1993

Massachusetts Water Resources Authority · from the MWRA · 36 pages · 1.8 MB
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The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority

rile State LU |
Boston Harbor

“SOES OF wetais entartag tame weer EF
Nave decreased dramatic! |y-

Sl aiicee! “Lest @Copper
vam =Coteium, Silver, Sorcery

1993

“Role, Science

This report 's 3 windkrw into the worid of scientific studies a! Boston Harbor and the larger coastal ecosystem of Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays. Though
the MWRA conducts mary of the studies Mire are numerous other graps inveéved In monkoring these waters (see tnx) This report compiles, condenses, high-
ligtts, and presents this comprehensive Dody of knowledge in what is hoped to be an aocessitie Inem.

Studying 8 marine environmen like the Massachusetts Bays syste ts not a simple fast Even the casual observer (ooking aut aver the farhor from the
exprissaay, can see signs of Immense varlabilty; charanteristics Oke waves, fides, and boa! traffic are always changing, In order Lib understand Mese and other ricre
COMpeY aspects of the mating envitorment, scientists need inlommation thal captures (lio (ual range of (his geographic and temporal variability Collecting data

requires extensive field and laboratory work The cata must Ihin be evaluatod using tools suet as stalistical

aralyses and comeuter modeling Organizations Actively Monitoring
Wessachusetts Coastal Waters
Studies of the Massachusetts Bays system serve two purposes: they (t) determine whether wafer quality | © Rosin Cateye

standards ase bwing met and (2) play an Integral foe in planning water quality irpravements. Monitoring | * Sasson Uniersity

domiemines whether the water i sale both for the organises that five in lt and for the people who use @ ott tiioaiia

listing, recreation, transportation, and offer antivities. For example, waler al Seaches must bé clocked fof |» tiortheasten Leneraty

bacteria to determine whether |t is sate for swimming, and fish must He checked tor disease to detenmine | * University of Massachisens m Boston

aes © University of Massachusatts af Dertmouty
whether they are being Harned by ptt © Universty of Massactuesets af Lorwedl
Soinntilic stuicies are also ceitical 10 wnproyeling full wat qaaality was lang though that sewape cont | © Lanivasity cf New Hampatine
amined waters could anly De vemeciedt wilt the most oomplée, state cf the wit teatment processes. While | * Milvetsty ot rode island
th had is itd not the ta itecietiguadi side | nn nena
a agp Suocesses, it did not always target the rea! problerrs. curren! approact, titel ibaalerie

Studies deeming which aspects of water quality read improvement, identity the cause of (he problam, and | © Tho Corter thr Coastal Zone Studies

help design cost efective solutions tailored to the specific problem The studies may sae expensive inthe | © Massachusetts Autttos Suciety

shot rum, that mn the long ray thery save tine: and As such, tis i Not just an assessment of nga samy ore

, bl i Imorety. , hiss report I ou ts Bays P

Boston Harter ane the bays; & eles lon Me bass tor olans to improwe water qualty in the Asture. © Wtssachundtts Depaitmmen ot Martie Fisheries
© Massacrusetts Highway Deparment
© National Ocearic and Almeepherc Agoinistratjion
© 15. Environmental Prowction Agency
© U.S. Geog Sunny

Massachusetts Water Resnuroes Aulharity

The State o7
Boston Harbor

Ally 1994
Prepared under the direction of
Douglas B MacDonald, Executhe Director
John F Fitzqeraid, Director, Sewerage Ditision

| WWRA Board of Directors |
Thuy Cons (Chair)

Jonn J, Carroll (Vice-Chair)
Alobert J. Cinlek
Manuel A. Mountinno, lil
Lorraine M. Direney (Secretary)
Nonran P. Jacques
Charles Lyons
Josep A. MtacRitrhie
Samuel G. Mygaitt
Thomas E Aeilly, Jr
Walter J. Ryan Jr

[Environmental Quality Giepartnent |

Michael S. Connor
Kally Coughtin
Paul Lavery
Margarete Steinhauer
Tecdrtical Papert Nin Mi

19913

Table af Ceriternts

Exprative Summary

Irtroductan
Abating Harbor Pollutien
Tha Process of Renuvery

Sewer System Update
The Matiapolilan Sewer System
Collection
Pumping
‘Screening
Combined Sewer Overtiows
The Treatment Plats
Potistart Source Reduction

Resources ot Boston Harbor

The State of Bostun Harbor
‘Swimming and Scaling in the Harbar
Consumpion of Fish and Sheillisty
Maring Resources
Stale of the Sediments
Health of the Biota
‘State of the Water Quality
Aesthetic Appeal
Current anit Future State of the Hartor

Monitoring Massachusetts & Cape Cod Rays
Monitoring and Medeling tha Bays
Early Baseline Monitoring Rasults
Chlorophyll Concentrations
Plarikton Population
Dissotwed Oxygen Concentrations
Health of Fish and Shellfish
Berethic Community

Modeling: Dilution Patterns in Bays
Future Monitoring and Modeting

Bibliography

List af Figures

Figure Number

inl
12
13
14a
14a
15
16

2)
22

23
24
25
28

23
29
2.10
2n

212
2.13
24
25
ai

36
iy
3B

Titte

MWA pipe Inspections
Treatment pian! pumping capacity

Chokinny fime af Geer Istand Headwores

Dry weather combined sewer overflow everts
Wel weather nombined sewer overtiow events
How sewage treatment works

Combined tradfings of metals monitored at

Deer and Nut Istands

The amounts of certain metas entenng the system

Cernerspread Resources of Bastont Harber

Violation of bacterial standards at Harber beaches.
Concentrations of ofganio chemicals in mmegsels
torr) Door Island,
Contaminant concentrations in fish and sheltfish
Contatination levets in fish rom Boston hartiot
Ciosteidium cortamination at sediments
Nutnbers of benthic animal species a sites
previously used tor sludge discharge.
The fink betwesn pollution rechaction and
restovatinn
Nutreant loads to the harbor
Liver dssase in launder
Chilorogtnd! concentrations in the Anston Mauro
Chiloropiy|l concertrations in North
Aivetican astuaries.
Dissolved oxygen hi bottom and surtace watees

Dissolved oxygen in semii-enciosed and open water:

Water datity in Boston Harbor

Tampon appficaters per mie ol metropolitan beaches.

Locations of monitoring stations

Distribution of sewage tracers

Moar tote! nitrogen

Cape Cod Bay has more Chiorophy!l han
Massachusetts Bay

Phytoplankton assamblages in Matsa tusetts

ard Cape Cod Bays

Dissolved oxygen concentrations in the bays

Copper loads io Massachusetts Bay

Marnuty and PCB levels in fist

&-@nnn—

ewone

0
it]

12
13
4
18

16
16.

ao ons

39
310
ant

Table Number

hl
12

W
12

32
33

Contamination and disaase in fish are greatest
near the harbor

Depositional sediment areas In westerm
Massachusetts Bay

Modeled effivent dilution patterns

Title

Viclations of interim discharge limits
TRAC entorcement actions

Title

MWRA Joins the Fertiliner Fray
Future Plant Developments

Monitoring and Pollutant Studies in Bester Harbor

Clostridium pattringens

How Similar are Massachusetts and
Cape Cut Bays?

Calanus Copepods and Right whales

Stratification

Vv
8-19

~ he

14
15
16

Fyecitive

Summary

Fach yaar me State of Boston Harbor report documents changes in the envi-
ronmental health at the harbor and Massachusetts Bay as MWAAS Boston
Harbor Pinjact prognmses. fi has been more than lwo yeas since Wmoenye-
Tents to the exisitny sewage lreaivent plants tinally enabled WTA tr rearierets
slikige trom the discharges released awury Gay (ito the harbor Wi thre torte
coming apening of the fest phase of the mew orimary leamen! pant at Dee
island In 1994, tha MARA Is helping tu luther Pe restoration process in
Boston Harbor The following are examples of the sxtynsive erwinanmental
Tesources Me harbor now supports
¢ Cine of the state larpest herring runs, more than 200,000 fish anmually, trae

#5 Through the harbor and up) the Back River to spawn; ree team natal Chet

Numbers estimated in the 1970s
© Each spring and fall, porpnises ray to the MystieChebea Rivers in the

inner harbor
© Comrmeria and recreational lishing cocurt througheaut Ihe harat inching

a hoster fishery valued & over $10.6 million per year and ancounting tor

More than a fied ofall the state's intrster.

The harbor 15. a winter rafuge tor more than 4) species ol wadertowl, iury of
which migeate to the hemor before retumming to Canada tp breed
Evidence of he iinprvements to the harhor's eweunmestal health are har
fingers of tulute resturaticet
© Beach clogeres in 1993 remained below the incidence of the ale 1950s, av-
dancs al reduced bacterial cortamination in the farbot

© Tar contaminglion of fish and shelieh bas Deen oneatly rediced commuted
bo tie fale 1980s, and appears to be stabilize al much lower levels

Sites previously Impacted heavily by sluctoe dischamoas, poirt to the first

stages of sediment reponery
© The harbor looks ad smelis Geana the amount ol sewagebome (iter

famains Much lower than onty 9 few yeas ago, and in some grea, water
Gatity has improved by nearly two feet af wisthillity,

These morowemerts reflect effort % upyrade the extsting sewage teainent
Syste. However, maniaing tesulls also indica thal inpruvernents 1 Weat-
Tent alony, avin 18 inguguedion af a nye secondary (eaten plant later this
cerae will be ersulficion tu alkew commplely restoration of thn hathar oasye-
fem A large aga! Dicom lest summer emphasizes the nutremttich stil of
the haber and cages concerns regarding the harbors atilty to meet dissolved
caygen Standards and the possitlity of toxic gal bloat,

Meteing ihe the treatment plant discharge outlal offshore is a
cost-sttective means cf achieving lurther envircernartal benefits.
Some are conoamed, howevel, thal ait offshore outtall will act as @
Now Source Of nupients fo Ihe Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bay
oyster, While the MWRA discharge @ ihe major source of nutrients
40 Boston: Harbor, il represents only a sal traction at he tata nutn
ant kai)s jo Ihe hays 25 a whale Moniloring studies abia stew that
the mayerity of discharges %0 lhe mashor arp abeady transported lo Ihe
bays The conrantration ol distinct sewage efilaert racers ae hid
est near Ihe harbor, hit te most sensitive tracer can be seen
throughout Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays. While mvittence of
Coetaminaion can be seen taywide, the moniioting studies show
that the biological respanse to this contamination is mostly limsted
to The area wthin a few miles of the harbor Even thaugh the bays are
hol pristine, their overall environmental health 15 quite good. For
inclanes, Ihe aniifals living in Ihe stallooe in Cape God Bay are
found in tte same Hinds and numbers as were found more man
twenty years aga

Hh anditinn, moving he dschany uttshore diminishes tte poli
lial Impact ol any reneiring contaminants in the treated effluent
because he dilviian provided in deeper offshore waters will be dnout
ten times greater then in the farbor in these deep winters, nutrients
will have lass impact because ihe discharge wil! be ranged helow Ine
Surface where Pere is less light tar the growth of algae

Aetuniltation ol the sewer sysien has allowed the sestoration
rocies tor the Boston Harbor ecosystern to bagin The berets of
this retiaibiitafion are limiled anid unekirscore Pye nec for construction at ren
secondary iregtrent tacilifies for improved pollutant removal and a new ethuent
onffall lurmet for Mratnved dilution oftshare. The 1993 Sate of Boston Harber
Report explores these and other developments.

safe 1 F\zt

detinant

Stake of Harton Ecosystem Prcomary | 1958

Sate te
daattat ical \y

Sealant ‘ Seti fasnt Pina rey?

Marine Hosources Protectety
tha Bivte

Broor Healtn Msood iterith
ro 4

Introduction.

The stale of Busion Harbor m 1993, as desonbed in this report, reflects
about a8 much progeess a6 can be made through interim impennmants to the.
system's aging, cumoond sewage treatment plants. Clver the past few yitars,
the ganeraly riptoved perlyrmanoe of the region's sewage treatment sysen
has translated ito a much heather harbor showing marry indicators of arb
ecosystem racovesy. Thera camains, hownvet, angle evidence that sewage
ican! discharges are stil) dinaging Doth the harbor and Massachusetts Bay,
This reflects the |imited nature of imorovernents that that leer rede: atid
Underscores the newd lor new treatment facilities lo supgurt the reCqery
process (n Lott Ihe tarbor and the hay, With increasing awareness of the
impact that Massachusees Gay has guttered trom the harhor's sewage-relatied
pollution, the impodanor of the few treamtent cilities to the health of the
erie bays systen s now apparent.

