The Buzzards Bay Coalition has received the Environmental Merit Award from the Environmental Protection Agency - New England Region. The award, the EPAs highest honor, was given for the Coalition's citizen-based water quality monitoring program entitled "Baywatchers."

The Merit Awards have been given by EPA since 1970 and recognizes valuable contributions to environmental awareness and problem solving. This year 24 awards were given to individuals and organizations in Massachusetts.

Baywatchers is a volunteer program that monitors more than a quarter of the state's coastline. More than 750 volunteers monitor the health of the Bay at more than 200 stations across the region in what is the largest coastal monitoring effort in Massachusetts. Over the last 2 decades, 43,681 dissolved oxygen and 11,170 nutrient samples have been measured.

More than 30 Baywatchers volunteers monitor water-quality in Wareham, more than in any other town in the watershed. The data has documented improvements in water quality on the Agawam River following the wastewater treatment plant upgrade but also shows declines in other areas.

“The best part of this program is working with this incredible group of volunteers who want to understand the health of their harbor,” said Tony Williams, director of monitoring programs in a prepared statement. “This award recognizes that all of their hard work really helps to restore clean water in Buzzards Bay.”

Water testing is performed every 5 days and the data collected forms the foundation of the Coalition's work to protect and restore the health of the Bay. It is also used by other organizations and agencies. The data can be found at www.savebuzzardsbay.org/BayHealthData.

This summer the Baywatchers program is entering its twenty-first year and new Baywatchers are always welcome. To learn more visit www.savebuzzardsbay.org/baywatchers or contact Tony Williams atWilliams@savebuzzardsbay.org.

The EPA’s press release on the Environmental Merit Awards can be found at http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/77220647C76BF3C3852579EB006FE446