Ninigret Salt Pond

Land Use
Why is this a problem for the salt pond?

As sewage contaminates the ponds, disease-causing viruses and bacterias that are carried in human feces can contaminate shellfish and close larger areas to shellfishing. Septic system pollution and fertilizer from lawns and gardens cause serious problems for the Salt Pond region, too. Surface runoff is probably the primary way that fecal bacterial from pets and failing septic systems enter the pond. This contributes to a condition known as eutrophication. This occurs when water is heavy with nutrients which encourage overgrowth of algae. This, in turn, takes oxygen out of the water sometimes causing fish and marine life to die.

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