From Snails to Whales: Ezequiel Lopes

Showing posts with label Ezequiel Lopes. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Day #5 Atlantic Wharf Hearing

Public hearing,

Today we changed gears to an alternative way of exploring Boston Harbor. Although I had my knife and field guide ready to study marine species I found myself in an interesting audience of public hearing regarding the existing and the future vision of waterfront developments. In polite manners three different parties presented their ideas, concerns and vision of how they would like the waterfront to look like. Those parties were Yami Tsipis representing the Boston Marriott Hotel, Dick Mulligan from BRA and David Lucey on behalf of 255 State street.

In a systematic order Yami Tsipis brought us back to history of the waterfront since 1946 until the existing structure now and added what he called a vision for the future. He carefully chose his words and focus his presentation on how the public and local economic can benefit of the changes he is envision. He talked about how the existing look of the structured doesn't seem to be appealing to the public and he would like to change that. He wants to bring new components to the property by wrapping around life activities to draw more visitors and consequently boasting local business. However, couple important points were made by some committee members. How will those changes will impact the local vendors who are already using the space? And by extending their structure closer to the water how it will impact the walk way? At that point the hearing started making sense to me because it sounded like people really cared about the waterfront. It was clear to me that if any changes were to take place they want them to be done methodically by primarily validating the interested of the public.

The second presenter was Dick Mulligan property manager for Boston Redevelopment Authority(BRA) who apparently owns and manages most of the property around the waterfront. He seemed to be more concern about the logistics of any changes that will or can make his job harder. He talked about improving the walk ways to make it more pedestrian friendly and keep it clean by making sure the trash is removed constantly. He came across as a manager who likes to be hands on and open to the idea of bring more people to the waterfront. The final presenter was David and another associate from 255 state street who talked about their building renovation and the use of public friendly architectural approach. They also mentioned how they came along way to make the building that was once in shambles when they bought it in 1997 to this very colorful and attractive to the public. Some artistic touches were applied to the building and a good portion of the 1st floor is open to the public. Overall, the speakers had interesting points and innovative ideas, which in my option beautifies the waterfront and will indeed attract more people there.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Day 4 Lovells Island

On an early Monday morning our group met once again for another adventure in the sea. Starting at Barking crab docks I noticed that the water was calm and the skies were clear blue. Once we had enough student gather we walked to the other side of the bridge to board the Belle boat. At the court house dock we met the boat crew Captain Charlie, John English and Chris. In few words Captain Charlie gave us safety instructions and asked us to be in a lookout for birds in the sea. Apparently, where there are birds over the water it indicates fish. Charlie offered boat binoculars' but unfortunately i didn't see any cormorants in the area. On schedule with an outgoing tide we sailed out into the harbor for our first fishing experience. Our first stop was approximately 500 yards between Castle Island and Spectacle Island. Students with more fishing experience started first and within minutes they caught different sizes of black sea bass and perch. Professor Bruce and the boat crew were showing us how to prep fishing rods with sea worms as good bait source, and how to bring the fish into the boat if one gets lucky. We spent roughly half an hour and moved to the second location where captain Charlie referred to as a safe heaven. It was approximately 300 yards off the Long Island Coast and at 40 feet deep we were in a perfect spot in the channel. There I experienced the best moment of the day as Antoine with the help of professor Bruce caught a 30 inches striped bass. In a very chaotic and exciting battle the professor was able to bring the striped bass on board. Professor gave a quick explanation of that particular striped bass while student took pictures and touched the fish for the first time. We then proceeded to Lovells Island to continue our observation where we walked around to the north side of the island. There we spread into the tide pool where I observed different colors of sea weed and other species that appeared to be barnacles and lichen. On our second location after lunch I found several spots with blue mussels, black snails and green crab. My day at Lovells Island was awesome and it ended in a great note as I learned how to falay and best use the striped bass we had caught earlier.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Ezequiel Lopes-Day #2

Boston Dock's Observation.

With a nice clear sky and light breeze from the ocean our class met again outside of the Marriot hotel at Boston Long Wharf . At low tide and temperature around 80 degrees we divided in groups of four and beginning our observation around the harbor. With the inter tidal zone exposed I saw what appeared to be rock seaweeds along the protecting wall. There were also evidence of brown and black seaweeds in different areas suggesting a longer exposure to the sun and occasional drying. The sand around the area looked rough and rocky . As we move along, the water seems clear with visibility about 3 to 5 feet enough to see green vegetation at the bottom. At the bottom I also spotted what appeared to be a green grab and small fish.

First site: Long Wharf North

We made a closer observation on our second location under the docks around the Boston towers. There we looked at species that lives under the floating docks and pillars. I observed different colors of vegetation ranging from green, orange, black and brown. The visibility was roughly 4 feet allowing us to see what appeared to be different colors of tunicate. Yellow tunicates were closer together and concentrated in one spot where as the orange tunicates were scatter around the pillar. We then move to the other side of the dock to look at a rope that was pulled out of the water holding different species attached to it. There were about 100 blue mussels attached together along with some light brown and green seaweed.

