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Environmental Education:
IN THE NEWS Ron DiOrio, OB Selectman, is taking on Climate Change. Inspired by Mr. DiOrio’s leadership, an Energy Committee has been formed to research and implement several pressing issues. “Fellow selectmen who are members of this committee have picked up the ball and are off and running with real enthusiasm,” he said. The town has received a grant for $650,000, which is going to be used to pay for energy audits and the greening of the town’s municipal buildings. The grant will help cover the cost of energy efficient home repairs, purchase of “Energy Star” rated appliances, triple pane windows, and energy-saving boilers. There will be no expense to the homeowner, provided the property is held for a minimum of five years. Also under consideration is motivating behavior change through a property tax incentive to anyone willing to undertake energy efficient home upgrades. A workshop is planned in mid-November to launch this initiative. “We are looking to reward good behavior whenever possible. We want to make OB a model for the island.” Mr DiOrio also recognizes that one of the most important environmental choices we make as consumers is the choice of automobile we drive. “A pressing issue is to get a policy on municipal car usage for Oak Bluffs. The town needs to control its inventory and make sure that energy efficient vehicles are used. There should be a break on your excise tax if the town or an island resident purchases an energy efficient car. Why shouldn’t people who are trying to reduce their carbon emissions be rewarded for that effort? For instance, consider the Steamship Authority, why shouldn’t someone driving a small energy efficient vehicle like a ‘smart car’ be rewarded with a cheaper fare then someone in an SUV? Or why should people have to pay to bring their bikes over when they are creating zero emissions while riding around the island. If people thought they were going to get a break on their excise tax or a cheaper fare they might seriously consider purchasing a smaller more efficient car.” When asked about Oak Bluffs rejoining the Refuse District, Mr. DiOrio said he was very much on board and reiterated how that kind of collaboration would help to ensure the most economical and environmentally sound solutions to waste on the island. He is very willing to defer to others, with state-of-the-art expertise in waste management, to lead the way in determining how the new six-town District will accomplish its goals. Although Mr. DiOrio defers to fellow Selectman Duncan Ross on water issues, he was forthcoming with information about the wind turbine that had been proposed to help defray the electric costs at the OB wastewater treatment facility. Joe Alosso, manager of both Edgartown and OB wastewater treatment facilities, is researching the installation of two large, land-based wind turbines for both the Edgartown and OB plants. The Mass.Technical Collaborative has agreed to fund a year long anemometer study of wind speed at the two sites. The Edgartown location looks promising, though the FAA has voiced objections to the OB site because of current flight patterns. Not to be deterred, Mr. Alosso is now pursuing other options for the turbine in OB. Lastly, Mr. DiOrio feels that there is a big difference in attitude between how people treat a public park if it is well-maintained verses unkempt and full of litter. Ocean Park is a perfect example, he pointed out. People take pride and will take care to maintain areas that look good such as that park. He said we need to maintain our public areas to the the highest standards to get people to respect and have a vested interest in how they treat these public areas. Oak Bluffs is fortunate to have such a common sense leader in Mr. DiOrio. He is willing to question many of our out-moded tax laws and is intent on exploring tax breaks that favor islanders willing to reduce their carbon footprint. He wants to reward people who are willing to change their behavior. Oak Bluffs could indeed be a model for sensible change with that kind of leadership. The Nicholas A. Robinson Alumni Achievement Award was established in 2005 to recognize Pace alumni who have made significant contributions to environmental law. The first award recipient was Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper, who received her JD from Pace in 1992. The awardees for 2006 and 2007 were announced this year – Brendan O’Neill, JD ’85, for 2006 and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., LLM ’87, for 2007. 2006 Laureate, Brendan O’Neill Mr. O’Neill’s class at Pace was the first to benefit from the Center for Environmental Legal Studies for all three years of law school. He remembers it as an exciting time and considers it an honor to train under the leadership of such pioneers as Nick Robinson, Don Stever, and Dick Ottinger.Mr. O’Neill was particularly intrigued by Arthur Palmer’s course examining environmentally-based land use planning and regulation as a technique for avoiding land use controversy. Martha’s Vineyard happens to be on the cutting edge of those efforts, having created a central planning agency in 1974 with statutory “trans-zoning” authority to regulate above and beyond the limitations of health, public safety, and general welfare protection. Vineyard conservation efforts also benefit from a statutory real estate transfer fee of two percent, which is paid by the buyer, administered by a Land Bank Commission, and earmarked for open space acquisition in all six of the island towns. Mr. O’Neill participated in the Environmental Litigation Clinic during his third year at Pace. His work there enabled him to collaborate with Dr. Jan Beyea on the Audubon Energy Plan, and with Assistant Attorney General Jim Periconi in the Environmental Protection Bureau of the NYS Department of Law, then located at the World Trade Center. After graduating from Pace Law School, Mr. O’Neill gravitated toward the non-profit sector and was interested in pursuing environmental work where he could gauge the impact his contribution was making. He was also interested in working in a location with an intact natural habitat and good quality of life. Today, this is called “place-based” environmental work. There are several land trusts doing land management work on Martha’s Vineyard, but VCS is the only group doing environmental work and land use advocacy. Its mission includes a watchdog function, monitoring the land use pulse of the Vineyard, and a legal defense function, sometimes involving litigation, but more often involving tax, estate, title and similar real estate related issues. VCS has also pioneered the use of perpetual conservation easements, referred to in Massachusetts as conservation restrictions, as a primary tool for preserving open space. One of VCS’s goals is to stimulate broader civic participation in environmental matters. This objective is accomplished by promoting the broadest possible definition of conservation, addressing not only conservation of land but also conservation of community character and conservation of energy and materials. The most rewarding part of Mr.O’Neill’s job has been working to establish a trusting relationship with individuals and families considering a conservation restriction, and then shepherding them through the drafting and state approval stages to completion. Successfully communicating the importance of steering proposed development away from listed rare species habitat or other valuable community resources to a regulatory board or other audience provides Mr. O’Neill with a great sense of achievement. Mr. O’Neill advises environmental law students or new lawyers working or hoping to work in the environmental field, “If one’s interest and motivation is in the direction of addressing some of the major environmental issues we face as a nation and as a global community, then the NGO/non-profit sector offers opportunities. As with anything, that choice has an associated down-side. Budgets are chronically strained, and there is seldom an opportunity to pause for things like recognition among peers! So receiving the Robinson Award is an affirmation, and is therefore particularly gratifying to me.” All Island Selectmen meetings resume under Denys Wortman’s leadership Quest Martha’s Vineyard website goes live -
Quest Martha’s Vineyard is collaborative place-based education program model that creates and exchanges treasure hunts in order to collect and share Martha’s Vineyard’s distinct natural and cultural heritage -- our special places and stories. This program was inspired by the work of Valley Quest of Vermont and New Hampshire and is funded by a yearlong grant from Davis Weinstock of Chilmark. Contact: Lynne Whiting, Education Director Martha’s Vineyard Museum Edgartown, MA 508 627-4441 x120 with questions Mark London, Executive Director of the MVC, Juggles Views
Five years ago the position of Executive Director of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission became available and Mark was offered the job. He took a leave of absence from his Montreal position and settled in to familiarize himself with the workings of the island. He sought out and got to know about fifty leaders within the various communities in an effort to understand the dynamics of the Vineyard. The first couple of years of his tenure were spent on the inner workings of the MVC. There were considerable personnel and financial considerations to organize and shuffle, as well as renovations to be done on the old stone building that houses the Commission. Also during that time the South Woodlands golf course and housing development was ongoing creating considerable unrest for the many involved parties. The credibility of the Commission was being tested and Mark was put in a trouble-shooting position. That tentatively shelved his second goal, which was to steer the commission into a proactive position as a player in the future plans for the Vineyard. When he arrived, the Commission was swamped with regulatory considerations. Gradually over time the planning process was launched and by the early summer of 2006 the Commission was ready to introduce its three-year Island Plan initiative. A steering committee was formed separate from the Commission made up of a very diverse balance of Vineyarders involved in all aspects of island life, not just land use and development. They had talked about setting up an advisory committee of about 40 people, but ultimately set up a Network of Planning Advisors – using communication through the Internet – that now has 400 members. At the first public forum in 2006, ten main topics were decided upon. Work Groups were set up to deal with five priority topics: energy & waste, housing, livelihood & commerce, natural environment, and water resources. Members of the Network of Planning Advisors joined the work groups of topics of interest, with membership varying from 70 for Water Resources to 177 for Natural Environment. Because the groups were too large to meet regularly, core groups were selected to begin the process of analyzing the issues, identifying emerging directions and promising initiatives for their topics, and enlisting the participation of Work Group members via the Internet and with meetings on specific issues. Over the past couple of months, the steering committee went over the draft recommendations of the five Work Groups, making sure that the proposals are compatible. The steering committee is charged with the task of making sense of and incorporating the many goals, objectives, and strategies into a comprehensive plan. This week, the Island Plan is making public a series of Discussion Papers summarizing the efforts and preliminary conclusions of each of the Work Groups. Starting next week, there will be a series of 6 bi-weekly forums in order to get public feedback. When asked about the value of establishing long-term goals of say 50 years or more, Mark said “this is a discipline, but it can also be liberating. It is a discipline because it forces us to look at the long-term implications of continuing to do the seemingly innocuous things we are doing today. It is liberating because taking the long view lets us imagine bold solutions to what seem like insurmountable obstacles.” “There have been tremendous efforts on the Vineyard in specific sectors. Land is being conserved as open space by the various conservation groups, water issues are being addressed by water resource experts and the Water Alliance, the Vineyard Energy Project is doing a great job promoting awareness of energy issues and installation of solar panels and wind turbines. The Island Plan is an effort to put all these efforts into a coherent whole, identifying priorities and possible collaborations and trying to dealing with conflicts between competing interests. Having a clear vision of where the community wants to go lets us move forward with confidence. The discussion papers include some specific initiatives that could get underway soon, if they win public support and prove feasible.” Will the Commission use the District of Critical Planning Concern (DCPC) to implement some of the initiatives? (DCPCs under the Martha's Vineyard Commission Act are a way of allowing towns to adopt special regulations.) “This is just one of many tools that could be used to move ahead. There is a tendency to think first about regulations, which might be needed in some cases, but we should also look at incentives, projects, programs, and other ways to get things done.” People are very concerned and involved here, he mentioned. “There are probably more committees per capita then any place in the world! Some people might see this as a weakness, but overall, I think it is a strength. We take great care with what we do, and it shows. Despite the fact that our population almost tripled over the past generation, and we have the second highest growth rate in the Commonwealth after Nantucket the Vineyard has done a pretty good job of conserve the environment and character of the island.” Mark London is but one cog in the wheel, but under his dynamic leadership the island is slowly moving towards a place that has integrated partnerships that just might keep the island vital for the generations to come. Climate change is real.
