Imprint
of the Past:
Ecological History of
New Bedford Harbor
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Photographs on cover
top: Schooner Unloading Bricks, c. 1890, Henry P. Willis. View of New Bedford shore line just south of New Bedford - Fairhaven Bridge. Street at left
is Middle Street. The tower on right, seen through the rigging of the schooner, is St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church, which is still there today.
New Bedford Whaling Museum collection.
bottom: Current photograph of New Bedford shore line south of New Bedford - Fairhaven (Rt.6) Bridge. Tower and roof-line of St. Lawrence Roman
Catholic Church is visible on the skyline on right. Photograph by Carol Pesch.
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Imprint
of the Past:
Ecological History of
New Bedford Harbor
Carol E. Pesch
Richard A. Voyer
u.s. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
National Health and Environmental
Effects Research Laboratory
Atlantic Ecology Division
Narragansett, RI
Jane Copeland
George Morrison
OAG Corporation
Narragansett, RI
Judith Lund
New Bedford Whaling Museum
New Bedford, MA
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Definitions of bold face words can be found in glossary on page 27.
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Recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adopted a new approach
to study and manage environmental problems. In the past, the agency's emphasis
was on particular pollutants and their effects on individual species in air, land, and
water. But the environment is not a series of compartments, it includes a series of
interconnected aquatic and terrestrial habitats. A stress from human activity that affects
the immediate environment may also affect an area downstream. Small impacts added
over time or space may exert an additive effect. Therefore, EPA has adopted a more
comprehensive approach by studying problems in the natural environment. The natural
unit of study is the watershed, the area drained by a river system.
To gain a better understanding of ecological conditions in a watershed, it is important to
look at how past events affected current conditions. In highly impacted areas, the
environmental problems are not simply the consequence of recent activities but may be
the accumulation of many decades or one or two centuries of impacts. For example, in
New Bedford the current conditions are a complex mix of impacts accumulated over
more than two centuries. By looking at these cumulative impacts, we can begin to
understand what happened and why.
Historical studies are important for a number of reasons. Historical studies enable us to
see the connection between land use and environmental conditions. Historical studies
help us appreciate that some decisions can cause long-term environmental consequences.
Historical studies are useful in planning remediation projects. Environmental scientists
and managers can identify what impacts are irreversible and therefore, get a better idea
of what is possible to remediate. Historical studies have become a component of
environmental litigation, especially since the passage of Superfund legislation. Industries
responsible for contamination are identified so clean up costs can be recovered. Finally,
historical studies are a good educational tool: as background information for
environmental scientists and managers; to get citizens interested in local environmental
issues; to build ties between the community and scientists, and can be used as topics of
interdisciplinary (e.g. science, history, writing) studies in middle schools and high schools.
What can we learn from historical studies? Historical records can help identify past
pollutant inputs. For example, the Sanborn Insurance Maps show the location of
industries as early as 1888. Local histories, especially those published by the board of
trade or other commercial organizations, and the town and city directories provide
information on industries as early as the mid-1800s. The types of pollutants produced by
older industrial processes are listed in a number of books and journal articles.
Historical studies can be used to determine modification or loss of habitat. By
comparing shorelines and wetlands on older maps with those on current ones, we can
determine where wetlands and shallow areas have been filled and those important
habitats lost. Changes in water circulation patterns and sediment deposition, which can
modify benthic habitats, can be identified by examining old engineering surveys and by
comparing older hydrographic maps to current ones.
2
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Fig. 1. New Bedford Harbor, the estuarine section of the Acushnet
River, is located in southeastern Massachusetts. The Acushnet River
watershed encompasses sections of the city of New Bedford, and
towns of Fairhaven and Acushnet, plus small sections of three
other towns.
Photographs of the New Bedford waterfront: docks with
fishing boats. brick buildings that were formerly textile
mills. and a variety of commercial buildings.
Photographs by Carol Pesch.
3
Historical records may help identify changes in
species composition or abundance. Comparisons of
current biological surveys with older records kept
by boards of health, shellfish wardens, and
naturalists may indicate changes.
Acushnet River Watershed
The Acushnet River watershed is located in
southeastern Massachusetts. New Bedford harbor,
which is the lower estuarine section of the Acushnet
River, empties into Buzzards Bay. The watershed
includes part of the city of New Bedford and part
of the towns of Fairhaven and Acushnet (Fig. 1).
This watershed is the most urbanized area in the
Buzzards Bay drainage basin and New Bedford
Harbor is the most contaminated area in the
drainage basin. The harbor is contaminated with
metals and organic compounds, including
polychlorinated biphenyls, commonly known as
PCBs. Because of the high concentrations of PCBs
in the sediment, the harbor was listed as a
Superfund site in 1982. Dredging of the most
contaminated sediments in the harbor has been
completed; the second phase of the project, dredging
more PCB-contaminated sediment, is planned. The
harbor sediments also contain high concentrations of
metals, particularly copper, chromium, lead, and zinc.
The city of New Bedford, with a population of about
100,000 is the commercial and population center in the
watershed. The city is known for its history as a
prosperous whaling port and later as a producer of fine
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textiles. After the decline of the textile
industry, New Bedford became known as
a major commercial fishing port.
Throughout New Bedford's history, the
harbor has been the central feature of
development and economic prosperity.
The waterfront reflects current and past
industries. It is lined with docks, storage
and repair facilities, fish processing and
packaging plants, large brick buildings that
were formerly mills, and other commercial
buildings.
The towns on the eastern side of the harbor
are smaller and less commercialized;
Fairhaven has a population of about 16,000 and Acushnet about 10,000. In the upper harbor
there is a dramatic contrast between the industrialized New Bedford side and the marshes
that line the Acushnet shore. In Acushnet, one industry is located on the waterfront at the top
of the upper harbor while marshes extend along the rest of the shore. Residential areas are
situated on uplands behind the marshes. In Fairhaven, the waterfront is lined with
residential and commercial sections. The waterfront of the central business district is
dominated by marine service and repair businesses that supply the fishing fleet and
recreational boats.
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Marshes line the eastern side of the upper harbor (Acushnet). Photograph
by Carol Pesch.
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The Fairhaven waterfront is lined with residential areas (above) and
commercial sections. primarily marine service and repair businesses
(below). Photographs by Carol Pesch.
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History 01 the Watershed and Effect on Ecology
The settlement time in the watershed can be divided into four periods: agricultural
(1650-1780), whaling (1750-1900), textile (1880-1940) and post-textile (1940-present) which
includes commercial fishing and a variety of industries. The dates of these periods are
approximate and overlap, but are useful to define the major ecological effects. As we look
at the history of the watershed, we will see that development was driven by the desire
of the local population to succeed economically. In the whaling and textile periods,
development was often influenced by individuals or families that controlled the major
businesses and banks. Events and economic conditions at regional and national levels also
affected economic development, often in negative ways.
4
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Agricultural Period:
1656-1780
Native Americans were the first
inhabitants of the watershed.
Bartholomew Gosnold reported
the presence of a large native
population when he visited the area
in 1602. Native Americans probably
hunted in the wooded inland areas,
planted crops on the flat land along
the coast, and utilized the abundant
Gosnold at Smoking Rocks,1842, William Allen Wall. This painting depicts Bartholomew marine resources found in the
Gosnold landing at Smoking Rocks in 1602. Smoking Rocks was located on the New Bedford f h h llf' h b d d
coast opposite Palmer Island, which is just north of the hurricane barrier. New Bedfotd estuary: is , s e IS, ir s, an
Whaling Museum collection. marine mammals. The coast was
also the site of trade with the Europeans. Gosnold exchanged European goods for native furs.
