A Guide to Protecting Martha's Vineyard Waters
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For Information N and Updates Tisbury Martha’s Vineyard Commission 33 New York Ave. W E LAKE TASHMOO Oak Bluffs PO Box 1447 LAGOON THE ISLAND Oak Bluffs, MA 02557 POND (508) 693-3453 S www.mvcommission.org/node/46152/attachment Blue Pages SENGEKONTACKET POND CAPE West Tisbury Edgartown POGE BAY 1 KATAMA Page BAY EDGARTOWN AM Chilmark TISBURY GREAT GREAT POND POND 10:42 Aquinnah 9/11/17 MENEMSHA POND 1 SQUIBNOCKET A Guide to Protecting POND 6060.qxd:Layout cover Martha’s Vineyard Waters... eng 080700 blue pages Page 1 09/2017 blue pages 09/2017 Page 1 Table of Contents Protecting the Waters of Martha’s Vineyard Together we can make a difference! Introduction...page 1 Chapter 7...page 31 Protecting the Waters of Martha’s Vineyard Spare that Shrub! hen we think of Martha’s Helpful hints for controlling The Legend of Moshup Together we can make a difference Vineyard, we think of water. We surface runoff and erosion are an island. Water dominates The history of Martha's Vineyard reaches back to a ourW landscape and our history. The Vineyard’s time before the Island was an island - when glaciers Chapter 1...page 3 landscape was shaped by multiple glacial ice ages. scraped over the earth, leaving behind a dramatic A Water Primer Chapter 8...page 35 Humankind’s history on the Island traces back display of cliffs, rocks, and ponds. There, it is said, Water, the “Life Blood” of our Island Landscaping for through the Wampanoag Tribe to over 10,000 a benevolent being named Moshup roamed the Healthy Watersheds years ago. Archeological evidence of shoreline land. One day, Moshup was making his way across Landscaping choices, campsites, extensive shell mounds, and water-cen- the mainland to the headlands of the Aquinnah Chapter 2....page 12 gardening, composting, and tered legends attest to the central importance of Cliffs. Weary from his Quick Start for the Water Wise pest management techniques water in the lives of the Vineyard’s first inhabi- journey, Moshup drag- ged Ten simple things you can do right tants. his foot heavily, leaving a away to begin caring for Martha’s deep track in the mud. At Vineyard waters Early settlers from Europe also built their villages Chapter 9....page 40 first, only a silver thread of around the Vineyard’s harbors or along freshwater Recovery from Lawn Obsession water trickled in the track. streams that provided water for livestock, shallow Chapter 3....page 14 12 steps to learn how to grow a But gradually, the ocean's wells, and dams to harness the water’s energy for Water, Water Everywhere natural Vineyard lawn force of wind and tides Saving water is as important mills. Like the Wampanoag, they depended heav- broadened and deepened as keeping it clean – simple tips ily on fish and shellfish harvested from the great the opening, creating an for water conservation ponds and the ocean. In later years, marine com- island named Noepe Chapter 10...page 44 merce, fishing, boat building, and whaling (Martha’s Vineyard). Out on the Water became the Island’s economic mainstays. Chapter 4....page 17 Courtesy of the Aquinnah Cultural Center, Inc. Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Best boating practices A Waste Water Primer Today the well-being of our Island is still inti- Just what does “down the mately linked to the health of its waters. We Vineyarders are never far from our ponds and beaches. Many of us drain” mean? – how your fish local waters for sustenance or sport. Seasonal residents and tourists flock to the Island to bask and hike on its sewer or septic system works beaches, swim in its waters, catch and eat local fish and shellfish, and go boating on its sparkling bays. Chapter 11...page 47 Not Just for Kids All these activities require clean water and a healthy marine ecosystem. We share the Island with a vast array of Chapter 5....page 21 Activities for the aquatic plants and animals. We depend on them to maintain the ecological balance that keeps our Island paradise Hazardous Waste: whole family intact. They need our help to survive. Not in My House! Good practices for using and disposing of water soluble During the past several decades, the people of Martha’s Vineyard have noticed that the water quality of our ponds, household products Chapter 12...page 48 harbors, and shorelines has been deteriorating. The water grows greener and murkier in the summer months. Taking Action Slime algae proliferate on rocks and dock ladders; the numbers of valued fish and shellfish are declining. Studies On our own or together, by local scientists and shellfish wardens confirm that areas in some ponds lack enough oxygen to sustain life. Chapter 6....page 27 let’s make a difference! Rethink/Reuse/Recycle: Many