That’s the message of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a group of 600 scientists studying this result of human activity that threatens the well-being of our entire planet. And how might this affect Martha’s Vineyard? Consider the images above. According to the panel’s report, “sea level rises of up to one meter by 2100 cannot be ruled out if ice sheets continue to melt as temperature rises.” The Vineyard Conservation Society has never before spoken out on a matter of such broad global import. As a place-based environmental organization, we generally limit our focus to matters that can be addressed on a local or regional level. But even though action on Martha’s Vineyard can only help limit climate change in the context of a world-wide effort, we believe we have an obligation to draw attention to this clear and present danger, which should concern us all. So what can we do? Actions like turning off electronics, replacing lightbulbs, and sharing rides can seem meaningless when compared with the scale of the problem, but if enough of us do them, cumulatively they will make a difference. Beyond that, many of us have the financial resources to take bolder steps, for instance with alternative energy systems that rely on solar and wind power. And it behooves us all to take a look at the carbon footprint of some of the things we take for granted, such as frequent airplane travel and a national diet based on large amounts of meat, processed food, and the products of international agribusiness, all of which are significant contributors to rising levels of greenhouse gas emissions. Change on the individual level, however, will not alone be enough. In a world of reckless resource exploitation and global capitalism, we need political action as well. Only long-term pressure on governmental and business establishments will bring about the sea-change in policy that the situation demands. We need leaders who will take the lead with bold strategies to cut carbon emissions in every sector of the economy. The challenges of climate change will not be resolved in our lifetimes. What we do now can only begin to bring about the shifts in consciousness and behavior that are required to avert environmental breakdown on an unprecedented scale. But we must redouble our efforts, starting today. And although the task is daunting, it need not be a joyless journey. For instance, at a recent event co-sponsored by VCS called Living Local (see accompanying story), West Tisbury’s Ag Hall was filled with displays showcasing how we can reduce our consumption of fossil fuels and build a more vital and self-reliant Island community in the process. And by naming the threat to our Island’s coastlines while nurturing a participatory spirit, the annual VCS Earth Day Beach Clean-up once again demonstrated that education and commitment go hand in hand. There are other ways that VCS is working to reduce our carbon footprint too. Our ongoing effort to protect open space from inappropriate development boosts local agriculture, which minimizes the waste of fossil fuel involved in mass-market farming methods, processing, packaging, and transportation. Also biodiesel, the renewable fuel made from vegetable oil, is available on Martha’s Vineyard thanks in part to VCS initiative, in line with our 30-year commitment to energy conservation and alternatives. And our new waste initiative (see story page 4) aims to limit the greenhouse gas emissions generated by shipping large amounts of trash off-Island, when we might be screening out large quantities of organic and recyclable material that could be processed right here on Martha’s Vineyard. None of us, alone, can solve the problems of global warming. But by the same token, we must all do our part to bring about change on all levels—in our personal lives, in our collective attitudes, and in our national political priorities—to limit the scope of climate shift, and to build community spirit in the process.Nan Doty Brings Her Love of Science to the Classroom
On a personal level, as a way of sustaining her own energy, she focuses on the ability and resiliency of Islanders to effect local solutions for global issues, because it offers hope and the possibility of change. She is a great believer in differences and feels that everyone is necessary and can be a player when it comes to affecting change. Any change is challenging and she feels the Vineyard can find creative solutions to energy challenges now facing our community. The philosophy of the Vineyard school system is to honor different learning styles. Nan’s appreciation for each unique teacher, student and school has helped to develop a variety of ways of presenting materials and ideas. Through her efforts with Cape Light Compact and the Vineyard Energy Project, the National Energy Education Development project (NEED) curriculum has been introduced to Island teachers in workshops and classroom visits to all elementary schools. This program introduces scientific kits, which provide a framework for experiential, interactive and experimental energy-based projects for third through sixth graders. This semester, Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School has begun researching a biodiesel program, partially funded by Vineyard Energy Project, and has created a new energy club, which has explored its own carbon footprint, hoping to reduce it through a low carbon diet. They will have a table at Living Local Day to explain the program. One example of the student’s hands-on involvement which is not only challenging but ultimately empowering, comes in the form of an Energy Hog Scavenger Hunt. Students ask their parents 12 different questions about energy use in the home. Each question has a number of choices (there is no right answer) with points for each choice. The students tally up the score at the end of the hunt and then determine how energy efficient their families have been. Not only do the students have fun with the challenge of finding out how efficient their homes are but they are also in a position to mentor their parents about their energy use. Other energy studies for students involve tracking the data collected from solar panels that are installed on the roofs of all the elementary schools on the island. Thanks to Cape Light Compact who provided most of the panels as well as tracking instruments and solar kits, the students have a unique opportunity to learn about photovoltaic cells and how they contribute electricity to their schools. Nan notes, “Kids are encouraged to teach other kids and to develop hands-on projects that require technical equipment, scientific data, choices and challenges.” She adds that community experts consult and advise students as they explore solar energy, energy efficiency, and renewable energy in general. “The students then often share their various presentations and creative projects with the community.” Building a solar car and then having a race against all other Island 6th grade teams is one of the most popular projects in the curriculum. It takes a theoretical concept in the class room and turns it into a speedy vehicle with a photovoltaic cell strapped to its hood charging down the track. The kids help each other and in the process learn team participation and competition. This festive annual event creates enthusiasm within the community and is educational as well. This race will occur again this year on April 28th at Living Local Day at the Ag Hall in West Tisbury. Racers arrive at 10:30 to register and practice and the race begins at noon. In addition, there are many renewable energy projects that students present in June at their annual science fairs or energy carnivals. In the past, they have made a model wind turbine and designed various shaped blades that turn a generator to make electricity. They then measure the amount of electricity with a Watt Meter, gathering and comparing data about the effectiveness of different blade designs. These projects, including posters about renewable energy concepts on display for a year on the Islander, help to showcase the hands-on science curriculum that teachers and students create. Support for these scientific energy projects comes from Cape Light Compact, the Vineyard Energy Project, as well as private donations. It is very reassuring to know that the Vineyard schools and teachers honor differences, while working to tap both the analytical and creative sides of each student’s brain to stimulate the most innovative of energy solutions. This can have great influence on families and the community at large. Consumer Labeling Initiative The Vineyard Conservation Society (VCS) has recently launched a new campaign to educate the public about using “eco-friendly” consumer products at Cronigs markets. This initiative is both educational and public-relations oriented. The goals are to clearly mark items that are non-toxic, exclude phosphates and Clorox and antibiotics, the latter two being bad for septic systems. Then shortly branch out to hardware stores and nurseries to guide customers to non-toxic landscaping products. The labeling sub-committee met with Sarah McCay, Steve Berniers assistant, and received permission to proceed with the project. We identified all the products at Cronigs that were “eco-friendly” and offered a viable alternative to the more common brand-name products that use phosphates, Clorox, antibiotics, and other harsh chemicals. We also included the biodegradable and/or compostable products made from corn and other vegetable sources. These included cups, tableware, and trash bags. With the help of William Stewart and Sally Lasker, we designed 4x6 inch cards that emphasized the VCS logo at the bottom. These were laminated and taped to the shelves above the products. The project was launched during the celebration of Cronigs’ 90th anniversary party on March 10th, 2007. Along with other non-profits, VCS had a demonstration at the store at which we highlighted the new labeling program. Samples of eco-friendly products were on the VCS table and people were stopped in their tracts by a funny lady wearing green-colored, 100% corn, trash bags fore and aft. Holding up a “plastic cup” and proclaiming “CORN” was a sure-fire people stopper. When a person walks down the aisle that sells household products, they will be unable to overlook multiple “VCS recommends” cards. VCS now has a palpable presence in that part of the store. This is an on-going project. We hope to install similar labeling at the Up-Island Cronigs store and to get permission to use similar signage at stores like SBS, Shirleys, etc. In other words, this effort will branch out into the Vineyard Lawn Initiative and will help customers in hardware stores and nurseries easily identify eco-friendly products for their lawns and landscapes. Consumer Labeling Initiative The following items are the first of many products that VCS is supporting as ecologically responsible products for household use. These products can be found at Cronig’s Grocery Store in Vineyard Haven