The earliest Europeans settled in the watershed in the mid-1600s. These first settlers were
mostly Quakers who emigrated from Portsmouth, Rhode Island and Plymouth and Taunton,
Massachusetts. No exact population counts of these first settlers are available, and many of
the original houses were destroyed during King Philip's War, the Anglo-Native American
conflict that ended in 1676. By 1690, 11 to 13 families owned land in the area of present-day
New Bedford (Fig. 2). At this time, Joseph Russell owned a parcel of land in the area of what
was to become the center of New Bedford's waterfront
district. The Russell family played an important role in the
development of New Bedford.
These early settlers were primarily subsistence farmers.
They cleared the land, planted crops, and kept livestock.
They probably also fished. The effect
of these early settlers on the landscape and harbor was
probably minimal because the population was low. Recent
studies on the effect of land-clearing in watersheds of some
Chesapeake Bay tributaries found that greater than 20
1
iii !1!'iio
.....
Acushnet
River
Fig. 2. Land ownership in New Bedford in 1690,
taken from a map made by Henry Worth from data
and survey by Benjamin Crane, circa 1711. (Old
Dartmouth Historical Sketch NO.1 S, Story of Water
Street, by Elmore P. Haskins)
5
The Apponegansett
Meeting House.
shown in this photo
taken in 1922, was
built in Dartmouth
by Quakers in 1790.
It replaced an earlier
meeting house built
in the same location
in 1699. New Bedfotd
Whaling Museum
collection.
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percent of the watershed must
be cleared before there is
enough erosion to cause an
increase in sedimentation
rates in an estuary. Using the
number of families present in
the Acushnet River watershed
by 1771 and the size of the
typical New England colonial
farm, we estimated that about
four percent of the watershed
had been cleared by that date.
However, in the whaling and
textile Periods more land was
Haying on the Acushnet circa 1850, William Allen Wall. This painting, depicting an agricultural
cleared for commercial, scene, is interesting because it shows farmers utilizing the salt marsh grass along the Acushnet
industrial, and residential use River. New Bedford Whaling Museum collection.
and the effects of land-clearing (change in stability and filtering capacity of soil,
increased erosion, increased input of sediment and nutrients into the estuary)
undoubtedly occurred then.
Whaling Period: 1750 - 1900
By the mid-1700S, the economy in both New Bedford and Fairhaven began to shift to
maritime-related activities: whaling, shipbuilding, and extensive import/ export trading.
The first locally owned whaler shipped out of New Bedford in 1755. This whaler was
owned by Joseph Russell, a descendent of the Russell family who acquired land in New
Bedford in the last quarter of the seventeenth century. Five years later, Joseph Russell
sold portions of his homestead to a boat-builder, a blacksmith, a cooper, a cordwainer,
and a house carpenter. All these professions supported whaling, and their presence in
New Bedford stimulated the growth of the whale industry. In essence, Russell
functioned as the first planner for New Bedford.
In 1765, Joseph Rotch, a senior member of an established Nantucket whaling firm, arrived
in New Bedford and purchased land from Joseph Russell. Rotch brought with him
money and expertise to advance the whale fishery. Within 10 years, there were 40 to 50
whaleships registered in New Bedford, The families of Joseph Russell, Joseph Rotch,
and Samuel Rodman, Rotch's son-in-law, dominated the economic development of New
Bedford. In addition to owning whaling vessels, they were involved in outfitting
whaling vessels and in the manufacture of whale oil products. .
Although the British burned part of New Bedford in 1778, during the American
Revolution, the maritime economy was well enough established that the town was
rebuilt. By 1780, there were developmental centers on either side of the Acushnet River.
On the western side, the site of initial development was located in what is now the
historic district of New Bedford. On the eastern side, there were two developmental
centers, Fairhaven village and Oxford village (Fig, 3). Shipbuilding, whaling, and
related businesses developed in both villages.
In 1798, William Rotch, a successful businessman in the whaling industry, and several
6
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other businessmen, built a bridge connecting the east and
west side of the river to improve commercial ties between
New Bedford and Fairhaven and Oxford villages (Fig. 3).
The bridge had a major effect on the pattern of development
in the watershed. It altered the currents in the river and
caused sediment to accumulate along the east shore at
Oxford village, north of the bridge, and thus curtailed
further development of this area as a port and shipbuilding
center. Maritime activities continued at Fairhaven village,
located south of the bridge, but physical expansion of
the village was limited because the owner of the adjacent
farm refused to sell until the 1830s. As a result, New
Bedford, on the west side of the Acushnet River, became
the commercial center for the river.
The economic consequences of the Revolutionary War, the
Embargo in 1807, and the War of 1812 adversely affected
whaling and related businesses. The British Royal Navy
blockaded the American coast during the wars. The
embargo halted all trade with Europe. The whale fishery,
which was idle during much of this time, flourished after
the end of the War
of 1812. By 1820 New Bedford had taken the
lead in whaling from Nantucket. This boom in
the whaling industry was accompanied by an
increase in related businesses: whale oil
processing, candle and soap-making,
shipbuilding, barrel-making, sail-making, rope-
making, machine shops, and foundries. Some of
the companies established during this time
remained in business for more than a century.
New Bedford Cordage Company, established in
1842, was in operation until 1964. New Bedford
Copper, incorporated in 1860, produced copper
sheathing for the bottoms of ships. The
company, later bought by Revere Copper and
Brass, still operates in New Bedford. W. F. Nye
Oil Factory, established on Fish Island in 1866,
processed oil from small whales called
blackfish. This oil was highly prized for
lubricating watches, clocks, and chronometers.
1Il
Bedford
Village
(New Bedford)
1
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Fig. 3. The New Bedford - Fairhaven Bridge. built in 179B
to connect the villages, altered currents and
sedimentation patterns in the harbor and as a result
affected the pattern of development in the area. The
coastline shown in this figure is from a map of the Town
of Fairhaven, 1855, surveyed by H. F. Hatting.
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Schooners at Old South Wharf. Fairhaven. circa 1890, Henry P. Willis. The
wharf was built about 1710. when it was home to cooper shops, a newspaper,
bakery, and shipyard. New Bedford Whaling Museum collection.
7
New Bedford Cordage Company. circa 1860. hand colored lithograph by J. P. Newell,
printed by J. H. Bufford. New Bedford Whaling Museum collection.
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The firm moved to Fairhaven by 1940
and is still in business today as Nye
Lubricants, a manufacturer of lubricating
oils and grease.
Environmental Impact of
the Whaling Period
The growth of the whaling industry
brought changes to the shoreline of the
Acushnet River (Fig. 4). Maps of the New
Bedford coastline showed no wharfs prior
to 1800. By 1855 numerous wharfs had been
constructed in the area just north and south
of Fish Island. Some were solid-walled
structures of stone and logs filled with
dirt, while others were platforms supported
by pilings. Fish Island, also an area of
commercial activity, had increased
considerably in area by 1855.
A harbor survey conducted by the Army
Corps of Engineers in 1853 found that the
wharfs in New Bedford and on Fish Island,
and the New Bedford-Fairhaven bridge
had changed the hydrographic properties
of the river. The bridge and wharfs
constricted the channel between the New
Bedford coastline and Fish Island and
reduced the volume of water passing
through this channel during tidal
exchanges. As a result, sediment
accumulated along the shoreline in front
of the wharfs. Comparison of nautical
charts from 1780 and 1844 shows a six-foot
decrease in water depth along the New
Bedford side. The constriction in the
channel between the shore and Fish Island
caused more water to flow through the
channel between Fish Island and Popes
Island. This increased flow washed away
mud and sand in the channel between the
islands. The construction of wharfs, the
accumulation of sediment around the
docks and in channels, and subsequent
dredging, impacted the shellfish beds and
- ., ~,
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New Bedford was a thriving whaling center as seen in this photo, taken
about 1870, of its waterfront. New Bedford Whaling Museum collection.
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- pre-1800 coastline
- 1855 coastline
- - - New Bedford -
Fairhaven Bridge
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meters
Fig. 4. The coastline in 1855 (surveyed by H. F. Hatting) shows that a
considerable number of wharfs were built and some land gained since
before 1800 (coastline from map of Original Purchasers of lots in New
Bedford, 1753 to 1815, E.C. Leonard) when no wharfs were present.
