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Action Plan 1:
Managing Nitrogen-Sensitive Embayments

October 17, 2011 draft final

About 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 this action plan. First, please read the entire action plan nitrogen management action plan. Then at the bottom of this page 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.

Managing Nitrogen-Sensitive Embayments

Problem

Impairments to water quality and living resources caused by excessive nitrogen inputs to Buzzards Bay is one of the most pressing issues identified in this CCMP. Most of these impairments occur in the somewhat less well flushed embayments that fringe Buzzards Bay. Loss of eelgrass beds, accumulation of benthic algae smothering of shellfish beds, and low oxygen concentra-tions and resulting fish kills are among the impacts that must be remedied. Elimination of these impairments will ensure that the designated uses for those embayments are met. While the state and federal government can regulate permitted discharges like outfall pipes and permitted municipal stormwater networks, non-point sources of pollution like septic system discharges can only be controlled by voluntary municipal efforts such as sewer expansion or requiring the use of nitrogen removal onsite wastewater treatment systems.

Goals

Goal 1.1. Ensure that no designated uses will be lost, nor ecosystems adversely affected by excessive contributions of nitrogen to any area of Buzzards Bay.

Goal 1.2. Restore lost designated uses and adversely affected ecosystems impaired by the excessive contribution of nitrogen to any area within Buzzards Bay.

Objectives

Objective 1.1. To develop and adopt scientifically based nitrogen TMDLs for nitrogen-sensitive embayments, or other areas of Buzzards Bay, where warranted.

Objective 1.2. To reduce the amount of nitrogen currently entering nitrogen-impacted embayments, including all areas identified on 303(d) and Integrated Lists, according to limits specified in approved TMDLs.

Objective 1.3. To limit new additions of nitrogen entering nitrogen-sensitive and impaired embayments.

Objective 1.4. To ensure that state and federal discharge permits meet nitrogen loading limits and waste load allocations specified in approved TMDLs.

Objective 1.5. To promote the development and implementation of local plans to manage nitrogen discharges to coastal waters to meet TMDL limits and waste load allocations.

Objective 1.6. To promote the development and support the use of alternative and advanced nitrogen reducing wastewater treatment technologies at all scales of flow.

Objective 1.7. Monitor water quality and natural resources like eelgrass beds at a sufficient frequency to document management needs, assess the effectiveness of actions taken, and to document ongoing changes and variability in water quality and ecosystems health.

Solutions

Municipalities should take action to reduce nitrogen inputs to impaired waters. Wastewater is the most significant nitrogen source in most watersheds, and sewering with advanced wastewater treatment for nitrogen removal will be the most viable solution for reducing wastewater nitrogen inputs from areas with dense development. In less developed areas, where sewering is cost-prohibitive, advanced nitrogen removal onsite systems and small community scale systems may be part of a solution. To ensure action, it is imperative that DEP develop, and for the U.S. EPA to adopt, total maximum daily load (TMDL) nitrogen limits and waste load allocations for all impaired waters. These designated loadings limits directly affect only discharges requiring a federal permit, so municipalities must develop comprehensive strategies to manage all sources to meet the recommended these watershed loading limits.

In some watersheds, better management of agricultural fertilizer release will be required, and in the case of the cranberry industry, this can be achieve in part through better water management techniques. Though typically a secondary source, stormwater discharges and residential fertilizer use can be locally important contributors, and management solutions to reduce these inputs can compliment efforts to reduce nitrogen inputs. All stakeholders should work closely with municipalities to reduce nitrogen to meet TMDLs, and implement comprehensive strategies, including managing or offsetting nitrogen inputs from new development.

Costs and Financing

Preliminary estimates by Buzzards Bay municipalities suggest that sewer expansion in the watershed may exceed $2 billion. Because of these immense costs and scale of the effort, controlling nitrogen inputs to meet adopted nitrogen loading limits will remain one of the most formidable political, financial, and management challenges facing Buzzards Bay municipalities, and implementation will likely take decades.

Measuring Success

The issuance of TMDLs, and the compliance with those TMDLs will be the management measures tracked. Restoring water quality and recovery of habitat will be the long-term tracking measure, and these will be assessed through the Coalition's Water Quality Monitoring Program.

To fully understand the basis of these goals and objectives, and possible management approaches, please read the complete Managing Nitrogen Discharges Action Plan (October 17, 2011 draft final, pdf file).

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