Have you ever wondered what the County of Dukes County actually does, and who it involves? Winn Davis, the manager and CEO of Dukes County was glad to answer those questions and many more. The headquarters for the County Administration building is located at the airport. The County oversees services but has no regulatory power. In order to be most effective with the many services overseen by the County, Mr. Davis pointed out how important it is to have cooperation from the six towns on the Vineyard and Gosnold on Cuttyhunk. There are seven commissioners chosen from countywide elections. Each Commissioner serves a four-year term, and is part of the legislative body of the County government. One Selectman from each of the seven towns sits on the County budget advisory board. This board meets twice a month and controls the appropriation of the money the towns designate for the many services provided. When asked about new regional programs or services that the County could oversee, Mr. Davis cited wastewater management. “An island-wide program must have the support of each town,” noting that such support hasn’t existed in the past. He thought it made sense and could be run very efficiently with the appointment of agents to oversee monitoring, inspections and maintenance. A regional approach to wastewater management could be financially feasible particularly if the towns share the expense with the County. In the past he has done research on the mobile dewatering system from a company called Hamstern Technology. “It is a modified honey wagon,” he said. A septic system is pumped into a truck with separate chambers where the solids are “dewatered” and lime is added. The liquid is then returned to the septic holding tanks. The truck then delivers the solid waste to the central sewer plant. Without all the extra liquid, nitrogen is managed more effectively. The system is approved and licensed in Massachusetts and is widely used in Europe. Energy audits are another regional idea that could be provided to all island residents. All island residents would have the opportunity to have an energy audit done on their homes to determine the best ways to conserve on their electrical, oil, and gas bills. Thanks to the Recycling is something else that could be managed under a regional umbrella. Mr. Davis mentioned the need to educate the public whenever a new program is being developed. He cited how effective children can be at educating their parents about just such an issue. Complete cooperation with the towns is really necessary in order for the programs not to fall apart, he repeated. The Island health agents meet at the County Administration building on a regular basis to discuss all kinds of issues involving medical care from public health and flu clinics, to emergency treatment. A good amount of their time is dedicated to following the Homeland Security and Patriot Act requirements. The County works to assist the health agents whenever a situation arises that falls within their jurisdiction. A perfect example was the hiring of food inspector Kendra Read to assist the health agents with food inspection in all the island restaurants. Kendra has recently moved on to a new assignment as the manager of the Wampanoag Environmental Lab in Aquinnah. A new inspector will be starting next month. When asked what he feels it will take to bring about changes in thinking and implement new programs regionally, Mr. Davis spoke of the finite quality of the Island and how change can be implemented by looking beyond what exists to a more rational and efficient way of thinking. He cited the excessiveness of needing six different fire and police department for the island. But there needs to be consensus when it comes to solving problems that are shared throughout the six communities. One idea was perhaps having the many visitors to the island contribute to the costs, rather than asking the taxpayers to shoulder more of the burden. Currently the towns pay 40% of the total cost of running the County, with the County generating the remaining 60% from earnings. Winn also mentioned the Charter study that was voted last November and will involve an 18-month study and assessment of the County and its services. By May of 2008, recommendations will be made, and by November of 2008 all residents will be able to have their say through their vote. Following are the services provided by Dukes County listed at their website: An Associate Commissioner for the Elderly, which handles complaints by the elderly of situations where they have been taken advantage of because of their age. An Engineer serves all seven towns to provide the expertise in design, permitting, project development and construction supervision. Emergency Management: Saves lives and minimizes property damage. It focuses on education, planning, and implementation of disaster plans and procedures. Associate Commissioner for the Handicapped, recognizes that many barriers still exist for the disabled and they are in a troubleshooting position to help. Health Care Access Program, helps residents obtain affordable, high-quality health care for those that are uninsured, or families with children, seniors, the disabled, or of low income. Health and Environment a new department created in 2004 focus on public and environmental health issues. Natural Resources maintains, for ecological and recreational purposes, five miles of free public beach, and issues overland permits to explore Norton Point Beach. Parking Clerk, all parking tickets issued by the towns are paid for and processed by the Parking Clerk at the County Administration building. The Registry of Deeds records transfer of property for all the towns. Rodent Control, provides pest management services to the public and private sector. Sheriff’s Office fields all the 911 calls, oversees the Jail and House of Corrections, Drug Information Bureau, Community Corrections and Civil Process. Veterans’ Agent, serves the needs of the veteran in all 7 towns within the County. The following Regional Agencies serve the residents in the County: Cape Light Compact, the Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands, Dukes County Regional Housing Authority, Martha’s Vineyard Regional Transit Authority and the Steamship Authority Board of Governors. Of those six agencies the County has an appointed representative on the boards of Cape Light Compact, Dukes County Regional Housing Authority and the Steamship Authority Board of Governors. The other three are separate agencies. Ryan Malonson, Chief of the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah, speaks of tribal ways “We use to be counted as ‘souls’ on the census until 1870”, Chief Ryan Malonson mused, as he described the Wampanoag tribe’s freedom before Gay Head (Aquinnah) was established as a “District” – effectively ending local autonomy and the native communal system of land tenure. As an island and seafaring tribe, he described how resourceful they had to be to sustain themselves through growing, gathering, hunting, and fishing. “We would feed our families and then share any extra food with other members of our community,” he said. Aquinnah in those days was really the end of the road and going down-island was a big commitment. Traveling to New Bedford to provision was far easier than venturing down-island; and the elders taught self-sufficiency. Then as now the tribe takes care of the majority of its members no matter where they live on the island. Sustaining and safeguarding the natural resources which sustain its members continues to be a priority for the tribal council. A recent example is the newly installed storm-water catchment basins on York Avenue in Oak Bluffs, paid for by the tribe. These structures remove road runoff contaminants polluting water bodies used by tribal members and other residents. The tribe has installed similar catch basins along the roads in Aquinnah to protect Menemsha Pond, an important source of finfish and shellfish for the tribe, as well as Squibnocket Pond, the spawning grounds of the annual herring run. Communal native land began to be carved up when Gay Head was incorporated as a town. By 1871, the Massachusetts General Court sanctioned ownership of enclosed lands, and land allotment began. Between 1871 and 1878, lots were numbered on a “Set-Off” plan representing land to be held by a single individuals; partition and determination of boundaries of common lands followed. Hundreds of lots were created. Tax collection also began. Taxes were collected on each parcel, leaving those who understood the new system able to retain ownership, while others were forced to sell and seek employment elsewhere. By the early 1950’s the road to the cliffs was paved, connecting the residents of Gay Head more easily to the rest of the island. The tribal ways of sustainability changed as it became less a matter of necessity, and ease of mobility brought the convenience of buying food and goods down island. Teaching by example is the way Chief Malonson tries to motivate his younger family members – by teaching them to recycle and compost, for example. He speaks to them about the expense to island residents of mismanaging the island’s waste as well as the cost to the environment. He describes the powerful memories of his own past when his family put up food for the winter, baked bread, and made jelly. The younger generation, he observed, is less interested in the rigors of those kinds of chores, favoring instead a trip to the grocery store. But they are becoming more interested in recycling and he is hopeful that an island-wide recycling and composting center will be established for all residents to use. The Wampanoags, like so many other Native American tribes believe in the “Seven Generation” tradition which requires current tribal members to care for the earth in order to leave a healthy environment for future generations. When asked what he would say to others regarding stewardship of the island, Chief Malonson talked about the unique qualities that exist here, and that we can no longer take what is special about this place for granted. He spoke of being mindful of what one actually needs in life, and cited the problem of our seasonal population surge depleting our resources and leaving houses standing empty in winter. He is concerned that the balance between seasonal economy and respect for natural resources which served the island well in the past has now moved to a point of imbalance. He concluded by speaking of the Legend of Moshup, saying that he believes that his people have been put on this island by the Creator to be caretakers of the land. “We must care for our planet, he said. If you take care of the land, it will in turn take care of you in time.” Conservation Almanac With all the information that floods us every day, it can be hard to focus on important stories affecting our environment, and to keep track of Island events connected with the natural world. But for the last five years, the Vineyard Conservation Society has offered a free electronic bulletin that finds, sifts, explores, and bundles relevant news, ideas, links, and listings into one convenient user-friendly package. It’s called the Conservation Almanac, and it’ll be in your in-box every week, free of charge, as soon as you subscribe. The project originally grew out of discussions between the Edey Foundation and the member groups of the Vineyard Conservation Partnership, including VCS. All concurred that the Island needed a one-stop online clearing-house for environmental information, and it soon became clear that VCS would be the appropriate organization to host this resource, given our historic commitment to environmental education and advocacy. The Conservation Almanac was launched in 2001. VCS staffers Brendan O’Neill and Sally Lasker brainstormed on content and format, and that fall, with Edey Foundation funding, Alex West was hired to