Second site: Warf wharf DockH Ha

Around noon we moved to our third location at Barking grad dock. At that time the temperature was around 90 degrees and in groups again we conducted our last observation. Under the floating dock I found green and purple weed and orange sponges looking species. I also found oysters shell, blue mussels and greed crab. As I was pulling things off the dock I came across what appeared to be a green sea lettuce with small bugs on it. When I took a closer look with magnifying classes they looked like sea roaches and very small skeleton looking shrimp. I referred to my guide book for a more descriptive explanation and I found what they call northern sea roaches and linear skeleton shrimp. Once we gather enough data we compared notes as a group and ended the hands on observation for the day.

Third site: Barking Crab Dock

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Harbor View

Tour of Boston Harbor

On a 2^nd half of the day our class met at Long Wharf north where Professor Bruce gave us the itinerary of what turned out to be a very informative day. From the Long wharf dock we took a boat to Georges Island while contemplating one of the most spectacular views of the harbor. As we sail out in high tide water I had a great view of the water front, beginning in Charlestown all the way to South Boston. Once in deeper water I had a clear view of the airport in East Boston and Castle Island on the south side. At that point we were in the middle of the main harbor channel which is heavily traveled by large cargo ship and smaller vessels. Few miles down to the left side of the boat I spotted Deer Island where the waste water treatment plant is located and standing out from distance it was the amazing 140 foot high tank. In a relatively close distance we pass by long Island on our right side, and we moved pretty quick passing Nixes Mate and Gallops Island. At that point the Captain slowed down as we approached Georges Island. After stopping for roughly 10 minutes we moved towards Hingham Bay passing between Wind turbine in Hull and Peddocks Island. We were so close to the shore that I observed several people fishing off the coast of Hull. Once in Hingham Bay we moved slowly through Weymouth right into Quincy Fore River Shipyard where we reached our final destination. This trip was important as it allowed me to see the harbor with different eyes and appreciate the beauty of our local water. I learned that I should pay more attention to what the harbor has to offer and invest more time in understanding the natural resources we have close to home.

Day #1 Intro and Sink experiment

Hi class,

My name is Ezequiel Lopes I am from Cape Verde which is 10 islands off the west coast of Africa. I am taking this class as a science requirement but I am also fascinated by the mystery of the ocean. I am hoping to learn a lot about Boston Harbor history and get a better understanding of what can be done to make it cleaner and safer for our communities and our kids in the future.

Question 1: Which way does the water drain in the northern and southern hemisphere?

During our sink experiment in class it looked like the water did drain counter clockwise and all members of my group seemed to be in an agreement. However, when I went home I did a quick search, and several online articles seem to have different answer for this question and it was hard to identify the most reliable source. However, I was inclined to agree that it could drain randomly both directions depending on several variables like the shape of sink or how the plug is removed. (www.scientificamerican.com)

From Snails to Whales

Welcome to Snails to Whales, Bruce Berman's blog focused on both the little and the big things that make Boston Harbor such an interesting and extraordinary place to live, work and play.

With 50 miles of protected water, four sheltered bays, seven river systems, 34 islands and a nine-foot average tide, Boston Harbor is one of the most diverse urban ecosystems in America.

This blog focuses on the flora and fauna of Boston Harbor and Massachusetts Bay - on the beach, the shore, and the harbor islands, and in the cleaner waters of Boston Harbor and Mass Bay - including this ecosystems most important species - people.

During the summer, it is also a place for my Boston University Students and my colleagues at Save the Harbor / Save the Bay to share their work and experiences.

Where I am coming from...

Love that clean(er) water
Learning about the Boston Harbor Cleanup from the waterway’s eyes, ears, and mouthpiece

By Brian Fitzgerald, BU Bridge

On Georges Island, Bruce Berman talks with his students about the history of the Boston Harbor Cleanup,
which is largely complete. Photo by Vernon Doucette

Bruce Berman, aboard a ferry from Boston’s Long Wharf to Georges Island, poses a question to his students: “How clean is clean enough?”

He’s talking about the water below.

It’s a brilliant July day, with the smell of salt spray in the air. The sky is clear, and so is the ocean. But there was a time when Boston Harbor wasn’t so clean, when the stench of sewage assaulted the nostrils of anyone who went near it.

Berman is the communications director for Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, a public-interest environmental advocacy organization whose mission is to help restore and protect the harbor and Massachusetts Bay. He also teaches a Metropolitan College summer course called Politics, Public Relations, and Public Policy: The Boston Harbor Cleanup.

“The Boston Harbor Cleanup is an amazing success story, and I just love to share it with students,” says Berman, noting that the harbor’s “bad old days” weren’t that long ago. Those were the days when untreated human waste, syringes, condoms, and tampon applicators routinely washed ashore. The antiquated sewage treatment plants on Deer Island and Nut Island were so poorly designed and maintained that they flooded during even mild rainstorms, sending millions of gallons of untreated waste directly into the harbor.

