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Massachusetts Estuary Project(MEP) <br /> Linked Watershed Embgyment Model Peer Review <br /> 3. INTRODUCTION <br /> 3.1. Background <br /> Nitrogen enrichment is a widespread problem,leading to cultural eutrophication of coastal ecosystems <br /> worldwide. Cultural eutrophication is a condition caused by excess nutrient loads from human sources, <br /> leading to increased algal growth,reduced dissolved oxygen and adverse ecological impacts. Many <br /> estuaries are identified as being"at risk"or aheady affected by excess nitrogen loading,which may affect <br /> as many as 89 estuaries on Cape Cod(Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection,2003). <br /> The Massachusetts Estuaries Project(MEP)partnership was organized to provide a technical <br /> underpinning for development of total maximum daily loads(TMDLs),especially the establishment of <br /> water quality goals,source assessments and recommendations for source reductions. Nitrogen delivery to <br /> Cape Cod estuaries from human sources is dominated by septic inputs delivered to local waters through <br /> groundwater transport. Thispresents a unique challenge to local stakeholders who desire to protect and <br /> restore these sensitive ecosystems for their important contribution to the local lifestyle and economy. <br /> 3.2. Purpose <br /> This scientific peer review was sponsored by the Cape Cod Water Protection Collaborative <br /> (Collaborative), an agency of Barnstable County. The purpose was to conduct an independent scientific <br /> peer review of the MEP methodology for developing appropriate TMDLs for the estuaries and <br /> embayments of Cape Cod,and the use of that methodology as a basis for wastewater and nutrient <br /> management planning and implementation on Cape Cod. <br /> 3.3. Charge to Panel <br /> The scientific peer review panel(Panel)was presented with two charge questions: <br /> 1. Is the MEP modeling approach scientifically defensible and functionally adequate to <br /> be relied upon in the development and implementation of appropriate nitrogen <br /> TMDLs for the estuaries and embayments of Cape Cod in support of the state's <br /> Comprehensive Wastewater Management Planning and EPA Clean Water Act <br /> requirements and in developing overall wastewater and nutrient management plans <br /> for Cape Cod to meet the TMDLs? <br /> 2. To what level of accuracy will the MEP linked model predict the effect of alternative <br /> nitrogen load planning scenarios and/or the prospective water quality in the affected <br /> estuaries and ernbayments and what is the degree of uncertainty in those predictions <br /> relative to alternative planning methodologies available in the industry? <br /> These questions provided focus and context for the review,and guided all of the work by the Panel to <br /> review relevant documents,identify key issues,conduct deliberations,and develop findings,conclusions <br /> and recommendations. <br /> 3.4. Scope <br /> This review was conducted over a three-month period beginning in October 2011, and included a four- <br /> day technical workshop on November 13-16,2011. Panel members reviewed MEP documents,reports <br /> December 30,2011 <br />