implement the project. Marnie Stanton took over from Alex as administrator in 2004, and has prioritized developing the Almanac into an effective tool for mobilizing community action. “The first goal is to give the public easy access to conservation-related information,” Marnie says. “With the weekly calendar, people can learn about upcoming meetings and environmental events. There are major choices facing the Island today that will affect our environment for generations to come, and we want the Almanac to stimulate broad community participation in the decision-making process. “For example, there will be ongoing reports on the evolution of the Island Plan, the Martha’s Vineyard Commission’s comprehensive new planning initiative. The Commission is actively soliciting input from the public, and we want to encourage an informed citizenry to get involved and to help mould it into the environmentally viable document that it needs to be.” Another objective of the Almanac is to promote governmental transparency and accountability. To this end, there’s a new monthly feature in the ‘Local News’ section, where Marnie reports on interviews that she’s conducted with local officials about their environmental concerns. At least one selectman from each of the six towns has been interviewed so far, and other members of our various Island government bodies will be featured in upcoming pieces. Also in the interest of accountability, the Conservation Almanac now includes links to official news from towns and other public bodies. In addition, the Almanac regularly covers developments involving farming, alternative energy, waste management, and land conservation, among other relevant topics. A special focus is on water quality, in line with the VCS campaign to build support for critical water-protection initiatives. All stories are kept as references on the Conservation Almanac website, grouped by subject. Any questions that might arise can be directed to the newly available interactive ‘Forum’ feature, where there’s an expert for each subject category on call to address the issues involved. Beyond her Island horizons, Marnie monitors environmental news from all around the world in order to include regional, national, and international stories of relevance to Martha’s Vineyard. Climate change, in particular, is an issue that concerns her, and she regularly posts articles on the subject in an attempt to inform subscribers about the severity of the problem and the need for a change of mindset regarding energy use. But the focus is on the positive. “There are so many exciting new developments coming along all the time,” she says. “Look at the demonstration wind turbine that VCS was able to set up at Five Corners. It’s small enough to sit on your roof and not seem out of place, but it can power an entire house, and hopefully it’ll be on the market soon. I want to highlight ways that people can make positive changes, whether it’s with new technologies like this, or with participation in the political process. It’s all about taking action.” By making it available for free to anyone who requests it, VCS aims to have the Almanac serve as an interactive resource for the whole community. Already a variety of local groups and individuals are contributing items on relevant topics, and submissions are always welcome. And if you aren’t already receiving the Almanac, subscribe today! --- How to sign up: Local Official Talks about Environmental Concerns By Marnie Stanton, Vineyard Conservation Almanac
Many of the six town health agents bring specialized expertise in a particular field to their jobs, so good communications among agents can have an “additive” effect in advancing common goals. The need for and the opportunity offered by such island wide communication is what inspired Matt and West Tisbury health agent John Powers and others to initiate monthly meetings. All six towns are represented and the meetings have proven to be highly productive. In addition to sharing information about ongoing issues, the forum presents a strong and unified body. They can speak with one voice when it comes to addressing regional issues and decisions, including those being made at the county level. Matt said that, in the past, the Dukes County Commissioners and County Manager Winn Davis were able to provide valuable assistance to the different towns by allowing their employee Kendra Read to help with various projects. For instance, she was hired by Edgartown for ten hours per week to conduct inspections of the various food establishments in town. Oak Bluffs contracted for her services in the same way. Kendra has moved on to a new position with the Wampanoag Environmental lab, and the County has so far not replaced her. “Fortunately we have been able to use the free and very capable services of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission for all kinds of help,” Matt said. He frequently collaborates with Bill Wilcox on water issues and has often taken advantage of MVC Geographic Information System (GIS) staffer Chris Seidel’s expertise in computerized mapping for population density studies and other inquiries. Matt pointed to a remarkable series of maps that Chris had generated showing an assortment of data layers including neighborhood lot sizes and watershed boundaries. One map showing the size of building lots in two Ocean Heights neighborhoods straddling the Edgartown/Vineyard Haven Road were particularly interesting. Concerns about water quality impacts from these older island neighborhoods led to the placement of a moratorium on new wells and septic systems for at least a month (the moratorium has now been extended 120 days to run through March 19, 2007) Matt explained that the lot sizes of most of the area were between 6,000 and 7,200 square feet with a great many of the houses being built years ago. The neighborhood is unique in that it represents one of the last places on the island where “original” islanders can still afford to live. Unfortunately, many of the houses have antiquated septic systems and wells installed prior to the “Title Five” regulatory changes of 1995. The proximity of wells to septic systems on many of the lots are closer than the new rules allow. Also, the state Department of Environmental Protection now requires a minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet to serve a home with an on-site well. The lack of any kind of a master plan for these old neighborhoods has created serious water quality questions impacting both the health of residents and the health of the Sengekontacket Pond. Septic systems are the primary culprit. “Town water and town sewering will probably be the answer,” Matt suggested. “The problem is that mainly spec builders will be able to afford town water and with them will come the much larger houses, combined lots, and change of character to the neighborhood.” When asked about the septic problem, Matt said that the Edgartown Wastewater Treatment facility has the capacity to take on these two areas, and that it is being seriously considered as part of the larger solution for this neighborhood. Effluent could be pumped to the plant, treated, and then returned to the Sengekontacket watershed for disposal rather than adding extra stress to the Edgartown Great Pond watershed. “Unfortunately, what is really needed is an overall plan for these neighborhoods which to date doesn’t exist,” he said. That is the purpose of the current moratorium. Another possibility is for the town to seek District of Critical Planning Concern (DCPC) designation for this area through the powers of the MV Commission, so that the entire spectrum of growth and water quality issues can be addressed. Matt believes that several regional issues need to be pursued, including a comprehensive water management plan for the island as well as a regional health district, possibly under the umbrella of the County but powered locally by the island towns. In the case of a Health District, he pointed to the need to supplement current expertise with specialists and extra staff whose services the towns could share. Similarly, a regional wastewater management system could be managed by the County but the towns would “call the shots.” The desirable effect would be that the number of septic tank pump-outs would be increased. This would generate more work for the septic pumpers, and the increased volume would hopefully lead to a lowering of the price per job, savings homeowners money. Health Agents could be hired by the County to inspect and monitor the septic systems while continuing to work directly with the towns. Matt acknowledged that this vision would require a major change in the way towns and the county currently conduct business, but the health of the Island would benefit. Regarding the new technologies to remove more nitrogen from septic systems, Matt supports sound science, and if the new denitrifying designs are proven to be sound, then he will support them. He mentioned that he has seen many systems that were suppose to reduce much higher percentages of nitrogen then they actually did after they were tested in the field. One system called “Clean Solutions” is currently being tested in West Tisbury, claiming a nitrogen removal rate of over 90%. Matt commented, “if it proves to remove the amount of nitrogen it is claiming to remove, then I will be its biggest fan.” Until the test results are in however, he will withhold judgment. The dark side of the denitrifying story is that it often prompts permitting boards to allow building in otherwise unbuildable, environmentally fragile areas. Also, the state DEP rules currently allow homeowner to build extra bedrooms if denitrifying systems are part of the septic design. This is an issue which Matt feels needs to be addressed. Balancing the environment with the rights of the property owner is always difficult, but much is at stake in this case. Matt is up to the challenge and intends to bring an informed, fair-minded approach to this kind of essential problem solving. Draft report provides update on petroleum contamination on Beach Road By David Nash, VCS Board Member
According to Drake’s consultant, Corporate Environmental Advisors (CEA), issuance of the NOR is imminent and will require Al_Len Realty to perform the same type of assessment as to its responsibility for any historical releases. The last piece of information needed for this preliminary phase was additional sampling which CEA needed to perform in the general vicinity of 8 Beach Road. That information is not included in this report due to some negotiations which were necessary with the 8 Beach Road property owner regarding property access agreements. Once all the sampling is performed at all adjoining properties and combined with the historical discussion about activities conducted in the area by different parties, an evaluation of the extent of any clean-up can be initiated. Concurrently, an evaluation of how clean-up costs can be shared is also factored in. This approach to site remediation is mandated by various state procedures and allows for not only a systematic approach to evaluating data but also an on-going assessment of the environmental impact of the contamination. How they arrive at those conclusions involves assessment of the concentrations of all the chemical indicators detected during sampling. They look for releases of hazardous materials. They look at pollutants migrating along utility pathways. They look for levels of contaminants which could potentially cause explosions. They consider such factors as the existence of drinking water wells in the area and impacts on fish and shellfish. They then compare the values measured with existing standards to help determine the clean-up priority mandated for the site. This draft report addresses some of those issues and concludes that there is no immediate or significant environmental threat. This is somewhat encouraging news for Vineyard Haven Harbor and those who work in the immediate area. It doesn’t mean that clean-up will not be required; it is just an indication of how to prioritize future efforts. The complete profile on the nature and extent of contamination will not be possible until all the remaining date is assembled including the data from the property owner which may give some insight into the releases which occurred prior to 1993. Copies of the most recent documents are also available at the public library. Local official talks about environmental issues Marnie Stanton, Vineyard Conservation Almanac
