Thursday, September 8, 2016
Blog – Ocean River InstituteTop Ten Yard Actions for Clean WaterSavery Pond Faces Unsavory AlgaeMonponsett Ponds, With and Without MuckHarmful Algal Blooms and Lawn Care in Falmouth and Martha’s VineyardScottish Fishermen support Fair Isle Marine Protected AreaWester Ross MPA is now protected by lawLiz Dives in Bocas del Toro, Panamahttp://www.oceanriver.org Making a Difference on Planet Earth Fri, 02 Sep 2016 20:13:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.5.4 http://www.oceanriver.org/blog/top-ten-yard-actions-for-clean-water/ http://www.oceanriver.org/blog/top-ten-yard-actions-for-clean-water/#respond Tue, 23 Aug 2016 21:12:28 +0000 http://www.oceanriver.org/?p=3196 Continue reading ?
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Don’t fertilize lawn June 1- Sept 30thDo not pour chemicals into storm drainsDo not use or limit use of pesticidesPick up plastics on shorelinesPlant native plants (less thirsty for water)Install rain barrels for watering plantsWash car with bucket and soap, not a hoseLeave grass clippings on lawnsUse a brush to sweep driveways, not a hoseProvide containers with sand for cigarette butts The results are in. After three days of Boston’s GreenFest, participants have arranged yard actions according to their personal priorities. First we told people the tale of 16 striped bass dead on a Falmouth shore that led the town to ban fertilizing lawns in the summer, to spread only one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet and not five pounds. Don’t fertilize when day light longest, water warmest, algal blooms the worst was fixed to the top of our list as number one.
We have a tie. Do not pour chemicals into storm drains and limit the use of pesticides both scored the same. By a wide margin, people chose these two before the rest.
When the numbers were tallied we were surprised to see Leave grass clippings on the lawn come in as number 8. We expected a much higher posting. Some people told us they put it low saying that they spend time raking it up and were unaware of being to able to leave cuttings on lawns. Others said they knew that, so put they it low. One said her son will be happy to hear he does not have to rake grass cuttings anymore.
Wash car with bucket and soap and use a brush to sweep driveways tended to be placed near the bottom especially by individuals who do not wash or sweep. It was correctly pointed out that a car wash is better than washing with a bucket because the car wash manages its waste water.
We are asking people to modify their behaviors, not to change. One who likes to wash the car is more likely to use a bucket instead of a hose, than is to change behavior and bring car to the car-wash.
People put much thought into ordering their yard actions. Our goal was to educate about the ten best practices, and we brought blanks ready for new ideas. Regardless of the order, they are all worthy actions. Clearly learning how to minimize dirty water coming off of properties happened at GreenFest. What is done on private properties can affect us all, and every modification you make helps.
Join with us on our page with friends, launch your own page to save our rivers. Together, we’re stemming the rising slime and getting the muck out of water.
Note: No fish were hurt at Boston’s GreenFest. We made dead fish out of paper, pipe cleaner, straws and beads – googly eye optional.
Got clean water practices?
What are you doing to prevent dirty water run-off from your place?
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Continue reading ?]]>As of last Thursday, the 22
nd of July, Savery Pond in Plymouth was placed under the EPA’s cyanobacteria advisory alongside Wampatruck Pond in Hanson, joining the continual mucky West Monponsett Pond (Read more on the
West Monponsett Pond). Savery Pond is approximately 30 acres with an average depth of 7 feet. It is in the South Shore Coastal Watershed and forms the headwaters of Herring Brook which flows into the Ellisville Marsh. Considered a “Great Pond”, held by Massachusetts for public use, the pond is home to the bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, crappie, and largemouth bass fish species.
Aside from several cranberry bogs, most of the Savery Pond shoreline is developed with residential housing and campgrounds. The Indianhead Resort is a campground on the Savery Pond shoreline that offers classic family camping and resort style motor home site hosting. Campers flood to the campground from all over, especially for the 4th of July and Memorial Day weekends. The staff advocate for visitors to grab a canoe or rowboat, go fishing and enjoy the aquatic plants, interesting birds and turtles and frogs that are frequently spotted in the area. Savery Pond is also perfect for picnics, sand castle building and, of course, swimming. The younger ones can enter the pond’s annual Kids Fishing Derby!
The EPA’s cyanobacteria advisory, however, means Savery Pond has visible scum or a mat layer present, a blue-green cell count that exceeds 70,000 cells/milliliter of water or a microsystic toxic level that exceeds 14 parts per billion. In other words, harmful algal blooms are preventing annual events from happening. This guacamole like substances sits on the surface of lakes in layers as thick as half a foot! Fish are left to suffocate under this layer of scum. Birds can’t get through the surface for food. The algae has even been said to cause skin and eye irritation, trigger asthma-like symptoms and, in large amounts, harm the liver in humans. We need to get the guacamole out of our lakes.