Until this year, impromements tn the existing sewage treatment system Nee
been Load Io reduce pollution to the Harbor and the bay However, 1994 will
see a sivtt in the project. Having completed Improvernenis fo the existing sys-
fem, the MWRA row riers toward Phase One (startup) of a new primary
Beatment facility, Me ties! step toward introducing & modern secondary treat-
Tent system that wil be tte comerstane of recovery tor both waterbodies

Effluent currently discharged into the MWRA system is conveyed tr treatment facilities before &t & s-
charged to Boston Harbor From the harbor & #3 flushed 10 Massachusetts Bay. In addition, there are sul
dlantial discharges of untreated effluent which ocour when the sewer system is uverlosded. Past efforts
have Deen directed at reducing these untested cischarges, while new facilities are about to be pul into
operation thet will acvanog the quality of discharges trom the treatment plants,

Pollutants
Ralevant to the
Concerns im
Boston Harhor

"Safety far i
Sutiming (Boat\ ng
(tc ty. tacts! cotter
fetion oF the semen, tha
fret grcagattm poture
chnceriationg in the water

ah of Fish
and Shel 11tsh
Abectea by. trod: vets at
Pedi", PCEs* andi rts in)
hat and ste intr rrecraabiad
Contaminata Ct ane
sdetiety

Marine Resources
Afwehal ty tential oan
ad rratal cortaryrabon et
secirests pred ta”, 47
pester eats ant ottes ppat-
Sia eet Goer ony
er) are abet eter corey,
mabuants which promone age
rw ave guetta ae
Sp tiscrn |

sapsthetl cs
Aticien bye eespandiet enllts |

| Ganeontubene wich dune

Vetercipiy temtgoepetu- |
fats prions ape biome

” Sen Gietnory

| Abating Harbor Pel lutian

The approach baing taken in the Boston Harbor Project relies of reducing
pollutant Nows to allow long-term imorovement in the harbor, In Boston
Harbor the major soures nt palkitian are teatrnent plaré effluent, CSO (fis
charges, and stormwater, and the amaloration is based on 1) imorowng the
Quality of the effluent, and then 2) remowing the effluart io Massarhusetts Bay
Effluent enteting the harbor already makes its way lo Massachusetts Bay.
Otriousty, simply moving he pollution jwoblem entirely to the hay bs not an
acceptaole solution to the Bostoe Harber problem. Therefore, ie strategy
Srenives. substantially impenving the quafily of ctfvent enteting the bay, by
providing secondary treatment, and also designing an otal that provides
awit dilution ad dispersion of the effluent ih this way the Basten Harbor
Praject will resull in improvements not only to the harbor hut aise to we hay,

| The Process of hecovary |

While seducing the pollutant loads wif undoulitedty improve conditions in
the hathor and bay, recowery Will be graduat Periods of atnicus, short-term
change will come with (he sucpesdul completion of major (nestones, such as
the 1861 cessation of sludge discharges, and the planned anding uf effiient
discharges in the harbor when the mew cutfall tunnel is placed in servion.
Hoeven incremental improvernents wiD occur (N years ID Come as Wie tal
bors stored Or etemal, pollutants are simwly flushed from the system

Faccvery will not only be a slow proness, but it will proceed al varying
tales in Memmi parts ot the Mabon Areas heavily impacted by sewage dis~
Pharges will respond mare noticeably 49 their cessation. Similarly, faster
feoowery iS likely 1 well flushed areas of the harbor, or in areas initially less
impacted. Change will 0 dramatic in some plapes: less so in others, There is
aso edittance in fils report of lemporary periods wten polkition imaacts saem
fo Incinase rather han dectease. This is atl part of the nature of eocaysiem
feoowery, a Complex process that takes time

Recovery of the harbor can he monitored by cantly stuctyinng the watet,
sediments, and plants and animals aver an extended time penod, The most
tangible indicators of restoration will inevitably result at the port where \iser
ConcEMms meet ewitacenertal health, For the public, parhaps the two most
Signiticam indicators are the ability 1 swim satety in the harbor and to ately

eat hasbor fist and shellish. Fach of these coneams 15 closely linked to the
Neath aod testoralicn Of at Bas! cre of the major tapels of the harbor eoasys-
tem. the wales, the secimants or the plants and animals. The types of changes
expected in each of these areas ate surmmarined in the these bows below

This yoar’s Stata of tha Harbor Report tas hoen structured 10 provide infor
mation in tteee sections. Ongoing improvements to the sewer system anti
eit oped on he harbor am evakualed im the fins! chapter.

The second chapke examines the ettects ne improvements to the system
have aliaady fad cn Boston Harber and the status of the recovery process.

Finally, ths curare statu of Massachusetts Bay (s examined in Chagner 3
As the tinal recetving place tor much ot the existing sewer system discharges,
Massachusetts Bay has been gradually acoummibsting sewage-crigraled pol.
tion, Monttoting hay begun to reveal distinct patterns of pollution trom the
harbor to the bey Knowing the nahiee of the currant imparts, it
is now possibly lo examine the benufits tat the new treatment

[Planes and Animate |
tails and outta wi tring Wo te bay. howe
© neeetiad areata
i Sediments Josette na
lggraded cide dhe Larpary 0 te:
i onygenmied tyr covtamrartiay, acted!
4, surh a5 steage, wtich fuspondest parties
thier kites Gocterit artiv’y: | 9 The erstry aeemtriatagee L0H
Water iets feayyre Corimergtion | jit only wteae
5 © Ebraatad pothstarn ooricen- ar Nght anapned
na rotor cote deems Bip Lic
“ene nono Pipe pire ae Featthy
sain deepsea artes * oan ee
| Gc as boom to feastny | ci MUN oF tne
* Dee any ened tyes carci, tw Wee
1 ah, het aed horton | ¢Msturaty aoturtig con: | be Sea nkgingté?
Pea emohcra cantons utes and || ene maa
utter geertiafy timer :
© Well coryiparejteet, (urwy Con sate prev. ram
cca” | |-Seentemame | | Set
© Algal Soom nthequent ein Rate ar fisrovery
Sossennenne Gare BY feporees Water column sneciee
¢Hskmtvey tages larity “Somienctoy. | ocowar most raidhy whe
iinar fom tecowery thos in contact with cart
Te af Recovery Coa ttertine te wendi |
© Depends on: degree of eucecl setontion | wnrated secrets:
fuehing, depres of conta ponies Pisa toensihet: 1s
mmivation al behavior ol ) Saepiemals Hay patent Fapaty
o Wl Histol rete fon aaeenneece) Quoy. shaw broing
respond mulcky’ species recowr dll

Chaptat One

Sewer System

When tie MIWA assured contra! of metropalnan Beslan’: sinwer systirns
(n 1985, it inherited an aging collactn of pipes and pumps, many of which
had excesited (helt usefs lives. The latent plants at the harhor's adge could
fu longer FeTKWe enough Qolmints to rset tederal and stale sandaits. On
Tainy days the system was overwhelmed by volumes of flow # was not
dessignod 10 handiie, wilh betakdowe al One facility triggering a successian nf
bachugs and overtiows throughout the system

Torkiy, ae a resull of repair and replenennent work 49 many of fs weakest
links, the MWHA sewer syste is capatie of traneporiing and Ireating greater
Hows. Renovations in the collection sysiem, recucton ol foc discharges, the
and ¢f sour aw sludge dumping, increased pumping capacity, and more effi-
cient disentection of wastewaler are among mary eforts to operate and
érbance the system in ways that will minimize the impact of its still consider
abla shortcomings Uitmaldy, only mpkoement or axpansioe of mest facili-
ties will allow the system 10 provide an adsquale level of service so tat the
waters affected try plaet Gischarges can meet wales quality standarts.

| The Metropolitan Sewer Systen

Abou! 23 million people ad 5.500 businesses in 43 comenunities in the
metropolitan Boston aaa contnhute wastewater 10 Ihe MWVFIAS sirwer system
With the addition of stormwater runott and intiltrating groundwater, this
amounts {0 an deaeage Now of bout 380 million gallons per tay. Wastewater
§ collected trom communities Mrough an rivicate network at local pipes that
ead fo MWRA irtercenter pipes, tis then pumped to facilities where large
debris is screened aul Detore entering one al two MAA treatment plants at
Nut sland in) Quincy oF Dear Island off Winthrop.

Coltection =|

Sewage travels trough three ditlerent sets of pipes betore reaching MAA
trealinert plants. Wastewater Irom a {ome oF bertiness is Huished theouat a
bulidings pipes until i reaches local sewers, which are owned and operated

by city and town sewer departments. These 5.400 mules of local sewers cani-
nect tp 230 miles of MAARA, intameptee pipes, which lead to the sewage ireat-
mere pakants.

Ywhen the MWRA took over the sewer system. many of the interceptors
wwe in poor condition. Ogieriortion fram age or lack of mainiergnos led to
Tumetous backuos and overfiows Currently, new inerceptors ave beng built
that will fenale high volumes of Hew and will pesvert similar problems in the
lulure. Upgrading is not a single process, however, and will lake Several
years ho. complete as It entaits complex planning and construction ano requires
the involvement of many communities,

The gh olin itself 8 an inchcatiy of arother prodiem. Sify perce at
the How that reaches the treatment plats is 2 pornhinetion of intitrstion and
inflow ((/}—infitratian of groundwater through cracks in pipes. and inflow
from Wlegal connections and showmwater aot By itself, Yl requires litte or
no trestmant. One in the sewer system, however, it dilutes the raw sewage that
does nied trealment, Increasing overall Now and farther burdening the plants.

Remenving sources of |) is ditfiout because much of i originales in local
systems. A $25 million WWRA | Local Financial Assistance Program fas
Dean launched fo provide grants and inerest-tme loans to encowrane | reduc~
tion, Other measures include the installation of meters which record flow at
various poinls in ihe system, pointing li possibfe saures af Wl. Leaks in lt
system, once they are located and repawed, have a Signticart impact. Repair
ol ar) Prercentor in Breckline, for example, remuyed 27,000 gallons per day at
(nfhow.

Once pipes have been repaied and upgraded,
figuiat ingpections ensure they are maintained.
Inspections, done primarily by pulling ciosed cir-
cuil TV carreras through pipes, eneble crews to
ideniily cracks and illegal connections. iespoctions
have continually creased each year, as shown ie
Figure 1.1.

% a

POM pipe inspections have
tot eteaadity Incrass trey.

—_——_— —
4 ice 1

HER! de NWT pee eccetee wet

ee by dunt ornié TY Gress

Punpi ng

While och of the imencentor system transports sewage Horn cornermiilies
ty (pavity, eliteri puniwing stations help do the job. ih the pas, manequar
oumnping Capacity and equipment brsakcerans al the pumping stations fin-
deredt tha entire collection system.

Ragaifing apkeng, and maintaining pumping station equipment tes ger
erally increased effiaenoy and prevented posily treakchowis Ink ii impccne
meets, suct as More powerful pups, added “Comminutors” whic grind up
SUES and Prolec! OuMpS Irom wear and teat, and stand-by Ganeators have
Dreaty deceased the problems which have piagued Ihe syskem Most ol the
upgrades parformed dow ae considered imerin improvements until indiveiuet

Pung fapithes can ie oampeialy pveriauied

Tevateort plane cumming capacity.

jreveaaiel sinigy the fate [Sele

sone eee Oe

a —
sae et

FINE 12 The avenge nari it
(ergs CPTER Or fap and he
frignest ta ry tow teonded trom
VS6H bn 1953.0 the Dee tans
Power and Pung Gator,

FIGURE 13 Tosa! exenner a1 hore
tte leedworks @ Wind Sree
Cheles Diag an) Giumtin Pak
shabed tack fom beneeen 1967 arn
1983 8 page eeoeage Oi poe
rita ty the reg of corstetion
rehded acti.

139) teat 1935
@ high peak Plow trea:

which will yidd dramatic results: wren the 100+
yeat-0ld Charlestown Pump Staton way retuilt in
1993, maximury daily PUMPING Capweaty al Mat
sie Wierewsed Hom 31 to $3 mullion galloess,

Al the system largest pumping keation, Caer
(sian lisell, replacernient of Thee at night purnps
and pure motirs improved capacity and rellahiili-
ty, laading to better hatdlireg af High News. as
Hlustrated by Figure 1.2. A sliyht decrease in
UmTpiIKy Capacity this year Is dus io the rterupions
involved in equipment replacerrart as part of pew plan constuction,

Throughout the system. Increased pumping capacily Gacreases ‘itinkng”
a process by which flows (hat cacnct ba handled by oxisting puinpe aa
choked back into Ihe sew system. feauently ading to local Ovestiows.
Figure 1.3 shows the number of hours thaw has been chuled back each year al

Duoting tise et fear ay penton

4009 ere re
* sou
= 4000
= 4uvo —_
3 rns
aw la.
ry = al
Tar im ose) OL
Hiptal ymat

Oper Island. increased choking in fiscal year 1999 resulted fram Dees tsland
conelruction inkeruptions and particularly severe periods a) veel winter weather,

Screening

Sewage tom inlaceplors passes first Meough headworks facilties. where
O70 and lange objects like leaves and sticks, and hygiene products like tampan
applicatans and condoms are scruened cul By ihe mid-1980s, shutilnens to
fepair cosclete equinment at the headworks paused frequent backups in the
System Inetficien! git remowal resulleo in increased wear and tne nn Intalrent
Slant 2quigenedd. Now, less thari a decade fale much of thie equipment hes
bean replaced or rebabiltated, (nerasing the wolumes ol grit and screenings
removal and dramaticaly decreasing shutdowns.

| Combined “Sewer dverf lows,

Bauk int the 1ANDs, ff seemed Harries ergy 1O honk uli backyard pitas
to neathy stromaiter pipes—wanes were comveyed to a tiver oF Stream wilt
enough dition tp make a smelly protlem disappear As tye city’s sewer sys-
tem grew more Complex. vestiges of Ihis sirmplé unsophisticated system
remained. Because cf tire diffinuty and high post el modiiratinn, parians of
Boston Cambridge, Somervilia and
Chetsaa still collect sewage in the same

Dry wrotier combtred femur overtine ceents hove

Deen noreatetent for the pekt feet yeere,

pipes Useo to collect stoemweter nuncit.
Inconcalvablé 26 It seems, raw seraage still
‘Spills into nearby rivers and Boston Harbor

2 Of esenits

-~_n @

fell dozens of times each ynar during wei
yecalher reougn combined sewer ovetiow

sires, o1 CSOs 0 Il... | ol

Combined saqur sytiets ae extronely er aw aed
inelficient, 25 the comoined values ot
SPaae and Skimowater in the System can eqrrpwomise the qualty of tresilineré
eifar reives, Terk am At COOs that cai potliue beaches. boaliny areas,
nd shalitisheng grounds of waterways including the Charles, Myste, Crelsea
and Nepcriset Rreers, Alewit Erouk, and Boston Hartor

Six treatment facilities Mal screen and disintucl wasteweter have been tell)
@ CSO localions tha receive particularly high flows or are located rear rocre-
aidval avazs, Construiied of whatslitaed over the last decane: these alx tacili-

Veo1) ez") 39037}

FIGURE 1 da Nurite of my
wallet Carton exits
Tote Fam Piven Pprt_ ae
Somevite Mongre CSiis.
Overt toes werw des putes “ory
werter tere wan Aran
thing he cronies 24 rouse,

Wet Flow through (305
has cucreased sincn 1990.