As we settled into a discussion about Ms. Scott’s environmental priorities, she offered me a bottle of Chilmark Springwater, a substitute for her own tap water coming from one of the town wells just down the street. “It’s too chlorinated to drink and leaves the bottom foot of my shower curtain a nasty brown color,” she offered. From her porch, the Land Bank’s Trade Winds field preserve spreads out towards the horizon in all its wild splendor. “I fought hard to save this land; it was destined to be developed. There were 192 houses slated for this site,” she said. Ms Scott’s love of the Vineyard and passion to conserve what we have and reclaim what is lost has been her mantra for her entire life. Herms, Ms Scott’s father, grew up in Oak Bluffs, and her mother’s side had been coming to the island as “summer people” since the late 1800s. She said she has always felt a sense of civic responsibility because she lives in such a special place, a lesson instilled in her by her grandfather: “One of two very important lessons he taught me was that when you are so fortunate as to live in a place like this island, you have an obligation to take care of it. The other lesson is to appreciate the big, privately-owned properties because they’re essentially conservation land that remains on the tax rolls, as their owners don’t need or don’t wish to develop them.” “I’m a conservation flag bearer for Oak Bluffs. Two recent memorable fights were against golf course development in the Southern Woodlands and the campaign to save the Martha’s Vineyard Commission,” she said. Returning to the issue of the Trade Winds meadow, she said the town had the good sense to vote to take the land by eminent domain because it was part of the recharge area for the drinking water aquifer. “That was huge!” she pointed out, and then added, “but the town doesn’t always do a good job of protecting our water resources. Especially when they decided to build an elementary school within six hundred feet of the municipal wellheads which supply the town with drinking water.” She views that decision as short sighted, posing a potential threat to water quality in the future. Ms. Scott is particularly interested in regional solutions to address problems that involve water, alternative energy, waste management, and transportation. She is concerned about the condition of our surface waters and feels that an island-wide effort to address this and the whole range of issues is essential. She praised the work of the Island Energy Project, and said she favors land-based wind turbines and the idea of a municipal wind turbine atop the town landfill, as well as a decentralized approach involving rooftop wind turbines on individual homes. She said she is not in favor of the offshore Cape Wind project, mostly because she has not heard a credible explanation for why the proposed facility requires a 40,000 gallon oil containment reservoir at the site: “are they, ironically, an oil-dependent user?” she said. Kerry is a proponent of creating affordable housing in the communal style of the Camp Meeting Association property, which has 350 houses and parks on 26 acres. “That,” she pointed out, was the first cluster development in the country.” She suggested that town holdings in the Southern Woodlands might provide a site for well-planned mixed housing. “We have another very important resource here on the island which should be conserved,” she mentioned. “And that is lots of very influential, powerful people who care deeply about the future of this island. They want to maintain the special qualities of this place and are willing to contribute to that effort. One such person was Nan Rheault who has funded a wind turbine for the MV Regional High School. Many of them are very willing to participate in whatever manner is needed, they only need to be asked,” she said. “The economic survival of the island depends on being able to conserve the open spaces that are left and the quality of life it represents in order to maintain our appeal to summer residents.” she said. In addition to some of the summer people mentioned she was also particularly complimentary of hard working and dedicated local officials. She singled out the huge contributions made by Dave Grunden and Liz Durkee in the conservation area. Also mentioned was all the good work being done by the non-profit conservation groups under the skillful leadership of their directors, and the public Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank’s power to purchase land for conservation. Ms. Scott’s personable character and passion for conservation appears to be a winning combination when it comes to soliciting help from all sorts of concerned citizens as well as our state elected officials. “The Island has created agencies which have served as models for other communities, significantly the Martha’s Vineyard Commission and the Land Bank. We could also lead the way on other major issues, such as water resource protection, green construction, alternative energy, innovative wastewater and nitrogen abatement solutions, Island-wide transportation which could truly limit our dependence on cars, regional solutions for housing issues, all kinds of initiatives for which we could serve as a model!” In spite of the many changes and character that has been lost she remains very hopeful that, with education and hard work, the island’s special character can be preserved. “It’s an environmental protection mindset – and the kids understand it entirely. Now we just have to work on some of our 50-60 year olds!” Local Official Talks about Environmental Concerns Marnie Stanton, Vineyard Conservation Almanac
John pointed out that fecal bacterial coliform counts in the ponds (typically from agricultural and wildlife sources) can occasionally become high enough to impact the shellfish and finfish and their habitats. This can lead to state-ordered closure of the Pond to shellfishing. One way to mitigate this problem is to improve circulation in the Pond through the periodic opening to the ocean by creating a channel through the barrier beach. This flushes bacterial, nutrient and other contaminants from the Pond and increases salinity. When asked about building new houses close to the water bodies, he said that he advices his clients about the range of environmental concerns and tells them that the less they do to impact the natural resources of the area, the less it is likely to cost the community later on to ensure the continued healthy functioning of these important areas. He mentioned the importance of the ‘Home Rule’ process and how it could be helpful in petitioning the Commonwealth for environmental protections tailored to the needs of the island. These could include, for example, more restrictive zoning setbacks regulations, more stringent rules for controlling nitrogen pollution to the ponds from “non-point” sources like road runoff, streamlined performance and approval standards for denitrification septic systems, and more sensible DEP sanitary code Title V standards for leaching field areas. There may even be state grant monies available to help research and bring about some of these changes. He cited the importance of promoting innovative septic system technology which removes more nitrogen than conventional systems. Concerning the need for leadership to move forward with some of these ideas, he noted that town boards of health are collectively a powerful group that can initiate change when they cooperate within each town and work together as a region. He noted that the towns themselves are often limited in their financial support for environmental initiatives due to restricted budgets. The recent caterpillar infestation was a good case in point. West Tisbury had no money in the budget to consider municipal responses like town-wide spraying. Instead, the response was limited to planning for a public hearing so that the tree warden could address the issue of whether it was appropriate to treat the local trees and shrubs, types of treatment strategies available, and the costs of those treatments. When asked about the subject of energy and the use of alternatives to fossil fuels, John said that he felt that we are morally obliged to use “green” sources of energy. As an example, he cited the need for incorporating renewable sources of energy into municipal projects like a possible renovation of the town hall: “It might not be entirely free of fossil fuels but a significant portion of the electricity could come from solar.” He also encouraged the use of hybrid cars, wind and solar energy, where there may be state money available for residents in the form of rebates and credits. West Tisbury is currently exploring grants and programs for which they are eligible to advance these goals. Mr. Early spoke of the need for balance between various interests in the community. He pointed out how development interests are often at cross-purposes with environmental concerns. He praised the exemplary efforts of the conservation organizations which he felt are critical to the economic well being of the island. “Martha’s Vineyard is a special place, and it is in everyone’s interest to maintain our environmental efforts.” Alien’s Wanted! Marnie Stanton, Vineyard Conservation Almanac
This island wide hunt will begin over the 4th of July weekend and run through Labor Day. If you think you have discovered one of these invaders, first carefully check its characteristics (for instance hairy claws for the crabs), closely comparing it with the photo and description on the poster. If you think you have a winner call one of the four drop off sites listed at the bottom of the poster so your find can be inspected by an expert. The four drop of sites are the Edgartown Shellfish Department at Katama Landing, Edgartown Bay Road, Edgartown, Oak Bluffs Shellfish Department at the blue highway department garage on County Road, Oak Bluffs, Wampanoag Tribal Lab, State Road, Aquinnah, and the Vineyard Conservation Society, Wakeman Center, off Lambert’s Cove Road, in Tisbury. Rewards of ice cream cones, from the Carousel Ice Cream Factory in Oak Bluffs, will be given out to lucky children. For the adults, the third edition of the best selling book, Walking Trails of Martha’s Vineyard, by Will Flender, will be the prize. The books are generously donated by the Vineyard Conservation Society. This “Alien Hunt” is sponsored by the Martha’s Vineyard Water Alliance, a coalition of island organizations and individuals dedicated to improving the quality of water on Martha’s Vineyard. The hunt was inspired by a visit to the island by David Delaney a graduate student at McGill University studying marine invasive species on the eastern shores of North America. He is monitoring the waters up and down the coast in hopes of finding and eradicating invasive species before they become established in shellfish beds. If residents and visitors scour the island for these creatures and find even just a few, it will greatly advance his work. Good luck and happy hunting! Vineyard Haven Harbor Contamination study underway By David Nash, VCS Board Member
