Final Wellfleet Harbor Embayment System Total Maximum Daily Load for Total Nitrogen

Problem Statement

Excessive nitrogen (N) originating from a variety of sources has added to the impairment of the environmental quality of Wellfleet Harbor. In general, excessive N in these waters is indicated by:

 Undesirable increases in macro-algae;

 Periodic decreases in dissolved oxygen concentrations that threaten aquatic life;  

 Reductions in the diversity of benthic animal populations;  

 Periodic algae blooms.  

 Eelgrass loss    

These trends can be reversed with proper management of N inputs. Without proper management, more severe problems might develop, including:

 Periodic fish kills or algae blooms;

 Unpleasant odors and scum;  

 Benthic communities reduced to the most stress-tolerant species, or in the worst cases, near loss of the benthic animal communities.  

Coastal communities, including Wellfleet, Truro and Eastham, rely on clean, productive, and aesthetically pleasing marine and estuarine waters for tourism, recreational swimming, fishing, and boating, as well as for commercial fin fishing and shellfishing. Failure to reduce and control N loadings could lead to possible increases in macro-algae, a higher frequency of undesirable decreases in dissolved oxygen concentrations and fish kills, widespread occurrence of unpleasant odors and visible scum, and a further loss of benthic macroinvertebrates throughout most of the system. As a result of these environmental impacts, commercial and recreational uses of the Wellfleet Harbor estuarine system could be greatly reduced. 

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Final Wellfleet Harbor Embayment System Total Maximum Daily Load for Total Nitrogen