Flee (atl ore

lies provide treatment lor appraaralaly sixty perceet of the
CSO volure,

The ditspidation thal until recently plagued the entire sewer
system contributed to CSO actreation even in dry weather.
Toy, the overall increase in the system pumping, storage
Capacity ard requir maintenance of CSO structures reduce
Bvertbows and Increase the percentage of sewage thal reaches

Tn To Te Tavs eaten! plants CSO actinty during riry weather has been
calendar year

FIGURE 1) Mi eter recent
2010: 90N1 1 GORD ETE aw through
the we C50 trearega) tater
Soa Wete! avet Sees Common
(rete chta were Ugert }o esierae
treated! Row Trealed (ows tone
(0 fiows Hee the Conediuilion Baath
Foe Poet, Conmnetsa’ Poet Pitsae
Poel Sorreretis Warynal wot
Catlage Fan) C305

nonexistent for the past two ytars. While ingenvements in tte
system aes generally reduced CSO flows even in wet weather, wolume of Mow is
nevirilaliss depundeil Of raintall and fluctuates acnordingly (see Figures 14a
and 14h),

Long tam plans far CSO improvement include the develognent of & man
agement and cortral plan which aill seek i (urher mducs C90 discharge tte
Quency and volume to relocate CSOs to areas less yulheratile to degradation,
ant to aimiratg CSO Vow tera possible in he means, 3 variety of low
cost, easily implemented sort ten projects (known a Syste Optimization
Plars ur SOPs) are being undertaken. Designed to maximias tranaport and
trealmond capacifies, Hess projects include replacing tidegates, retalling of
taising wers (irall sewer dams that can fold overflow wilh existing sewers)
and gigging and ahancioning nerain overiow pipes altogether, in addibon
to SOPs, inermeciate projects will he implementa, improving CSO contret
through farge-sc@e constuction and modilication. Work has aso begun on
the System Master Plan, wtich wil address system-wide needs in an ntegrt-
ed manner

| The Treatment Plants }

hile canstructian of the new Dewt Island (reatment plart progresses, the
existing Deer and Nut Isdand plants must be mace to operate as etleciteely and
eliably 25 possitjle until the new plant comes on fine There are limits, Ferme
(0 Ihe femoval eticiencies the plants can atta: Al present, Meowral and
state standends which MIRA treatment cannot mest have Deen supplanted or
reasonably achievable “ineri” limits approved hy’ Jucige Mazzone as part cl
the federal court process which guveins imoclart aspects of the maderniza-
tion program.

Table 1.1 lists te intern linit viekalions sinoe 1987. As the table indi-

cates, them hes generally been a downward trend in tha BOO (biochemical
‘Oxygen demand) and TSS (lotal suspended solids) violsions Over the fast
Seven years, The increase in 1993 B00 violations & Deer and Nut tslands Is
most fikely the result of variations in sludoe processing and other consiruc-
ton-related impacts.
Neither plant has pH corto! capabilities. Viotahons in effluen) pH are typi~
cally the result of naturally occurring buf infrequel iow inoaening pH values
five those af Nut Istana during 1993's nuge soring rains. Deer istand shoulo
06 capable of meeting all applicable limits alter corstructinn of the new prima-
ty ane secondary treaiment plants.
Improvements thal have alreany been made Fi the existing system clude:
© Settling time of sewage in sedimentation tanks has increased, allowing
for better separalkin and 2 dscrease in the amoure at solids and axygent-
POnSuming organic matter discharged inka the haber.

© Floatabl: inaerial skinned oll te settling tars, called seu, was dis-
ranged directly into the haebor prior In 1991, Now, a portion of tat
iralerial is consumed through sludge digestion and the remainder &
lanctited.

plarts to a pelletizing plant, whem if is Gewalered and (eat dried into fer-
liver pellets, Prior to the opening of this facility in 196%, sludge was
tumped on he outgoing tide.

Violations of iater'm discharge I ialts

MWRA Joins [he
Recycling Rewolution
With Bay State
Organtc

Wn Pdanch 1983, the
Massectiueetts Departed 44
Esyinunmrental Protection
parted MIWRA pallets ts
“Aaproval of Sutebilty’ rating
a8 Tyre | sty: reiduct he
fired Gad ovslable This
means fal the petints can be
(8a0 0t lito, untae, ag")
Cullural crops, ava! |n orter set-
ngs She oth restition is
thal brrey ret te used nn piaz-
‘ures of Fey crops becmise
some Gating annals cat te
sontstiiee to certain metal lavets
DMG Gets. Comettty 2
Genonshafion pigan 6
Lani sety 9 taerilinnge The
public with the use of Sludge
Ceyved tetlines, and the
Authority © ditnhuting 4s te1-
filleer as Bay State Organic,
avalable to the nublic n4i
Pound bags for lawtrand par-
Gent use The vast majority of
(entice, trowarwe, weil continues
(0) be urbe it apes angel
oulhse in Oe regions of he
ooantty.

fart |

Geer [siand uy ,]
Fiscal | | Fisvat | —_ =
Year| 800 | TS5 |cotstore pit || "vege | BOW | TSS | Celi nurm| pH
tor fa [2] & jolla | ol[ ol] o | 4
“gas | 32 | 10 11 | o |} 988 | o | 0 - ie
1999 | az | 5 @ | 1 || 9 | 1 | Q 0
ise [a |e 1 o || we | 2 [a a0 ite
191 | 7 | 3 r) a || 19m | 5 | o ri 2
i992 | ? | 0 v | o> || Tse7 a] o | 8]
i993 | 16 | 0 0 6 i993 | 6 | oO r) to

TABLE) 1 The roster cf finctvereny Cheypen erent inte Suspended Stine, Colter an pH vicitions at

Dhow botarrdt ret Pld tolared Irv AT Wy 11753

Future Plant Sevetopwents

We bate 14, Hho ages nd niet er
fecsve part ol ihe MARYS modernization
rogmrt—ihs wholesale feplessiment at the
Syflemis sewage traatment plarts—ml peach
ts feel phase of Ganpeetion Ate reriy a
ceale U planing, design and cond uci,
the HAA will genet tha fest startup phase
Yow a plat that will qverntisally deutle We
arene anid eftectivaress. of treatnenn p4iyutt
fect tor minterpntdlitan Basicen’s wetsheaniity

Gasrartly wecrewaler a OX Deerand Nu
tind dost fail renehee geroncary treement.
is aaiion wll vepresad a major sap br
ward Untite piltrery treatment, whee sollte
a simply glowed to settle nut of wastenatat
secondary Seetment combines 2 cortrofed
@rvlinrerent %6 joerote bacterial growed! in
mail to a pyran! Settling prongs This
multi-step procedure inpewves poi sefling
are decompreticn ol goles, which results In
the femovel of (nore nvpanis: mater andl Hoge
poluanis pomary Geetment ienoees only
OUpIUNiMmety €0 parcont pt sollde, and 4)
peroxnt of fosrns and paduces uaygen gun
Siig Metetial 3h percent; sscondary peat
Meet perpoves G5 perceré of solits, 60 04
peruut of trons. and BS porcert of mepytn
sUnaUTTIng Teepe

(Figure adapted torn the Soeton Giote )

bo!

| Pot jutant Saurce Reduction |

Removing pollutants at their source, especially toxic substances, Is ta
more etfective then trying to remove them Once they have Collected in the
wastewater stream. Primary treaiment removes only a fraction of toxic pollu-
tenis. Hazaidous chemicals and Neavy meals emering (he treatnent plants can
upset the balance of meroorganisms used in the Irestment process, pass
through fe treaiment plants ino Basfor Harbor, or remain as residuals in the
siudge and feniliner end-products In addition, sare pallkands thet enter the
Wesment tecililies coud pose a hazard 10 peopre in the plants and to the
equipment they manitar

Polkeants originate from dustrial, commercial, and residential sourdes.
MVIRA Tonic Reduction and Control Deparment (TRAC) works to reguiste the
jndiow of hagartous polliitares and Neavy metals Irom industries, landfills, and
septage Pailless into the MWHA sewerage system) TRAC permis and tyu-
fates over 1.300 local industrial sewer users, MWWAA personnel inspect tacill-
fies, monitor dischanges to the system, enforo: discharge ragulations, and
work vert) industties tp reduce the flow of tovac pollution theough pretreatment
and sounta reduction programe. TRAC also assesses financial penalties
agaist violators. Table t 2 shows ine type and nuenber of penatiies TRAC has
posed.

Households are also a significant sours of toxic substaroes due tp the
Careless dumping of Kuic products. Polktants go down (he drain # the fort
ot housetald cleaners, paints, motor gil, and pestindes. Ingredients of some
saag and deterperts, known as surtactarts, progtess urrchuckad ‘trough the
treatmart system and are highly tonic to small marine organisms. By coreery-
(ng water, reducing the use of taig chemicals and ensuring thar proper dis-
posal, residents can make a significant difference in stopping harbor pollution,

The number of TRAC enforcement actions continued te tmcrease in 1993.

Fiscal Year | 1990 ry ioe | 1993
Notice of Violation (a) | 0 16] a? a 0
Noncotpl lance hotices (b> 3 6 im 132
Penalty Assessment Koticos (c} | 2 is iu ”
Pensities Assessed $1,105,000 [$611,000 [$1,045,000 | $809,000

TABLE 12 G2) Lotter (bascsIing vitietion, ashing esay to anerd fy reason tor (ne viokatize ard eftat step ill Ge taken
manners Hath rot repat (b) Foemal notes! wictebon spectying requirments the wser Meas wkbtaded aret a stterbibe
by Wid ise mut memtpcoretarm (cl Fact, amige notes nese meray CMI monetary (wats

The mows: of corteln metals encering
the agstam Rane decrqqid dramwet ically
3800 ——
[Ee Tine Mickel eed @ Copper Ovrom
Commun, Seer, Rurtury Me Avorage Combined Flim]

3000

10 _

ooo

eee ee

coat L985 198) 19B7 1982 588 1990 «199] «1952 1990

Piece! Veer

Other scurces of pollutants are tar mare cifficult to control, since they are
heyond the regulatory capacity of TRAC and othe organizations Presadsting
metal lavels in ceinking water, ‘while sale for consumption, mavertheless con-
‘Pihule to levels which, in the wastewaler stream, can be kde ta simple marine
organisms. Contaminated groundwater can Infilirate the system through
Cracks art aks Fn pipes, Steemater runcit contains gasoline anc other pol-
(ants.

Nevertheless there are signiticamt decreases in overall levels at pollutants
entwing tha system, For example, over the past len years, thre has been a 75
percent decrease in the tot amount of metals In MWA efivent (see figure
1.6), This past year TRAC instituted a new 46 peogram tnr raguiated sewer
users Ihal fedowirs ralapayers costs and provides 2 beller incentive for ail
lxdustiies to improve thelr discharge quality, During this lirst billing year,
Industties were billed for $1.7 million & es. In addition to the etforts of
THAC, the federal governement Mas banned Neuse of many hazardous mabri-
als and cortinues to refine regulations regarding industry-related discharge.
Public awareness has increased, in part due to public nulraach pengrams that
have reduced Illegal dumping, made & easier to dispose of toxic materials
safely, and encouraged the use of nontoxic produc,

FRUFE 1 5 Corntaneal beetrays
M1 rretye cast ety repre rare af Cee
(eked are Het sored Loptings:
frame oP average recep hirw
teagh Te pet teeta pla,
ARHIRDS Lonibi ned how af Ife let

corti retively ureteral yg)

thes pesnad,

Chapter Tae

the State.
Raston Harhor

FEET! Pecereagy chan
Ped mare thei: are ye
lar é wie faache

Dr carsangen detect a
Mesocpeetan Dee
Commins Gaul ge anit
Deve tapes oh rep ae eeehik
Tremer yuan bere
nets excnedes NIG colown:

Carson Beach

Conary quel aa

In 1999 definite signs al recovery were observed in all hres componants at
the harbor soosysiem the water the sediments, and the plants and anirrals.
These improvements were mest obyiius where Mey atected the way in which
people use the harbor: tor recreation, tor fishing, and tor eryoyment ot its mat-
ural beauty

Monitering undertaken by (nt MIRA Tnouses un Itkise faliiral fesourDes
vlich are vey indicators of envecamental change iy order ki understand rut
only what changed, bul also why § changed, the principal pallutants which
ated the harbor ave also monitored (sae Bax 2.1)

In the following sections. the monitoring data are used to adress Ihe
enviinrrental hegth of Bostan Harbor 9 1993 acd to evaliae how tar the
TeCOveTY process has jiroceeded in the barber, The monitoring data is pre
Semen in relation to the primary qublic connerns: saimming and recmation in
the harbor, [he euitvlity of the seatood; the health at the natura! respurnes; and
the aesetic walues of the harbor

Skeet! > Samples Geqater then Stasis:

mA rea as Gis hiss}
hited allel init lid

Plesury Bay

Yoort

Swinmning and faating | in the “Harbo or

The he salty Oo the harbor dor swimming and other contact
affected by pathogens (hactera and viruses} from undisiniec-
ed sewage in the water, mostly resulting Im CSD dischanes
@# trom inadequately disinfected dischangs from the sewage |
veatment plants. Heallty-eoosysters typically have low #0
undetectable cunoehtraliors ol sewage bacteria Stale stan:
dards set the level of contamination that poses minimal
health risk,

Bacterial counts in the outer harbor have declined dramati:
cally since $941, when sludge discharge ceased. More effec-
we CSO controls and efforts to reduce sewage comarinalion
hom starmevaler drains have improved water quality af beach-
48, The Metropolitan Distict Commission monitors bacterial
fourts al a nuriber of beaches wilhin the farbor anid posts a
beach aS unsafe tee swimming when the shite standard is
eeceeoed Farad bearhes Ihe perantaye of days in wolation
ii the standard tall betwpen 1989 and 1993 (Figure 21).

The reductions in barteral pollution have made the harbor
3 sales place to swim and treat thar it has beer in the recent
fast. Beach postings 06 Still occur, howeves, and greater
Feduchors will only be achieved through continued eforts to
find are! repair contaminalud storm drains, and through the
reducton of CSOs.

fecreation (s

| Wonizering ond Follutent Studtes
in Boston Harbor

Pollutant Suvrces and
Characterizatian

Pollutant Hovenent

| Pollutant Effects

| © Extgnsive mondurireped vitteatie borterta. ey
Qen and chor wator cqualty pRneniters to assess
water and seclimett adhy and poeta heath
hazards

Gaim of Me Saverty and extent mt potl ution,

| © Anna moniering of PCB, PAH and metal con
oatidkns acts end stelllish tose as. 2 7ee-
S20 of the magnitude of pofvton and polereiat |
teed Ph faces

| © Mgnitonng of nutrients ard aigal biomass bor
baseline data

| © Long-omrmoniorng of fue chemicd eats a1
secmmerts achacert 0 CSD putets bn deserriires Ps
role ot pemaje otuent i) oatiment contr gion

Fin 3

Virral

vretarop

Ed ip

at Fist

and Sh#1! Tish

Tha edibilily of fish and shelltish thon the harbor has improved sit Ihe
1980S. This improvement is a feflection of reduced pollution loads and
the first stages of recovery of the sadiments and water However wtille the
levels of contamination generally meet the slardards for safe galing, trey
are still High relative to seatood trom other coastal areas.

