Nitrogen pollution is the greatest long-term threat to the health of Buzzards Bay. More than half of the Bay’s harbors and coves are already suffering from the poor water clarity, bad odors, and stressed marine organisms associated with excessive nitrogen levels. As nitrogen overloading slowly chokes Buzzards Bay to death, towns across the watershed are taking action to reduce pollution and restore the health of their waters.

The Towns of Dartmouth, Westport, Fairhaven, Bourne, and Falmouth, through the Massachusetts Estuaries Project (MEP), are each funding scientific assessments that will determine the maximum amount of nitrogen that their waterways can handle (also called ‘threshold limits’) without suffering a decline in water quality... Read more [here]

Photo: Dennis Aubrey, Woods Hole Group

More than 640 acres of land in the Buzzards Bay watershed will be permanently protected from development thanks to $2.4 million granted to the Coalition and a host of partners including The Trustees of Reservations, the Wareham Land Trust, the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust, and The Nature Conservancy by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Program. The funds will be used to underwrite four land acquisitions and a number of salt marsh restoration projects in Bourne, Dartmouth, Falmouth, Mattapoisett, Plymouth, Wareham and Tiverton, Rhode Island... Read more [here]

Photo: Dike Creek, Dartmouth ©Tim Sylvia

While landowners don’t necessarily consider protecting land solely because of potential tax benefits, a recently enacted federal law is now making tax benefits of land conservation even more attractive.

One of the difficulties landowners encounter when considering conserving their land is the concern that they will leave some tax deduction value on the table unused. Thanks to the new legislation, passed by Congress and signed by President Bush in August, this is much less of a worry... Read more [here]

November 1st marks the beginning of our most important fundraising appeal—the Annual Fund for the Bay. Our goal this year is to raise $230,000 to support our efforts to Save Buzzards Bay.

The work we share with you can only succeed with the generous support of individuals, families, and businesses who agree that Buzzards Bay is worth saving. The Annual Fund for the Bay supports the Coalition's efforts to remain:

• vigilant and engaged in our advocacy,
• consistent and committed to our research,
• imaginative and innovative in our education, and
• aggressive and far-sighted in our land conservation.

Please help make this Annual Fund for the Bay successful by making a gift. You can send your gift in the envelope you will receive from us in early November or you can make your donation on our secure website.

If you have any questions or would like to make a gift of stock, please contact the Coalition's Development Director John Vasconcellos at 508-999-6363, ext. 202 or e-mail vasconcellos@savebuzzardsbay.org

Thank you for all that you do to help us Save Buzzards Bay

Photo: John Powel

The APCC (Association to Preserve Cape Cod) is offering a free four-part series of workshops aimed at informing citizens about the impact of wastewater treatment and disposal on Cape Cod's water quality, and what we all must do to address the problem.

The sessions will educate participants about Cape Cod's wastewater dilemma, instruct participants on how they can help others understand this important issue, and provide an opportunity for highly motivated volunteers to be trained as citizen speakers who will help take the issue to the community.

Each session workshop includes lectures, hands-on demonstrations and discussion. Participants will receive a primer and other materials. Workshop topics include:

• Session 1: Beneath Our Feet, Beyond Our Borders: The Link Between Our Geologic Past and Our Current Water Woes
• Session 2: Nitrogen: When a Nutrient Becomes a Nuisance
• Session 3: Wastewater Treatment Technologies and How They Work
• Session 4: Town and Regional Wastewater Planning: Where are We Now and Options for Action

Workshops will be held in Falmouth from 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM at the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Session 1 was held on October 25, however the remaining three sessions will be held on November 1, November 8, and November 15, respectively.

Note: While the RSVP deadline was October 20, 2006, walk-ins are welcome (refreshments may not be available).

Click [here] to register for the workshop or for more information please contact APCC at 508-362-4226 or info@apcc.org.

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.

• Oil Spill Money to Fund Habitat
• Bay to Reap Restitution for Oil Spill

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

email: e-newsletter@savebuzzardsbay.org

phone: 508-999-6363

web: http://www.savebuzzardsbay.org