A lightly-attended public hearing on May 25, 2006 marked the beginning of an effort to seek answers about the extent of contamination in the area. The target of inquiry into the most recent round of contamination is the Xtramart gas station. Following a petition request by a group of Tisbury residents, Drake Petroleum Company, the current owners of the Xtramart facility, is now required under state law to develop a “Public Involvement Plan” which will lead to the creation and implementation of a response action, hopefully consisting of a site remediation or clean-up of the contamination resulting from various releases. The process which Corporate Environmental Advisors, Inc (CEA) is undertaking on Drake’s behalf, is mandated by state laws which require responses to clean-ups be undertaken by “Licensed Site Professionals”. LSP’s are environmental consultants who are specifically licensed by the state to undertake such actions in lieu of extensive state oversight which, due to lack of staff, can take exorbitant amounts of time to be completed. An LSP will be able to act much faster and with less state involvement. CEA will solicit public comment and incorporate comments in the final remediation plan. Copies of pertinent documents are maintained at the Vineyard Haven library and information can be obtained from Scott Vandersea of CEA at 508-835-8822. Complicating this process are the various historical releases of contaminants in the lower Beach Road area. For example, Penney Engineering, representing the owners of property at 8 Beach Rd., have performed an environmental assessment which points to a variety of sources, including Drake, as responsible for contamination of its property. The two reports point to many additional potential sources as responsible parties and some sources of contamination can’t be traced back to any particular source. For example, in the mid 1990's, a trench dug to support a town utility project revealed oil and other contaminants so prevalent that the trench was simply relocated. Over the years throughout the Beach Road area, used oil has been dumped in storm drains, gas tanks have leaked, waste oil tanks have been abandoned, grease pits have been created and all these sources of contamination, whether clean-up was attempted or not, have left evidence behind in the form of the contamination now evidenced at the various locations. The challenge of the review process underway will be to come up with truly effective remediation plans. In addition to the opportunity for public comment, which expires on June 14, the process includes community notification procedures to make sure local officials are advised as any proposed work proceeds. Thomas Pachico is the Health Department contact and Tristan Israel is the Chief Municipal Officer contact. Local official talks about environmental concerns By Marnie Stanton, Vineyard Conservation Almanac
Mr. Pachico grew up around Lake Tashmoo, and he has spent many years monitoring that water body with an eye to both its economic and recreational uses. He described a five year eelgrass study that was undertaken in conjunction with Bill Wilcox from the MV Commission which suggested that Tashmoo was perhaps not be in as bad a state as previously thought. Regular dredging of the opening has helped to flush the Lake of excess nitrogen which he feels comes primarily from the non-migrating Canada Geese population. The town has added a hunting season to increase the daily limit from two geese a day to five which he feels will significantly cut down on the pollution problem which, he explained is “especially bad on closed ponds or waterways with tidal flow problems.” Tom mentioned that the town, along with the non-profit Tisbury Waterways Inc. (TWI), has installed advanced storm water catchment basins along town roadways that have helped greatly to reduce the road runoff of heavy metals and other contaminants into Lake Tashmoo and the harbor. The basins are regularly monitored and maintained to ensure peak efficiency, and the result is that water quality around Tisbury has been improved considerably. He also pointed to the town/TWI collaboration which brought a wastewater pump-out boat to the town. It cruises the harbor and Tashmoo providing free daily service to boaters. By making sure the heads are pumped rather than dumped, water quality is greatly improved. Also on the subject of wastewater, Mr. Pachico cited the town’s innovative Board of Health regulations that require residential septic tank inspection by an engineer and the banning of all cesspools. In 1995, when the state Department of Environmental Protection upgraded Title V of their sanitary code relating to septic systems, the town assumed responsibility for educating and licensing Title V inspectors. Mr. Pachico became a licensed inspector at that time. Subsequently, a Wastewater Management Plan for the town of Tisbury was created. A state grant was secured to create a $100,000 zero percent interest revolving fund to assist low-to-moderate income homeowners upgrade problematic septic systems. That grant, along with an additional $200,000 low interest revolving fund loan is available to residents for septic upgrades. Reimbursement to the town occurs when the homeowner’s property is sold. As part of the Wastewater Management Plan, Tisbury has been collecting data on all the individual properties within town, a Herculean task slowed by software challenges but nearing completion. In the meantime, the town has been using funds to undertake selective septic upgrades and getting out the word about responsible septic system maintenance. Spread the word: depending on the size of a family, a 1500 gallon septic tank should be pumped out every five years while a 1000 gallon tank will usually need pumping on average every three years. When asked about fertilizer use on lawns as a contributor to nitrogen build up in the groundwater, Tom said that the town has regulations dealing with fertilizer, but that they are next to impossible to enforce. “What we need is more education on the subject,” he said. On the topic of municipal use of alternative energy, he said, “landfills could be a place to put wind turbines; we don’t need to cut down any more trees.” Tisbury is presently pursuing a special permitting process to site a wind turbine at the former landfill. Lastly, Mr. Pachico acknowledge his gratitude to both TWI and the Senior Volunteer Corp for their invaluable help in water testing as well as multiple other water related projects. “They have been a great resource for the local residents when it comes to education about water issues for the town,” he said. Tom Pachico will meet with the Martha’s Vineyard Water Alliance early next fall to discuss the Tisbury Wastewater Management Plan. With any luck, by then the Massachusetts Estuaries Project finding for the Edgartown Great Pond will be available. Implementation of those findings will doubtless benefit from the model provided by the Tisbury Wastewater Management Plan and lead the way for improved water quality for the entire Island. We are what we trash By David Nash, VCS Board Member
This year, VCS coordinated a bit more extensively and joined beach monitoring programs that are managed by TWI and the Wampanoag tribe. Our goal this year was to try to secure more community involvement and we succeeded in bringing in more groups such as Junior Girl Scout Troop 801, the MV Striped Bass Derby committee, and Sail Martha’s Vineyard, and Sheriff”s Meadow Foundation. Girl Scout troops now sponsor four beaches and we hope they all return next year. This year we also tried to draw some conclusions from what we collected and attempted to do an informal assessment of the trash generated at our beaches. As you might expect, the trash we collected turned out to be somewhat beach specific and often reflected, in some way, the uses of a particular beach or it’s immediate surroundings. All of this speaks volumes about who we are how we behave and what we throw away. The ocean facing beaches tend to see what is brought in by the wind and tides more so than other beaches. Balloons, fragments of hard plastic, lobster traps, pieces of pressure treated wood, and plastic bottles are most characteristics of these beaches. Lobsterville, Squibnocket, South and State all reflect this kind of impact. These beaches are also most likely to see the really exotic chunks of leftovers and discards of human activity like tangled masses of rope and netting. Those beaches which are more sheltered tend to show the more direct impact of human contributions. These beaches will see the discards which often reflect what beach goers have brought to the beach rather than what the wind and tides have delivered. These items which people bring in with them but just can’t be bothered to take home with them are carelessly discarded along the way. Items such as beer bottles, plastic water bottles, beer and soda cans and coffee cups (pretty much in that order) tend to be real common on these types of beaches. Often, these gifts are tossed well into the beach rose and grasses in a mistaken attempt, perhaps, to hide what they are just too lazy to bring home with them. Eastville beach, right fork at South Beach, the Oak Bluffs town beach and some of the Vineyard Haven harbor beaches all reflect this kind of abuse. Edgartown Lighthouse beach is probably a perfect example of this kind of behavior. One can actually predict where a beer bottle or a coffee cup will be discarded based on how long it takes to consume that beverage while walking along the trails and paths. Beaches which border well-traveled roads are also the beneficiaries of items tossed from cars. In addition to the normal array of beverage containers, buried in the vegetation near these beaches are those tiny alcohol bottles, lottery scratch tickets, styrofoam lunch containers and lots of plastic bags. Even our more private beaches like Lambert’s Cove, Tashmoo and Lobsterville are not entirely spared and all too often become collectors of the throw-aways from little beach parties. Neat little piles of the remains of six packs show up at these beaches in addition to the usual discards. The annual beach clean-up is a reflection and a symbol of how we feel about Martha’s Vineyard. It is also a celebration of Earth Day but by getting together every spring we are partly trying to restore the pristine beauty of the beaches and dunes. Our volunteers tend to take on this job very seriously, resulting in a clean-up not easily achieved. Maybe we are just trying to help heal the impacts of the summer season. But what does all this trash say about us? It says that many of us don’t care. Don’t blame the tourists either. Much of what was picked up last weekend was “fresh”–it was thrown away closer to last month rather than last summer. The trash along the roadsides was probably discarded by people you see every day. So what can we do? We can certainly keep educating and support those organizations and institutions which are helping to spread the word. We can try talking to people who we see littering but they probably hide their actions (since they really do know it’s wrong!). We can support the recent action by the Town of Oak Bluffs in offering to provide free trash bags to those who want to help clean the beaches of what others throw away on a regular basis and we can support enforcement and fines against those who continue to trash our island. Official Talks about Environmental Concerns By Marnie Stanton, Vineyard Conservation Almanac
