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Action Plan 15:
Managing Coastal Watersheets and the Waterfront
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 this action plan. First, please read the entire action plan Managing Coastal Watersheets and the Waterfront. 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 Coastal Watersheets and the Waterfront
Problem
Coastal population and development pressures along the waterfront, new docks and piers, increased boating activities, and other uses of coastal waters, as well as dredging and coastal armoring to support those activities, continue to degrade water quality, destroy habitat, and affect marine plant and animal populations. All of Buzzards Bay is within the boundaries of its coastal municipalities, and therefore both the state and the municipalities have jurisdiction over activities on the water's surface (watersheet) and on the bottom of the bay (tidelands). The Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan, adopted in 2009, better regulates activities areas greater than 1/3 mile offshore. Municipalities remain the lead in managing nearshore areas, including all embayments within Buzzards Bay, but most have failed to adopt any similar comprehensive planning strategies for managing waterfront and watersheet uses and development. To address these needs, towns must develop local harbor and watersheet management plans and adopt laws, regulations and policies that support them.
This action plan seeks principally to address conflicting uses and management priorities for the waterfront and near coastal watersheets not addressed by the Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan, including nearshore renewal energy facilities. Issues associated with discharges from boat operation and maintenance, and adverse impacts from boat mooring systems are addressed in Action Plan 6. Managing Impacts from Boating, Marinas, and Moorings
Goals
Goal 15.1. To manage the uses and activities in the waters and coastal zone of Buzzards Bay in an integrated manner to ensure sustainable recreational and commercial activities while protecting and improving ecosystem health and values.
Goal 15.2. Ensure that dredging activities minimize adverse effects on water quality, physical processes, marine productivity and public health and to maximize the beneficial use of use of dredged sediments.
Objectives
Objective 15.1. Develop and improve upon geographic databases identifying habitat, sediment characteristics, and contamination hotspots of lands under the ocean to establish a strong technical basis for coastal watersheet planning and management.
Objective 15.2. Promote improved municipal watersheet and waterfront planning to protect water quality and natural resources while allowing sustainable uses.
Objective 15.3. Promote the adoption and implementation of municipal watersheet management plans that consider placement of piers, moorings areas, and other coastal activities and structures.
Objective 15.4. Improve implementation and enforcement of coastal and wetland laws, statutes and regulations at the local, regional, state and federal levels.
Objective 15.5. Promote increased cooperation among and between town boards and state and federal agencies on coastal projects with regional implications.
Objective 15.6. Ensure that dredging methods and timing be conducted to minimize adverse impacts, and where appropriate, transfer sensitive resources out of areas to be dredged.
Objective 15.7. To maximize the beneficial uses of dredged material by creating opportunities by pre-designating receiving areas (e.g. beach nourishment zones) to expedite permitting.
Solutions
Most of the solutions in this action plan require the development of comprehensive harbor management and watersheet protection strategies that are fulfilled through the adoption of town zoning or general bylaws or city ordinances. Some, like beneficial use dredged materials, require changes in state and federal policies and regulations. The state and federal government have funded many new surveys of the bottom of Buzzards Bay, but towns must gather nearshore data for their own planning efforts. While the cost to develop such planning docu-ments is a hurdle, the real obstacle to implementation is developing a political consensus to pass zoning and non-zoning laws that may be contentious
Costs and Financing
Based on recent town efforts, the cost of developing a resource protection based harbor plan is typically $50-$100,000 per embayment. Some state and federal grant programs can be used to fund these efforts, but most often municipal legislative bodies appropriate the necessary funds.
Measuring Success
This action plan is evaluated by programmatic actions by towns developing and s adopting needed waterfront and watersheet management plans and policies.
To fully understand the basis of these goals and objectives, and possible management approaches, please read the complete Managing Coastal Watersheets and the Waterfront Action Plan (October 17, 2011 draft final, pdf file).