What is the Bay Health Index?

The Bay Health Index measures the nutrient-related health of more than 100 harbors, coves, salt ponds and rivers throughout Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound. The index is a snapshot of the Bay’s health, using monitoring data collected each summer by the Coalition’s Baywatchers program and analyzed the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole. Each local waterway is assigned a score between 100 and 0, with 100 being pristine water and 0 representing severe nitrogen pollution. For nearly 30 years, this data has formed the foundation of work to protect clean water in our region.

This letter to the editor appeared in the Standard-Times on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017.

Thank you to Jennette Barnes for her excellent Nov. 19 feature on the protection of Dartmouth’s Ocean View Farm. This landmark conservation success was made possible due to a partnership of great local nonprofits and generous private donors for sure. Equally important to this project and a host of other environmental efforts in our area was the public funding that made it a reality.

A free, permanent boat pumpout service is coming to Cuttyhunk Harbor next summer, replacing the Coalition’s weekly pumpout service aboard the R/V Buzzards Baykeeper®. The Coalition has donated the pumpout equipment it no longer needs to the town of Marion to create a mobile pumpout service for boat owners around Sippican Harbor.