CLF to Host Event Addressing Cape Cod Pollution

CONTACT: Cynthia Liebman, (617) 850-1744 cliebman@clf.org
Caitlin Inglehart, 617.850.1755, cinglehart@clf.org

BOSTON, MA (MAY 4, 2009) On Saturday, May 9, the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), New England’s leading environmental group, will host an event to draw awareness to the growing and pervasive problem of nitrogen pollution in Cape Cod’s bays. The Cape’s bays and estuaries are falling victim to excessive growth of algae blooms that choke off oxygen and threaten the animal and plant species, and cause a host of other problems throughout the watershed. The event is open to the public and will feature a panel discussion of the problems facing Cape Cod, and the solutions needed to protect it.

“The nitrogen pollution in Cape Cod’s bays jeopardizes the beauty and health of these ecosystems, and in some cases even creates a risk to human health,” said Cynthia Liebman, staff attorney for CLF. “We can’t afford to let these treasured areas decline further by continuing on the current trajectory.

CLF is taking action to ensure that the Federal Clean Water Act, the nation’s most widely supported and effective environmental law, is properly applied on Cape Cod and that federal, state, and local agencies are active participants in the effort to solve the Cape’s water quality problems.

The history and economic livelihood of Cape Cod are at risk unless prompt action is taken to dramatically reduce nitrogen levels. CLF recognizes that municipalities on the Cape are working hard to address critical pollution issues and that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is participating in the effort to identify and fund solutions.

On Cape Cod, nitrogen pollution from human wastewater is the main contributor to algae blooms. Studies show that the majority of the nitrogen pollution entering the bays and estuaries is from septic systems, specifically, the nitrogen contained in human urine. Other sources include stormwater runoff and wastewater treatment plants. The extra nitrogen acts like a fertilizer in coastal ecosystems, causing changes in water quality that kill off eelgrass, the foundation of the coastal ecosystem, and that spur dramatic algae growth.

“The event will provide a forum to those concerned with the scope of the water pollution problems facing Cape Cod, and generate the public support needed to ensure that solutions are implemented,” Liebman added.

To find out more about the event, click here.

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The Conservation Law Foundation (www.clf.org) works to solve the most significant environmental challenges facing New England. CLF’s advocates use law, economics and science to create innovate strategies to conserve natural resources, protect public health and promote vital communities in our region. Founded, in 1966, CLF is a nonprofit, member-supported organization with offices in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.