8
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benthic communities in the vicinity.
In comparison, the changes in the shoreline on
the Fairhaven side were minimal. Nevertheless,
sediment that collected in the channel between
Popes Island and the Fairhaven shore restricted
shipping activity north of the bridge.
An important physical feature of a watershed is
its topography. New Bedford is built on a hill.
The north-south ridgeline is obvious on a
topographic map (Fig. 5). Most of the early
development in New Bedford occurred to the
east of the ridgeline, along the shoreline and
extending up the hill. The street grid was set up
with thoroughfares extending in a north-south
direction, parallel to the waterfront; streets
perpendicular to those ran in an east-west
direction. In contrast, the Fairhaven side is
relatively flat.
How did the topography affect conditions in
the harbor? Any contaminants in the soil or
dumped on streets on the east side of the
ridgeline would have washed down hill toward
the water. During the whaling period, human
waste was disposed in privy vaults, shallow holes or stone-lined holes underneath a privy
(outhouse). Privy vaults were constructed either to be permeable, and leaked into the
surrounding soil, or watertight, and had to be emptied periodically. Carts were used to carry
away the wastes, and spillage from the carts was inevitable. The carts were commonly emptied
into nearby waterways or the contents spread on farmland outside of town. During this time,
industrial wastes were commonly disposed of in streams or adjacent waterways and sometimes
dumped on the ground and in gutters. The east-west streets sloped towards the river and any
wastes deliberately dumped in a gutter or spilled on a street would wash down into the river.
,-- .......-- - More importantly, topography affected how the
t sewer system was constructed. Enough growth
had occurred in New Bedford by the mid-18oos
that the first sewer lines were installed in 1852.
These early sewer lines ran along selected east-
west streets and emptied directly into the
Acushnet River. (Fig. 6). Industries and houses
on the west side of the ridge dumped their
wastes into Tripp's Brook, which emptied into
Clarks Cove. A few of the early sewer lines also
emptied into that brook. Eventually Tripp's
Brook was enclosed in an underground pipe
and incorporated into the sewer system.
Watershed elevations
(0 meters
38 meters
76 meters
J - Watershed boundary
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meters
Fig. 5. Topographic map of the watershed area shows the north-south
ridgeline in New Bedford. Run-off from land east of the ridgeline flows into
the Acushnet River.
New Bedford from Fairhaven, circa 1845. William Allen Wall. The hill in New
Bedford is beautifully illustrated in this painting. New Bedford Whaling
Museum collection.
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The growth of the whale fishery
,,,. brought increases in related businesses,
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Most industries not directly on the
coast had access to a sewer line or
were located adjacent to a stream.
In contrast, there were few
industries in Fairhaven, on the
eastern side of the Acushnet River.
One long-standing business in
Fairhaven was American Nail
Machine Company, which moved
there from Boston in 1866. After it
was bought out by a group of New
Bedford businessmen, it was
renamed American Tack Company,
and later became Atlas Tack
Company. By 1875, this nail and tack
producing company dominated
Fairhaven's manufacturing economy.
Potential pollutants from this metal-
working industry included metals,
solvents, oils and grease, and acids.
400
Fig. 7. Whaling reached its peak in
1857. when 329 whaling ships
were registered in New Bedford.
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New 8edford Copper Company, circa 1895, photographer unknown. New Bedford Whaling
Museum collection.
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American Tack Company, Fort Street. Fairhaven, circa 1868, photographer unknown. Courtesy
of the Millicent Library, Fairhaven
Discovery of oil L
329 - Civil War
301
Whaleships crushed
L L in Arctic Ice
New Bedford's
whale fishery
surpassed I
Nantucket's.
238
Spring steel
invented !
177
176
First whaleship
built in
New Bedford
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129
128
59
49
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1770
1850
1910
1870
1890
1810
1830
1790
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Decline of Whaling
Whaling reached its peak in 1857,
when 329 whaling ships listed New
Bedford as home port (Fig. 7). A number
of events influenced the decline of
whaling. In 1857, a nationwide
depression caused prices of whale oil
to drop. Recovery of the whaling
industry was compromised by the
discovery of petroleum in Pennsylvania
in 1859, which eventually eliminated
the need for sperm and whale oil for
illuminants. Then, events during the
next 20 years led to the loss of many whaleships. During the Civil War (1861-1865), 24
whaleships from New Bedford, part of the so-called "stone fleet," were filled with rocks
and sunk at the entrances to Charleston and Savannah harbors to block the ports. In
addition, more than 28 whaleships from New Bedford were stopped and burned by
Confederates raiders. As the price of whale oil dropped, the price of baleen rose more
than 100 percent. The whaling fleet traveled to the Arctic to hunt Bowhead whales for
their baleen. The Arctic was a
dangerous place to hunt whales. In
1871 and 1876, 45 whaleships were
trapped and crushed in the Arctic ice.
By the early 1900S the use of spring
steel and other products to replace
baleen put an end to the baleen
market. The last square-rigged
whaleship to leave New Bedford
Harbor was the Wanderer, which
was wrecked off Cuttyhunk Island
in August, 1924. However, the end
of whaling was not the end of New
Bedford's connection to the sea. The
fishing industry was active during
the second half of the nineteenth
century and beginning of the
twentieth century, but New Bedford
didn't become a major fishing port
until the 1940s.
At right. Wreck of the Wanderer, August 24, 1924, Albert Cook
Church. The Wanderer. the last square-rigged whaleship to leave
New Bedford, was wrecked off Cuttyhunk Island. New Bedford
Whaling Museum collection.
Abandonment of the Whalers in the Arctic Ocean, September, t871, Benjamin
Russell, J.H. Buffords lith., Boston, 1B72. New Bedford Whaling Museum collection.
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12
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Textile Period: 1880-1940
Because the whaling industry generated large
amounts of capital, there was little interest in New
Bedford to venture into other businesses. New
Bedford's economy was dependent primarily on
whaling and whaling-related businesses. By 1850 the
textile industry was well established in nearby Fall
River and other towns in Massachusetts, but was just
beginning in New Bedford. In 1846, two prominent
whaling men, William Rotch and Samuel Rodman,
and several other investors financed the New Bedford
Steam Cotton Mill, which operated for only two
years before moving out of the city. The Wamsutta
Mill, opened in 1848, was the first successful textile
mill in New Bedford. Because of the continued
prosperity of the whaling industry it was another 30
years before the boom in the textile industry took
place in New Bedford (Fig. 8).
With the decline of whaling in the 1880s, profits from
the whaling industry were used to finance textile
mills. A handful of prominent families controlled the
financial resources in New Bedford. These families
were involved in the whaling industry, the banks, and
later, the textile industry. Therefore, decision-making
was controlled by the same small group of people
during both the whaling and textile periods. The
Howlands are an example of a New Bedford family
that ran a successful whaling business and later
invested in textile mills.
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Wamsutta Mills, circa 1853, William Allen Wall. This painting of the
first successful textile mill in New Bedford links the past, the agriculture
scene in the foreground and whaleships in the distant harbor, with what
was to become the future, the development of the textile industry.
New Bedford Whaling Museum collection.
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George Howland and Sons, circa 1840, William Allen
Wall. George Howland and his sons, George Jr. (left) and
Robert, sit in the counting room where the family
managed one of New 8edford's largest whaling fleets.
New Bedford Whaling Museum collection.
Fig. 8. From 1880 to 1920, the population in New Bedford
increased more than four-fold as the textile industry
expanded. In contrast, the population of both Fairhaven
and Acushnet was much smaller.
1960
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Textile mills needed a good supply of water to
operate. The Municipal Water Works, developed in
New Bedford in 1869, insured a good supply of water
and made expansion of the textile industry possible.
