2017-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MAINTENANCE DREDGING 2. Monitor improvements in water quality Our dredging efforts in 2017 were consumed by resulting from restoration efforts such as the dredging of the Popponesset Approach Channel in oyster propagation,dredging,and wastewater Nantucket Sound and the Popponesset Bay Inner treatment as undertaken by the Town, Tribe Channel.These projects enable us to replenish the sand and others. of the Popponesset Spit,which is the primary nesting area for migrating Plovers and Least Terns,as well as In order to develop a sustainable long-term preserving this barrier spit which protects the entire program,the Mashpee Water Quality Consortium was Popponesset Bay and estuary area.We also spent many developed in 2009 between the Mashpee Wampanoag hours working to establish an alternate sediment Tribe,the Town of Mashpee and the Coastal Systems disposal site for our Waquoit Bay dredging projects on Program within the University of Massachusetts — South Cape Beach on the State property area. Dartmouth,School of Marine Science and Technology (SMAST). The Mashpee Waterways Commission has PUBLIC ACCESS been responsible for the overall program organization We worked in concert with the DNR, with the support and assistance from the Tribes'Natural Harbormaster, Shellfish Constable, Conservation Resources Staff under Chuckie Green and Casey Agent and the DPW on completing ramp floats, Thornbrugh; Rick York and his team in DNR; and walkways, signage and dinghy rack storage at our SMAST-UMass Dartmouth with Brian Howes and his Ockway Bay, Pirates Cove/Ed Baker Ramp and team. planning for work now underway at the Great River Ramp.This double wide ramp will be a valuable asset ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF THE WATERWAYS to our community and serve to protect the river and the COMMISSION immediate area near the ramp. This increases access Members of the Commission serve as liaisons on for all forms of boating and provides additional the following Committees: parking. Mashpee/Wakeby John's Pond COMPREHENSIVE DREDGE PERMIT Popponesset Bay Waquoit Bay We now have a Town Comprehensive Dredging Barnstable County Resources Committee Permit combining three separate permits, which required additional cost to the Town,into a single 10- Sewer Committee year Comprehensive Permit. Public Access WATER QUALITY/WATER SAMPLING The Commission wishes to thank the Town REPORT Manager and the Board of Selectmen as well as the The Mashpee Water Quality Monitoring Program DNR Director, Harbormaster, Conservation Agent, is an on-going collaborative effort. This program has Shellfish Constable and the DPW Director for sharing grown to be one of the most successful programs in the their expertise,and for providing their assistance in all region and has provided a sound assessment of the that we do. We all strive to do our job well for the present health of the bays. The 2016 Monitoring benefit of the Town and the public. Program was very successful and showed once again Respectfully submitted, that properly implemented volunteer sampling efforts can provide high quality data in the most cost effective Kenneth Bates,Chairman manner.This project has a two-fold goal: Donald MacDonald, Vice-Chairman Donald Barton, Secretary 1. Sustain a continuing assessment of the nutrient Al Wickel related water quality of the Waquoit and Tim Leedham Popponesset Bay Estuaries relative to Stanton Healy regulatory standards (TMDL's) Steve Mone 165