Edgartown Harbor is a port with very heavy seasonal traffic. To help guard against disturbing shellfish habitat, anchorage down harbor is prohibited. Dumping of heads is also restricted, and a free pump-out service is provided as well as trash collection. In an effort to restrict nutrients entering the harbor, the “greywater” from marine showers is now directed to the town wastewater treatment plant. Mr. Smadbeck listens carefully to the harbormaster, marine advisory committee, and shellfish constable in order to coordinate best strategies to protect this vital resource. Mr. Smadbeck considers the 5,000+ acre Correllus State Forest as one of the Island’s most important natural resources, one which needs to be responsibly managed and never allowed to be diverted from its protected open space purpose. Conserved nearly 100 years ago, today it effectively safeguards our sole source drinking water aquifer. He feels that recent initiatives to improve public fire safety by removing deadwood make sense and should be supported. Turning to the wastewater issue, Mr. Smadbeck spoke with pride about the Edgartown Wastewater plant and its many awards. Joe Alosso has received regional and State awards for the efficient way the plant is run and recently received national recognition from the EPA. “Joe’s a modest man and wouldn’t tell you about that,” he said, “but I know, having been a wastewater commissioner, what a good job he’s doing.” The plant operates at about half of its capacity, processing between 50,000 and 100,000 gallons of wastewater a day. The fact that additional capacity exists may prove helpful if consensus is reached that the health of the pond would benefit by extending service to existing un-sewered neighborhoods. When asked about the old nitrogen plume formed by contaminants from the old sewer plant before the plant upgrade, which is moving towards Edgartown Great Pond, Mr. Smadbeck seemed only slightly concerned. “Once that gets to the pond it will pass through and be flushed out,” he said. “My real concern is with all the ongoing development that is constantly contaminating the pond with nitrogen from on site septic systems.” He mentioned that many town entities are working on the water protection challenge. He noted that existing zoning regulation has a no-build setback rule of 100 feet from the water’s edge, with regulatory oversight encompassing the next 100 feet. “Cooperation from the Zoning Board, Board of Health, Health Agent and Wastewater and Water Departments who all work together has helped greatly to protect our water bodies,” he said. In the area of solid waste, Mr. Smadbeck noted that, “we generate 15,000 tons of solid waste a year here on the island and how are we suppose to handle it?” Currently it is shipped off-island to the SEMASS co-generation incinerator which burns trash to generate electricity. An on island initiative under discussion would be an improved ability to recycle materials through a regional composting system. “The technology is here,” he noted, citing Nantucket and their successful program which employs a composting “digester” facility. “We could do it here now; the timing is right.” The Nantucket success has satisfied many objections from local and state officials, and there is real possibility that composting can become a feasible and important element of the solid waste solution for the Vineyard. Mr. Smadbeck cited the use of recycled glass in asphalt for road surfacing, and suggested that the Vineyard needs to form a comprehensive all-island waste district under the umbrella of the MV Commission or the Martha’s Vineyard Refuse Disposal District (MVRDD) to move the idea forward. “The problem is where to put it,” he noted. A central location near the airport is one idea, provided the airport commission and the FAA assent. A key next step is to get the public up to speed about the details and expense of a regional composting system for the Vineyard. Mr. Smadbeck endorsed the idea of another regional informational forum on this composting issue, similar to the 2001 event sponsored by the Vineyard Conservation Society. He felt that it is critical that a working committee move the composting issue to the next level. We all hope that 2006 will be the year that Island leadership will come together to make it happen. Aquaculture for Chilmark By Marnie Stanton, Vineyard Conservation Almanac
“We have done a lot with solar panels in Chilmark.” he said, switching to his role as town selectman. The town qualifies for a new solar panel funding since 3% of its residence are involved in the Cape Light Compact Green program. Chilmark already has solar installations at the Community Center, the Chilmark School, and a solar hot water heater in the Menemsha public bathrooms. “In terms of conservation issues, my two biggest concerns for Chilmark are water quality issues in our ponds and helping to maintain the fishing fleet in Menemsha,” he said. “We have to find a way to protect the fragile quality of the Chilmark Pond from the nitrogen loading coming from all the building that is going on in its watershed. Menemsha Pond is also of concern but the tidal flushing there is excellent, helping to circulate the water and keep the pond relatively healthy. In addition, we have already spent $40,000 (along with West Tisbury) to get the Tisbury Great Pond into the Massachusetts Estuaries Project.” The Massachusetts Estuaries Project, which is a collaboration among the Department of Environmental Protection, the towns, and UMA Dartmouth, involves a three year collection and study of data to determine the overall health of the pond. The project will produce findings which include broad recommendations that a community might follow to correct whatever is determined to be the existing problems. “Aquaculture might be the answer not only for improving the health of the pond but also to give needed work to the fishermen in Menemsha,” he said. Bret Sterns, the Director of Natural Resources for the Tribe, had recently reported that each oyster from the 2.8 million that are raised in the Tribe’s aquaculture business filters out the nutrients from 14 gallons of water every day. That amount of nitrogen removal has helped greatly to keep Menemsha Pond healthy. When asked about the ongoing eel grass and scallop restoration project being implemented by the Tribe in Menemsha Pond, Mr. Doty pointed out that there have been many restoration projects like that tried over the years. The bottom line he noted is that since the 1980’s when we had 20 boats participating in the scallop season we are now as of this year down to only 6 boats. That is a big decline in the scallop population due to the loss of their habitat. As for Menemsha Pond, he said he would be happy to share knowledge with the Tribe, share water study projects, and work together to facilitate workshops on how to run an aquaculture business. There is a lot of enthusiasm for this project amongst the fishermen not only because it would be good for cleaning the pond but also because it makes good economical sense. Switching back to energy issues, he mentioned the positive attributes of wind energy. When asked about a wind turbine for Chilmark he felt that it wouldn’t be beneficial to the town because too much of the excess electricity would go back into the grid which would ultimately benefit the electric company more than the Chilmark residences. “The pay- back wouldn’t be there, he noted. That is really important.” Where a turbine would make good sense is to power other town water and wastewater systems, or to be used at the high school. What the island really needs, he added, is to have a local company that could own wind turbines. And the way to make it work would be to sell shares so that each islander is part owner and can see a short-term financial payback for their invested money. How about that for an inspired idea.. shall we give it a go? Local towns see electricity rates slashed March 21, 2006
Starting with the April meter reading, the cost of electricity for the Compact's 1,600 municipal accounts - which cover most county and town facilities, including school districts - will drop by up to 30 percent. http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/localtowns21.htm A New Grip on 'Reality' Published: March 22, 2006 One of the most important laws of political debate is this: To name something is to own it. If you can name something, get that name to stick and therefore define how people think about an issue, your opponents don't stand a chance. One of the most pernicious things that Vice President Dick Cheney and Big Oil have done for years is to define "realism" when it comes to U.S. energy policy — and therefore they have owned the debate. http://select.nytimes.com/2006/03/22/opinion/22friedman.html?th&emc=th An Unreasonable Woman: By Diane Wilson
Diane Wilson is a mother of five and a 4th generation shrimper. Her life as an activist begins while reading a newspaper article reporting that her county is rated the most polluted in the country. The culprit is Formosa Plastics, a multi-billion-dollar corporation, who has been forbidden to expand in their own native country of Taiwan, but is wholeheartedly welcomed in Calhoun County, Texas. The minds of these Texas citizens are hypnotized by the money and job creation in their county. Unfortunately, the loss of wildlife, the rise of unhealthy children, and the early deaths of factory workers is not enough evidence for them to admit to the serious problems that Formosa's pollution is causing. With only a high school education, Diane sets out on a journey to save her town and her beloved Lavaca Bay. She faces tremendous resistance, ignorance and anger from her family, fellow shrimpers, factory workers, and town and government officials. You wil |
Mark London has the unique perspective of living with dual nationalities, he is Canadian and his wife, Linda Thompson, is from the United States. He was born and lived most of his life in Canada. He worked for thirty years in Montreal as an architect and city planner, with hands-on experience in the city’s push for urban redevelopment and waterfront restoration. When he first met his wife in Montreal, they made a pact to work and live in Canada for most of the year, but in deference to Linda, to summer in the States. They used an atlas to find the ocean beach closest to Montreal that had water warm enough for swimming without a wetsuit. Focusing on the south side of the Cape, they settled on the Vineyard, still relatively sparsely populated and wild. That was twenty-five years ago. Like so many families with roots summering on the Vineyard going back decades, Mark, Linda and their two girls became very attached to the island.