These harmful algal blooms are caused by an excess of nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, which overfeed the algae that already exist in the lakes. These nutrients come from septic or sewage, or runoff from agriculture or lawn fertilizers. Towns are working on reducing septic and sewage problems. But agriculture is over fertilized by 100% and lawns are being over fertilized by 500%!
Though cranberry bogs have can be seen as a cause of excess nutrients, especially for Savery Pond, over fertilizing residential lawns is an issue we can and need to own up to and fix! It is important that we reduce the amount of fertilizer we apply to our lawns from 5 lbs per thousand square feet per year to 1lb. This could mean applying a half pound in the spring and a half pound in the fall. The important thing is to not fertilize during the summer, because long day light and warm temperatures in addition to these excess nutrients, promote the growth of algae.
Do you have guacamole in your lake?
]]>http://www.oceanriver.org/blog/savery-pond-faces-unsavory-algae/feed/ 0 http://www.oceanriver.org/blog/monponsett-ponds-with-and-without-muck/ http://www.oceanriver.org/blog/monponsett-ponds-with-and-without-muck/#respond Fri, 15 Jul 2016 20:07:02 +0000 http://www.oceanriver.org/?p=3033
Continue reading ?]]>The Monponsett Ponds, also known as the Monponsett Lake or Twin Lakes, is a large system of two basins, the east and west, located in Halifax, Massachusetts. These basins are divided by Route 58, but are connected by a small culvert at their southern ends. They are part of the Taunton River Watershed, which is formed by the convergence of the Matfield and Town rivers in Bridgewater. Stump Brook, in the northwest section of West Monponsett Pond, is the outflow for the basins. The Monponsett Ponds have an average depth of seven feet and a maximum depth of 13 feet. While the bottom is a mixture of sand and rubble, the emergent vegetation covers about 20% of the surface area of the ponds. More than ten species of fish call these ponds home! The fish observed in the East Monponsett Pond include bluegill, white and yellow perch, pumpkinseed, largemouth bass, chain pickerel and golden shiner. These are the same species observed in the West Monponsett Pond, in addition to the black crappie, brown bullhead, white sucker and American eel.
Though located right next to one another, there is a visible difference in the color of West Monponsett Lake and that of East Monponsett Lake. This past month, the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency posted a cyanobacteria advisory on West Monponsett Pond and declared it impaired. This means that the pond has visible scum, or a mat layer present, a blue-green cell count that exceeds 70,000 cells/milliliter of water or a microcytic toxic level that exceeds 14 parts per billion. The latest cyanobacteria update on the West Monponsett Pond was July 8th with samples reading nearly six times as high as they were the month prior and nine times as high as the human exposure guideline level! Factors contributing to this include the rivers innate flow from East to West, in addition to the dam blocking the river outflow to Stump Brook. The blocking of the river outflow is backing up the nutrients and ultimately allowing for the frightening growth of vast algal blooms in the West Monponsett Pond. Another factor contributing towards this algae issue is the high levels of nutrient pollution from developed areas surrounding the Monponsett Ponds. Nutrient pollution from developed residential areas can come from excess use of lawn fertilizers that runoff the lawns and into the watershed.
I wrote to the Monponsett Watershed Association (MWA) to see if they knew exactly why the west basin was experiencing such bad algae blooms, while the east appeared completely healthy. They reiterated the fact that the dam contributes to nutrient build up and stagnate water, which is the perfect habitat for algae to thrive, while also mentioning the involvement of active cranberry bogs. These cranberry bogs irrigate with and discharge into the West Pond causing a high concentration of nutrients. The Monponsett Watershed Association also contributed these high concentrations of nutrients to fertilizer runoff from the surrounding residential areas.
The MWA has already been taking steps towards the lakes improvement by means of aluminum treatment. When the aluminum is applied to water, it binds together with phosphorus and precipitates to the bottom. Though this a great effort, it does only reduce the amount of algae by 50%. The group is also reaching out to the government in order to get this issue resolved, which involves demanding Halifax selectmen to eliminate the use of phosphorus in fertilizer at the Winebrook Bog and upstream bogs that flow into the West Monponsett Pond. They also have a petition to the Massachusetts state government, specifically Governor Baker, listing four criteria from the association: (1) regular bacteria level tests of Monponsett Ponds (2) payment of lake treatments (3) dam gates left open for natural river flow and (4) requiring farmers to reduce/eliminate fertilizer discharge. This is an issue that cannot be pushed aside. It is important that the community do what it can to reduce these excess nutrients including the reduction or even elimination of lawn fertilizers onto their property. Get the muck out!
