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Chapter 4:
Introduction to the Action Plans
October 17, 2011 draft finalAbout the new Buzzards Bay CCMP Action Plans
The Buzzards Bay NEP is now updating our 1991 landmark Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) to reflect the great progress achieved since that plan was finalized. It will include new or updated goals, objectives, and management solutions to meet the environmental needs for Buzzards Bay and its surrounding watershed throughout the next decade.
On this page is a draft action plan from the updated Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. The text on this page is a public draft provided to invite comment and discussion of the subject by residents and stakeholders. It may contain goals and recommendations that have not yet been endorsed or approved by the Buzzards Bay Steering Committee. The views or information contained here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or the US Environmental Protection Agency.
We want your feedback on each action plan. First, please read the entire action plan on each page then at the bottom of the action plan pages, click the "Rate the Goals and Objectives now" button to provide comments on each goal, objective and defined management approach contained in this Action Plan. Based on your feedback, we will update and revise all the action plans in the new CCMP.
This page has only a few highlights of this chapter. Read the actual text of Chapter 4 as a pdf file.
Action Plan Organization
The action plans contained in this chapter form the centerpiece of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan 2005. Successful implementation of these plans should lead to protection of the water quality and natural resources of Buzzards Bay and its surrounding watershed.Action plans are divided into seven sections: Problem, Background, Major Issues, Goals, Objectives, Recommendations and Commitments (with target dates). Under each recommendation are estimated financial costs, legislation or regulations required, responsible parties, and tracking.
The first three categories, set off in their own section, provide the reader with the necessary background for a full understanding of the subject matter, and set the stage for the action items. The other sections, beginning with Action Plan Goals, are combined into an Action Plan summary sheet, with financial costs and tracking strategy combined under each recommendation.
Goals are broad, long-term aims that indicate the desired condition for Buzzards Bay. Objectives are more specific, shorter-term targets for attaining goals. Recommendations are the specific actions needed to implement the objectives. Every objective should have at least one recommendation associated with it. For the action plans contained in the 1991 CCMP, these goals and objectives have generally changed little. The CCMP recommendations are the specific actions that have been identified by federal, state, and regional agencies as well as municipalities as actions most likely to achieve the stated goals and objectives. Below each recommendation is a target date, and a statement as to whether or not the applicable agency has agreed to take the action by the stated target date.
The Difference between goals and objectives
- Goals are broad; objectives are narrow.
- Goals are general intentions; objectives are precise.
- Goals are intangible; objectives are tangible.
- Goals are abstract; objectives are concrete.
- Goals usually cannot be validated as is; objectives can be validated.
- Goals are long term, Objectives are shorter term
For recommended actions, wherever the phrase "each Buzzards Bay watershed municipality" is used, this is meant to refer to those municipalities with appreciable areas within the Buzzards Bay watershed. Unless otherwise stated, this refers to the towns of Acushnet, Bourne, Carver, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Falmouth, Marion, Mattapoisett, Middleborough, Rochester, Wareham, Westport, and the City of New Bedford.