Gazette Wins Top Award for Coastal Pond Series

The Vineyard Gazette’s series on coastal ponds was recognized with an award for outstanding journalism this week by the New England Newspaper and Press Association. Alex Elvin was the principal reporter on the series.

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Dangerous Dinoflagellate: Look Out for Rust Tide
Suzan Bellincampi

Rust tide is in the news again, reported recently in Long Island waters.

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No-Anchor Zone Recommended to Protect Eelgrass in Lake Tashmoo
Heather Hamacek

Drew’s Cove in Lake Tashmoo could become a no-anchor zone for the next three years to protect fragile eelgrass beds near the head of the saltwater estuary.

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Quitsa Pond Is Laboratory for Eelgrass Restoration; Results Mixed
Alex Elvin

Nashaquitsa Pond has become a laboratory for eelgrass restoration, although poor water quality and other factors appear to be keeping the aquatic species from re-establishing.

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MVC Conference Takes Up Coastal Ponds Issue

With Vineyard coastal ponds at a tipping point, on Thursday this week the Martha’s Vineyard Commission will lead a daylong conference Thursday.

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Eelgrass Pilot Set to Begin at Quitsa Pond
Alex Elvin

With support from the Edey Foundation, the Chilmark shellfish department plans to restore vital eelgrass beds that vanished from Nashaquitsa Pond.

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Estuaries Project Nears End, Work Begins to Protect Ponds
Alex Elvin

The Massachusetts Estuary Project, which studied 12 Island bodies of water, has raised awareness of growing nitrogen problems and spurred action at several levels.

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Success on the Half Shell; Aquaculture Boosts Pond Health
Alex Elvin

A Sengekontacket oyster project has been such a success that the shellfish department will ask selectmen to open the pond to commercial oystering.

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Breaches Carve a Path for Pond Management
Alex Elvin

Man-made breaches at Island ponds help maintain salinity for shellfish and eelgrass and flush out nitrogen that accumulates mostly from septic tanks and runoff.

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Sewering Can Help Save Ponds, But at a Cost
Alex Elvin

Without wastewater treatment facilities, Island ponds could be in worse shape. Estuaries suffer from nitrogen overload, coming mostly from septic systems that remove bacteria but not nitrogen.

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