This blog post was researched and written by Tiana Tower, ORI Summer Intern, with some assistance from other interns.
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Falmouth has taken responsible steps to address the cause of death for sixteen striped bass, a horseshoe crab and an unidentified crab found on the shore of Little Pond. Note in the picture the number of houses crowding Little Pond, left of Great Pond.
In this episode of Moir’s Environmental Dialogues podcast, Rob talked with Ocean River Institute summer interns Asa Magdenz and Sara Trimble about how people need to understand that what they do on their property on the land can harm aquatic and marine life beyond. Asa and Sara discuss what causes harmful algal blooms and ocean dead zones. Sara reviews lawn care regulations for Northeast States and in particular Massachusetts.
Asa presented research findings from in Waquoit Bay, an estuary located between Falmouth and Mashapee. The Child’s River flows from the John’s Pond south in the Bay. Septic nitrogen into the Child’s River is fourteen times the kilograms per day of what the input would if no one lived there. Land run off is three and a half times the nitrogen. The Quashnet River, located to the east of the Child’s River and flowing through Quashnet Woods State Reservation behind Mashpee High School, has a septic nitrogen input of three and a half times no residents. The nitrogen off land surfaces is two times. The difference between the two rivers is apparent when one looks at a map and sees many more houses packed like sardines around the Child’s River. Eel pond, connected to and west of Waquoit Bay is the worst with twenty-one times septic nitrogen and five times off the land. The EPA has called for a reduction in Waquoit Bay from the present incoming 91 kilograms per day nitrogen down to 42 kilograms per day nitrogen.
On the south shore of Martha’s Vineyard is Tisbury Great Pond, a type of estuary known as a brackish lake. Tisbury Pond watershed is nearly as big as Waquoit Bay. Yet Tisbury, without houses around it, is polluted by only 46 kilograms per day of nitrogen. The EPA has called for a nitrogen reduction to 37 kilograms per day.
Falmouth is working hard to reduce nitrogen pollution of coastal waters assisted by the Buzzards Bay Coalition and Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program. The Martha’s Vineyard Commission is working with community groups and home-owners to reduce nitrogen pollution of Tisbury Great Pond.
]]>http://www.oceanriver.org/blog/harmful-algal-blooms-and-lawn-care-in-falmouth-and-marthas-vineyard/feed/ 0 http://www.oceanriver.org/blog/scottish-fishermen-support-fair-isle-marine-protected-area/ http://www.oceanriver.org/blog/scottish-fishermen-support-fair-isle-marine-protected-area/#respond Tue, 24 May 2016 19:08:41 +0000 http://www.oceanriver.org/?p=2968
Continue reading ?]]>The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) has stepped up in support of a proposal for a “demonstration and research” Marine Protected Area around Fair Isle. Meaningful engagement with stakeholders had played a key role in SFF’s decision to support the initiative.
Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the SFF, said: ‘We recognize the vast amount of effort that has precluded this proposal, led by the Fair Isle community in partnership with Fair Isle Bird Observatory and the National Trust for Scotland.”
‘The appointment of a project officer in 2014 helped focus these aims and through more meaningful engagement with fishing stakeholders, identified a governance structure that ensures the fishing industry will be fully engaged throughout the lifetime of the demonstration and research proposal.”
‘The SFF is strongly of the view that this bottom-up approach should be used as a future template to be followed by others wishing to develop further demonstration and research proposals.”
‘We look forward to the opportunity to establish relevant research activities which feed into the Fair Isle demonstration and research MPA objectives.’
The Fair Isle Marine Protected Area is exceptional because it was not proposed by government. The MPA was proposed by a “third party,” the Fair Isle Marine Environment and Tourism Initiative (FIMETI). The initiative was led by the Fair Isle community in partnership with Fair Isle Bird Observatory and The National Trust for Scotland. The objective is to demonstrate the effectiveness of a community led partnership approach in safeguarding the marine environment.
Fair Isle, arguably Britain’s most isolated inhabited island (population around 70), is the most southerly island of the Shetland group. One of Scotland’s four largest puffin rookeries inhabit the cliffs that rise 600 feet above the water.
