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N <br /> E T <br /> M <br /> C06LITION <br /> PD.Box 274 Mashpee, MA 02649 <br /> DISTRICT of CRITICAL PLANNING CONCERN <br /> Mashpee River watershed <br /> f <br /> The December , 1995 "Assessment of Coastal Nitrogen Loading and <br /> Nitrogen Management Alternatives ; Popponesset Baysissued <br /> by the Cape cod <br /> Commission and other less stringent residence time calculatlons utilized b <br /> the Commission confirm the stated observations of Mashpee River residentsy <br /> . <br /> The River is seriously degraded due to a nitrogen overload that causes a <br /> host of problems . There is general agreement that the condition wlllrworsen <br /> unless corrective measures are instituted. The problem is further <br /> compounded by fecal coliform counts that have reached a level that <br /> precludes shel 1 f i Shing almost on a year round basis . The counts are a <br /> health hazard indicator that on a regular basis exceed the levels for human <br /> saf ety. <br /> Mashpee residents living on or near the Mashpee River <br /> P and anyone <br /> visiting the River may be placed at a health risk a ' <br /> ccording to coliform <br /> indicators . The River suffers from algae blooms , smells , has reduced <br /> f lushing, has varying degrees of turgidity t and suffers e ' <br /> g Y surs from massive silt <br /> deposits . The River ' s condition is both a health and aual it o ' <br /> issue, <br /> q y f life <br /> The large number of Town Departments with area <br /> . p s of responsibility that <br /> impact the River represent a coordination challenge that under er normal <br /> Practices is insurmountable . Conservation, Building, Health, Planningand <br /> Zoning Board of Appeals 1 s all have <br /> PP a direct impact on River quality, The only . <br /> apparent mechanism capable of providing the required interfacing and <br /> cooperative effort is theg <br /> "District of Critical Planning Concern" . It <br /> should be recognized that in the more than 1 year since theP robl em was ' <br /> brought to Town officials by a res idents ' et it ion no substantive actions <br /> A coons <br /> or regulations have been undertaken or adopted. <br /> A "District of Critical Planning Concern" �DCPG � designation will <br /> 11 <br /> allow for the <br /> creation of rules and regulations that willrotect the River <br /> r <br /> from further major degradation, it willrotect an area o <br /> P f major public <br /> . investment (Mashpee River woodlands help restore the ' • <br /> Woodlands ) , p lost quality of 1 if e <br /> for residents and promote recovery of a significant mad <br /> or aquaculture <br /> resource. <br /> The DCPC designation may suspend development activities for about a <br /> Year. There are rules that may exempt approved or submitted "Developments <br /> of Regional Impact" (DRI ) and single family homes from DCPC ' <br /> impacts . <br /> ,, The choice is clear . Nominate Mash ee ' s Mashpee River watershed a <br /> P P s a <br /> Distrlct'y of Critical Planning concern or officially,dally, by default , <br /> ~s <br /> des• <br /> lgraate the Ma � ►f <br /> Mashpee River as an "Outfall Pipe" . <br /> F' <br /> y: <br />