of our current water quality problems result from the Vineyard’s rapid development and population Damming the Waste Stream growth. Every additional septic system and newly fertilized lawn further pollutes the Island’s waters. Each house Improve water quality by may seem unimportant by itself, but multiply the impact of a single household by thousands of households and Chapter 13....page 50 pre-cycling, recycling and re-using it becomes clear why our irreplaceable water resources are deteriorating before our eyes. Where to Go for Help Resources for taking the next steps The good news is that it’s not too late to save our Island waters — if each of us plays our part. Page 1 blue pages Page 1 09/2017 blue pages 09/2017 Page 1 Table of Contents Protecting the Waters of Martha’s Vineyard Together we can make a difference! Introduction...page 1 Chapter 7...page 31 Protecting the Waters of Martha’s Vineyard Spare that Shrub! hen we think of Martha’s Helpful hints for controlling The Legend of Moshup Together we can make a difference Vineyard, we think of water. We surface runoff and erosion are an island. Water dominates The history of Martha's Vineyard reaches back to a ourW landscape and our history. The Vineyard’s time before the Island was an island - when glaciers Chapter 1...page 3 landscape was shaped by multiple glacial ice ages. scraped over the earth, leaving behind a dramatic A Water Primer Chapter 8...page 35 Humankind’s history on the Island traces back display of cliffs, rocks, and ponds. There, it is said, Water, the “Life Blood” of our Island Landscaping for through the Wampanoag Tribe to over 10,000 a benevolent being named Moshup roamed the Healthy Watersheds years ago. Archeological evidence of shoreline land. One day, Moshup was making his way across Landscaping choices, campsites, extensive shell mounds, and water-cen- the mainland to the headlands of the Aquinnah Chapter 2....page 12 gardening, composting, and tered legends attest to the central importance of Cliffs. Weary from his Quick Start for the Water Wise pest management techniques water in the lives of the Vineyard’s first inhabi- journey, Moshup drag- ged Ten simple things you can do right tants. his foot heavily, leaving a away to begin caring for Martha’s deep track in the mud. At Vineyard waters Early settlers from Europe also built their villages Chapter 9....page 40 first, only a silver thread of around the Vineyard’s harbors or along freshwater Recovery from Lawn Obsession water trickled in the track. streams that provided water for livestock, shallow Chapter 3....page 14 12 steps to learn how to grow a But gradually, the ocean's wells, and dams to harness the water’s energy for Water, Water Everywhere natural Vineyard lawn force of wind and tides Saving water is as important mills. Like the Wampanoag, they depended heav- broadened and deepened as keeping it clean – simple tips ily on fish and shellfish harvested from the great the opening, creating an for water conservation ponds and the ocean. In later years, marine com- island named Noepe Chapter 10...page 44 merce, fishing, boat building, and whaling (Martha’s Vineyard). Out on the Water became the Island’s economic mainstays. Chapter 4....page 17 Courtesy of the Aquinnah Cultural Center, Inc. Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Best boating practices A Waste Water Primer Today the well-being of our Island is still inti- Just what does “down the mately linked to the health of its waters. We Vineyarders are never far from our ponds and beaches. Many of us drain” mean? – how your fish local waters for sustenance or sport. Seasonal residents and tourists flock to the Island to bask and hike on its sewer or septic system works beaches, swim in its waters, catch and eat local fish and shellfish, and go boating on its sparkling bays. Chapter 11...page 47 Not Just for Kids All these activities require clean water and a healthy marine ecosystem. We share the Island with a vast array of Chapter 5....page 21 Activities for the aquatic plants and animals. We depend on them to maintain the ecological balance that keeps our Island paradise Hazardous Waste: whole family intact. They need our help to survive. Not in My House! Good practices for using and disposing of water soluble During the past several decades, the people of Martha’s Vineyard have noticed that the water quality of our ponds, household products Chapter 12...page 48 harbors, and shorelines has been deteriorating. The water grows greener and murkier in the summer months. Taking Action Slime algae proliferate on rocks and dock ladders; the numbers of valued fish and shellfish are declining. Studies On our own or together, by local scientists and shellfish wardens confirm that areas in some ponds lack enough oxygen to sustain life.