From Snails to Whales: Stephen Loughran

Showing posts with label Stephen Loughran. Show all posts

Monday, August 5, 2013

A Farewell To Snails And Whales

ES 141 has been an amazing experience. We fished, we swam, we explored, we "did science" and most of all we interacted with each other. For most of my college experience I have sat in a classroom and never had the opportunity to know the person next to me. ES 141 brought us closer together. We got to learn about the harbor and eachother. This made learning about science a lot more enjoyable.

Professor Berman, thanks a lot. You're enthusiasm rubbed off on us. As a class we were eager to get out on the water and see what new experiences the harbor could bring. My only gripe is waking up so early for class. Other than that ES 141 has been a memorable experience from the information gained to the interaction with my fellow classmates. I will definitely recommend this class to anyone looking who may be on the fence about taking a science course.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

No Whales: Not Surprised

Today's whale watching excursion was canceled due to inclement weather. Being the skeptic that I am I was not sold on the idea of seeing whales anyways, maybe just their tails. Although the day was not a total loss. A few of us decided to salvage the day with a trip to the Aquarium. It was a crowded day at the Aquerium. Many tourist, families, summer camps, and a few ES 141 students crowded the New England Aquarium. There was so much to see! Inside the Aquarium there is a large central tack filled with numerous types of sea life. I saw huge sting rays and other large types of fish. There were also Sea Turtles, Hammer Head Sharks, and a scuba diver feeding the fish from his hands (pretty cool). There were also different types of jelly fish and even an Anaconda to be viewd. The Aquarium has a section of seals and sea lions, which are massive animals and strangely cute. My favorite part of the day was seeing the penguins. They sure do have happy feet. Although we were unable to see the whales today we turned disappoint into fun. We also managed to "do science." Looking at all of the different types of fish made me crave seafood. We concluded at the Barking Crab.

Business As Usual

Our 5th day of ES 141 was more of a traditional classroom setting; we did take a small field trip to downtown for a bit of politics. Our class meet as usual at 9:00 A.M. for a brief lecture on legal affairs concerning recreational and commercial fishing. Question such as how do we as a nation protect fish like Striped Bass from being over fished. We learned that solution do not come easy. there are numerous factors in play. scientist and others concerned with Striped Bass populations suggest bans on how many fish can be caught and the size of the catch. others are more concerned with making a living. Both parties look to law makers for the soltution. We learned that like so many issues, politics can be as tedious when it comes to the fishing industry as it is with so many other issues facing the nation. There is no easy solution. A general consensus seems to be the best solution at this time.

In the field our class sat in on a public hearing about what to do about the future of the real estate down by the Long Wharf. As expected, there were two opposing sides, those in favor of making a buck and those in favor of the public interest. I was unable to stay for the whole meeting; but I noticed public interst tends to take a back seat when up against capitalism.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Fun In The Sun

On July 15th our ES141 class met at eight in the morning for our fourth and most exciting class of the week. We had a day of fishing and exploration on Lovell's Island planned. The class met outside of the Barking Crab around 8:00 A.M. Although it was still fairly early the Sun was already beating down. We could tell it was going to be another hot day in Boston. Once all of the class was present we headed down to the docks to board the boat that was taking us on our excusrion. We met the operators of the boat; they went over a few safety rules and then we were off.

The boat was a small but a good size for our class. Most of us sat underneath the boats canopy in order to remain shaded from the Sun. A few of us, myself included, preferred to enjoy the sites from the bow of the ship. We were not in the shade but their was a nice sea breeze to keep us cool. Once we were out far enough into the harbor the fishing began. The operators of the boat began to hand out fishing rods with worms as bait. We were fishing for Striped Bass. As soon as we put our bait into the ocean we began catching fish, just not Striped Bass. We caught numerous types of school fish including Black Bass. It appeared the Striped Bass were either not biting or just not interested in feeding in our current location. after about half an hour or so our crew relocated to another section of the harbor in search of Striped Bass. Our second location mirrored the first. The harbor was teeming with fish such as Black Bass which were practically jumping onto our rods; but the Striped Bass remained elusive. Then finally, about twenty minutes at our second location, Ramos hooked a Striper. Professor Berman took over the rod and reeled the big fish in. The Striper was placed on ice to be enjoyed later. In the meantime we set out for the second part of our journey, Lovell's Island.