Nan Doty, a long-time classroom teacher and experienced teacher trainer, has been partnering with teachers and students to develop cutting edge energy-based curriculum in the Vineyard classrooms for the past four years, through Vineyard Energy Project and Cape Light Compact. She works creatively to integrate the island community with the student’s energy projects and curriculum within the schools. In teaching about energy efficiency and renewable energy, she points out how important it is to keep the island flavor of old that exists here, while adapting to new ideas that are necessary for implementing needed changes for a sustainable dynamic community. 
A Talk with Winn Davis, Manager of the County of Dukes County
“We are generalists,” Edgartown Health Agent Matt Poole pointed out, as he described the role of health agents on the Island. “We have a wide diversity of job responsibilities that impact all of us daily.” The demands of the job are sweeping, covering issues ranging from human services like flu clinics and tick information to food code interpretation and compliance with homeland security emergency preparedness efforts. Health agents also have to deal natural resource problems, like ensuring the quality of residential well water, and addressing surface water impacts from septic-generated excess nitrogen. A current example is the Ocean Heights/Sengekontacket initiative: a thorough evaluation of drinking water quality, build out projections and surface water quality in this area of Edgartown.
The environmental consultants for Drake Petroleum (Vineyard Haven Xtramart) 19 Beach Road Tisbury have completed a draft Immediate Response Action (IRA) Plan status report. The report actually seems to contain few surprises and confirms what many already knew—that sub-surface contamination in the lower Beach Road area is widespread and is situated surprisingly close to surface. Although both Drake Petroleum as well as the previous tenant, Kenyon Oil, was responsible for gasoline leaks and spills, the predominant contaminant is characterized as motor oil constituents. As a result, Drake has asked the Massachusetts DEP to initiate what is called a Notice of Responsibility or “NOR” to the property owner, Al-Len Realty Trust. Tenants who pre-dated Drake and Kenyon were involved with more car repair type activities and the belief is that motor oil releases came from those operations. Drake has been at the site since 2004, Kenyon since 1993. 
The Martha’s Vineyard High School Class of 1970 was a small but dynamic, adventuresome, and tremendously close group of students. They celebrated the gift of being on the island, spending hours together outdoors enjoying woods and fields, farms and beaches. As seniors, their Political Science teacher Sherman Hoar asked them to create one government for the whole island. That exercise made a lasting impression on Kerry Scott, who today, as an Oak Bluffs selectman, must often grapple with the regional underpinnings of town issues.
John Early, a West Tisbury selectman for nearly 30 years and an island builder had a few things to say on the topic of regionalization in the area of environmental protection. “Regionalization is a difficult sell for certain municipal functions such as a regional police department. But it should be possible and very useful to have a standardized environmental policy of rules and regulations for the whole island.” He cited the Tisbury Great Pond where Chilmark and West Tisbury share an economically important shellfish resource but enforce different policies: “Our ponds are important resources for the livelihood of islanders, as well as important wildlife habitats that need to be protected. Our economy depends in part on the health of our ponds. The rules and regulations may be different but the concerns are the same.”
Wanted! Dead or Alive! Alien marine invaders may be coming to Vineyard shores to chow down on our shellfish! Capture the culprits and a prize is yours! The three particularly bad actors are the Chinese Mitten Crab, Rapa Whelk, and the Brush-clawed Stone Crab. Look for the colorful wanted posters all over the island. Posters will be placed at the entrance to most island beaches and prominently placed in public spaces. 
Vineyard Haven Harbor and Lagoon Pond are vital to the recreational and economic interests of Martha’s Vineyard. But contamination resulting from recent and historical releases of contaminants represent significant threats to these water bodies. It should come as no surprise to anyone that parts of the working waterfront are saturated with petroleum contamination. What was many, many years ago a pristine barrier beach evolved into a highly developed commercial area which experienced years of environmental abuse and careless handling of a variety of products and waste materials. The sandy deposits that make up this section of the harbor are now acting as a sponge to retain a host of petroleum-based contaminants.
Twenty nine and one half years is quite a legacy of service by Tom Pachico, Tisbury’s Health Agent, who also serves as a member of the Board of Selectmen. He has also held positions in the in the town’s Parks and Health departments. When asked about his environmental priorities for the Town of Tisbury, Lake Tashmoo along with the other Tisbury waterways, ponds, and the Lagoon were at the top of his list.
The annual VCS Earth Day beach clean-up has ended on yet another successful, although a bit soggier than usual, note. Most beaches realized a good turnout resulting in a quick clean-up before the volunteers moved on to dryer surroundings. Volunteers collected 70 bags of trash at 22 locations. There were fortunately, no signs of medical waste this year. Overall quantities were down slightly this year, in part due to the weather, although volunteers were persistent in scouring the targeted beaches. By starting the annual clean-up a bit later than usual, (May 13th) town and county crews may have begun making their seasonal clean-ups as well.
Art Smadbeck has four major concerns when it comes to environmental issues that impact Edgartown. His first is monitoring the health of the harbor and the aquaculture in Katama Bay. Second is tracking the nitrogen loading from wastewater and other contaminants into the watershed that is impacting the Edgartown Great Pond as well as other water bodies, while at the same time weighing the potential benefits of extending central sewering to the surrounding neighborhoods. He spoke of his concern for the preservation of the State Forest, and lastly supporting and possibly initiating a program of regional composting on the Vineyard. As a selectman he is in a position to listen and follow expert advice, promote responsible land and resource stewardship, and inform and lead town residents on these important environmental matters.
Warren Doty had just come from his volunteer assignment with a classroom full of Chilmark kids eager to make solar powered cars. “I was teaching them about gear ratios and electric polarity.” he said. “The fifth graders are building solar racing cars for the big competition at the May Energy Fair.” These lucky kids along with countless others across the island have learned from Mr. Doty’s expertise and enthusiasm. He has been assisting his wife Nan in her work to make solar energy an alternative energy source that kids can make sense of and benefit from.
BARNSTABLE - As town budget season heats up, Cape Light Compact yesterday announced substantial rate cuts for Cape and Vineyard municipal electric customers.
"A reasonable woman adapts to the world. An unreasonable woman makes the world adapt to her." - George Bernard Shaw