Progress Report

Our Three Bays Preservation program has made significant progress since our last report:

TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

On the advice of our Technical Advisory Committee, we are performing the following field studies:

• The Woods Hole Group has installed seven tide gauges in order to establish by field measurement the time delay of the tidal cycles in the entrance to Princes Cove, North Bay, Cotuit Bay, West Bay and Nantucket Sound. These gauges will be active for 30 days.

   

• Tidal current measurements will be made in four locations. The Oyster Harbor, Inc. Bridge, the channel between North Bay and Cotuit Bay and the Cotuit Bay Entrance Channel.

   

This data will enable our engineers to quantify the benefits to our bays derived from the improved flushing action.

PERMITTING

We have received a project permit from the Town of Barnstable Conservation Commission. We had a meeting with the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Administration (M.E.P.A.) on the request to waive the need for an Environmental Impact Review (E.I.R.).

The Massachusetts Audubon Society has written a favorable letter to the M.E.P.A. in support of the project and is requesting a waiver of the E.I.R. which if required, would delay the project for one year (copy of the letter attached).

A meeting has been scheduled for October 22 with all agencies to answer any questions and agencies concerns.

The permit must be received in December so that the project can be completed by

March 15, 1998. Due to the concerns of two agencies, the issuing of a permit might be delayed. This could seriously impact this winters project. We will keep you informed on this important matter.

SOURCE OF POLLUTION

Extensive discussions have been held with the Town officials by our board members concerning the nutrients entering the three bays system. The Town officials unanimously agreed to give our three bay area a high priority for funding and action in the next fiscal budget. We will keep in close touch with this issue and keep you informed of what is happening and what action should be taken, if any.

FUND RAISING

Our fund raising program is doing well, the five captains under Bob Gill have raised approximately $1,000,000. We will need approximately 1.5 million to proceed with our first project. Our dedicated captains are extremely pleased with some of the generous donations made to date and they are working harder then ever to raise the last remaining half million dollars needed to dredge the Cotuit Bay and West Bay channels.

We are creating a brochure and letter to be a cornerstone of our Outreach Program. This purpose is two fold: to raise funds and to acquaint the Town's residents of our problem and its seriousness. We hope to be able to distribute this in the near future.

FULL-TIME MANAGER

We have been very fortunate to have Lindsey Counsell agree to be the full-time manager of the Three Bays Preservation, Inc.. Lindsey is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Design. He is known to many of the residence of the three bay area having served on many local boards, to name a few, the Town Conservation Commission, Barnstable Land Trust, Past President of the Cape Cod Community College Alumni Association.

Again, we thank you for your enthusiastic support and should you wish to make a donation to support the Three Bays Preservation program, please mail your donation to Post Office Box 215, Osterville, MA 02655.