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�rr�t Massachusetts - <br /> J,�..�J 1. Department of �- <br /> University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Environmental4The School for Marine Science and Technology Protection <br /> Massachusetts Estuaries Project <br /> Linked Waters hed-Embayment Approach <br /> to Determine Critical Nitrogen Loading <br /> Thresholds for the Waquoit Bay Embayment <br /> System, Falmouth and Mashpee, Massachusetts <br /> Executive Summary <br /> 1. Background <br /> This report presents the results generated from the implementation of the Massachusetts <br /> Estuaries Project's Linked Watershed-Embayment Approach to the Waquoit Bay embayment <br /> system, a coastal embayment within the Towns of Falmouth and Mashpee, Massachusetts. <br /> Analyses of the Waquoit Bay embayment system (inclusive of the Eel Pond, Childs River, <br /> Quashnet River, Hamblin Pond, Jehu Pond and Sage Lot Pond sub-embayments) was <br /> performed to assist the Towns of Falmouth and Mashpee with up-coming nitrogen management <br /> decisions associated with the current and future wastewater planning efforts of the Towns, as <br /> well as wetland restoration, anadromous fish runs, shell fishery, open-space, and inlet <br /> maintenance programs. As part of the MEP approach, habitat assessment was conducted on <br /> the embayment based upon available water quality monitoring data, historical changes in <br /> eelgrass distribution, time-series water column oxygen measurements, and benthic community <br /> structure. Nitrogen loading thresholds for use as goals for watershed nitrogen management are <br /> the major product of the MEP effort. In this way, the MEP offers a science-based management <br /> approach to support the Towns of Falmouth and Mashpee resource planning and decision- <br /> making process. The primary products of this effort are: (1) a current quantitative assessment <br /> of the nutrient related health of the Waquoit Bay embayment, (2) identification of all nitrogen <br /> sources (and their respective N loads) to embayment waters, (3) nitrogen threshold levels for <br /> maintaining Massachusetts Water Quality Standards within embayment waters, (4) analysis of <br /> watershed nitrogen loading reduction to achieve the N threshold concentrations in embayment <br /> waters, and (5) a functional calibrated and validated Linked Watershed-Embayment modeling <br /> tool that can be readily used for evaluation of nitrogen management alternatives (to be <br /> developed by the Towns)for the restoration of the Waquoit Bay embayment system. <br /> Wastewater Planning: As increasing numbers of people occupy coastal watersheds, the <br /> associated coastal waters receive increasing pollutant loads. Coastal embayments throughout <br /> the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (and along the U.S. eastern seaboard) are becoming <br /> nutrient enriched. The elevated nutrients levels are primarily related to the land use impacts <br /> associated with the increasing population within the coastal zone over the past half-century. <br /> Executive Summary 1 <br />