POS tone in Door iifand pusseis

ier i” tone iw

PAH cor. 1 Teer Ty lent mussel e

ir ise
Bree BOW PNe

Pesticides tt Deer |ylarné mussai i

im) se
Tota) OT e ale ‘alec |
ttromsomctior ME Mein

E22 Tecoma cian
try erect cn Petanes ee
Dep tetera contr went ta eee tet
THE ees Mace ae Gy yet
(ee cheys oh Cime ehareh, eragin ta,
ora ft FET GN tan fo ta ay
cote Hn RB. 08)

Barieral and toxic pollutant concentrations deter-
Mine the salely of fish and shelitish for consump
tion Since fish and shellfish live in contact with
both tha waler and tie sedimanis, sesteration of
Doth is necessary 6 reduce contaminant levels. So
tet, despite the long-term nature of repowery, some
Gromising improvements are apparent. The cor
Ceritrations of organic compounds in mussels at
Dew [sland appear to have reached steady state al
levels noticeably lower than 1987 ivels (see Figure
2.2). Tha increase in some concentrations from
1992 to 1993 |s altributatile to mstural variability
and not increased discharge to the harbor

Monitoring of othe: fish and shellfish by the
Massachusetts Division of Maine Fishérias (DMF)
shows similar trencis to those coserved in mussels,
PCB concentrations in winter flounder and (nbstet have
‘@ilen significanily since 1986 and ate Dew the US
FDA Inlerance ime for consumption {ses Figure 23)
Mercury lavels also fell and other metals showed no
Sigr@icam changes. As with mussels, contaminant
fevels in flouncer and lobster were simitar to, but a titie
higher than, those in ather gastem marine areas {sea
Figwe 24), On the hasis cf these trends MIWRA con-
Clutied that management etiotts were having an etfert in

foducing tissue concemiations uf cortaminarts.
Bacteria and wruses are the major sources at stelillst contamination
Gonerally, cilerinaton of Weainent plant elluert reduces bacterial courts 1

levels which avold contamination above [ne
health standard Occasional chlorination
failures in the treatment fanilities can resull in
shetilisn contamination, However, shellfish
beds are also severely afferted Oy confamuna-
tion from starm drains and CSOs. While
there has been some impeovement tn date,
further dramatic changes are unlikely to
‘Occur unit! the continuing sources at polly

fion are further reduced

Marine Res ur rces

Determining how weil | the maring
Tesources of an area are protected is more
complicated than simply addressing con-
cers adoul the eclibility al fish and shellfish
or how sala il i$ to swim at public boaches.

There are tem reaguistory standards tor assessing the soological health of an
wea However, reliable indicators ar provided by the stale of the three
principal components of marine systems the sediments, the dinta, and the
veter collin Cumulatively, the state of these Gree cumporents jirowides
@pichwe nf the overall stale of the marine sources.

vi/e wet wt

weary wet wt

FCB cone. in Leoster and winter Counter

FOA -wtanderd ty 2.0 pay

10~ 7
0.6 | ie
* ius-

1908 tr te
Ciinter aed

Mercury conc. 18 lobster and winter Mouser

bs
. F 1,
na

PUA pterderd tt 1.0 yore

ctl a Ly a
Wirtter PLeuraber

AGLS Corw wees coca F
wat vets eorres
eratet einer tanpaas eet
PV Rem fete'y eomcethat ss es Matter
Danae (eatd ae ace ieee
St hetaynss) Nreaerts te
toe Ur eal oe eet pee
Deaton Sowers! 1281. ATL
Did a oe ca eer) Pca nl
bet Pee Abie. [Veceest Abin
Neerene,

Totes Veerls tn fish frum fester Merhor are stai ler
‘ad bekcand ka ee Yass. waters.

Wht...

" oe wet et

——_— ee eae

Qire

awan = We

Ae] fortuey
® Catal ki

FS 4 Comeuntame coreere ite «) worme’ Newreior fhm Frmac) frcws Fcepamet Siess
Hartree preci ora marten cf Mderrartresetts, (Lhate wey rewey Schoey ot #1867) are) TRIS relay

pra! rene AS we ties) a ate

Waterbirds

Fitty-tour different species of wuterbird have
been observed using the Harbor as an over-
winteeng site, An additional 22 species have
been observed during late fall/early spring, in
an average winter thore are tkely fo ba 39
Uitterent species using the harhar

foster Werbor ja ¢ Valuahhe (eer Wintering Site fhe #etarbi res

Bleck Sravt Bultic Consds Coe Cogmon Grester Mallard beg Witte 1
Deck Goese tina we Tithe Galion Scop (kee treerted Weg chhery
Inet tye ck Merqereer enter

Commercial Cruise Operations
Harbor cruise operiiions are part at a large
passenger boat industry in Boston Harbor with
an estimated direct anrwal income af about
$35 million. These cruise operations are
tepemdent on thy aesthetic neath of the

far bor

Beaches

There are more than 6 miles of recreational
beaches withen B Harbor manage

the MDC and several morg miles of walking
paths, marinas and parks which abut the
Harbar

400.000 - _——______—— .
400,000 =
400,000 - =_—
5 190,000 .. = Herring and Smelt Runs
= rao.c0 The Back River is the location of ons of the Ni
1.000 " largest annual runs it Massachusetts for both n 7
“4 herring and smelt. The Mass Division of ---- waa nn eens beeen et ae ee

Matin Fishenes reports that over 200,000 ot
a) eS NP Ie ee. bach fish navigate the Back River Ladder
annually

Herring Fare tn the Weymouth Bock River

Blue Fish

Herring and Smelt Runs

Boston Harbor: A Valuable Resource—De )
degradation, Boston Harbor remains a valuable economic
aesthetic and ecological resource. This map shows just
some of the natural resources of the harhor and the
activites they make possible. Among the mast valued ut
these resources are the manme life that are harvested for
food, land conseryation-rilated values, On the
water's surface, the aesthetic appeal of the harbor attracts
boaters ar t users while also suslaineng an
array of tounsm-related businesses. Consistently
Swinmatle harbor waters are now providing beaches tor
the many city dwellers who are unable to reach more
distant coastal communities. ln commuiities throughout
Massachusetts the direct and indirect economic benetits
of the harbor are being realized, particularty fhe econoenic
effects of harhor-based commerce Even the present
tarly slages of ecosystem recovery have show the great
potential of this long under utized harbor:

Harbor Porpoises

State of the Sedinents

Tho MASA racks Clastidhyn perringens Spores (beta soores) 2s a
tracer lor Sewage comamination in sediments (91 22). Since late 1997 tere
fas been 3 dramatic reduaion In spore counts a Stes both near and cistant

— from toner sludge discharge sites (see Figure 25). The mduc-

Clostridtur perfringens
bination peti is saree rn tronel Wi qpest
(hantery ¥) vege ethart aed shane opel whee pre
aces sppvess ttl aa wrve ba) imary oars. The Oree-
ee 1 hep nutes clapores mH meaies seres &
art oad cate 1 aewage Oe rei! The pete
OTe spor makes them g Pexy emtltracar cf bang)
| em pein rary ete te ue ray | OMSK,

avec fared ne atten tears. alten chags cay Ovar the puriod Ihat spore counts have declines, the diversi-

feat narrates, Gaygeegmael te esgeel | ty of benthic animals (animals Sarg on or in the sea floor) has

| cael) te kage Oepcudoeal rex: vier water
[
} misty nueheenoun | increased. Because these atiimals are largely sedentary anc

disposal to the harbor, The rate of contamination reduction is
Mach faster than expected ancl has profably been assisted by ihe
recant saries af severe storing which help to flush contaminated
sediments trom the harbor or paver them wit clean sand Irom

hadreith coelined ta One location throughout their lives, their numbers
—_ | and diversity are good indicators af long-lerm pollutiun
Sole imparts on the binta ofan area. Since sludge discharges ceased 1 1991,

ihe Giersity of beritic anwnats has increased Gramatically rear the sludge
discharge sites off Long island (see Figure 2.6). Aveas that were once lite
lass are row inhabited by dense assemblages at shimp-like amphipucis,
This Improvement + duet to recused smothering by sewage solkis and
\ncreased cayyen svailability at the sediment surface towever, iinprowe-
mert is not uniform throughout the harbor, severely degraded areas such
ag those at Savin Hill Cove. as well as ralatimnly healthy areas in Hinghern
Bay, have Seen file change, athar than norma! seasonal fluctuations.

Dlostridtie rontewingtion of thet syd teats has taller

2 a

= on

font -

3 Jute discharge (nated

= 40m se ——

3 WMisually Steere Storm

= 7m —— ; "
FEL 25 Taras id Deartocaee = ‘ an) 7
same © ode rs
Ake hes ats ne ered = na — a= _—_~
rat ty Achy cpa be —_—— ———
Dec cs |) be cepnet eke howy (a. Sludge tite Savin WHE Come
orien) Re ae at —

tions are strong evidenoe cf Ue positive Impact of ceasing shudge

Mabers of benthic species have facresyed at tte oid aiatgn ditcharge cites.
i

» = =

_ a wl \y
's * mall

———— ae oe a a ee a
Savin 1) Cow = Aarg Le. Sludge Site Singtam Gay
A Samer 295 Soraya 16 Spring 1H)

1G 28 Marten ct tere,
Carre ates be Romie lite late
oO) taps Cee poem oe
m ry a Ase

The improvements in sediment animal lite have caused changes in seci-
ment chemistry which #1 the short-term appear detrimental but in fact have
long-larm hanelits for harbor recowary, Moreated benthic animal abun-

dance nas let indirectly to an increased release of nitrogen tron she sedi-

Tre link Cetmean pollution medeetion tr ectmy ster heetenwtion (4 OLIN Crmgr ian

Pace eae howe cas
a orews * 4 ero Lerectsirel bee
| a ore | | goer care rey aterg
utteart - [Wemmairange | oempnton
a — ee

ments. Over the period thal anienal abundance increased, he rate of nitro-
en release trom the sediments more tan doubled (Giblin, unpublished).
fy the short term this acts as a additional source ol pollution. Wi the kong
term, however, this activity 9 eMectively acting asa nitrogen ‘pure’, ceiving
‘nitrogen which has 2ccumulated In the sediments into the water where

can be fushed from the system (see Figura 2,7). Th combined action ol
the ‘faunal pump’ and reduced
nitrogen loads from MWRA

P00) Sree cggarnc testet ©
ake ttt eet eg
Vee SmagnIng 9 ange dacmangr hee
ee EE ed
(8 Se errr One) Nar ae,
TreeBat tener secre erence
(tow! Be Wythe 4 corps aerate
4 rw red heayad price:

The renova? of effluent wil) tances the
Majority of tae MaRAS at troeew arnt

souieks (see Figure 28) will even 15.000 ee ee ee
lually reduce he nitrogen store in 3
yicoD el i —
the harbor a5 2 whole. ;
- <0 ns — —_——
3
EES ed eer ey ns _ _ » & =
facke tetera — =_ =
Cares ico eter ter! wg’ gy® gst! a3? ae?
Ween by Ate tle - ] r Ore |
pry: re LWitregen | ag Phosptorus |
Atecait aac ete, VEO | [me Slate — t
Re [Riise atateme fait lene state
whey ty as 0 er ef lawt aotaoers:

eee fi 00) Loery tere ct leragte ll towrate
Walt) oF tha Moe] chintoghyl! concentrations dur- = 4
a an ing spring and summer (see

The improvement in sediment quality % also retested Wi the improved

j : Figure 2.10). Apart from ae4- Bn —————— —— —
health of botlon!leading lish such as winter flourdar, which 5 in contact tieale coaaldesminns the inajor 7
wh contacts selena fet on Sl anal contami ty sd wit skal tiooms isthe £10
iment gellutants. The irecidance of Iver disease 's monitored as an Indicator dest ine cen wtdocey en = M \
of everal ish ean Wi 1993 the incidence of ver lumors discovered i-win= Seder ie comin ds ae B se L_ Te ee
Ltwer disease Ie flounder
_ O} Gissctved oxygen in the water bas guia nae wile
—— tm tw fer ic) Dissoled
—z Oxynen (5 consumed ty bacteria i in Vener hertior 5 SSO} rnd ange
(i the decay of read algal nels Sas 1p =a

— lnmer hertor

(i extreme cases, this: bactarial =”
decay process fan iaplete Oxy Fao
den trom the water Duringte 9 ag tn ‘
: summer ot 1993 there was a v - = "hg Sau =~
ms or dense alg ‘hhoom' in the inner haebnr wich collapsed ane was washed

#0218 Ut Mane rene ty rttengiyt
into The quite harbor in warty September. Coryyen kvets during the Wlogm were — scrermaatny © Perna pete tier

FOU) pearence mets Te Eoriy Liver Blgrest_|!

