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Buzzard's Bay
Source: www.impulz.net/buzzardsbay/
The location that we chose for our project is Buzzard’s Bay, specifically the pollution in New Bedford Harbor. Buzzard’s Bay is located in southeastern Massachusetts, with a surface area of 591 square kilometers and watershed area of 1119 square kilometers. The New Bedford Harbor is formed by the Acushnet and Slocum rivers and is a sub-basin of Buzzard’s Bay. The area of the New Bedford Harbor is approximately 80 square kilometers. There are several major pollution problems that are affecting the New Bedford Harbor area including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals, and wastewater effluent. The most significant problem is with PCB and heavy metal pollution of the area. This pollution occurred as a result of manufacturing in the surrounding area from 1940 to the late 1970’s. The PCBs reached the harbor through direct dumping by companies and also through the city sewer system. As a result of this the Harbor is contaminated from the Upper Acushnet River to Buzzards Bay for a stretch of six miles. Studies have indicated that up to ½ pound of PCBs are transported by tides each day from the harbor to Buzzard’s Bay. Another problem that is currently affecting the region is excessive levels of nitrogen in the water. This is due to sewage treatment plants, storm-water runoff, septic systems, and waste discharge from boats. The significance of the contamination of New Bedford Harbor is that the pollution from it is spread directly into Buzzard’s Bay. Buzzard’s Bay has been designated as an Estuary of National Significance because it contains over 10,000 acres of salt marshes and tidal flats. It also accounts for 25% of the state’s commercial shellfish production, which has already been impacted by PCB incorporation into the food chain. The area is used by many people for recreation and commercial fishing, and many people live near the affected area. Created by Dan Humphrey and Hayden Condon
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