“[A] healthy, fully functioning marine ecosystem underpins the long-term social and economic well-being of the island population.” Fair Isle Marine Protected Area proposal (2011)
http://www.fishupdate.com/fishermen-welcome-fair-approach-to-mpa/
http://www.fairisle.org.uk/FIMETI/Reports/MPA/FAIR_ISLE_MPA_Proposal_Parts%20I&2_smaller.pdf
https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/marine-conservation/fair-isle-demonstration-and-research
https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/marine-conservation/fair-isle-demonstration-and-research/supporting_documents/417554_FairIsle_Final_v3.pdf
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CELEBRATING THE RATIFICATION OF
WESTER ROSS MARINE PROTECTED AREA
Sea Change writes from Achiltibuie across the water from Tanera Mor, Scotland:
On the 23rd of March 2016 Wester Ross MPA was ratified by Parliament and is now protected by law. This means scallop dredgers are completely banned from the whole area and trawlers are only permitted within the MPA in designated trawl areas. The MPA stretches from Rhu Coigach to Rudha Reidh, and covers all of the Summer Isles, Loch Broom, Little Loch Broom and Loch Ewe. Creel boats and Scallop divers are still able to continue to fish throughout the MPA. From now on, it is hoped there will be a recovery of the seabed and habitat which made this area such a rich nursery ground before the abolition of the 3 mile limit in 1984. Over time, it is hoped this will enable the regeneration of fin-fish stocks and the MPA to seed the wider area, outside the MPA boundary, too. Wester Ross MPA is part of a network of MPA’s along the west coast, yet in itself, it is a very small area and the impact it will have on the wider ocean is uncertain.
It is therefore Sea Change’s hope that the MPA’s will turn the tide, and be a genuine shift towards caring for the whole ecosystem on which we depend. Glasgow University working with various Marine Agencies and local marine groups intend to map the whole MPA and start a process of discovery. Sea Change hopes to support this with citizen science as well as helping to collect data by asking local fishermen, who are interested, to share their knowledge! We would like to build a picture of all the spawning grounds and fish nurseries in the area, both current and past. This, of course, is entirely optional to take part in. The information we collect will add to a ‘data bank’ and help plot the species and habitats across the MPA which will provide a valuable resource to measure and monitor recovery. We hope, that over time we ourselves, and generations after us, will see the return of the abundant sea life we had before the 3 mile limit was abolished and before. Before the 23rd of March 2016 – Sea Change Day – there was only decline. This is a moment to celebrate an historic opportunity and the first step in the slow process of recovery.
WHAT WE CAN DO FOR OUR MPA !
1 –Like our Sea Change facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/SeaChangeWR/
2- Help us, if you would like, by getting involved in the Sea Bed Survey. Everyone welcome. (commitment and enthusiasm required only).
3- Would any Fishermen or Sea Anglers like to share your knowledge of where the spawn and nursery grounds are? If so please get in touch!
4 – If anyone sees any dredgers or other boats fishing in the area violating the legal boundary please call Marine Compliance 24 hour phone number below. UKFMC is manned 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Call 0845 270 3990.
Contact: Diyanne Ross diyanne@hotmail.co.uk, Brian Wilson – brian@wildlandservices.fsnet.co.uk, Sara Nason – wa.nason@scotnet.co.uk, Sue Pomeroy sueandwill@icloud.com, Wester Ross Fisheries Trust info@wrft.org.uk or any other member you know of with information about spawning and nursery areas.
Guy Grieve
Recently, hand-caught scallops by divers (for example Guy Grieve) have entered Britain’s marketplace. Hand-caught king scallops command higher prices in London than do the finest oysters in Boston. The high price is partly due to hand-caught scallops tend to be less gritty than are scallops caught by a dredge with iron bar and spikes tearing across the sea floor. Dredge-harvested scallops are slower to reach the market with delays up to two weeks. This gives the scallop flesh time to break down and have a shorter shelf life.
Hand-caught scallops are mostly worth the extra cost because it is a more ecologically friendly method. When hand-picked by a diver there are no collateral damages to marine life or habitats. Check out Rob’s blog for more on the battles (“bitter row’) and the domain of the king scallops of Wester Ross.
In this podcast Rob and Michela Grunebaum, ORI’s summer intern, discuss the troubles facing these ocean waters. Sea Change, a local community group based around the shores of the Wester Ross Marine Protected Area on the North West Highlands coast of Scotland, asked the Ocean River Institute to bring non-local voices calling for more responsible regulations into their ocean stewardship place and to lend support to the intentions of the Scottish Ministry faced with industry opposition.
]]>http://www.oceanriver.org/blog/wester-ross-mpa-is-now-protected-by-law/feed/ 0 http://www.oceanriver.org/blog/liz-dives-in-bocas-del-toro-panama/ http://www.oceanriver.org/blog/liz-dives-in-bocas-del-toro-panama/#respond Mon, 28 Mar 2016 19:42:00 +0000 http://www.oceanriver.org/?p=2885
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