2014-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

whether or not adjustments need to be made to the Plan site alternatives to sewers although, to date, none has (a process referred to as"adaptive management"). demonstrated its feasibility at the scale required to meet our mandated nitrogen targets. This adaptive management approach has become particularly important as the Plan has come to rely The Draft Recommended Plan/Draft EIR was heavily on the proposal by our Shellfish Constable, submitted for review by the Executive Office of Energy Rick York,to remove a significant portion of the water & Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) and other state column nitrogen load through seeding and commercial agencies, through the Massachusetts Environmental harvesting of large numbers (millions) of shellfish, Policy Act (MEPA) process, at the end of June. The using littlenecks in Hamblin and Jehu Ponds,Great and Secretary of Energy & Environmental Affairs issued Little Rivers and Shoestring Bay, and a significant his Certificate that the Draft Plan/Draft EIR complies expansion of current oyster propagation efforts in the with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act on Mashpee River and Popponesset Bay. In conjunction September 12,2014 and included extensive comments, with sewering and other nitrogen reduction measures as well as attached comment letters from other agencies such as stormwater bio-retention areas, development and organizations, to which the Commission must controls, and land purchases to reduce "buildout" respond in a Final Recommended Plan/Final EIR. The population and other measures, shellfish seeding and Commission and our primary consultant GHD, Inc. commercial harvesting on a large scale may make have been working on the required responses and the meeting the TMDL targets for Hamblin and Jehu Ponds Final Recommended Plan/Final EIR,with completion and Great River possible, and ultimately reduce the and submission anticipated in late winter of 2015. That area of the Town that has to be sewered in other will lead to a final MEPA review by EOEEA, watersheds(thus reducing resulting costs by about half anticipated approval of the Plan by the DEP,and review from previous estimates), while providing local jobs and hoped-for approval of the Plan as a Development and economic development. Should the shellfish of Regional Impact (DRI) by the Cape Cod proposal prove as effective as hoped,only the first two Commission. As part of the latter process,the Plan will phases of sewer facility construction would be required have to be found consistent with the Sewer to meet the TMDLs(shellfish cannot meet the TMDLs Commission's"208 Plan"which itself is scheduled for on their own in the Mashpee River and Shoestring Bay completion in early summer 2015. If all goes as hoped, sub-watersheds, or at all in the Quashnet/Moonakis we will have an approved Plan and can begin River sub-watershed, meaning that significant sewer implementation in late summer of 2015. construction will still be required in those sub- watersheds, and is proposed in Phases I and II). As In order to keep Mashpee's residents informed of each 5-year phase is completed and water quality the problems we face and the steps we are taking to results become known,it may be necessary to construct deal with it,our primary consultant GHD and its sub- portions or all of the later phases of the proposed sewer consultant Regina Villa Associates, working with facilities, if the shellfish option does not produce the Commissioner Joe Lyons and former Community hoped-for results. Advisory Committee member Beverly Kane, developed a public information program. One result Of some assistance in meeting the TMDLs was of that work is a web site, www.mashpeewaters.com, the October Town Meeting adoption of fertilizer which explains the nitrogen problem,the WNMP,and management regulations by the Town,as made possible where our work stands. The site includes links to all by the Cape Cod Commission's Cape-wide fertilizer the documents generated as part of the WNMP,as well DCPC and related legislation put forth by Senator as the MEP reports for our estuaries and other web sites Wolf. Although the Massachusetts Estuaries Program dealing with the nitrogen issue,along with minutes of models on which the TMDLs and our Plan are based do all the Commission's meetings. There is also an not anticipate significant nitrogen reduction through information kiosk at the rear entrance to Town Hall and fertilizer reduction or stormwater facilities,for both of a brochure available at Town Hall,the Library,and the which there is inadequate information to provide a solid Senior Center to keep Mashpee residents informed on basis for model calculations, they clearly have some the issue and our progress. You may also refer to the level of benefit at minimal cost to taxpayers. The Mashpee Blue Book,a citizen's guide to our nutrient- Sewer Commission is also closely following the studies related water quality problems and what needs to be being done in Falmouth and other places regarding on- done about them. Recordings of television broadcasts 144