07/26/2021 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Minutes

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Board of Selectmen Minutes July 26, 2021 Water Quality Presentation: Brian Howes -University of Massachusetts Dartmouth: (continued) The Mashpee Water Quality Monitoring Program is an on-going collaborative effort between the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe,the Town of Mashpee and the Coastal Systems Program within the UMass Dartmouth School of Marine Science and Technology. The goal of the project is to sustain a continuing assessment of the nutrient related water quality of the Waquoit Bay and Popponesset Bay estuaries, and to monitor improvements to water quality resulting in restoration efforts which includes shellfish propagation, dredging,wastewater treatment and freshwater systems undertaken by the Town,the Tribe and others. All sampling is done by volunteers. Both the Waquoit Bay and Popponesset Bay estuarine systems are highly nitrogen enriched and show impaired nutrient related water quality throughout most of their component basins. Nitrogen management within Popponesset Bay has begun with consistent annual maintenance of the flow through the tidal inlet,the propagation of oysters within the system and the capping of the landfill. Watershed nitrogen planning has been completed and initial funds have been voted to begin its implementation. The sewer design/construction project voted at the May 2021 Town Meeting is expected to begin in the spring. Nitrogen enrichment is causing impairments to the water quality with increased algal blooms and low oxygen. Included is the loss of eel grass and benthic animals (loss of fish). The frequency and magnitude of phytoplankton blooms is increasing astronomically. When asked of shellfish remediation,Dr. Howes indicated that it is not enough to solve the pollution on its own,but it is imperative to grow enough shellfish to keep the nitrogen levels down. Quahogs and oysters tolerate low oxygen conditions, and oysters grow exceedingly fast. It was recommended the Town focus on propagation and stocking the upper areas of the river to make an impact in nitrogen reduction to avoid major fish kills. Dr. Howes indicated he expects to see quick improvements in water quality when homes are connected to the sewer system. Discussion followed regarding the processes that could be done for an immediate impact. This includes strategies to address the ponds and lakes,the fresh water polluted areas from contaminating the bays. Other remediation measures consider Permeable Reactive Barriers, denitrification systems that could tie in to the new treatment plant and moving forward with dredging the ponds over cranberry bog systems, a requirement for increased wetland buffers with new construction, monitoring stormwater, a moratorium on Title V, no more building, increased education for awareness and improved toilet technologies. Discussion followed with regards to the annual dredging for maximum tidal flushing. However, dredging on the inside of the bays does not improve water quality, it could actually impair water quality. In closing Dr. Howes recommended the Town attempt to accelerate the wastewater plan by constructing sewers as much as possible and to accelerate more low-hanging fruit such as the bogs to be restored as wetlands and increasing the shellfish aquaculture program. This might be a 10-year solution to stop the pollution from getting worse and it may grant the Town time to implement sewers. The presentation and full report offered by Dr. Howes can be found on the Town's website.