The abundant supply of water also permitted owners
of private residences to install water closets (toilets)
in their homes. This new convenience quickly caused
health problems. In houses not on a sewer line,
water closets were connected to cesspools, which
frequently overflowed because of the increased flow
of piped-in water.
As the labor-intensive textile industry expanded, there
was a dramatic increase in population in New Bedford
(Fig. 8), from about 27,000 in 1880 when there were
two mills, to about 121,000 in 1920 when there were 31.
The number of mills peaked at 35 in 1925. In contrast,
the increase in population in Fairhaven and Acushnet
during this same period was much lower.
Many of the new residents in New Bedford were foreign-
born. By 1910, 44 percent of the total population of the
city was foreign-born. Many immigrants came from
Canada (especially French Canadians), England, the
Azores and Cape Verde Islands, Portugal, and Ireland.
Fewer numbers of immigrants came from other
countries, such as Austria, Russia, Germany, Scotland, and Poland. The influx of people, many
foreign-born, changed the population of New Bedford from a close-knit community where
many families were related by marriage, to a more culturally diverse community.
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Engine House. 1871. lithograph by the New England Lithograph
Company. from a drawing by H.W.P. The supply of water from
the Municipal Water Works. which was put in operation in
1869, made expansion of the textile industry in New 8edford
possible. New Bedford Whaling Museum collection.
I . . .
Immigrants Arriving on the Savoia,
October 5.1914. Edmund Ashley. From the
turn of the century to the 1930s. Cape
Verdeans were among the immigrants
who came to New Bedford. New Bedford
Whaling Museum collection.
14
-------
011
~ It
t~
~
..,
t
-
o 250 SOO
meters
01
~
&J
Fig. 9. The New Bedford textile mills. shown here in
t919 (Commission on Waterways and Public lands of
Massachusetts. 1919) were built on the wetlands.
shown on a t844 map (U.S. Coast and Geodetic
Survey, t844). to the north and south of the central
business district.
Triple-decker houses on Bolton Road. New Bedford.
1907, photographer unknown. New Bedford Whaling
Museum collection.
15
Environmental Impact of the Textile Period
What was the impact of the textile mills on the environment?
The major source of pollution from textile mills is waste
water from bleaching and dyeing processes. However, most
New Bedford mills just spun thread and wove cloth, they did
not finish the cloth. (There were a few dye houses in New
Bedford and the impact of these will be discussed below.)
The ecological
impact of the mills
was where they
were located. They
were built on the
relatively cheap
wetlands along the
west shore of the
Acushnet River,
north and south of
Spinning Room. Nashawena Mill. circa 1924, photographer
the central business unknown. New Bedford Whaling Museum collection.
district, and also at
the head of Clarks Cove (Fig. 9). Construction of the mills led
to a loss of 134 acres of wetlands, including almost all those
along the west side of the Acushnet River.
At the time some of these mills were built, residents probably
thought filling in wetlands was good. Until the 1890s, the
filth theory of disease transmission was widely accepted.
According to that theory, diseases were caused by impure air
generated by putrefied organic material, including human
and animal excrement, rotting garbage, and vapors from
swamps and stagnant pools. The filth theory was the basis of
the 19th-century Sanitary Movement, which emphasized the
importance of emptying cesspools and privy vaults,
collecting garbage, cleaning streets, and filling in wetlands to
eliminate sources of impure air.
Why are wetlands important? Wetlands filter pollutants,
excess nutrients, and harmful microorganisms; provide
habitat for resident and migratory species; serve as nursery
areas for aquatic species; and provide erosion control for the
shoreline. These functions are lost when wetlands are filled.
, ~
' .' 1'1 :! ,
~~~.~ ";i,H 1IIIh'II'''tl'I'I'IJ'IJ' ..' ".
X" """'~ - .' ~' ." . ,. I~
, ~~ ~--.;;;;.""
~~~~,,,,..,..,,,, :
t,\ , , ", ,'-''''-''' :",",t!" ," """,.' ',"'~'~
~\' ~ It, ""
, r t'ft \;- """'I'f ' , , ' " " I I ' ! . ! "
r """r"nt..~ ".:!.'!I"
. \ ,r,L., ' I't'f,ftl.: .~r",1 '".,,'
II''' I """ ffl1t. I
\ 1t",.'.""",'
7"
The biggest impact of the textile period on the environment
was the dramatic increase in population. People were needed
to work in the mills. Expansion of the city took place around
the mills, as houses, many of them triple-deckers, were built to
house mill workers. The increase in population meant an
increase in the amount of waste to remove. The sewer system
-------
was extended. The initial sewer lines had been installed
in the central business district. Expansion of the sewer
system followed the growth of the city to the west, north,
and south of this central district. All sewer lines emptied
directly into the Acushnet River or Clarks Cove.
Removing wastes by dilution in rivers was an acceptable
practice at this time.
By the end of the nineteenth century, the amount of sewage
entering the harbor at the end of the streets became a
problem in some places. In areas of weak current flow,
solid material accumulated at the end of sewer pipes,
making it difficult to use some docks because of
decreased water depth and creating a nuisance with the
bad odors. Sewage caused more than just a nuisance.
Sewage is a public health hazard. By the 1890s, bacterial
researchers had shown that the germ theory, which
states that bacteria cause diseases, was correct. Sewage
contaminated the water and shellfish in New Bedford
Harbor. There were 565 cases of typhoid fever, with 93
deaths, reported in New Bedford from 1900
to 1903. Bacterial researchers at the Massachusetts
State Board of Health Lawrence Experiment Station
determined that typhoid fever was caused by the
consumption of shellfish contaminated with the
bacteria found in sewage.
In 1904, the State Board of Health closed the Acushnet
River and Clarks Cove to shellfishing (Fig. 10). In 1912,
construction began on an interceptor sewer line to divert
sewage into Buzzards Bay off the tip of Clarks Point (Fig.
10). The interceptor line was only partially completed,
five of nine pumping districts were connected, when
work stopped in the 1920S and did not resume until 1947.
Even when the interceptor line was completed, it did not
completely stop untreated sewage from emptying into
the harbor. The sewer system was, and still is, a combined
one: storm run-off empties into the same pipes as
domestic and industrial wastes. In periods of high rain,
the pipes are not large enough to handle the volume and
some sewage enters the harbor at various points through
the combined sewer overflows (CSOs). The Acushnet River
has remained closed to shellfishing since 1904.
Modern studies at sewage outfalls have demonstrated
that sewage causes a number of environmental problems:
high amount of organic carbon, increased nitrogen, low
The Sewer, 1914, Clifford W. Ashley. This painting depicts the
sewer at the foot of Union Street, New Bedford, emptying into
the Acushnet River. New Bedford Whaling Museum collection.
Shellfish closures
o Closed 1904
[;j Closed 1999
<:> Sewer outfall
. Combined sewer overflow
(CSO)
- Interceptor sewer line
J
I
Fig. 10. The State Board of Health closed the Acushnet River to
shellfishing in 1904 and that section has remained closed since
then. Raw sewage still enters the harbor through combined
sewer overflows (CSOs) during periods of high rainfall.
Additional areas in the outer harbor were closed after the
interceptor sewer line diverted the outfall off Clarks Point. On
this map. the four classifications for shellfish closures for 1999
were collapsed into two groups: open (approved and
conditionally approved) and closed (prohibited and restricted).
16
-------
oxygen concentrations, low species diversity, and
increased numbers of opportunistic species. The presence
of large amounts of sewage in New Bedford Harbor
from the late 1800s on is well documented, and we can
assume that during the textile period and later, sewage
caused ecological effects in the harbor. Recent studies
in New Bedford confirm these effects. They found high
concentrations of organic carbon in the upper harbor,
and benthic communities with low species diversity
and increased numbers of opportunistic species.
