The goal of the Clean Water Act (cwa) is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters
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- Use Assessment
- Shellfish Harvesting
- Primary and Secondary Contact RECREATION and Aesthetics
WMA water withdrawal SummaryThere are no WMA water withdrawals in this segment. NPDES wastewater discharge summary (APPENDIX E, TABLE E1)Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is permitted (MA0090531) to discharge from their facility located at 175 Edward Foster Road in Scituate an average monthly flow of 0.002 MGD of treated sanitary wastewater via one outfall to Scituate Harbor (permit was transferred in June 2002 from the US Coast Guard). According to the permit reapplication dated April 2004, the average monthly flow of the facility (wastewater treatment described as a septic tank, sand filtration, and chlorination prior to discharge) is 0.00023 MGD. The fecal coliform bacteria counts have been extremely high on occasion (too numerous to count or TNTC) and the TRC concentrations have been as high as 2.2 mg/L. Both of these pollutants have exceeded the facility’s monthly average permit limits (14 MPN/100 ml for fecal coliform and 0.0075 mg/L for TRC). otherScituate Harbor supports a commercial fishing fleet. When fish and fish products are loaded and unloaded from these vessels steps should be taken to minimize fish waste runoff directly into the harbor. Use AssessmentAquatic LifeEelgrass Bed Habitat MassDEP’s Wetlands Conservancy Program (WCP) identified the presence of eelgrass in Scituate Harbor from historic 1951 black and white aerial photography (Costello 2003). In 1998 MassDEP WCP performed field verification of 1995 aerial photography and mapped the extent of eelgrass bed habitat in Scituate Harbor. Total areal coverage of Scituate Harbor from the 1998 survey was approximately 6% of the harbor. In 2001 MassDEP WCP performed field verification of 2001 aerial photography and mapped the extent of eelgrass bed habitat in Scituate Harbor. There was almost no change in the total coverage of eelgrass beds between 1998 and 2001. There has been some loss in eelgrass beds since 1951. Too limited data are available so the Aquatic Life Use is not assessed for Scituate Harbor. Shellfish HarvestingThe DMF Shellfish Status Report of July 2000 indicates that Area MB7.0 (which contains this entire segment) is prohibited (MA DFG 2000 and Appendix G, Table G3 and Appendix G, Table G3). The area is prohibited due to bad water quality and lack of a current sanitary survey (Churchill 2000a). Based on the DMF shellfish growing area status, the Shellfish Harvesting Use is assessed as impaired presumably because of elevated fecal coliform bacteria. In addition to the point source discharge, potential sources of bacteria include discharges from municipal separate storm sewer systems, marina/boating sanitary on-vessel discharges, failing or inadequate septic systems, and wet weather discharges from non-point sources. Primary and Secondary Contact RECREATION and AestheticsThere is one semi-public beach, Scituate Light Beach, along the northeastern shore of Scituate Harbor, Scituate. No data/posting information are available for this beach in either of the MDPH 2002 or 2003 annual reports (MDPH 2003 and 2004b). There have been no visual observations of aesthetically objectionable conditions (e.g., oils, odors, deposits, etc.) reported for Scituate Harbor (DeCesare 2005). The Primary and Secondary Contact Recreational uses are currently not assessed for Scituate Harbor. The Aesthetics Use is assessed as support. Scituate Harbor (MA94-02) Use Summary Table
Directory: eea -> docs -> dep -> water -> resources -> 71wqar09 dep -> Charles D. Baker Governor dep -> Charles D. Baker Governor dep -> Charles D. Baker Governor dep -> Index of Photographs dep -> Department of environmental protection one winter street, boston, ma 02108 617-292-5500 water -> Water Resource Management Planning 71wqar09 -> 2004 water quality assessment report Download 3.32 Mb. Share with your friends:
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