February 1998: Much has been accomplished by the Eight Towns and the Bay Committee since it formed in 1992 to help promote locally protection of our coastal resources. Grants have been awarded by the Committee for local monitoring, planning, research, demonstration and educational efforts. Technical assistance has been provided in the form of grantwriting assistance, arranging site visits and sponsoring workshops.
What we've done
- Worked with 8T&B communities and MVPC to develop grant ideas and write proposals for various state grants. Funded projects include those in:
- Rowley: Municipal Incentive Grant (1994), Bays Action Grant (1995)
- Ipswich: Coastal Pollutant Remediation (1995, 1996, 1997), Bays Action Grant (1995), DEP 604(b) (1996 - with MVPC)
- Gloucester: DEP 319 (1994)
- Sponsored educational workshops on a variety of issues, including Saltmarsh Restoration (1994) and Aquaculture (1995), as well as a Stormwater Trade Show (1996).
- Initiated, supported and funded active citizens water quality groups in Rockport and Essex, and provided support to a similar pre-existing group in Ipswich.
- Designed educational signs illustrating the value and importance of salt marshes, currently being erected in twelve locations throughout the 8T&B region.
- Developed a Coastal Water Quality Handbook for citizens interested in assessing coastal pollution sources.
- Funded and provided support for a citizen's shoreline survey which identified potential pollution sources to the Merrimack River in Newburyport and Salisbury.
- Worked with the Essex Water Quality Task Force to restore Warren Pond in Essex, which was overrun with the invasive Purple loosestrife (Lythrum silicaria).
- Purchased equipment and materials for a fecal coliform testing lab available for use by local communities. The lab is housed in Rowley with the Parker River Clean Water Association.
Past 8T&B-funded projects (before 1998)
We have funded a variety of local projects, carried out by citizens, grassroots groups, and municipalities.
- Inventory and assessment of 172 tidal crossings in the region to determine which have restricted flows; 8T&B is subsequently performing work with communities to develop mitigation plans.
- A town-wide survey/computerization project of septic systems in Essex.
- Construction of stormwater treatment tanks on Central Street in Rowley.
- development of Rockport's first Open Space Plan.
- Evaluation of a wetland area in the Lower Powow River in Amesbury, as part of the town's current plan to develop a Riverwalk.
- Maintenance of anadromous fish ladders at two locations on the Parker River in Byfield.
Current 8T&B-funded projects (1998)
- Cuvilly Farm animal waste education/mitigation project, a comprehensive system to deal with animal manure on a farm in Ipswich.
- Rockport Elementary School coastal environmental education project. implement these action plans.