Ore ttt ear

fam tame Fests Munir tad ae We zr, ard the neice arly ver SEBS NIA te the state santa ut, coinciding withthe death and decay Ofte Unter mcaciht she eee ne
eat rp jors has stabilzed a a lower level since ahout 1990 (see Figure 2.9). algas, norcprtrations; later fall below the standard (see Figure 2.10) ues =
ww Other Incicakirs suggest that the harbor continues ta provide a valuable The akgai mass in Boston Harbor és lower than that found in cther astu

frail fox rear rescustas- The trrbor has Fistoricaty Geen tire sie'ol ies with similar levels of rufrierts (see Figure 2.11). This is promably due to

ne oF he larpest ering rurs #1 ha reglon. The raster ol titing entet~ ae ayy cf the water, which reduces the arnound of light silable to

hy the Weymouth Bark River each yaar fas Increased markedly since the support algal growth, and the high flushirg rate in the harbor. The-rernoval

wey ie ' of nutrients from the harhor when the dischaige is moved should reduce

The harbor also provides an important over-intering site for migratory aigal growth. Homuver, (ne remnelf etiant wi alse improve light pane-

hirts (see Center Resautce Map). Monitoring by the Massaghuselts tration. The net affect on algal growth is stil unelese and fs dependent nn

Audubon Society indicates that the bird populations hawt remained stable

wer recant years. It 6 likely, however, thal imrovernends in the hare wilt at re acrereetayes Mier ote ai Al lt Wa 11 The reabetap term it

hed PIpee Tne

result in sone changes |i the bird community, Species such as the % —— Peary areas ieee) hat}
ad Avot eas (ale te ear
Commen Black-Headed Gull, which tend to occur in the vicinily of efffiuent io - a 28 5 Fy Novae a 1158
—————7 — SS eed Nara) (TPN) The teeter ey
cattall of in nutrient enriched waterbodies, are likely 10 decks in number = ao e Acem ‘ator coun te amp #
- 22 aned ites od tea Diet)
Once tha outta! is divirted affsheee. These species may be replaced ty aa == ee = ervemiairg fr phi tien
others suited fo better water quality fn - . ‘
ee = Fr a“ > _
| State ot Mater Quality 2 » ‘at"® - a
Se ee ee uf . _
Concentrations ol algae and cayyen are wu key determinants of wtler aca Toe ae Cerra
quality, Leenls of chlorophyll {an algal pagment) art used to extrapolate 4 a" -—_—. — — me

messure of aigal mass. Boston Harbor has requlat o@aks in water colurin elastin treenee: Sibrone tas Sees)

PG S12 The preetagee steee
eit wal denied teed
wep revere olbrsrat
(ipieeb f) aba Cat arp or a
ven restriord 0) Te rates tananor
Nap wei Comte

Wottow waters violate otale oxygen taretaras
Wore after than tirtace werters

Sof samples less they Sam’?

SL EEL TEES

Fottre: lurfoen
[we be at Sisl Sst Swi |

the interaction of mutrioré kevats and light. Resolving the likely Inipact on
Alga growiti is the objective Ola cument MWAA sturty,

Because dissolved oxygen is 3 key component of inany ecological
processes and is essential to maintaining a healthy marine resource sys-
tom, it 162 useful measure of the Uverall water Quality The binta, chemical
processes and (he decomposition of organic alter {such a8 sewage) al
consume oxygen. Despite these consuming processes, surtace waters tand
lo traimain Nigh caygen concentrations through mixing with au, whereas
botiom waters may become isoliled Irom ihe alr during periods oF stratiél-
cation (see Box 3.3} wilh subsequent depletion of oxygen. This pattem af
botlom water oxygen depletion S common m the harbor, 510% of surface
water samples violale the standard campared with about 20% of bortom
water sarnples (see Figure 212} Most al the violations occur in serni-
enclosed areas, like the inner harbor, that cial only become siratitied over
summer ful are also highly Gepositional, with oxygen consuming matter
acoumulating in the hottory waters. Many of these inner harbor arias are
aso in the vicinity of CSOs, where unltealad sewage ative! iranaticel ty
Increases oxyyen Donsumplion {see Fagure 213}

The psecentage of oxygen violstens throughout the harbor In 7993
has fatlen compared to 1989, however there is mo consistent (rend of
linpecvarnert (soe Figure 2.12) This 6 Sirgely due to the influence of rain-
tall ~ in wet years there lend to be more CSO lows and mane victalions Of
the cxypen standard. Reductions in the puinber of cxygen violations should
Cocu as tht capacity of the sewage system tn handle effluent is improved
and the number of CSO discharges decline. At present, however areas ot
the harbor around CSO awertlows continue to sutter ten oxygen depletion

4 final measure of marine rescurne protection is the growth a! nelgrass-

es in the harbor These plants are important nursery areas for mary ot the
estuatine and noeanic fishes and sveltfish and their susvival is dependent
On fight penetrating to the hotiom of the wae column Measurerverits
show thal fight penetration in the harbor is generally poor Historical wvtor-
mafign suggests thal seagrasses were once distyituted throughout the har-
bor Today however seagrasses grow only In the Hingham Bay area, whitti
is an ares of relatively High light ponotrallon (sae Figure 2.14), Elsewhere
during the summer, tight

Sites ip semt-enclowe areas tired to elolate the Stete

cagen stanelard pore the pet st tes,

sometimes teaches the battum = 2

at low fide, hut nver al high *

lide Reductions in suspended
Solids ads to the harbor (see

rex! section) will improve tit
Clarity af the water, The liveti-
bond of restating scene of the

seagrasses communilias,

Deseo bend degger Careamttretien lnay/L)
~ =

either through natural re-ook-
sization or through saplanting
br +r

schemes such a3 those being = isa 18 a

investigated by the Department
of Environmantal Protection, will be enhanced with improved water clarity.

in summary, here 16 strong evidence of an improvernent in the slale oe
the marine resources in the harbor The sediments throughout the harbor
Siow increased faunal diversity and the incidance of disease in botam
feeding fish nas O2en significantly reduced. The harbor continues 10 serve
a roleas habitat for large fish and bird populations. Dissolved oxygen lav-
ols are generally high in the outer harbor and water clanty appears ta be
improving, Howewer, there continue to be areas in which signilicant
improvements can silk be made: oxygen standards wr still being violated
ini sore areas, |t appears that fish disease could Oe further reduced; and (he
restricted distribution ot ealyrass meadows indicates that tuibidlty ts
higher than il was @ century ago, While 9 appears that the harbor has
reached a new equilibeium, it & untikely that further significant impecie~
ments will te visible only a pollutant |oacts ate dramatically reduned by
vittue Ot Ine operation of the new treatment plant outtall and turthering
impeowements in CSO pantrels

[Fle Seles WH contivence — w Sani-encliiseih-Fort Point, Chawe! |

F213 Denetiengn corse
adorg Ober ae oe
oho rie agile he
Harkar Ogaraes botany aces Cre
fairs benwees hy ard Gooner tte
rial be Seygie ae

cht Bisk Beptn iat

Jecch! Disk Beptn f

Weter clarity hes teptovest
ot some at tes

1me-

Tye arter

but net at others

Wad HA a taco | * Mary Dict
OR ery onary 1A) gat
Nike Chee rete dit rerney
Pe rae) we ae ee

yom?

FIST NY be cher

def 4 Apiprawne ite) to
tems rd 91 1) ya
site para tea The cman 6
Be ah Cet Margera Bay
Aire (tears
S01 ae Dene) | RE
aE Fen ca Cat Gee pect
Fab remnr eterty crtee efter
peel

Seen! Diet Oepth’

a “Toit is

Mate Clarity Wereases towards Messechesetts Bay

ge ee
vr rast ne ne Fab Ver ok
Age) ar ee es tae 21

rear sa
Caren Sure gir
ar teeta ee roartp oF
vale Meas aye art (Tb
ard ante cae ow
pase} Priam tse berger:
aepiepakcas J) a pha ee
vert re ae aen Maver
Sloeng per. resents ry
Rad Wet yyy OS yar ce
Se
Fates dere Reverse wo
mares necnorer{ conte

Tampon spol tcetors per et le of teecty

— - ,
iss) ewe

aw
ie ,
40
a
“a
0
”
10
0

se 1

f
| A@SthRLSs Appaa

The carty of fe water column is an Impattan! aysielic consideration, as
is the frequency ol agal blooms which can ciscolor water and cause foul
odors. Other aesthetic considerations include the amour of floating detiis
from the sewer system which enturs the wali and accumulates on beaches

The process of ecosystem restoration should improve water clarity,
Wate! clarity is atected principally by the amount of suspended material in
the water, Major sources of suspended solids include sewage (etluent,
CSOs and siueigel, rivers, resuspension of sediments, and algae. The sus-
pended solids load fo the harbor has tallen hy oven 255 sitee slugs cis-
charge ceased in 1997, aed mare sig ilicant luther reductions are expect
#4 once te nee vuttsll is operational. The contr of CSO, sludge and
éflivert discharge not only seduces the eternal (oad of suspended matter
ful also reduens the nuinent load entering theharoor which wpuld ather-
wise stimulate algal growth

Water transparency is generally insullicient to see the bottom al the har-
hor during summer (see Figure 2.14) fis im the onder of only 1-2 meters
(n the harbor, increasing te about A meters in areas adjacent to
Messactusells Bay. Although clarity Improves during winter
when algal mass & low, il 6 still poorer In the harber than in the
tay, There is very litte past infarmation on waler clarity in the
harbor but the litte that there is suggests that the removal of
Sludge trom the harbor has improved wate clatily (see Figure
274) The tulura mductions Wm solids loads, which will occur
whan the new quitall is operational, should see further enprove-
mants in water clarity

Andiher majot Sourve al aesthetic detesicestion in the harbor
has been toting pollutants which pass through the sewer sys-
fem. These include lInatable abjects such a condoms, tant)
applicators and plastics, A decline in the amount of sewage-
related Gebris washing wp on harbor beaches, like tampon applicators,
rellects @ conlinuing improvement in Irealment system effectiveness (see
Figure 2.18)

Current and Futur * State

of the Herber

The state of the harbor has improved markedly over the pest few years.
Violations of the barlerial standard for seimmning are fewer, and (ne con-

onntralions Of Kuec sutetanoes in fish and shelifish edible tissue has decreased.

‘well below the FDA standard. The detected incidence of lish disease has
comfinued tn tall, and benthic taura! diversity is increasing throughout the
harbor Bird and tish populations continue to use the harbor anc the num-
ber of wolations of the stale axygen standart ate decreasing.

Rowertt, hn inprovamants to daly must not be overstaled There con-
Hane to be viclaliins of stale aed federal standards tor water quality.
Oxygen levels occasionally ‘ail the state standard, particularly
in Lottarn waters. Fish and shelllish have cantaminant levels.

sate te
wir?

wall within the standard tor edibility, however the concentre-
tions in Fish trom the harbor continue to be higher than in
frailty other easter estuzies The ccculrence af a urge algal
thoon in the harbor In summer 1993 emphasized the nutrient-
enriched status of the harbor and raises concems regarding
oxygen dapetion and the possibility ol toxk: algal blooms.

‘We also need to be aware that ecosystem recovery is not a
straig¢-lonward of predictable process. Short-term changes,
SUCH a5 The mcreaséd release of mitvogen Irom the sediments
at same sites, may not appewr al first fo be an iimprcnmen)

However, hese wtermediate phases offen result ina long-term
improwement

Currently, theralore, the harbor is al an intarmediale level cf recovery
(sea Fiquie 2.16) The signs of recovery have resulted trom improved qual-
iy of sewage eflvent, enproved management of CSOs and cessation at
siueige dispusal 40 the ferber, The harbor i obvidausty nol at the poor end
of the recovery scae. However, luther enprowements are neoessary betore
the harbor approaches the ‘healthy’ end of the racovury scale. The comms-
siowing of the new cettal) and furihet improvements in CSO controls will
fect! the rastic reductions in pollitant loadings that are nenessary for fur
ther significant improvements in the health of Ihe harbor

FIG. 2.18:

beet
fat Fis! al?
‘ Dall fish?

State of Marbor Ecosystem
Recovery in 194 yellow = Poor Mesith

Wee Good Health

Chanter Three

"Massachusetts
Cape Cod Bay

Boston Harbor 1s part ol a largar coastal ecosystem: the Massachusetts and
Cane Con Bays Athough the degraded condition of Boston Harton ts widily
recognizes, (he eewirorrnental health of the hays has reseed much less pub
Wie unention The MWAAS Oultall Manitafing Program, an cutgreath of te
decision to site the new tredtment plant Outtall 94 miles into Massachusetts
Bay, 6 shecding signilican! raw ight an both he site of hese two hays and
on theb (nteracthyn wit each other and with Boston Haitior

Facilities now Ute constuction will change two important aspects of
NYAS etluert diacharoes (1) the quality it the tréclee! effluent will be qreathy
(improved a5 pace treatment levets af the current tanilities ane teplacid try mad-
871 prrfary and secondary lregirnent processes and (2) the location of effvent
entering Te bay will change tom a sumtace pluie criginating in the harber to
a discharge point 100 feet below the water's surtace une 9.5 invles out tito the
hay. Mewing tm eMlluen’ Oullall 0) Massachunets Bay 5 not sitply acase ot
moving the problem, Rather, the Improvemertts lit the quality ot the elfluyn|
and increased dilwiinn al the offshore location will eomove Ihe Overall envi
fonmental haalth of hath Boston Harhor and Massachusalls Bay,

|_ Hon itoring and Node} ng the faye |

In researching current ang potential polktion impacts in Massachusatts
and Cape Ceci Bays, the scientific torus differs tom that taxen in Boston
Harbor (nine bays. (Wo iisues darninate: the possibte effects ot nutnents trom
Gschargen ettivent, and the heath of the bays’ food chain, cluding fea) ard
shellfish intend tor human consumpeion These issues are at the cote of an
MWAA baye-wide moaning prograt) designed 14 erfanos overall under-
standing of how the bays currently hinction, bo help predict any fiotereial
ofects Frm ihe rex cuttall, and to understand whether he cuttall 1s attecting
the highest levels of the food chain ihe humpback and right whales thal visit
Stellwagon Rank, thie pastern boundary qd Massachusetts Bay, and Cage Cod
Ray

The Ouittall Manitenitig Progra tas: two key dlermeits: long-term manice-
ing and research avi water quality modeling. Envitonnertal changes can
only be datactet and measured by comparison of known erwitonmental cond|-
tions, The fong-tesm monitoring pian (sex Figure 3.1) is designed (o previcke
a baseling reoord of conditions in he bays, including the best obtainable
understanding of the ecatystemny natural yeriafions.

