Why does Brewster have to develop and implement an IWRMP?
There are signs of water quality degradation in Brewster’s ponds and coastal embayments. Brewster representatives and residents understand the importance of having clean and safe water to drink, swim and recreate in. MassDEP will establish a TMDL for each embayment once the MEP reports have been finalized. That will require the town to implement a plan to remove the required amount of nitrogen to restore the water quality of the particular embayment. The town is moving forward now with the IWRMP so it can develop the appropriate plan on its own timeline rather than on a DEP schedule. The abutting towns of Chatham, Orleans, Harwich and Dennis are all in various stages of completing similar plans to address the nitrogen issues in their communities. Brewster is part of three MEP evaluations: Pleasant Bay MEP with Chatham, Harwich and Orleans; Namskaket MEP with Orleans; and Herring River MEP with Dennis and Harwich. The 2009 Brewster Ponds Study, prepared by SMAST, reported on the review