What other industries may have impacted New
Bedford Harbor during the textile period? Figure 11
shows the industries located in the watershed during
this time that were likely to release pollutants. Textile
mills are included, although they were not major
polluters. There were a few dye houses in New
Bedford, however, only one is located within the water-
Fig. 11. Location of industries that may have released pollutants shed boundary. They released bleach and dyes, which
during the textile period (1880 - 1940). contained metals and petroleum hydrocarbons. As in
the whaling period, there were many industries that
used metals: foundries, machine shops, and casting, plating, and metal-working companies.
There were a few soap-making companies left, but most were gone by the turn of the century.
The other industries depicted here - oil refining, tanning, glass-making, paint manufacturing,
printing, and production of coal gas, rubber products and electricity - were possible sources of
metals, acids, petroleum hydrocarbons, phenols, cyanide, solvents, and biological wastes.
In contrast, there were relatively few industries in Fairhaven. After the whaling industry
collapsed, investors in Fairhaven unsuccessfully attempted cotton manufacture. The Acushnet
Mill, built in 1843, was closed by 1850 and Fairhaven Iron Foundry took over its buildings in
1862. American Tack Company (later named Atlas Tack) and
several shipyards also supplied jobs in Fairhaven.
In 1902, Atlas Tack Company moved from its original location
on the shore of the harbor to its present location on Pleasant
Street, just outside the boundary of the Acushnet River
watershed. The company contaminated the ground around the
site with metals, PAHs, PCBs, cyanide, DDT (a pesticide), and
toluene (a solvent). In 1990, Atlas Tack was listed as a
Superfund site. Contaminants from the site are transported by
surface run off and ground water into a small creek that enters Buzzards Bay. Although Atlas
Tack is outside the watershed, the section of Buzzards Bay, just south of the hurricane barrier,
where the contaminants drain is considered part of the New Bedford Harbor Superfund site.
However, the plant has not discharged wastes for more than 20 years, and now any
contamination that reaches Buzzards Bay is mostly diluted. The building and surrounding
grounds were named a Superfund site and are scheduled to be remediated.
Fairhaven Iron Foundry, photograph from A Brief
History of Fairhaven by J. L. Gillingham. Courtesy
of the Millicent Library. Fairhaven.
17
1
I
===-
o 500 1000
me1e"
-------
Decline of the Textile Industry
The popularity of the automobile in the early 1900S created a
need for yarn for tires and provided a very profitable market for
mills in New Bedford. World War I fueled the demand for tire
yarn and cloth for uniforms. Many mills in New Bedford
switched from producing fine fabrics to coarser ones for the war
effort. This put them in direct competition with the mills in the
South, which typically produced coarse goods and had lower
production costs. The number of mills in New Bedford peaked
in 1925. Then, a number of factors contributed to the decline in
textile manufacturing in the city. Some mills closed and moved
south. In order to compete with the southern mills, mill owners
in New Bedford cut workers' wages, assigned more machines
to each employee, and tried to speed up the old machines. In
response to these changes, workers in the New Bedford mills
walked out on a prolonged strike, which further weakened the
textile industry. The New Bedford mills were in poor economic
shape when the stock market crashed in 1929 and set off the
Great Depression in the early 1930s. Many mills closed.
Post-Textile: 1940 - present
What replaced the textile industry in New Bedford? Even before
the industry's decline, commercial fishing had begun in New
Bedford in the second half of the nineteenth century, but was limited because fishing boats
depended on sails. A number of changes occurred in the beginning of the twentieth century that
allowed commercial fishing to grow rapidly and expand into a major industry in New Bedford.
In the first decade of the century, motors were put on fishing boats. With motorized boats,
fisherman could get fresh fish to market. With expanded use of trucks to transport the catch,
fishing boats could land the catch in New Bedford instead of New York. Modern refrigeration
and the establishment of the first fish processing house in New Bedford in 1931 gave the fishing
industry another boost. A freezer plant built in the 1940S added to the port's ability to process
fish. The Port of New Bedford became a major fresh-fish processing center on the east coast, as well
as the major scallop port on the northeast Atlantic coast.
The fishing fleet and other commercial facilities along the shore are subject to damage from
storms and hurricanes. Losses were great during
the hurricanes in 1938 and 1954. In 1965, the
Army Corps of Engineers completed construction
of a barrier across the harbor entrance to protect
businesses and homes from storm damage.
A 150-foot gateway permits passage of boats and
water exchange between the inner and outer
harbors. Gates close the gap in the hurricane
barrier when storm surges are predicted.
In 1965, a hurricane barrier was built by the Army Corps of Engineers
across the entrance of New Bedford Harbor to protect homes, business,
and boats from storm damage. Photograph courtesy of the Army Corps
of Engineers.
Munidpal Parking lot. circa 1924, Joseph S. Martin.
This view from City Hall, New Bedford, shows
how popular the automobile had become by the
19205. New Bedford Whaling Museum collection.
-' I"
I :H~J~~I':! 1I,"iI nUJ il'l ",.' ,
. .......1 - J"J '"fI' I ) 11 i,!,
!. .'/ 1 f': j .d,' '";. ~1' ,I" ,
~;~ ,,' .1.9,,~r.1"':1 ,::" "!t~,,,'~ .
~" ,.' II \. ~" "Q.II"'~ ..r
.-..... "',,"'i""'cf ,- ,. ~'I'~""1' I ' ..
, ~j'j ",-.,fl, I~ I". "'"'-,
-.:~'j~." .: /,.' \ ,~..: ,?J!:.
. ~. .~.. I~. -,J II ~.-I' ~~~
. ,.'" '~'.~:"''''' - l' ':'1" .';~
- . ..~'~ " """
:. \, '.! .J"'''' :::~'-~~' '';;;~;--;:
- ~. -, ~- '.... . I "
.- - ~-~,....... - -
~ 'I....
New Bedford fishing fleet in the 19305. New
Bedford Whaling Museum collection
18
-------
Although a number of researchers have reported
characteristics of the harbor after the hurricane barrier
was built, only a few have addressed the possible effects
of the barrier. One researcher reported an increase in
sedimentation rates in some areas of the harbor inside the
barrier. Another suggested that there was a reduction in
exchange of water between the inner and outer harbors.
A recent preliminary modeling study, designed
specifically to look at the effects of the barrier, showed an
increase, by up to 30 percent, in the water residence time.
The same modeling effort showed a change in water
circulation patterns in the immediate vicinity of the
hurricane barrier. The water forms a gyre north and south
of the barrier at certain times during the tidal cycle. The
north gyre could enhance mixing of incoming water and
affect sedimentation patterns; the south gyre could
recirculate water and wastes leaving the harbor, and part
of this water could be swept back inside the barrier
during the next incoming tide.
In an attempt to offset high unemployment, a series of
city and private non-profit groups, active from 1929
through the 1960s, developed strategies to encourage
new industries to relocate to New Bedford. They offered
incentives such as moving expenses, a favorable tax
strategy, and low rentals. They also extended a favorable
community attitude toward manufacturers moving
to New Bedford. The city, with its large empty factory
spaces and large workforce with manufacturing experience and low pay scale, was attractive
to manufacturers. Clothing manufacturers were a natural to occupy the empty mills. By the
1970s, they accounted for almost one-third of the manufacturing jobs in New Bedford. A
number of other assorted manufacturing companies, including two electronic parts
manufacturers, moved to the city. The diversification of industry in New Bedford is illustrated
in Figure 12, which shows the percentage of workers employed in various categories of
manufacturing.
Many of the new industries located in empty mill buildings. A few industries moved into the
industrial park that had been built in the north end of New Bedford in 1960. Two electronic
parts manufactures moved into empty mill buildings on the waterfront in New Bedford,
Aerovox Corporation in 1939 and Cornell-Dubilier in 1941. Both of these companies used PCBs
in the manufacture of capacitors, and discharged PCB-containing wastes directly into the
surrounding waters and also through the municipal sewer system.
