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The summer of 2008 was a banner one for the Foundation and especially its Internship Program. We were fortunate to have three outstanding seventeen year old high school seniors, all dedicated to careers in science. The three, Carl Spielvogel, Ryan Daly, and Alex Huth worked as a team on two important projects: monitoring water quality in the Pond, and assisting in an oyster restoration project in the Pond. Water Monitoring The water monitoring project came about because Bill Wilcox, MVC Water Quality Planner, had to relinquish his work in this area due to other priorities Island-wide. The Foundation stepped in to continue Bill's many years of data collection. Under the direction of our resident hydrologist Craig Saunders, the interns conducted twice-monthly sampling at six stations in the Pond, gathering data on oxygen, salinity, nitrogen, and other parameters essential to maintaining good water quality in the Pond. Craig will continue monitoring throughout the year, in association with the pond openings, in an attempt to gain a better understanding of the effectiveness of the openings in reducing nitrogen in the Pond. He will also be installing additional test wells to monitor the movement of the groundwater nitrogen plume flowing from the Wastewater Treatment Facility towards the Pond. Oyster Restoration Turning to the oyster project, the MV Shellfish Group, headed by Rick Karney spawned some 3 million oysters in their hatchery this spring. The pinhead-sized larvae were then transferred to tanks on the shore of Kanomika Neck in July and nurtured by the intern team headed by the intrepid veteran Edgartown shell fisherman William "Boo" Bassett. Net bags filled with scallop shells were placed in the tanks. The larval "spat" then "set" on the shell "culch" and were closely watched for a month or so, as they acclimated to Pond water continuously being circulated through the nursery tanks. Once the spat achieved the proper size, the dozens of net bags were transferred to a raft in the Pond from which they were suspended. In late August the bags, now bursting with thousands of oysters, each permanently attached to the scallop shell of their choice, were removed from the raft and distributed to carefully chosen prime oyster beds in the Pond. Unfortunately, by now, the interns found themselves back in their classrooms, far removed from the bountiful fruit of their labors. While they missed the crowning moment of their mission, they can glow in the knowledge that they were key to the success of the project, one that will have an impact on the health of the Pond for many years. The Foundation can take pride in its internship program and the many benefits flowing there from. Algae Identification & Management For the past several summers Edgartown Great Pond has experienced an increase in a wrack algae now identified as Ulva (formerly Enteromorpha) clathrata. It is a green filamentous algae, found in brackish, salt and fresh water environments. Its increasing presence in the Pond is an indication of increasing eutrophication (enrichment) of the Pond, due to increasing amounts of nitrogen reaching the Pond. It grows attached to bottom sediment with thalli (stems) up to several feet long, and when torn free from wave action, forms large floating rafts which float about the Pond, depending on the wind direction. This year the algae were more visible than in previous years, prompting much discussion and concern. While samples were being identified by experts, we decided to learn as much as possible about handling the plant, in anticipation of there being a need to begin to manage it, i.e.. harvest it to prevent oyster and clam beds from being smothered by the decaying masses of the stuff as it sinks to the bottom in the fall. We built a "boom-seine", a 16 foot long contraption of net, line, and irrigation pipe, all made of polypropylene, which floats. Iron sash weights were added to the bottom of the net to hold it in a vertical position. We deployed the net, pulling it from both boat and by hand from shore, or towards shore. We learned that the algae can be moved effectively with mechanical means and that it may have potential as a fertilizer. We are conducting experiments in drying, composting, and de-salting the material. Samples will be tested for salt content in the event we seek permits for land disposal (use) of the algae for fertilizer. If it is too difficult to remove the salt we will not be able to get permits for land deposition. Also of high importance will be analyzing the algae for nitrogen content, which will tell us how valuable it may be as a fertilizer. This is phase one of what may prove to be a long process, but we feel it is important to learn as much as possible about the Ulva and its management, as the future well-being of the Pond may depend on some form of action. GPF Dredge Program In it's most important initiative so far, the Foundation has researched identified and is in the process of purchasing a versatile and highly mobile dredge to maintain the efficacy of scheduled openings to the sea-the "cut." Cost of acquisition and operation is being funded by generous private donations. The GPF Dredge Program is described in detail elsewhere on this site. Monitoring Nitrogen in the Plume As part of the ongoing program of monitoring nitrogen inputs from the plume into the pond, GPF and the Edgartown Waste Water Treatment Plant will fund the drilling of two new wells. Quantitative and qualitative measurements of the ground water will enable better prediction of pond nitrogen loading. Managing coastal ponds is a tricky business. Originally primarily fresh water environments, these systems have a delicate balance that must be maintained with the sea and the land. Whenever man attempts to manage natural systems he is in for some surprises. We are gradually learning what roles humans can and cannot play in our attempt to nurture our environment. The most elemental and impactful is for us to simply stop polluting it. (Picture the Wampanoag living on the shores of these ponds for the past several thousand years in close harmony with the resources that sustained them). Achieving the goal of saving our threatened coastal ponds means changes in our life styles, especially in handling our wastes. Just as certain as the fact that we are the cause of the degradation of our environment is the certainty that we can restore these priceless resources to their original pristine state. Edgartown Great Pond is a gem that inspires us all. We've made a good beginning towards restoration. If we continue to improve the success of the openings, reduce significantly the nitrogen reaching the Pond, and continue to manage the oyster resource as we have this summer, I am confident the Pond will respond, and return to a healthier state. ~ Bob Woodruff, Executive Director |
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