The Trustees’ State of the Coast Report for the South Coast is an important document to better understand the impacts of climate change in Buzzards Bay and Narragansett Bay and implement a strategy to take corrective actions. The waters in and around Cape Cod and the Islands have been in significant decline for many years, informing citizens of the Commonwealth that the current laws and regulations are insufficient at preserving and protecting water quality. Ecosystems within the region are slowly dying or being impaired to where they are not producing the same amount of shellfish as they used to, and climate change is expected to intensify this.
The Tribe has utilized the abundance the creator has provided for our people for thousands of years and considers what others refer to as “resources” as “gifts”. These gifts cannot and must not be taken for granted, so we have a responsibility to look after the fragile environments that support the ecology found within our waters.
The Natural laws that guided and informed our way of life perpetuated healthy biodiverse regions by the basic concept of appreciating and respecting all life. Current society has exploited every “resource” found here in the Americas throughout the brief 400 years since colonization, consequently destroying many of the unique environments which were pristine 400 years ago.
Currently the Cape Cod region is faced with both historic traumas to our environments and the subsequent climate crisis compounding the existing conditions. The increase of development is a long-standing threat that has consistently impacted the region for the past 60 years due to the aggressive nature in which it is being done. The lack of wastewater infrastructure is a core issue with regard to our water quality. The water quality is also being impacted by water temperature increases as a result of global warming.
In order to take corrective actions to save these gifts, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe embraces the Trustees’ State of the Coast initiative. Through this work we will learn the core areas of concern that threaten the Buzzards Bay and Narragansett Bay watersheds. This area is a resource area significant to our Tribe’s survival as we have lived along the shores of Cape Cod since time immemorial.
The Mashpee Wampanoag retain Traditional Ecological Knowledge as stewards of this land, therefore we are compelled to partner with Trustees and the Buzzards Bay Coalition to study the area and develop a mitigation strategy to restore this once abundant watershed.
Shellfish propagation should be considered a proven effective way to reduce nitrogen which is a core issue. Additionally, other aquaculture programs should be considered conceptually. Aquaculture is consistent with the Cape Cod Commission’s “Blue Economy Initiatives” and the regional Water Quality 208 program.
The Tribal Historic Preservation Office wants to express our support of the great work The Trustees is doing to preserve and protect land and sea.