The second Rement is te development of a water-qually Mon, a mae
Tatical, compulermad toed wiich uses micemation about he physics, chen
istry ard biology ot 2 water Rody to understand interactions and predict
changes, ku example, how changes in he location of the outtall would attent
pityloplankiun (aigae) growth As the montonng program progresses, the
Micrel |i Fine Rinee tiy Conga indy is Ouiput wilh date calkechesd (11 the prin
toning gmgram tim, the model ts atte ty assimilate and interpret the real
vole of data collected through moanitating and 15 longs ture efforts in the
mos! eripottam areas,

Henitor ing Stalign® ary luceted throat
terete Merterr, Mepsactusetts Bay ant cope Cod Way.

FQ! The WEAN ne bteg panip org a eng etree Lt ery ree me Legere
(eo riper Leet Times eared etabere crowds a Myth ed treet ttn wath Chatty Be am capertet the
ema by terme cette fartett ubrtorermaress ferye cake heen acces Pe tern aed wll cant y meepeet.

2 rs ire estat

Ngved? learn) opart sommte
tre meters of Mis be mbt
orl epee eet gy dies Pec
ver cree eee 1
a0 premio thoy pret nt torte
mds 489 fed ere ee
woe the Reety orl eave ey te ths
ts

Early Baseline Honitoring Results |

Under way singe February 1992, baseline data gathering programs tor
Massachusefts and Caps Cod Bays have provided the basis fre drawing sorre
broad generalicalions aboul the bays:

© Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays are-nnt pristine emaironimenty
Massachusetts and Cape Cod Rays have renaived politants rom a variety
Of Souroas for mary years, The primary contrmenors are Basten Harbor (25-
50% cf most heavy metals and organic comtaminants), rivers, the atmos-
phere, and olter sources, Data trom nutter, plankton, dissolved oxygen
ard fistshelfish sucies offer eddence ot ese impacts

eThere (5 racsport ot pollutants tam Sesion Harte to Massactutatts Bay
and sume wvidence ol associated hinlogical inipants

Distrituttat of sewage tracers documents tte
export of salfde from Beaton Harbor.

Satinent Clostridiun Covcentrattons Lepares 100) |

a. 8... Bh .xx0 | 30,000 Bhiv.co-

Concert ations of pollutants provint evidence that pollutants travel from
Boston Harbor to Massachusetts Gay Figure 3.2 shows thal concentratxns
of Clastridion Pertingens spores, a bacterial indicatar of sewage olution,
@e high in tha harbor and more dikne in Massachusetts Gay The gractents
of chemicat pallutants such as metals and pesticides corespond chasaly to
tht qraciaon! of atfiuertt-associaied bactaia In some instanoes there ae cor-
fespanding gradients in biological impacts, such as liver disease and toxk:
comtarination of fsh and shelfish, Cats fiom nutrient, plankian, dissctyed
oxygen, Astishelfish and herve commulity studies all offer evidence to
Support tits observation, However, other tiokogical incicators, suct as the
type of sediment tunal commanity, do not show similat gradierts,
© Cape Cod & Massachusetts Hays are distinct erosyotanes ¢sen Hos 33)
Eyideroe § rounding which supports earlier suggestions that he twa bays
lunch), i any fespeds, as deditict walerbodies. Some of the diferences
beteest the Gays may be related to hystrodynaric Ipahires or nutrient aeall-
ability, Whaleeet the causes, recognizing Ihese dillerences now will greatly
enhance later effors to montor change throughout the bays Data tom
rflorophyil, plankton. and benthic communty stories al ofer evicenon to
Sunpart this observation.
The following Getaled sectors present and explain the data which support
these general conci.sinns. Descnptions of other findings are also included.

Nutrionts

Yeu years ul water quality monitoring have demonstrated the nonsistert
presence of a nutrient connertration gradient (4 gradient is a decrease or
increase in fhe ameuttt ol 2 subsianoe acoss a specilied distance) itecreasing
trom the harbor to western Wassacrusetts Bay (gue 3.3), Ths gradient tas
(he samme garesal configuration shown for Clesingiwn pertingans spare ban
centrations (Figure 3.1), suggesting thal much of this nivogen probatily origl-
hated torn effluent discharge ints the harbor, The napid thishing of the hartor-
harbor water is complulely jeplaced enprusiiredely every § to 1D cays - frane-
ports 65 fo 90% of the harbor's tute! nitrogen tu Massachusetts Bay where it is
Taplitly dikfed. This gradient Uustates fe astent to whinh Massachusetts Bay
fas alwady been lireacted by nutnent anspor Irom Basion Harbor Sumit
gradients have been cbserved fer silver and other chemical palluants which are
tynically found in effluent (Batiner et at 1993)

How Similar Are
Massachusetts & Cape Cod
Boys?

Data toon tne Mazsachieetts
Bay Monitoring Progen sip
ppt marie sigyestern tha!
(Wemnachusatts ard Capa Cod
Bays firctinn at istind crest!
wysemns. This ts Hiicitratead by
iterates if Okt Te becrthis
tare? Goemnunty ened chro
(pty conn aiget in tap Bhp.
Cage Codey has anaruenes
S04 CLQUITReL-Dolyctety wore
agerbigy and) donintes
tnesedirant tuna Thr
wessecrtitapy | nett fund in
(eexsachusetts Bay and groterbty
wrote He cherries in thet
coretical rigiaw thee tans:
Gave Cod Hay petty shet
faa and low sree,

Massactr setts Bay 5 a higher

arergy arom ent

| Cape Dart Bay ahsa hers higher

| Winter moving chicraptiyl| cone
cartraier tte bewds of pry

| TRerypredicion, an filieeer

| Grohagalne Sloan, snc fen a
Suntirer pynyouplaniiion popu te-

| fan ath a Lower tery expo
reat! thd Haan at rye

| Maznachisetts Bay stators
‘Thage sharpctonistess are tially
fyptcal Ol murert evicted
waders anid It is reece Hee
Gane Dine Fay is etthyanced ny
aN) uoquaciied source of teat
erie u» by efficient ceeychery at
fap bent raat peat try eta
shalowness. Shesonal dit
anoat in Teghtonerdon
Speen between Pe Baye (en
esl) may also be elated toatl
farpreces ih the restrtert dyna
kecltie Bays Aleruifnvely,
surtae water ermperativies.

| met re De ncy etereetf in

| Dige (God gut Mesactueetty

| ity’: May he seaponsitie tor

| leetiefing ther prytogdanéton we
cessinat ten,

eae td beeepnirewesets
toe ad peugat bhs fay Cote
do aed os Pew tsps wore
fires resi waiver TER art tes
$e via patel (hae haan
Fepeciit 4 tate eae ewe ee
‘tan 7 eget te te cere
0 th ine ca eT >
da eae oh here Aetagedlr re
ott

gard) Witancsemerdt cencery

6 Martha ar Lage
be or taver

s het

se sete
ereo (Se

Wean total Mitroges (pitt

Cape Cot Gay tas more Chlornphy!! then Meseecturetts Ger

_t ' Bo. B.. a5 @:. : i. w

Chlarvahet | Concentrations

Because the cells of phytoplankton (mictoscopir, matre algae) ae smal
ad dificull tn count and ineasure dlivectly, the tote amouitt dt chieophy® (the
(een pmotosynthalic pagment in plants) is measured 25 an estimate of how
mu plant matenal is in the water, lncreased nultients i ihe water can reset
Wn Wereased phytaplanklon growth, Getected as increased lva’s of chloro
Phyl. “Blooms al phytoplaniton coor as patl of Ihe nalliral seaconal cycin in
Meassaghueils Bay, wilh chicroonyll levels inereasing capely in Fishiusity ant
SeMaINNY Nigh Mrough early sing

Monitceing has reveaied that cioruphy® comentialions vary irerhedly at
theie Cistinc! scales daly, seaponally, and regionally (between Massachusets
and Cage Cod Says) Chioroptyll concentrations can change tom near-zer
to bicom concentrations in a matter of hours or days Satellite imagery om
‘teen yeats ago has revested ul he average chloroptny|l tavels were highe:
i Cape Cod Bay tan in Massactusests Bay (00 Figuee 3.4). Over the 1962
anowal cya, é chinrophy!l peak due io the wimte-spring bloom occured
earlier, was more intense, and lasted longer in Capa Cod Bay than in
Massachusetls Bay presanfing new wvictanct of Nie aitferent natives (it the two
fays

Hlankton Populattan

Analyses of large: numbers of planiton samples during baseline monituring
(neticale that the phytoplankton communities ars generally sinfar througout
Massachusetts amt Cape Cod Bays. Plain rorimunities in the bays Include
downs of species, ranging trom lage ¢diakams| 11 armall (emicrotagaliatas).
Similar communes of phytoplankton are found wm ole east coas embay
ments (e.g., Narragansett Say and Long band Sound), The phytoplankton
popufation 1 both Massachusetts and Cape Cott Bays has included) periodic
Blooms of the nuisance species such as Phagacystis powchel!l, and
Adoanivinh Gmarense, a red lide speces which causes paralytic stellfish
poisoning Nuisance algal blooms ate natural phenomena thal have pean
sesvec (or many denares

Montering of Massachusetts Bay will enatie scientists 'o datertint # Me
new effluent ovttall has any affect an the patie of muesance bloarnes

| Calanus Copepods
| and Aight Whales
Severed bites of waves

Heechading fin, night, dred near

| tick gen requerely sighed int

| Hecomata! ake ot
Masiachuaets and Capo Cid
Bes Tt oyorth Alladin: (ight
wiaks are ingube senna
veathents, actively Yeading in
Ts teyerr Irom spiing
Tunugh tall These balers
whales toed amicst eadusiesly
or) CARRUS coperveaty aint
actively Seek Oot Gestee saarrTes
Of these pooplankten tii meagh
fh het Bering grands
Altmough the Catena: cop
peds ccnu cormentty hh the
riget whale’s Surires fein
(Pounds (tee abuaance Ss
Wight) variate and dependent
Ga may Gctors, inchating Re
wanhedilty & the pryvaparh
fom traxy feed.on. Thes patcty/
ip bufun is also infuenosd

thy Dhysicad tations adi as
wind, waves, ail cites
WED 2d oF effance the In

| iyation! of cheba Cutan
Celtis a the suttce. When
feed om jhe surface patctes,
foil whaies actually shim Ite
wetets surtace wth tilt goer
motes, elicienmly deawang iii
Setters wees of Cale

teat

Vgue LS Pryep aire nureages ©
esse pie Cge Callies The
eke Avent ee gee ay
deo cones Gaerne
es ps COE iy katona
Metristetat hay cette ree Siew wer
Cape God few

The phiyteplanttir essemtlagey in Maprerrtumeet by
Bey differ fram these tn Cape Cod Bay.

weer Sering

€ Of coral enocentratian

me a

7S ————————————<—

4 Of tota) cancentratinn

[eDlatane wMicroMlagellatos @Eryptomreds elliwolayel lates |

Although Iota! piytoptankton cell courts can wary wiitety among the sampling
focaions within Massacusells Bay, ihe monitoring progtam has alowed the
\Gentilicatio of mace seasonal bloom events, and Sseasona patens del ry
ishing Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bay. Figure 3.5 compares the dorm
rant phylopl@ion at the tuture quifall site in Massachusetts Gay and al a
Cape Cod Bay sie during winter and summee During the wane-spring
liom 3t both incatioes, the phytoplankton populalion is dominated by
chatoms, especially species of Thalassicsira. This is 2 patieen typical of
Coastal weters throughout Wew England During the summe, community
Suchen Ganges fo one dominated by microflagetates in Cape Cod Bay ane
lo @ more mead poputation in Massachusetts Bay Another impcetart ditter-
tee (5 that in winter icrallageliaties ane twic 2s aliuntiart in Cape Cod Bay
a5 In Massanusets Bay These diferencias imay Oe due ko variations in the

nulfient cycling pronesses c¢ the ming and cenulation pattems ot the oay
bul, iattatever the cause. tity highlight the distinctiveness of wach tray.

Otssolved Oxygen Concentrations

Over the last two years, baseline moruhoring has shown (har dissolved cucy-
gen canomitratians in
Massachusells Bay

Disselvee rieppey comeeritrat tiers at tee titere eutfel! fomat han

wartace rear ett ]

ey mamaybtn = 7 os

aoraistently wit the 1° oe ?s ok =,

stalz standard, High B® 9 9 S 2 ad
=

payne concentrations =

ae typical hy he wintey

season woen fe walet

column Swell mixed

~ ee

—

ang asrated (Figure =” i a oe
jon Ve ao fw he a

3.5). Beginaing in
August and lasting until abou! Oetober, thera is a conbinaous dectine in botiom
water dissolved oxyynn, caused mainly by the onset of statification (See Box
3.3} and by lower oxyyen sofubility al higher water temperatures Hone,
the Sowest concentafion measured dunng Ihis period was genenilly around 7
eruyL, wall above the § mgyL stancard thal the site ponsittess sale tor manne
crpanicms. The lowest concentrafions of dissnived arygen ate charactetati-
cally measured in SteSwagen Basin, where water 6 deeper than 180 ket and
Were (s litte exchange wih adjacent waters. in ganral, dissnhaed cayyer bev
els in Massachusens Bay generally reliant seasonal and depth-related varia-
tern falter then pellution-retated impacts.
Health of Fish and Shellfish

The MWRA has dramatically reduced the loads of nacterla and tnd corta-
friteniy to Boston Harbor and it lui toe Massachusetts Bay ty various interim
sorovements 10 the sewer system, particufarly the end ot siudge discharges
1991) While thes MARA reduction will ng doubt confinue In fave positive
(moa, (heen ate SI egriicanl inguts of pontarcinatts torn dither sournes
(Figuee 3.7) There is stilt concesn that despie the increased diluton and
imgenved quafity of MWRA effuen! discharyed al the dtu ourtall site, the
combined eect uf all pollutant suurcea could have an adverse impact on tte
Massach sats Bay ecosystem

fu ee
Tages 16 Meagrd Oona ern)
(aay amma TRO dhe Mary
Lalo Coe saree
WEWI be Rao agacee ly carey

wOeh HD Tt aah eee
ooh rw Setrer tt ine

Strattficetton

‘Saaitication 5 the proses
Whetey Tie wall? collet
eccmes chvicks) int layers at
ciffetere dearmlty. In Masse-
chusetts Bay is commonly
COOLS ower sumimer When
warming of tre-watur cause 2
Aaper of warm, “is terest, Sur
fiaot walls ko trvnthay 9 Cooke,
enser, bodirh nye He
shatfication ig Sota efesugh it
can pueweatt winds and ides
‘Yom mixing surtace waters and
ooygen Gown imp he deeper
waters Maanwhle, howner,
‘hero! og corsa
processes Conririt to nocie
the tofom ses wit fe
eau Peak Coen lees rreny
raaly/ tall cat neresinig
‘apa nt te water coturma
mings bo tae or winder

thw 1.

