80 



activity not only resuspends sediments, but releases nutrients from pore 

 water. 



The history of pollution in Apponagansett Bay needs further study 

 because eelgrass was less abundant in the Bay in 1951 than in the 1940 's 

 or 1960's. This loss does not appear to be do to disease because 

 eelgrass disappeared from the deeper parts of the Bay, but persisted in 

 shallow water. This Bay has been disturbed for many decades, and this 

 observation suggests that water transparency decreased at that time. 



Clarks Cove and New Bedford Harbor 



The Clarks Cove-New Bedford Harbor-Acushnet River estuary system 

 has undergone major physical and chemical perturbations from industrial 

 and urban activity for more than a century. The history of discharges 

 in this area is complex and includes sewage, dyes, PCBs, and heavy 

 metals during different periods. Three towns (Dartmouth, New Bedford, 

 and Fairhaven) adjoin these waters, but the largest and most toxic 

 inputs have originated from New Bedford. In addition, a hurricane 

 barrier was constructed during 1962-64 in New Bedford, along the 

 northeast and northern shores of Clarks Cove, and along the eastern 

 shore of Clarks Point to the inner harbor of New Bedford. 