The presence of PCBs in New Bedford Harbor was first documented by academic and
government researchers in the mid-1970S. Concentrations of PCBs in the river water far
exceeded the water quality criterion designed to protect marine life. Concentrations of PCBs in
sediments were also exceedingly high in some places in the harbor (Fig. 13). PCBs, which are
1920
all other
printing 13%
food 1%
processing 2%
1%
metals
1967
29% apparel
leather goods 3%
shipbuilding 2%
6%
food processing
1987
all other
6% cotton goods
rubber & plastic 7%
products
30% apparel
instruments 8%
8% 13% metals
food processing
Fig. 12. The percentage of employees (calculated from Bureau
of Census, Census of Manufactures data) in various
manufacturing industries in New Bedford shows the
diversification of manufacturing from 1920 to 19B7. During
this time. the actual number of employees in all manufacturing
jobs decreased by about $0 percent. from 43,226 in 1920 to
20,100 in 19B7.
19
-------
persistent in the environment and potentially toxic,
teratogenic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic, pose a health
concern. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
banned the sale of PCBs in 1978 and New Bedford
Harbor was placed on the National Priorities List for
clean-up under Superfund legislation in 1982.
Molluscs, fish, and crustaceans accumulate PCBs. In
1979, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health
closed the harbor to the taking of all fish and shellfish
to protect human health because PCB residues in fish
and clams found there exceeded the FDA (Food and
Drug Administration) action level of 5 mg/kg (Fig. 14).
Because particles of PCB-contaminated sediment
inside the hurricane barrier can be transported outside
the barrier and into Buzzards Bay by tides and
currents, an area south of the barrier was closed to the
taking of lobsters and bottom feeding finfish. An area
further south, was closed to the taking of lobsters.
In 1994 and 1995, the Army Corps of Engineers
dredged about five acres of sediment in the upper
harbor that contained the highest concentrations of
PCBs, the area called the hot spot. The dredge spoil is
currently stored in a contained disposal facility (CDF)
until a decision is made on how to dispose of this
highly contaminated sediment. The second phase of
the project, during which an additional 170 acres of
less contaminated sediment will be dredged, is
scheduled to begin after a disposal method is selected.
Scientists are conducting a 3o-year post-dredging
monitoring study in New Bedford Harbor to assess the
effects of remediation.
As in the earlier periods, the numerous metal-working
industries in New Bedford were a source of pollutants
during the post-textile period. Other industries that
were potential sources of pollutants included oil
refining and storage, electricity generation, and the
manufacture of paint, glass, rubber products, and
plastics. They may have released metals, acids,
petroleum hydrocarbons, phenols, cyanide, solvents,
and synthetic chemicals into the environment.
PCBs in sediment, mglg dry wt.
.>50
. 11-50
01-10
.<1
o no sampling data
. Electronic industries
!
I
o 500 1000
m......
Fig. 13. Concentrations of PCBs in sediments in New Bedford
Harbor were exceedingly high in the upper harbor adjacent to the
electronics part manufacturing company.
Fishing closures
. All fishing
. Lobsters, eels, scup,
flounder, tautog
o Lobsters
1
I
O7SO'1soo
.-.
Fig. 14. In 1979. the harbor and areas south of the hurricane barrier
were closed to fishing and/or shellfishing because PCB residues in
fish and shellfish exceeded the FDA action level of 5 mg/kg.
20
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Contaminants in the Environment
There are two issues to consider about environmental
contaminants: fate - what happens to the contaminant when
released to the environment, and effect - what kind of damage
is done. Some contaminants are short-lived in the environment
and affect only the immediate areas for a short time, while
others persist for decades. Chemical contaminants may remain
at the area of release or may be transported to other
locations. For example, chemicals dumped on the ground may
absorb to soil particles and persist for decades in the soil. Some
chemicals leach into the groundwater or adjacent streams,
rivers, and lakes and are transported away from the site of
disposal. Soil type also affects fate of chemicals. Some soils, for
example sand, are more permeable - water can pass through
readily and c rry contaminants into the groundwater. Other
soils, for example clay, are less permeable - liquids filter
through slowly and surface runoff carries the contaminants
into nearby water bodies. Some chemicals will adsorb to the
organic fraction of soils. Some chemicals dumped into water
bodies are adsorbed by the bottom sediments and persist for
decades. Chemical contaminants emitted into air may be
carried miles by prevailing winds.
The effect of any chemical contaminant depends on its toxicity
and the quantity released. At high concentrations,
contaminants dumped into water bodies can cause acute
toxicity (death) to aquatic organisms, whereas at lower
concentrations they may cause chronic effects, such as
decreased growth rate, reduced offspring, nervous system
disorders, or may be accumulated in the tissues of the exposed
organisms. Edible species may accumulate high enough
concentrations of certain chemicals that they pose a human
health threat; for example, fish and shellfish from New Bedford
Harbor have accumulated PCBs and are unsafe to eat. Since
some species of plants and animals are more sensitive than
others, pollutants may cause changes in the species
composition by affecting the more sensitive species, while the
more tolerant ones survive.
The groups of contaminants mentmned in the text all pose
some sort of problem when released into the environment. The
fate and effect of contaminants released in the Acushnet River
watershed are described in general terms in the next column;
the particular effect of a contaminant depends on the
individual chemical or mix of chemicals, the amount released,
and the physical characteristics of the disposal site.
Metals are toxic, adsorb to sediments, can be accumulated by
organisms, persist in the environment, and have been widely
used in many industrial processes. Sediments in New Bedford
Harbor contain high concentrations of metals, particularly
copper, chromium, zinc, and lead.
Cyanides are highly toxic and persistent in the environment.
They were used by a number of industries in the 1800s, but are
now regulated.
Petroleum hydrocarbons are comprised of hundreds of
organic compounds derived from petroleum. Toxicity and
persistence depend on the particular fraction of petroleum.
Some petroleum fractions are volatile (evaporate easily).
Although these compounds are toxic, they usually are not
harmful to organisms because they do not persist in the
environment. Whereas other fractions are not very reactive,
persist in the environment, and are toxic. Oils and grease are
general terms for some petroleum hydrocarbons.
Phenols, a particular group of organic chemicals, vary in
toxicity and tend to be less persistent in the environment.
Solvents, a term that indicates a group of chemicals
distinguished by their industrial use, not chemical structure,
are usually organic chemicals. Solvents vary in toxicity and
persistence in the environment.
Acids can cause acute effects in the immediate vicinity of
disposal, however acids are quickly buffered and do not persist
in the environment.
Lye and caustic cleaning agents are highly toxic. They can
cause acute effects in the immediate disposal area, but are very
reactive and do not persist in the environment.
Biological waste can cause acute, short-term effects when
disposed in water. Biological waste contains organic matter,
which consumes dissolved oxygen (DO) when it decomposes.
The amount of DO in waters can be lowered so much that
resident plants and animals can not survive. •
21
-------
Summary
The summary table presents a review of historic and current activities within the Acushnet
River watershed and the associated ecological effects. During the agricultural period (1650-
1765), some land was cleared by early subsistence farmers. Our estimates of the amount land
cleared indicate that the ecological effects were minimal. During the whaling period (1750-
1900), the building of wharfs and the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge altered currents in the
harbor and caused sedimentation patterns to change. Early industries discharged contaminants
into the harbor. Although the volume of discharge was much less than in later periods, it was
present and may have
impacted the harbor. The
initial sewer system, built in
the nineteenth century,
established the practice of
discharging wastes directly
into the harbor.
During the textile period
(1880-1940), wetlands were
filled and mills were built on
the filled land. The loss of
these wetlands meant
decreased habitat available
for resident and migratory
species and decreased
nursery areas for aquatic
species. The function of these
wetlands, filtering excess
nutrients, pollutants, and
microorganisms in runoff
from the land, was also lost.
The dramatic increase in population led to an increase in sewage inputs to the harbor.