At Lovell's we "did Science" and some recreation. As far as science goes we scoured the shore looking at the vegetation and animal life that lived there. We found the same type of vegetation that we saw down at the docks on the Boston Harbor. The shore was rocky. There were rocks of all sizes scattered throughout the beach on Lovell's; however underneath just about every rock were crabs. Surprisingly we learned these crabs that call Lovell's their home were invasive Asian Crabs. The native crabs were all but gone. These invasive crabs were more populace and were out competing the native crabs for food. We also saw snails. After "doing science" the class enjoyed the cool water and spent some time swimming.

around 2:30 P.M. we headed back to the Boat for the last part of our excursion. Once we boarded the boat we were heading back the barking Crab; but before class concluded we had one more exciting event left, filleting the Striped Bass. Professor Berman showed us how to filet the fish and gave filets out to the class. He also cut a few pieces up and added some pepper and lemon juice it was amazing. As promised day four was beyond Awesome!

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Day Three: Checking Out The Docks

Today the class spent the entire morning and afternoon in the field. We moved around the docks of the Boston Harbor looking at the creatures and vegetation that call the harbor home. Boston's waterfront has become a vibrant area for humans and sea life alike. The class broke into groups and began to "do science."

Today was a hot one. We arrived at the waterfront during low tide. The visibility in the water was roughly 3-5 feet. In the group I was in we discovered and examined,

Seaweed that had a green lettuce like appearance. There was also a brownish colored seaweed which moved with the time.
Rock weeds, which are a sign of a clean harbor and strong ecosystem.
Clam shells that had washed up on the shore.
Seagulls
land birds
mussels: Most were eaten and their shells were attached to the dock. Other animals made use of their shells.
crabs
Striped Bass
shrimp and other crustaceans
A small fish we captured and then set free
Barnacles
As a class we pulled up a rope teeming with seaweed, crustaceans, mussels and much more.

Today I saw a harbor that appears to be rich with life. On the surface we humans dominate the harbor; but we are also maintaining a safe environment for other forms of life to flourish as well. Also, today we were reminded that the circle of life can be vicious, as we saw gulls hunt and eat crabs. Although that could just be my values. It was not personal just business as usual at the Boston Harbor. I am looking forward to our next excursion.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Cruising The Boston Harbor

Today's field trip to the Boston harbor was an eye opening experience. I have grown up here in the Boston area. I visit castle Island frequently and gaze out into the harbor often. I've also cruised the harbor a few times before, mostly as a kid. Todays field trip truly opened my eyes to how much Bostonians depend on the harbor. The Boston harbor has been the cities life blood since its early beginnings as a settlement. The bay is protected from the open ocean by Winthrop and Hull. The harbor is deep enough for commercial shipping to pull right up to the city's ports and of load its cargo. I also realized Boston's Harbor has numerous islands scattered through out the harbor. These islands allow us to safely dispose our waste, have protected parks for wild life, and for recreation.

What stuck out to me most of all was how fast we can get around the metropolitan area just by utilizing the harbor. In about a half an hour we sailed from downtown Boston to Hull, weymouth, Winthrop, Quincy and other towns. We passed all of these towns at the beginning of rush hour and on an MBTA vessel. If I were to attempt to pass all of these towns via my car, during rush hour, it would most likely take me hours. I would like to see the harbor used more as a means of commuting.

Experiment in the bathroom

INTRODUCTION:

Hey ES141, I'm Stephen Loughran and I am a senior at Boston University. I major in History and I am taking this class to complete an elective requirement.

I am originally from Boston and I have grown up with the ocean as a back yard. I also go to the Caribbean often. What I enjoy most about the ocean is utilizing it for water sports.

BATHROOM EXPERIMENT:

A.) In the group I was in we agreed that the water in the sink drained clockwise. We attempted the experiment twice. The water did drain pretty fast. Perhaps I did not fill the sink up enough.

B.) 1. According to "Every day Mysteries" the way water drains does not depend on the hemisphere but rather the design of the "geometric structure of the drain."

2. According to Reference.com the whole water draining clockwise in Australia is a myth, created by the Simpson and the X-Files.

3. Lastly, according to "Today I Find Out" the flow of water down the drain does not depend on the hemisphere.

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.”