Copper laaee Lt: Masgecteneita Bay
Troe SRA sources @t!) oortinwe to tal!

[meRA wither Point Sources w Furotr

| patencprure Sireigin
Me —— =

To daterming whether fish and stvelltist
in Massachusetts Bay are sate tor human
CONuMption, cotaminants are now being
Imeasured in winks toundar and lobster ih

—

1s!

Femand ( Copgee bance reer Cone seg hed ere terres aie Leet) Novelties e

ettitl

{ie lint teu years of moneoring, few of the
Analyzed Muscle tissue samples have
amped FIA action levels for contame-
hares (Figure 3.8). “Action levels” are the
foncetaions of contaminants gnesyene
on the Oasis ol risk assessments. ty Cause
Oulertial heal) effects. Only palyrhiori-

Per otaiar etl Luketot ie tela oa maak etal)

eter wii isan ister; cored gece pf Lady Peas 1 a A es re Coe 14)

Mercury levels 1 Play ore wel!
below the lave) af gublic faa lth concern.

a ee
level
z the?)
i 0_058
2 oe wne6y
i rut
= inet)
a a. J
fiauty Copacal
Dutfal! Locations
Site nu
FC Feveel a ter ft mew wand! tel owe
Ue level of pai’ ic reelth coecern
Fs, action
aia | Time
2
= r =
= ‘
: 5
a Hm) a
rt
=
had inet
4 b.0F
= Ij ins?)
a |
—— - —_ —
Future ter Casetal
Qutfalr Cod Locett ons
Site fay (1584)

fon Meni rCBaat hi AES SCOOT et ro ure.

Dipper a) 1001 wr tr eee

rated biphemts (PCBs) and mercury have
occasionally exceeded the FDA limits in
samples of liver and Nepalnpancress (organs Uhl ane net no
rally consurned by humans except in the cata of lobster
tamale

Despite the generally low convertrations at matals avd
POs itt fish lisgue, there is a strong gradient in the level ol
COntaminsion Cecreasing trom tne Marhor to Capt Dod Bay
{Figure 3.9}. Fish caught new Boston Haron haw higher
levels 01 fistue cortarination and liver disease than those
caught in Cape Cod Bay. This gradient is similar to the
Clastidiun spores gradient, indicating that effluent is a
Souroe Of this oordamination,, Abell aia level well Delw thal
of public heath concems.

Benthic Commnity

The types of aniiral compnunities fring an the pattem
(benthic tauna) of Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays vary
Qrealy. Ts variation & largely dua to the variety ot geiti-
mere types (Blake #1 af 1993). The area around Ihe few cut-
‘all is primarily coarse gravel and boulder flelcs. Bottoms pe
lefts a sometimes Strong rapidly eroding
efflunnt-borne contaminarés that might he daperited there
Thotalore, fulure impacts un the benthic communty trom
effuent discharge will be minimal at te outfall site (see

Figure 3.10) Instead. aftlvent will disperse over a tontasinettor and at sane Sa fu

frou ama of Massathusatts Bay. ty which time it Lope —— ~

will be heghy diluted wit olfier sedimenting meteri-

als By contrast, Boston Harbor isan enwronmene '°? ioe

where Sadimares acpumulets rapidly. Thus, efflueré- é Li ——“e * vot

tame contaminants build up in the harbor sedi Og Coie
i vm Bickrin

Mmants, degrading the berthic community and cama- B

minating fish and shellfish. in Masyachuostts Bey, &
Ihe nearest depostional, sot bottom {sandy 2 1
muchd)) area if moe than a kilometer from the ct ee Se arm
tall Impacts on the fauna fron eMuent discharge Will fey se one score]
iheretory be sharply limited by thenatueat teem
Torment these species inhatil

On another level. lire vanation i benitiic OomWMUnIEs provides a striking
example cl thie ditferenoes between Cape Cod and Massachusetts Bays. Cant
Cod Bay is characterized fy an Wives Sta cucwnber-palychaste wre
assemblage wtich is nel found af any of the Massachusets Bay sites. The

Fifture Saptejket Cape Cod
Beart

“yr

Pp 69 Mew oper ued byes #
st Hear |b bum ep gat
Nias Ne (mikecbed i Age 10
(one nrt ey See OES
iP iter Pyrite hetar Mhet pet
ory 5 pe he gay OF (deed ng
(es (erg) a5 9 tnoy ke wD
onan rae ory Pe retee

Sees of cite Ling |),

Tha gow cuttali (s sited tn ae argo atery
bewege \t levy likely te Be deposited

Fmt 210 Deperatorat ged rere wee @ gates Mtppaetamet: fry Nhe Metall crater arm
Pguel Oy Te [LS Gegesd, ters (9 )\uerp ees tegen tere don te fer 5 oe
pete ay erie | et ad Von te nen pibittor & tema ate biog asta Ww

Gresance of this assemblage was lirsl noted i We fale 1950s (Young and
Ahoads, 1977) and, despite its susceptibility to disturbance, i! appears to have
sprained relabvety unchanged (Blake al., 1993). This persiswnce suggests
hat the fast 20 years of effluent Gscharge imo the days, va the Parbor has not
bed nobiceable atlects on the hentnes of Cape God Bay. The presenne of this
assernitiage will continue to sefve as 2 endicaa: of enviccamental conditions
‘once the new outtall is operations

| exlet ing: Bitution Pattertis in Mass & Cape Cod Bays

Merdoy he affluent outfall to Massachusetts Bay wil not only change the
location (9.5 miles cul) bel aise thw dest (100 Ieet) at whieh the atfuent
eniers the receiving water The surace dilution gatlem, as well as Ihe vercal
distr@.f0n of the atlvent in the water colin, will change. Through mocel-
Jing, Figure 3.11 shows te surlace summer dilution patterns tor etlliet Ge
charged from the exesling and the tuture outtells. As shown dy the omss~sec~
bone! patiems, Ihe exiting nearshore isctarye sesulls wn early all of the
effluent entering he surface wale where Mere is a greater potential fo wflu-
ence the growth of gtitoplaiten However, when discharged trom the heure
ile im Massachusatts Bay, the etiutnl will be ileased Hom diffuser pipes wvell
below Me surtace layer (960 stralitication box. page 16) where a is less aatil-
able to the phytogtankton community for sterestaling aigal blooms.

These difterenoes 1 the curren! ad tulure elfivert dilution paterns are
vividly illustrated in the aerial diuficn maps showing the absence of effluent in
fre surface waters dureg surimer. Ouring the winter wee the water column
5 well mixed, the model predicts thar the ettluent discharged from the dittuser
will dilite capictly throughout the veater column resutting in a one-falf square
mile area uf least-dilulod etfiyer, compared to an atea a! aboul 77 square
mikes unde! existing condibors. | the model & accuraie, Ihe tuture oultall
should hawe much less of an impaci on Massachusafis and Cape Cod Bays
than the existing discharge

Future Monit } a

WIN) the mew outfall due % be commesicanen sonn, it i Importaid to build
@sirong catalogue of baseline information on the days. The data collected so
‘fat have corfinhed Ovo important Matures Of Ile Gays which undersoany the
importance of he monitoning program he differences beéween Massachusetts

gad Cape Cod Bays and the cagree of existing iinpacts on the waler quality af
he bays.

The vatiation between Massachsuetls and Cape Cod Bays has king been
suspected. hut 6 only now Geing confirmed These differences Rave two-fold
importance. First, they imply that the hwo oays may respond differently 90 envi-
Torment: changes. Second, they
inay mean tat Cape Cod Bay is
more esolafed from processes
occurring in Massachusems Bay
than was initially suspected

The gradients of sewage-
bome chemical contamination in
the Says indicate thal sewage
discharged into Boston Harber
agrently rearhes Massachusetts
Bay, The presence at toc “redt
fides” whven are poisonous ta
marina life and to people con-
suming contaminaled sheltlish
have also been documented
Red tides appear, to some extent,
to be natural oocurrences in New
England waters Documenting
these curtant environmental lea-
tures of the bays will allow a
More accurate assessment of
whether environmental occur
rences 9 the fulure ate due to the
new cuttall ce ae the result of
halunal vividly and past pallii-
thon, Wl will aso help determine
the extend to which Ihe Boston
Harbor Project benefits the bays,
25 wel as the tardor

Celeting commutrens Ceurtace)

futere conditions (hurtsce!

Geer isang

The Hem Gitfal) Will Intreese dilution uf tha uftfugnt art, i) summer,
Drevent {t from feaching they surtoce

Existing Conditions (eraereserttoe)

future conditians (cross*sectiant

Diletion

Fegee ttt Mewtciet aw
ten peers s Me oer we
fe eet uses av
me ageTinat weet) Hite Dy
(het) © feentncpcat Serve tev
te pada Bre seme
te iern citer
weg ates terete)
fewee fe pee of cot digas
Dy che art neers, Contin
bm arretery eee ratecabe a
bard &) Riowantie Hoe
Yieo parw cathy adh cmos eee
(VR Re ePieet a7 wt linear
fraceg fe wecarn aanaty
here

Bibl tography

Kelly), 1993. Nutrients ard Mazsachueutts Bay: an update of eutruphicalilin
issues, MURA ENOUAD ro $317 54 pp , Os appendices.

Baw, JA D.C. Rhoads, and | Wiliams. 1993. Boston Harbor sludge abate-
Trent monioting progam. sot otto benthic biology and: sedimentolingy
TSST-S2 aryeys, MRA ENCUAD no 86-71. BSpp.+ 3 appendices

For Further Heading:

Aubry, 0G and M5, Connor, 1993, Boston Hartar: fallout cver the outtat.
Oceanus 26. nd. 1 pp. 61-70

Bigomia-Vitale, G, and M.J, Sullivan, 1964 NPDES complinnce summery
repor, fiscal yrar 1962 MTW/RA ENQUAD 10.93-14. 156 pp.

Blumberg, AF AP. Signal), and HL Jener 1999 Modeling anspor
rocesses in the coastal cosa. ASCE Journal ot Environmental Enginerting
119

Buchsbaum. 1, ed. 1992. Turing the tide! toward @ livable coast in
Massarinsers. Wassachusets Audubon Society. 121 pp.

Butman. &. et. al 1992. Contaminant transport and accumulation in
Vassachuselis Bay and Boston Harber: a summary ol US, Geological
Survey Studies, US. Gegiogicg! Survey Open-ila Rapalt S2-202, Woods
Hole, MA 42 pp

Chin ¥-P anc PM Gscteend 1999. The atundance, distribution and con-
figuration of pormaaier organic cillokds in recent sediments. Geochen
Cosmmochim. Acta, 55: pp. 1308-1317

Dhin, ¥-P and PM, Gsctrmerd 1982 Pontitioning of polycyclic ammate
hydincarbone to marine porewaler organic colloids. Erwin. Sci. Tagtnet
2B 1621-1628

Downey, P.C.. JK. Comeau, A.C. Brnkerd, snd JW. Williams. 1993.
Bicaccumuldion nt seeded ceganic compounds in mussels degloyed (eer
Deer Isund discharge and Massachusatts Bay, 1992. WIVRA ENQUAD no.
GA isp

ENSA Consuting and Engeeering, 1999, Spectacle Island water quality mon
Honing report Preparer fnr the Massachusetts Higrnay Department 35 yp.

Geyer, WR, etal, 1892. Physical oceanographic investigation of
Massarhusdis and Cape Cod Bays. Massachusetts Bays Program Technical
Report No, MBP-92-03. 445 pp. plus tiqures and appencices.

Inst, J.0, ag RP Sigrall. 1992. Tides a! Massactersetts and Cape Cod Bays
VWéonds Hole Oceanagraptiic Insttuign Tach Rapart WHOI2-35. 62

Johnsen, LL, dal, 1992 Bic-irdicators of vonlaminart expesiire, liver
pathology, avd reproductive development in pre-spaeming female wirter
feurder (Pleufonettes americanus} from urban and non-urhan estares on
a NOAA Technica Mamorancum RMFS-HWFFL-

Tope

Massactiusetts Bays Program 1991 Massachusets Bays 1997 pornprehei
sive coreervation and management pian 99 pp.

Nowch, BL 1994. The effect of tampergture, oxygen, salingy, ad nurent
enrichment on eskerine denitrification res mazaured will) a modified nitro
feeete rem Estutine, Coastal and Shel Scitne 38 pp 197-

Parmentar, CM. and MH Bothnet. 1993. The disiibution of Ciestrichuan per-
tringans, a sewage indicator, i sediments of coastal Massachusets US
Gecingical Surwy Open-lit Report $2-8, 45 9p

Alex, A 1983. Combined sewe! overtlow receiving water monitoring Basten
Harhor and Rs tihutay rivets. MIWA ENQUAD no, 83-4. 210 pp.

Hheads, D.C, and LF Boye. 1992 The effects of marine bertthos on physica
properties af seclenents; a successional perspective tir McCall, PL ano
M.S. Tevasz (eds.|, Animal-Sediment Relations pp 352. Geobiology
seres ¥ 2, Planum Press, New Yor.

Shoa D. and J Kelly 1962. Transport and (ae of tovic contaminants dis-
changed by MRA nto Massachusetts Bay, MIWA ENQUAD 10, 92-4, 78
pp

Sjonwll, ALP, HL Jeiitérand AF Blomioeny. (982) fd thee mean flow in
Massachusetts Bay EOS, Transactions, Aperican Geophysical Union, val
73, 0.43. 9. 2980

‘Siogenbach, 3 1963 Boston Harbor study of soumes and transport of
Harbor sediment cortamination, Part |; transport of contarninaler sediments
in Boston Haitint. MIVRA ENQUAD no. 93-12. 0 pp.

