Report

Over the past year, Rick Karney and Emma Green-Beech of the the Martha's Vineyard Shelfish Group and Paul Carey of Wastewater Alternatives have been looking at various bioremediation techniques as ways to reduce nitrogen levels in coastal ponds. The techniques include oyster reefs, ribbed mussels, Biohaven Floating Islands, phragmites removal, and living shorelines. They conclude that sewage treatment will likely be required to meet nitrogen reduction requirements. Bioremediation can definitely be a tool in the tool box but much more research is needed to understand and quantify the nitrogen removal by natural systems. Advances in applied technologies such as aquaculture, and Floating Islands hold potential to significantly enhance natural bioremediation processes and the restoration of natural systems provides ecological benefits beyond nitrogen mitigation