Summary

Photo of New Bedford waterfront at Middle St., c. 1890. Courtesy of the New Bedford Whaling Museum - click for enlargement

Photo of New Bedford waterfront at Middle Street - click for enlargement

New Bedford shoreline just south of New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge, foot of Middle Street: top – circa 1890, Henry P. Willis, courtesy New Bedford Whaling Museum; bottom – 2001, by Carol Pesch.

Reprieve - why history is important The complex environmental problems in New Bedford Harbor are easier to understand when the ecological effects are followed over time. It has become clear that the environmental problems in the harbor did not just arise in the last 50 years, but have accumulated over several hundred years. This case study has clearly demonstrated that development can have effects that are major and long-term; for example, the bridge built in 1798 affected sedimentation patterns, which in turn determined the future pattern of development in the harbor area. Hopefully, when decisions are made today we can look forward fifty to one hundred years and let that view be factored into the decision.

When the effects of development are examined over time (see summary chart), it is easier to determine which effects are irreversible and which may potentially be remediated. The changes made by the building of wharves, the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge, and the hurricane barrier, and the filling of wetlands are seemingly irreversible. But some remediation is happening. The PCB contaminated sediment in the harbor is being removed by the dredging projects conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers. Some of this sediment is also highly contaminated with metals, so metal-contaminated sediment is also being removed. In the last 20 years, a number of changes have been made to improve environmental conditions in the harbor. Improvements to the sewage system and CSOs have been and are continuing to be made, so less raw sewage is released into the harbor. Since 1987, industrial pretreatment of waste has removed contaminants from wastewater before it is released to the sewer system.

Historical studies can inform citizens about environmental issues in their communities and engage them in the process of "community-based environmental protection". Historical studies can be used in schools as topics of interdisciplinary projects that combine history and science. This historical profile has presented a realistic picture of environmental conditions in New Bedford Harbor. Although the harbor can not be restored to pristine conditions, it can be improved and protected, especially through community-based efforts. Check the EPA New England (Region 1) New Bedford Harbor web site for a list of public meetings (Public meetings & events) and the latest updates on remedial dredging (Newsletters & Press, and Status sections).

Summary

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