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Martha's Vineyard Coastal Pond Water Quality Survey- Summer 2003

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Martha's Vineyard Coastal Pond Water Quality Survey- Summer 2003 Martha’s Vineyard Coastal Pond Water Quality Survey- Summer 2003 June 2005 William M. Wilcox, Water Resource Planner Martha’s Vineyard Commission This project has been financed partially with Federal Funds from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (the Department) under Section 604(b) of the Clean Water Act. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of EPA or of the Department, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. 2003 604b Final Report 2 Table of Contents Page(s) Executive Summary 3-5 Background and Acknowledgements 5 Methodology summary 5-6 Water Quality Framework 6-8 Water Column Parameters Discussed and Guidance for data Evaluation 9-10 Chilmark Pond data 10-14 Squibnocket Pond data 15-18 Menemsha Pond data 19-22 Sengekontacket Pond data 23-26 Farm Pond data 27-29 Tashmoo Pond data 30-33 Oak Bluffs Harbor data 34-36 Cape Poge Pond data 37-39 Pocha Pond data 40-43 References cited 44-45 Appendix A Raw data from all stations 46-62 Appendix B Sampling and Analysis Plan 63-88 For digital versions, Figures 1 through 9 showing water quality sampling stations are included as a separate digital file. These figures are also those referred to in Appendix B. 2003 604b Final Report 3 Executive Summary: The primary goal of this project was to acquire water quality data on nine coastal ponds to add to our database and to further prepare them for entry into the Commonwealth’s Massachusetts Estuaries Project. The Ponds included are: Chilmark Pond, Menemsha Pond, Squibnocket Pond, Sengekontacket Pond, Farm Pond, Tashmoo Pond, Oak Bluffs Harbor, Cape Poge Pond and Pocha Pond. Chilmark and Squibnocket ponds do not receive the same daily tidal exchange that the other seven do. In the case of Chilmark Pond, this is the case because it is periodically opened to the ocean and drains and becomes tidal for only a short time before the barrier beach fills the inlet and ends tidal exchange. Squibnocket Pond displays no tidal signature in terms of its surface elevation because very little water manages to enter the system at the highest stage of the high tide. For the rest of the time, the system drains out to Menemsha Pond. The reduced tidal exchange has significant implications for the salinity of the systems and also determines the water quality in these ponds. Generally, they cannot be expected to meet the same water quality targets that are reasonable to expect in the other ponds that have twice-daily tides. In the discussion that follows, reduced water quality means that most parameters at most stations are at unacceptable levels most of the time. Somewhat reduced water quality means that at some stations, parameters are at acceptable levels at some times and unacceptable at others. Average means that the parameters are generally at or better than the unacceptable levels. Good water quality means that the system is most always better than the unacceptable levels by a substantial margin. These are not meant to be precise descriptions of the systems and, it should be kept in mind that these parameters will vary from year to year. More detailed guidance for interpreting the data is provided in the text on page 9. During summer 2003, Chilmark Pond displayed reduced water quality as indicated by the rating system applied to tidal pond systems (Costa et al (1996). Water column transparency was reduced to less than 1.5 meters due to excessive production of phytoplankton. This is also indicated by high levels of Total Organic Nitrogen that ranged between 0.6 and 1.0 milligram per liter (parts per million- ppm). The chlorophyll content was also between 6 and 8 micrograms per liter (parts per billion) during a portion of the sampling period. The distribution of inorganic nitrogen indicates that Doctor’s Creek is a significant source of nitrogen that drives the production of biomass in the system. During the survey times, dissolved oxygen saturation was good. Overall water quality in the system was somewhat reduced. Squibnocket Pond also had elevated Total Organic Nitrogen that ranged between 0.8 and 1.2 ppm. Chlorophyll content was not excessive during the study. Dissolved oxygen saturation was acceptable at the times measured however, a high saturation (120%) implies that the oxygen content may be subject to overnight decline and calls for the installation of continuous recording devices to evaluate this possibility. Overall the water quality in the system during 2003 was somewhat reduced. Menemsha Pond is one of the most vigorously circulated ponds that we have. This tidal flow removes nutrients and results in better water quality. Total Organic Nitrogen however did reach undesirable levels in Menemsha Basin and in the Nashaquitsa and Stonewall Pond 2003 604b Final Report 4 stations. Total Organic Nitrogen values at the stations in more well-circulated areas were very good. Chlorophyll concentration was