Wo, 0.5, ¥-P Chin and PM, Gschwend, 1992. Sorption of ration-222
ratural sediments Geochim. Cosmochim, Anta. 54° pp. 2923-3932

Acknow|adgements

Mery people nave contributed internation and advice tO ts reporl, The authors would lik to thank Anny Bara, Grace Bigurvia-Vitale, Ed Caruso, Dan
Cushing, Ban Davis Susan Curran Ford, Maury Hall, Wika Hornbrook, Ken Keay, Qave Kuiiak, Hayes Lamont. Wendy Smith Leo, Catt Legre, Charlie Lambardi,
Kevin McManus, Mike Mickelson, Dan O'Brien, Cari Pawlowski, Peter Ralston, Andrea Rex, John Aliccip, Elisa Speraraa. Liz Steele, tak Sullivan, Rick
Trubiano, Dace Vittrei, and Nancy Wheatley The authors wnuld \ike fo acknowledge especially the help of finse not atfilinted with ine MWAA E Bruce Berman
Jt. Brad Chasd, Ann Giblin, David MeCareon. and Ken Rebanh

Grapnics and teyoul
Hila Berkeley, Carolin DeCille, and Jennifer Siegel

Editors
Tim Watkins, Mari Sullivan, and Leo Someneripa

Priming
Tran Printing

The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority

Charlestown Navy Yard
100 First Avenue
Boston. MA O?2129
(617) 242-6000

State of the Harbor: 1993

Errata

N.B.: a.x uncer jocation refers to column a (the left hand cojumn), x tenths of the way down: column b is the right hand column.

LOCATION

list of figures
list of figures
ust of figures

I a8

a
&
om

4 fig 1.5
5 fig 1.6
6 b.5
7 ad
7 fig 2.3
7 fig 2.4 caption
7 fig 2.4 key
Centerspread

Centerspread

Centers pread

8 fig 2.5 key

adjacent to the yellow box

CURRENT
Wet weather combined sewer overflow events

1,7 The amounts...

fig 2.16 not mentioned

It is then pumped to facilities where large debris is
screened out before entering one of two MWRA
treatment plants at Nut Island in Quincy or Deer Island
off Winthrop

3 of events

1992 1990 1992

flow (millions: gallons/day)

About 850,000 homes and 6,000 businesses in
Greater Boston produce 480 million gailons of sewage
each day

Average Combined Flow

For five beaches the percentage of days in violation of
the standard fell between 1989 and 1993

On the basis of these tends the DMF concluded that
management efforts were having an effect in reducing
tissue concentrations of contaminants

1986 88 89 91 1986 88 89 90

annual means of three sites in each area

the color next to “Boston” is blue and should be green
and the color next to “Salem” is green and should be
blue

The “Hull Bay” identifier is in Hingham Bay

the beach umbrella directly to the left of the label
“Neponset R.” should be moved to Wollaston Beach,
below and slightly to the left of the label “Quincy
Bay”

the arrow for the Back River points to the Fore River

Aug. 1993

CORRECTED

Wet weather combined sewer overflow +
fig 1.7 does not exist

2.16

State of harbor ecosystem recov:

Deer Island has headworks; Nut {sland sc
facilities

number of events

1991 1992 1993
volume (million gailons)

. . 380 million gallons of sewage each

add units, (MGD)

For all beaches the....
see fig 2.1

On the basis of these tends MWR <A conc

1987 88 89 91 1987 8

annual means of three sites in the most r¢
each area

Aug. 1992

8 fig 2.6

% fig 2.7
9 fig 2.9
» 3.6
i2 b.l
12 fig 2.16
t4 fig 3.2 key
15 fig 3.3
15 fig 3.4
17 ad
17 fig 3.8
17 fig 3.8 caption
17 fig 3.8

mercury graph, above
coastal locations

17 fig 3.8
PCB graph, above coastal
locations

17 fig 3.8 caption
1? fig 3.9 key
17 fig 3.9 key
7 fig 3.9

17 fig 3.10 caption

ug/g wet wt

Increased nivogen -> Reduced smothering of Senthic
fauna

ihe color next to “Early Liver Disease” is blue and
should be green and the color next to “Liver Tumors”
is green and should be blue

The number of herring entering the Weymouth Back

River each year has increased markedly since the eariy
1970s (see Center Resource Map).

concentrations of toxic substances in fish and
shellfish edibility has decreased
referenced in the text, but has no figure number, title,

or key

The shading of the colors within each box is
backwards (e.g. it goes dark blue to light blue. left to
right, and it should go light blue to dark blue).

Mean total Nitrogen ( M)

The shading of the coiors within each box is
backwards (e.g. it goes dark blue to light blue, left to
right, and it should go light blue to dark blue}.

rapidly eroding deposition of effluent-borne
contaminants

colors of first and second columns are switched

between the first and second graphs

fish samples taken from Georges Bank, Boston
Harbor and Salem Harbor.

n=7

Data from Schwarw et al, (1991, 1993) and MWRA
unpublished,

color of the box to the left of Chlordane is green and
Should be yellow

all four line id’s are incorrectly labeled

there is no y-axis 1D

(Bothner et al., 1991)

number of species

Increased Fauna -> Consumption of organic mater

The referenced figure shows a decline ajter 1991, The
reference snouid be to the “Centerspread” in Stead of
the “Cerner Resource Map." Delete the word
“markedly”

concentrations of toxic substances in fish and
shellfish edible tissue has decreased

FIG. 2.16; State of Harbor Ecosystem Recovery in
1994; yellow = Poor Health, blue = Good Health

Mean total Nitrogen (44M)

rapidly eroding cffluent-borne contaminants

in the second graph, the color of the first column is
blue and should be green and the color of the second
column is green and should be blue

fish samples taken from the future outfall site, Eastern
Cape Cod Bay, and Massachusetts coastal locations
(average).

n=59

Coastal data are from Schwartz et al. (1991, 1993);
other data are from MWRA unpublished

from top to bottom, the lines are PCB, DDT,
Chlordane, and Dieldrin

y-axis ID should be “ngig dry weight”

(Knebei, 1993)

For Further Reading:

Aubrey, D.G. and M.S. Connor. 1993. Boston Harbor: fallout over the outfall. Oceanus 36: no. 1 pp. 61-70. oe
Bigornia- Vitale, G. and M.J. Sullivan, 1993. NPDES compliance summary report, fiscal year 1992. MWRA ENQUAD no. 93-14. 196 pp.

Blumberg, A.F.. R.P. Signeil, and H.L. Jenter. (in press). Modeling transport processes in the coastal ocean. ASCE Journal of
Environmental Engineering . .

Buchsbaum, R.. ed. 1992. Turing the tide: toward a livable coast in Massachusetts. Massachusetts Audubon Society. 121 pp.

Buiman, B., et. al, 1992. Contaminant transport and accumulation in Massachusetts Bay and Boston Harbor: a summary of U.S. Geological
Survey Studies. U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 92-202, Woods Hoie, MA. 42 pp.

Chin, Y.-P. and P.M. Gschwend. 1991. The abundance, distribution and configuration of porewater organic coiloids in recent sediments.
Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta. 55: pp. 1308-1317.

Chin, Y.-P. and P. M. Gschwend, 1992. Partitioning of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to marine porewater organic colloids. Environ.
Sci. Technol. 26: 1621-1626.

Downey, P.C., J.K, Comeau, R.C. Binkerd, and J.W. Williams. 1993, Bioaccumulation of selected organic compounds in mussels deployed
near Deer Island discharge and Massachusetts Bay, 1992. MWRA ENQUAD no. 93-8. 64 pp.

ENSR Consuiting and Engineering. 1993. Spectacle Island water quality monitoring report. Prepared for the Massachusetts Highway
Department. 35 pp. ,

Geyer, W.R. et al. 1992, Physical oceanographic investigation of Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays. Massachusetts Bays Program
Technical Report No. MBP-92-03. 445 pp.

Trish, J.D. and R.P. Signeil. 1992. Tides of Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays. Woods Hole Oceanographic [nstitution Tech. Report WHOI-
92-35. 62 pp.

Johnson, L.L., et. al. 1992. Bio-indicators of contaminant exposure, liver pathology, and reproductive development in pre-spawning female
winter flounder (Pleuronectes americanus) from urban and non-urban estuaries on the northeast Atlantic coast. NOAA Technical Memorandum
NMFS-NWFFC-1, 76 pp.

Massachusetts Bays Program. 1991. Massachusetts Bays 1991 comprehensive conservation and management plan. 99 pp.

Nowicki, B.L. 1994. The effect of temperature, oxygen, salinity, and nutrient enrichment on estuarine denitrification rates measured with a
modified nitogen gas flux technique. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 38: pp. 137-156,

Parmenter, C.M., and M.H. Bothner. 1993. The distribution of Clostridium perfringens, a sewage indicator, in sediments of coastal
Massachusetts. U.S, Geological Survey Open File Report 93-8. 45 pp.

Rex, A. 1993. Combined sewer overflow receiving water monitoring: Boston Harbor and its tributary rivers. MWRA ENQUAD no, 93-4.
210 pp.

Rhoads, D.C. and L.F. Boyer. 1992. The effects of marine benthos on physical properties of sediments: a successional perspective, In:
McCall, P.L. and M.J.S. Tevesz (eds.), Animal-Sediment Relations, pp 3-52. Geobiology series, v. 2, Plenum Press. New York.

Shea, D. and J. Kelly. 1992. Transport and fate of toxic contaminants discharged by MWRA into Massachusetts Bay. MWRA ENQUAD no.
92-4, 78 pp.

Signell, R.P., H.L. Jenter and A.F. Blumberg. 1992. Modeling the mean flow in Massachusetts Bay. EOS, Transactions. American
Geophysical Union, vol. 73, no. 43. pp, 298 ff.

Stolzenbach, et. al. 1993. Boston Harbor study of sources and transport of Harbor sediment contamination. Part I: transport of contaminated
sediments in Boston Harbor. MWRA ENQUAD no. 93-12. 80 pp.

Wong, C.S., Y.-P. Chin and P.M. Gschwend. 1992. Sorption of radon-222 to natural sediments, Geochim. Cosmochim, Acta. 56: pp. 3923-
3932.

A{WRA ENQUAD reports can be ordered by contacting the MWRA Environmental Quality Department, (617) 242-6000.

‘state of the Harbor: 1993
Supplemental Information

Glossary:

iota: the living organisms of a region.

CSO (combined sewer overflow): 1) sewage that must be discharged from the sewer system before reaching a weatment plant, in a sewer system
shat collects Doth stormwater and domestic.industrial wastewater. Overflows usually happen when the sewer system is unabic to handle
increased flow caused by stormwater runoff. 2) a facility that allows for the discharge of such overflow.

organic: 1) reiating to or derived from living organisms. 2) containing carbon. in reference to a chemical compound .

PAH (polyaromatic hydrocarbon): a set of chemical compounds found in peoleum products and as a byproduct of most combustion processes.
Some PAHs are known carcinogens and accumulate in animal tissue, particularly in fish and sheilfish.

PCB (polychtorinated biphenyi): a set of banned chemical compounds formerly used in many industrial processes and still present im the
environment at significant concentrations. PCBs are suspected carcinogens and accumulate in animal tissue. particularly in fish and shellfish.

Secchi disk depth: the depth below the water's surface at which a black and white disk cannot be seen from above the water's surface. Seechi
disk depth is a standard measure of water clarity.

yoxi¢ metal: 2 metal that causes disease when present in a living organism at certain concentrations (e.g. copper, silver, mercury).

Bibliography:

Alber, M. and A. Chan. 1994. Sources of contaminants to Boston Harbor: revised loading estimates. MWRA ENQUAD no. 94-1.

Blake, J.A., B. Hilbig, and D.C. Rhoads. 1993. Massachusetts Bay outfall monitoring program: soft-bottom benthic biology and
sedimentology, 1992 baseline conditions in Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays). MWRA ENQUAD no. 93-10. 108 pp.

Blake, J.A, D.C. Rhoads, and I.P. Williams. 1993. Boston Harbor sludge abatement monitoring program: soft bottom benthic biology and
sedimentology, 1991-92 surveys. MWRA ENQUAD no. 93-11. 65 pp.

Bothner, M.H., et. al. 1993. The distribution of silver and other metals in sediments from Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays - an intesinm
compilation. U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 93-725.

Giblin, A. (unpublished). Unpublished benthic nitrogen flux studies. Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA.
Kelly, J. 1993. Nutrients and Massachusetts Bay: an update of eutrophication issues. MWRA ENQUAD no. 93-17. 94 pp.
Kelly, J. and R.K. Kropp. 1992. Benthic recovery following sludge abatement to Boston Harbor. MWRA ENQUAD no. 92-7.

Knebel, H.J. i993. Sedimentary environments within a glaciated estuarine-shelf system: Boston Harbor and Massachusetts Bay. Marine
Geology 110: pp. 7-30.

McCarron, D. and T.B. Hoopes. 1992. 1992 Massachusetts lobster fishery statistics. Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.
Technical Series 27. :

Metcalf and Eddy. 1993. Baseline CSO flows. Report to MWRA, December 1993.
Metropolitan District Commission. 1984. Application for a waiver of secondary treatment for Nut Island and Deer Island Treatment Plants.

Michelson, A. 1990. Analysis of the spatial and temporal variability of primary production in the Boston Harbor, Massachusetts and Cape
Cod Bays. Masters Thesis. Department of Geography, Boston University. Sept., 1990.

MWRA. 1993 . Interim CSO report. Submited to: US Environmental Protection Agency, Conservation Law Foundation. Prepared by Metcalf
and Eddy, February 1993.

Schwartz, J., N. Dunstan, and C. Batdorf. 1991. PCBs in winter flounder, american lobster, and bivalve mollusks from Boston Harbor, Salem
Harbor and coastal Massachusetts: 1984-1989, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. Report no. 16, 966-63-250-10-91-C.R.

Schwartz, J. N. Dunstan, and C.Batdorf. 1993. Metal concentrations in winter flounder, american lobster, and bivalve mollusks from Boston
Harbor, Salem Harbor and coastal Massachusetts: 1986-1991. Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.

Shea, D. (1993). Draft annual review of toxic contaminants discharged by MWRA: 1992. MWRA ENQUAD no. 93 -18.

Young, D.K. and D.C. Rhoads. 1971. Animal-sediment relations in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts. [. A transect study. Marine Biology 11:
pp. 242-254.

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