for Buzzards Bay is a member of the international Waterkeeper Alliance.