good at all stations. Inorganic nitrogen was higher at the stations with large sources like wastewater (Menemsha basin) or areas with reduced circulation (near Stonewall Pond). Dissolved oxygen saturation was lower in the deep water but not to levels where impacts on marine organisms would occur. However, placement of continuous recording devices in the deep water is warranted to explore the possibility of low oxygen levels over night. Generally water quality during 2003 was good with some stations varying from average to good. Sengekontacket Pond is also vigorously circulated by the tides. However, it has substantially larger sources of wastewater in its watershed that lead to higher Total Organic Nitrogen concentrations particularly in those areas removed from the inlets and into the recesses of the Pond. At these more restricted circulation stations where large sources of nitrogen also exist, the TON ranged between 0.5 and 1.0 ppm, well above desired levels. Chlorophyll content followed an identical pattern indicating that the added nitrogen was stimulating the phytoplankton population to undesirable levels. Dissolved oxygen saturation was at acceptable levels in the deeper water during the study. The water quality in the system varied from good at the more circulated stations to somewhat reduced at the more isolated stations. Farm Pond has restricted tidal flow due to the insufficient size of the culvert under Beach Road. The TON levels were higher than desirable, being between 0.5 and 0.9 ppm. Chlorophyll pigment concentrations reached higher than desirable levels in late August. Dissolved oxygen saturation also reached low levels (around 40%) late in August. Overall water quality during 2003 was somewhat reduced. Despite the water quality, Farm Pond retains a large stand of eelgrass that calls for improvements to the tidal flow for protection. Tashmoo Pond had TON levels that were acceptable during 2003, being similar to Vineyard Sound values near the inlet and increasing somewhat the further into the system the sampling stations were located. Chlorophyll pigment concentrations follow a similar pattern, increasing into the pond but being acceptable during the study period on average. Dissolved oxygen saturation in the deeper water was at acceptable levels during the study period but declined in August and indicates the need for some continuous over night data. Water quality in Tashmoo during 2003 was average. The watershed of Oak Bluffs Harbor contains high-density residential and commercial uses that were sewered but the removal of wastewater nitrogen would not yet have had a positive effect on the 2003 data. TON levels were somewhat elevated but not as high as might be expected with the nitrogen loading. Chlorophyll pigment concentrations were higher than desirable at some locations within the Harbor. The distribution of inorganic nitrogen indicates Sunset Lake as a source. Dissolved oxygen saturation in the deeper water dropped down below 60% in mid August but was at 80% or more for the remainder of the study. Water quality in the system was average to somewhat reduced during 2003. Cape Poge Pond is also vigorously circulated by the tides. Total Organic Nitrogen increases toward the outlet from Pocha Pond that drains into the Cape Poge but was generally below 2003 604b Final Report 5 0.4 ppm during the study at most stations. Chlorophyll pigment levels were below 5 parts per billion throughout the study. Inorganic nitrogen was elevated at the outlet from Pocha Pond and in the more isolated embayment known as Shear Pen Pond. Dissolved oxygen saturation in the deeper water was good throughout the study. Water quality varied from good at some stations to average at others. Pocha Pond drains into Cape Poge by way of a long channel. Total Organic Nitrogen concentration was found to be elevated beyond desirable levels the further into the system the station was located. Despite this increase, pigment concentrations were less than 5 parts per billion throughout the study possibly indicating that the organic matter is derived from non- chlorophyll organisms. Inorganic nitrogen generally increased the further into the system the station was located. Dissolved oxygen was at acceptable levels throughout the study period. Water quality in the system was somewhat reduced at some stations and average at others. Background and Acknowledgements: This project was designed to gather field and lab analyses data from 9 coastal salt ponds during the summer of 2003. The goal of the project was to further build the database to qualify the ponds for cutting edge scientific evaluation under the Massachusetts Estuaries Project. The Department of Environmental Protection provided funding for this project under a section 604(b) grant. The project was greatly assisted by in-kind cost shares that were provided by the Oak Bluffs (Dave Grunden), Edgartown (Paul Bagnall) and Tisbury (Derek Cimeno) Shellfish Departments who provided boats for sample collection in Sengekontacket, Cape Poge, Pocha, Tashmoo and Lagoon Ponds.
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