Since then, bacteria counts in the water have decreased by more than two-thirds. Now the harbor teems with plants and animals, and people can legally dig for clams on Carson Beach in South Boston, which was unheard of in the 1980s.

“It was one of the filthiest harbors in America, and now it’s one of the cleanest,” says Berman. “What I’m trying to impress upon students is how this incredible comeback occurred, and how business, advocacy groups, environmentalists, and government can affect the outcome of large projects such as the Boston Harbor Cleanup through negotiation.”

Paradise regained

Berman points to the left as the boat cruises by the cleanup’s centerpiece: the gargantuan white egglike tanks of the Deer Island waste treatment plant, which in 1995 replaced the antiquated facility. The plant treats an average of 350 million gallons of sewage a day.

“And what comes out of the Deer Island treatment plant?” he asks. Berman, his booming baritone competing with the roar of planes taking off from Logan Airport, has a habit of putting students on the spot to see if they’re paying attention.

“The outfall pipe,” say several simultaneously. “Treated water,” chime in a few more.

“That’s right,” he says with a smile. “The plant separates the solid and liquid waste, and it pumps the treated water through the 9.5-mile outfall pipe, which empties into Massachusetts Bay. The resulting sludge is converted to high-grade fertilizer.”

Now Berman returns to his original question: “How clean is clean enough?” There’s no quick and clear answer to this one. “It’s a question that at the end of the day the federal courts had to decide.”

In 1985, a landmark federal court case required that the harbor’s beaches be made swimmable and fishable by 2000. Save the Harbor/Save the Bay was formed the next year to raise public awareness of the $4.5 billion Boston Harbor Cleanup. Sewer ratepayers in the 43 cities and towns financing the project cried foul over the prospect of astronomically rising bills, but because of the determination of environmental advocacy groups such as Berman’s, the cleanup was largely completed on schedule.

Berman says it isn’t finished, however. There are still frequent beach closures because the counts of Enterococcus bacteria exceed the federal and state standard for swimming. The culprit: filthy storm water and sewage, much of it from leaky pipes and illegal hookups emptying into storm sewers, and then into the harbor.

“So is the harbor clean enough,” the Springfield native asks his students, “when you can’t swim in it one out of five days in the summer?”

Work to be done

Berman and his class look out from Georges Island to Gallops Island (left) and the white tanks of the waste treatment plant on Deer Island (right). Photo by Vernon Doucette

This summer the state approved one of the last parts of the cleanup: the construction, by 2011, of a 2.1-mile tunnel near the Dorchester and South Boston shorelines that will hold sewage and storm water during bad weather. It then will be pumped to Deer Island for treatment.

Berman is ecstatic over this development, the result of “tireless negotiation and consensus-building,” he says. “After 2011, we’re looking at beach closings once every five years, when there is a major storm, instead of once every five days.”

But he is not about to let his guard down. To say that he is a man obsessed with the harbor cleanup would be an understatement. Berman is also Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s “Baywatcher,” and he lives on his 40-foot trawler Verandah. Polluters beware: if you’re discharging oil or sewage into Boston Harbor, the Baywatcher just might be watching.

He is quick to point out that his zealotry is not just on behalf of the harbor’s flora and fauna. “The harbor is for everyone,” he says. “If you’re from a working class or poor family in Boston, and you can’t afford a Cape Cod getaway in the summer, a clean harbor is important. The same is true if you’re a tourist vacationing in Boston or you happen to live in a pricey waterfront condo.”

Accordingly, Berman, who was a political consultant and contributing editor to the Phoenix newspaper before joining Save the Harbor/Save the Bay nearly 10 years ago, also teaches his students about the harbor’s role in the city’s economy. He points out that in the early 1990s, just a few ferries cruised the harbor’s waters. Today, more than 100,000 people visit its islands each summer, discovering their ecological and historic treasures.

“The best way to protect the harbor cleanup,” Berman tells his students, “is to make sure that the public has access to the resources and can see a return on its investment.”

Trevor Kosmolsick (MET’05) has lived in Boston for seven years, but until taking Berman’s course, he had never been to the waterfront. “I’ve also wanted to go camping in the area, but I never knew that you could camp on a few of the islands,” he says. “Bruce Berman is not only a great professor, but the ultimate tour guide.”

He also backs up his words with actions. Sometimes he takes off his shirt and dives in the water to demonstrate to passing boaters that it’s safe to swim. To show people on ferries that fishing is safe, he’s been known to grab one of the bluefish or striped bass he’s caught and (very carefully) plant a wet kiss on it.

“What I want everyone to understand is that investment in the environment really does pay off,” says Berman. “We’re willing to pay for a clean Boston Harbor, so we should enjoy it.”