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determine the nitrogen thresholds for each of the estuaries in southeastern Massachusetts to <br /> support TMDL development by the USEPA and MassDEP and to set estuary specific targets for <br /> nitrogen management plans aimed at restoring/protecting these systems. MEP assessments and <br /> threshold development have been completed for both Popponesset Bay and Waquoit Bay, <br /> including the eastern embayments of Waquoit Bay.I <br /> MEP analyses indicated that almost all of the estuarine reaches within the Popponesset Bay and <br /> Waquoit Bay Systems are near or beyond their ability to assimilate additional nutrients without <br /> impacting their ecological health.Nitrogen levels are elevated throughout both systems and <br /> as watershed development continues, estuarine conditions are projected to decline <br /> further until nitrogen management is implemented. <br /> The result is that nitrogen management of these estuaries is aimed at restoration, not protection <br /> or maintenance of existing conditions. Nitrogen management within Popponesset Bay has <br /> already begun with the consistent annual maintenance of the flow through the tidal inlet, <br /> propagation of oysters within the system and capping of the Town of Mashpee landfill. In <br /> addition, watershed nitrogen management planning is nearly completed(CWMP)with the goal <br /> of reducing the major sources of nitrogen (primarily septic system discharges), conducting "in <br /> estuary"N removal by shellfish, and possibly enhancing nitrogen removed during transport from <br /> sources to the estuary by enhancing natural attenuation through pond and stream restoration.2 <br /> SITE DESCRIPTION <br /> Popponesset Bay <br /> The Popponesset Bay Estuarine System is located within the Towns of Mashpee and Barnstable, <br /> on Cape Cod,Massachusetts. The Bay's watershed is primarily distributed among the Towns of <br /> Mashpee and Barnstable, with a small portion of the upper-most region of the watershed located <br /> in the Town of Sandwich. The Popponesset Bay Estuarine System exchanges tidal water with <br /> Nantucket Sound through a single maintained inlet at the tip of Popponesset Spit. The <br /> Popponesset Bay estuarine system has been partitioned into five tributary sub-einbayments: 1) <br /> Popponesset Bay(main basin+Popponesset Creels), 2) Pinquickset Cove, 3) Ockway Bay, 4) <br /> Mashpee River(lower or tidal region) and 5) Shoestring Bay(Figure 2). Within the Popponesset <br /> Bay System, the tidal portion of the Mashpee River functions as a Cape Cod tidal river,with <br /> extensive bordering salt marsh,tidal flats and large salinity fluctuations. In contrast, Popponesset <br /> Bay, Shoestring Bay and Ockway Bay are typical embayments, dominated by open water areas, <br /> having only fringing salt marshes, relatively stable salinity gradients and large basin volumes <br /> relative to the tidal prism(i.e. the volume of water entering on a flooding tide). Although <br /> Shoestring Bay, Ockway Bay, Mashpee River and Pinquickset Cove and the main basin of <br /> Popponesset Bay have different hydrologic characteristics, tidal forcing for all of these <br /> Massachusetts Estuaries Project Nutrient Threshold Reports can be accessed via the Web at <br /> http://www.occanscience.net/estuaries. This site is maintained by the SMAST MEP Technical Team(SMAST, <br /> Applied Coastal,CCC) for the public. <br /> a 2014. Town of Mashpee Sewer Commission,Draft Recommended Plan/Draft Environmental Impact Report. <br /> Comprehensive Watershed Nitrogen Management Plan. GHD Inc.under contract to Sewer Commission, <br /> The Draft EIR/Draft Recommended Plan received EEA approval certificate in September 2014 allowing the Town <br /> of Mashpee to proceed with preparation of its FEIR. <br /> 3 <br />