Shellfish & Marine Water Quality Committee

The Harwich Shellfish & Marine Water Quality Committee met only three times over the past year (Mar 23, April 27, and October 5) to deal with matters at hand. These included review of the new water dependent structures by-law, which successfully passed Town Meeting in May, and approval or review of several dock and bulkhead proposals from private property owners. Water dependent structures often come into conflict with shellfish areas and it a critical role of the committee to be sure impacts can be kept to a minimum, otherwise recommend denial.

East Harwich residents Peter and Leah Flak brought attention to the serious bird dropping problem at Muddy Creek. A three-page summation of the situation was submitted to our committee. This cormorant problem was determined to be a significant issue and should be pursued. The Division of Wildlife was contacted and plans are being developed similar to what was accomplished at a pond in Orleans to scare off the birds. No birds were present in October at Muddy Creek so this will wait for next season.

A Coastal Zone Management grant was awarded in the amount of $15,000 in order to utilize a storm drains and four test wells in Round Cove. The harbor and shellfish area water-sampling program included sampling on 6/22, 7/6, 7/20, 8/17, and 9/14. The thirteen stations worth of samples were delivered to the Barnstable County Health Lab for analysis and QAPP certification. Results can be found on the committee web page (a link off the Harbormasters website).

The committee was most concerned with an unusual but NOT harmful algae bloom that took place this summer in Allen, Wychmere, and Saquatucket Harbors. The Shellfish Lab seeding plan was a success, which included Herring River, Allen Harbor, Wychmere Harbor and Round Cove and Pleasant Bay.

The committee members are most interested in a new water-sampling instrument acquired by the Natural Resources Department at year's end. This multi-parameter water-sampling instrument acquires data in the field that can be downloaded to a personal computer back at the office for investigation. The unit called a Hydrolab Mini-Sonde is fully capable of taking depth, conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, ORP, and salinity. This tool we hope will allow Harwich to sample environmental parameters at stations in all of its reported 33 ponds and estuaries keeping the data clear and organized.

The Shellfish & Marine Water Quality Committee is currently in a state of transition. We are hopeful that we might attract volunteers that could offer expertise on water quality.

Respectfully,

Tom Leach, Acting Chairman

Robert Dowling

Heinz Proft

Frank Sampson

Michael Cienava

Charles Beggs

Michael Dempsey