Residents contracted typhoid fever from eating shellfish from the harbor that were
contaminated by bacteria found in sewage. Shellfish beds have remained closed since 1904.
Industries continued to discharge wastes into the harbor.
In the post-textile period (1940 - present), the electronics industries contaminated the harbor
with PCBs. Other industries continued to release metals and organic compounds into the
harbor. The hurricane barrier, built to protect the commercial fishing fleet and coastal
businesses, affected sedimentation patterns, increased water residence times, and altered water
circulation patterns, so that wastes may reenter the harbor.
Which of these environmental effects could potentially be remediated? The alterations made by
the building of wharfs, the New Bedford-Fairhaven bridge, the hurricane barrier, and the filling
of wetlands are seemingly irreversible. The PCB contamination in the harbor is being remediated
by the dredging projects currently being conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers.
Summary of Ecological Effects of
Development on New Bedford Harbor
Agricultural: 1650-1780
Cleared land, farmed
Whaling: 1750-1900
Built wharfs
New Bedford - Fairhaven Bridge
Industries
Textile: 1880-1940
Built mills on wetlands
Dramatic population increase
Increased sewage input
Industries
Post-Textile: 1940-present
Electronics industries
Other industries
Hurricane barrier
Minimal impact
Altered currents and sedimentation
Altered currents and sedimentation
Contaminated sediment in harbor
Loss of habitat and filtering capability
Increased organic matter, low oxygen
concentration, low species diversity,
closed shellfish beds, typhoid fever
Contaminated sediment in harbor
,
PCB contamination in harbor
Contaminated sediment in harbor
Altered circulation patterns
22
-------
Some PCB-contaminated sediment is also
highly contaminated by metals, therefore,
remediation of some metal-contaminated
sediment will coincidentally occur with the
dredging. However, at the present time, there
are no further plans to deal with sediments
contaminated by chemicals other than PCBs.
An industrial pretreatment program, where
industries remove contaminants from their
wastes prior to putting them into the sewer
system, was instituted in 1985, so fewer
contaminants are discharged. There has been
some remediation of the sewage problem.
In 1974, a wastewater treatment plant, with
primary treatment of waste, was built.
Secondary treatment of waste was instituted in 1996, when a new wastewater treatment facility
was finished and brought into operation. This has improved the quality of the effluent
discharged from the plant, located at the end of Clarks Point. However, there are still discharges
of untreated wastes into the harbor from the combined sewer overflows (CSOs) during periods
of heavy rain. Also, the outfall from the Fairhaven Wastewater Treatment Facility (secondary
treatment), built in 1969, discharges effluent into the lower harbor.
It is clear from examining the history of the Acushnet River watershed that human activities,
economic development, and urbanization have affected ecological conditions in the harbor.
Throughout the history of the watershed, choices were driven by the desire of local citizens to
succeed economically. New Bedford became very prosperous by investing primarily in one
industry at a time, first with whaling and whaling-related business, then textiles. But this
one-industry-at-a-time approach left the area very vulnerable to changes in regional and
national conditions and led to economic decline in the post-textile period.
During the whaling and textile periods, just a handful of families controlled the economic
decisions. Immigrants, brought in to work in the mills, diversified the population, but the
economic power was still exercised by a small percentage of the population, those in control of
the mills and banks. When competition from the southern mills and effects of the Great
Depression led to the decline of the textile industry, New Bedford attempted to attract a variety
of businesses. However, the city did not regain the economic prosperity that existed at the
height of the whaling and textile periods.
With economic decline and the resulting loss to the city's tax base, New Bedford could not make
improvements in its sewer system. Discharges of sewage and industrial wastes continued to
enter the harbor. In the 1970s, the discovery of PCBs in the harbor sediments brought attention
to the highly contaminated state of the harbor. The problems could no longer be ignored.
There has been a change in how decisions, especially those about environmental problems, are
made. Now, there is much wider input from the citizens of the watershed. This is consistent
with the national trend to involve communities and citizens in solving environmental problems.
Local problems cannot be solved from Washington. It is appropriate for local residents, who
care about their own environment, to get involved.
23
View toward Fairhaven from Popes Island Marina. New Bedford. Whale tail
sculpture is by Roger Lewis. a New Bedford artist. Photograph by Carol Pesch.
-------
History has taught us that a few individuals can make a difference. There are a number of citizen
groups in the New Bedford area. Some groups are contributing to the protection of the environment,
other groups are working to preserve historic buildings or maintain a healthy economic
environment in downtown New Bedford.
This historical profile presents a realistic picture of environmental conditions in the New Bedford
Harbor. Although the harbor can not be restored to pristine conditions, it can be improved and
protected, especially through community-based efforts. .
Community Organizations in New Bedford
Environmental Groups
Coalition for
Buzzards Bay
17 Hamilton Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
508-999-6363
This membership-supported non-
profit organization is concerned
about the restoration, protection,
and sustainable use of Buzzards
Bay and its watershed. The
Coalition works to improve the
health of Buzzards Bay ecosystem
through education, conservation,
research, and advocacy.
Concerned Parents
of Fairhaven
This citizens group was active in
seeking safe disposal options
o1;l,;9uring the first phase of the New
;~Bedford Harbor dredging project.
Downwind Coalition of
i:%~Marion
IlliThe goal of this community
,)organization was to seek
it~lternatives technologies for
fi",,/,
!>i"disposing the PCB-contaminated
.}Nastes dredged from New
t'Bedford Harbor during the first
; phase of the dredging project.
Hands Across the River
Coalition
222 Union Street,
Room 202,
New 8edford, MA 02740
508-979:5910
Hands Across the River Coalition
is a citizens group concerned
about the safe clean-up of the
Acushnet River and New Bedford
Harbor.
Sea Change, Inc.
60 Spring Street
Marion, Ma 02738
508-748-9655
Sea Change is a not-for-profit
organization that assists
communities to make informed
decisions by providing citizens
with independent scientific an~.
technical information in non-
technical language. They wert
founded in response to issues
concerning the PCB
contamination in New Bedford"
Harbor, but now also work on
environmel1tal issues in other
locations.
Other Groups
Downtown New Bedford. Inc.
106 William Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
508-990-2777
This nonprofit community organization works to
maintain a healthy economic and social environment
in downtown New Bedford.
WHALE
(Waterfront Historic Area LeaguE)
62 North Water Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
508-997-1776
WHALE is a nonprofit community organization
dedicated to preserving historic buildings in New
Bedford and surrounding communities.
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How to do a Historical Reconstruction of Ecological Impacts
Become familiar with local history - Use the resources at local libraries and historical societies
to learn about local history. State historical commissions may also have reports that include the
history of individual towns. Concentrate on sources that give the big picture. You can go back
and get the details later.
Look at old maps of the area - Locate facilities (local library, local and state historical societies,
university libraries, state library, and state archives) that have historic maps of the area of
interest. Compare coastlines and wetlands on older maps to current ones.
Visit the area - Drive around the area and get to know the residential, commercial, and
industrial areas. Look for old buildings and learn the location of the "old section" of town.
Research former industries - Reports of local boards of trade and town or city directories list
industries and businesses. Sanborn Maps (fire insurance maps) give locations of former
industries and may indicate the industrial processes or types of materials stored in the
buildings.
Research city and state health reports - Check state libraries for state or city Department of
Health reports to learn of "nuisances" (odor problems from sewage or other sources) or
outbreaks of diseases that may be related to environmental conditions; for example, from 19°°
to 1903 there was an outbreak of typhoid in New Bedford that was caused by consumption of
contaminated shellfish.
Research city, state, and government engineering reports - Check state libraries for
engineering reports and city halls for Board of Public Works and Department of Engineering
reports to learn about possible environmental effects. For example, an Army Corps of
Engineers report, dated 1853, documented the change in hydrography in New Bedford Harbor
after the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge was built.
