water quality and shellfish areas
DESCRIPTION
A presentation about water quality and shellfish areas in Buzzards Bay. Presented by Neil Churchill of the Massachusetts Dept. of Fish & Game during the Buzzards Bay Coalition's 2014 Decision Makers Workshop series. Learn more at www.savebuzzardsbay.org/DecisionMakersTRANSCRIPT
Sanitary SurveysBy
Neil Churchill
A sanitary survey is required before an area can be opened or to keep an area opened for the harvest of shellfish.
• Components– Shoreline Survey– 15 sets of water samples per
classification station over a three year period
– Written Report
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• Extent of shoreline to be surveyed– Determine boundaries of the survey area
• Survey the study area for pollution sources
• Types of pollution sources: – Man-made active (point source)– Man-made passive (point source)– Marine (both point and non-point)– Natural (both point and non-point)
Initial Determination of Area
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Is there any evidence of discharge?How far is source from the water body?Is the pollution source impacting the water body?Is the source direct or indirect?Point or Non-point ?Is it a dry weather or wet weather problem?Determine flow rate.Sample the discharge.Calculate bacterial loading.Map (location by GPS) all sources and record characteristics of each source. Take a picture!
Source Determination
• Sump pumps• Pool discharges• Failing septic systems and/or systems too
close to the water’s edge (50 feet).• Wastewater Treatment Plants• Industrial discharges
Man-made Active
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Evaluation – Characterize land use - farms, industry, unique uses, etc. Identify drainages and any other types of pollution sources.
• Pipes, roof drains, etc.• Runoff from roads and other hard
surfaces• Storm drains and illegal connections into
the drain pipe• Dumpsites and other Garbage Containers
Man-made Passive
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Evaluation – Characterize land use and any other types of pollution sources. Can use a Smoke Test or Optical Brightener Test to try to locate the illegal connection).
• Animals – dogs, cows, marine mammals, other wildlife
• Waterfowl
• People
• Marshes, streams & wetlands
Natural
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Evaluation - Record the presence of wildlife and if possible estimate numbers and types.
• Marinas
• Mooring Fields
• Boats which are large enough to hold a
Marine Sanitary Device.
Marine
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Evaluation - Evaluate marinas and mooring fields (use a separate form for this).
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Runoff Source – Hard Surfaces
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Runoff Source - Soft surface
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Types of pipes
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Pipe with signs of Discharge
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Hidden Pipe
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Not so hidden pipe
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Storm Drains
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Outhouse with piped discharge to ground
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Example of the Other Category
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An example of an open leeching field
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Roof Drains
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Streams from wetlands
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During shoreline surveys you count only the boats that are large enough to hold an MSD (≥20’)
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On smaller boats MSDs can be found located under the center console
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Marinas - small
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Marinas – Large
Contact InformationNeil Churchill
Division of Marine Fisheries1213 Purchase St Third Floor
New Bedford, MA 027401-508-990-2860 ext 125
www.mass.gov/marinefisheries