Check newspaper libraries - Some newspapers maintain archives of articles that have appeared
in their papers. These are often arranged by subject; for example, sewerage or sewer system,
hurricanes, or particular industries in the area. Newspaper articles can also be found on
microfilm at local libraries. These articles are a good way to see what issues were important
to residents.
Make a time line - A time line with significant local, regional, and national events will help put
local events in perspective and give an understanding of why development occurred as it did.
It will also help to identify time periods associated with development and environmental
effects.
Each area has its own unique history - Use that as a guide to identify the environmental effects
associated with development of the area.
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Glossary
action level - chemical concentration in food above which consumption of that food would pose
a health risk
baleen - the boney plate in the mouths of certain kinds of whales that was used to make corset stays,
hoops for women's skirts, frames for hats, fans, umbrella ribs, and fishing rods
benthic - bottom-dwelling, at the surface of or in the sediment
carcinogenic - a chemical or substance that produces or incites cancer
combined sewer overflows (CSO) - a system of waste removal where storm run-off from streets
empties into the same pipes as domestic and industrial wastes.
diversity - number and variety of different organisms in the environment in which they naturally occur
dredge spoil - sediment dredged (removed) from the bottom of a harbor, river, or lake
estuarine - having to do with or found in an estuary
estuary - regions of interaction between rivers and near-shore ocean waters, where river flow and tidal
action mix fresh and salt water
gyre - a circular movement
habitat - place where a population or community lives, and its surroundings, both living and non-living
hydrographic - having to do with the description and study of bodies of water (seas, lakes, rivers): as in
surveying and charting; measuring flow, currents, and tides; and sounding (measuring depth)
monitoring study - a study to assess the status of physical and biological conditions of a particular area at
specified intervals (e.g. monthly, seasonally, yearly) over a given time period (usually years)
mutagenic - a substance that increases the frequency of mutation, the alteration in hereditary material
nuisance - a term used in the late nineteenth century to refer to any environmental problem, e.g. odor
nuisance, garbage nuisance
opportunistic - to take advantage of. An opportunistic species can take advantage of adverse conditions
and thrive in locations where more sensitive species will not survive.
organic compounds - generally all compounds that contain the element carbon, with a few exceptions,
e.g. CaC03
permeable - having openings that liquids (or gasses) can pass through
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) - a group of closely related and manufactured chemicals made up of
carbon, hydrogen and chlorine, specifically, two 6-carbon rings (biphenyl - C6H5 +) with two or more
chlorine atoms substituted for hydrogen
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) - a class of chemical compounds composed of fused
six-carbon rings. PAHs are commonly found in petroleum oils and are emitted from various combustion
processes (automobile exhaust, burning of wood and coal).
remediation - action to remedy or correct damage to the environment
species composition - the species found in a particular area
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Superfund - a special trust fund, established by a federal law passed in 1980, to help finance the
investigation of waste sites
teratogenic - a substance that causes developmental malformations
topography - the configuration of a surface showing relief (elevations) and position of natural and
man-made features
toxic - a substance that is poisonous, carcinogenic, or otherwise harmful to plants and animals
watershed - the entire area of land whose runoff of water, sediments, and dissolved materials (nutrients,
contaminants) drain into a lake, river, estuary, or ocean
water quality criterion - the maximum concentration of a chemical in ambient waters that would be
safe for aquatic species. The criterion are determined from the results of toxicity tests using a variety of
aquatic species, and consider both short-term and long-term exposures.
water residence time - amount of time water remains inside a specified area, e.g. harbor,
bay, etc.
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29
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Bibliography
Information in this text came from many sources. The main citations are listed below. For
referenced versions of the ecological history of New Bedford see Pesch and Garber (2001)
and Voyet et al. (2000).
Colten, C E. (1990) Historical hazards: the geography of relict industrial wastes. Professional Geographer,
Vol. 42, p. 143 - 156
Ellis, B. E. (1892) History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1602-1892. D. Mason & Co., Syracuse, NY
Hawes, E. (1993) Historic sources of pollution in Portland Harbor, 1840-1970. Casco Bay Estuary Project,
CBCE 001553 - 01
Massachusetts Historical Commission Reconnaissance Survey Report, Fairhaven, New Bedford, 1981
Nelson, W.e., B.J. Bergen, S.J. Benyi, G. Morrison, RA. Voyer, CJ. Strobel, S. Rego, G. Thursby, and
CE. Pesch (1996) New Bedford Harbor Long-term Monitoring Assessment Report: Baseline Sampling.
U.s. Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory,
Atlantic Ecology Division, Narragansett, RI. EPA/6oo/R-96/097
Pease, Z. (1918) History of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Lewis Historical Publishing Co., New York
Pesch, CE. and J. Garber (2001) Historical analysis, a valuable tool in community-based environmental
protection. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Vol. 42, NO.5, p. 339-349
Pruell, RJ., CB. Norwood, RD. Bowen, W.S. Boothman, P.F. Rogerson, M. Hackett and B.C Butterworth
(1990) Geochemical study of sediment contamination in New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts. Marine
Environmental Research, Vol. 29, p. 77-101
Ricketson, D. (1858) The History of New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts. Daniel Ricketson, New Bedford
Sanborn Map of New Bedford, Massachusetts, 1888, 1893, 1906, 1924, 1950. Sanborn Map and Publishing
Co., New York
Stone, Orra L. (1930) History of Massachusetts Industries their inception, growth and success, Vol 1,
S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., Boston
Tarr, J.A. (1985) Historical perspectives on hazardous wastes in the United States. Wastes Management &
Research, Vol. 3, p. 95-102
Voyer, RA., CE. Pesch, J. Garber, J. Copeland and R Comeleo (2000) New Bedford, Massachusetts:
A Story of Urbanization and Ecological Connections. Environmental History, Vol. 5 (3), p. 352-377
Weaver, G. (1984) PCB contamination in and around New Bedford, Massachusetts. Environmental Science
and Technology, Vol. 18, p. 22A-27A
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Acknowledgments
Our data was collected from many sources. We used the resources at the New Bedford Free Public
Library, Old Dartmouth Historical Society - New Bedford Whaling Museum, Millicent Library
in Fairhaven, Massachusetts State Library, Massachusetts State Archives, and University of
Rhode Island Library. We spent time in city halls and town halls, and we talked to many people.
We would like to acknowledge and thank: Virginia Adams, Judith Downey - Old Dartmouth
Historical Society - New Bedford Whaling Museum; Paul Cyr, Tina Furtado, Joan Barney
- New Bedford Free Public Library; Debra Charpentier - Millicent Library, Fairhaven;
Bill Boucher, Mario Gomes, Mary Eves, Leon Halle - Engineering Department, City of
New Bedford; Brad Bourque - Shellfish Warden, New Bedford; Vincent Furtado-
Department of Public Works, New Bedford; Robert Morris - Library of Congress;
Rose Ann Gamache - Garcia Consulting; Arthur Bennett, Tony Souza - WHALE;
Jeff Osuch - Town of Fairhaven; Arthur Srepetis - Office of Watershed Management,
Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Joe Thomas - Spinner Publications; Peter August,
Maury Klein, Armand Chartier, Niels West, Carol Baker, Jim Brown, Richard McIntyre -
University of Rhode Island. We also thank Patricia DeCastro, OAO Corporation, for
preparing the graphs and Mint Evans for designing this publication.
&EPA
AED, Narragansett RI
~
1I~
NEW BEDFORD WHALING MUSEUM
&EPA
Region 1, New England
u.s. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
National Health and Environmental
Effects Research Laboratory
Atlantic Ecology Division
27 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, Rhode Island, 02882
Copyright @ 2001 All rights reserved.
Old Dartmouth Historical Society
New Bedford Whaling Museum
18 Johnny Cake Hill
New Bedford, Massachusetts, 02740-6398
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 1
1 Congress Street
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114
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&EPA
Region 1, New England
901-R-OI-003
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