Cape Cod Ponds Network

• Atlas Pond Viewer
• A Guide to Pond Stewardship – How to Start a Pond Association (PDF)
• Volunteer Pond Monitoring Guidance (PDF)
• 2021 Cape Cod Pond and Lake Atlas (PDF)
• Cape Cod Commission Ponds and Lakes
• APCC Freshwater Ponds Overview

Meeting 10 – August 14, 2025 at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster

This in person meeting drew about 40 attendees and provided some time for socializing and connecting. Five topics were covered by presentations by APCC and Cape Cod Commission staff. APCC staff presentation provided an overview of Cape Cod Regional Pond Monitoring Program, update on APCC’s Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program, and a survey sent to Cape Cod veterinarians, wildlife rehabbers and municipal animal officers about cyanobacteria. Commission staff reviewed the Pond Buffer Guidance and the Water Quality Portal. Almost two dozen pond groups were represented at the meeting—an amazing growth of advocacy in recent years with some new groups formed in the past year: Barnstable Pond Coalition, Harwich Pond Coalition, and Friends of Wellfleet Ponds.

Pond group representatives were invited to share their accomplishments and here are many of the takeaways:

• Do it again! Meet in person again without formal presentations for a time to network and share.
• Create a Facebook group account where groups can post and share
• Maintain and share a list of pond groups and associations.
• Organize as a 501(c)(4) – (not 501(c)(3)) –to allow a group to lobby; donations are not tax deductible, but does that matter to your supporters?
• Town select board appointed Freshwater Ponds Advisory Committee (Falmouth and Mashpee)
• New pond coalitions organized this past year: Harwich, Barnstable, and Wellfleet
• Pledge campaigns to protect ponds/water: Brewster Ponds Coalition, Friends of Chatham Waterways, Orleans Pond Coalition, and others
• Working on how to inform public more effectively about potentially toxic cyanobacteria blooms: signs at public landings are not enough. Maybe a flag system like on the Charles River?

Meeting 9 – February 26, 2025 the Cape Cod Commission reviewed Freshwater Initiative Strategies, Water Quality Portal, and Vegetated Pond Buffer Guidance, and Dr. Hambrook presented an update on the Cape Cod Pond Watchers Bio-Survey Program. Over 70 people were present. Following presentations, attendees shared accomplishments and upcoming initiatives.

Meeting 8 – August 8, 2024 at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster This in-person meeting of about 60 attendees provided some time for socializing and connecting. Three presentations were given:

Changes and Challenges to Cape Cod Pond Fisheries (PDF) – Steve Hurley, Aquatic Biologist, MassWildlife

APCC Pond Programs (PDF) – An Overview, Dr. Julie Hambrook, Pond and Cyanobacteria Programs Manager

Cape Cod Commission’s (PDF) – Update to the Freshwater Initiative, Jessica Rempel, Natural Resource Analyst

Meeting 7 – April 18, 2024. Agenda included three program ideas for pond groups to undertake; update on the Freshwater Initiative; APCC pond program update; announcements – launch of monthly Ponds Network eNewsletter and summer in person meeting TBD. Meeting recording (Vimeo).

Meeting 6 – August 1, 2023 at OneCape Summit. Agenda included Remote Sensing Overview – Nicole Bartlett, NOAA. Attendees broke into discussion groups: Group 1 – Organizing an Association and Communicating Challenges and Solutions; Group 2 – Monitoring Your Pond and Thinking Bigger: Applying Priorities at a Larger Scale. Recording (YouTube)

Meeting 5. June 5, 2023 – Cape Cod Regional Pond Monitoring Program -Julie Hambrook Berkman, Project Director – Pond and Cyanobacteria Monitoring Programs, Association to Preserve Cape Cod; Gathering Information and Better Understanding Your Pond -Kathleen Mason, Water Resources Analyst, Cape Cod Commission; and Discussion of Pond and Lake Friendly Signage Programs -Tim Pasakarnis, Water Resources Analyst, Cape Cod Commission https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpRa0VtScpk

Meeting 4. On February 27, 2023 meeting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=524kVRSFyho All about communications, outreach and engagement.

Communications and Outreach in the Lake Champlain Basin
-Ryan Mitchell, Communications and Publications Coordinator, Lake Champlain Basin Program & Information Officer, NEIWPCC

Communications, Outreach, and Engagement Efforts on Cape Cod
Educational Workshop Models: Developed by Avalon, AmeriCorps Cape Cod Service Member, hosted by Cape Cod Commission and Cape Cod Cooperative Extension
Three pond group representatives shared their efforts:

• Deep Pond Preservation Project – Mary Grauerholz
• Friends of Peters Pond – Chris Dennis
• Save Mashpee-Wakeby Pond Alliance – Susan Dangel

Meeting 3. Cape Cod Ponds Network, Meeting 3, 11/07/2022 – YouTube On November 7, 2022, the Pond Network met virtually. Commission staff reviewed the Cape Cod Freshwater Initiative, and highlighted relevant tasks, including the stakeholder engagement process. We heard from pond groups about their summer events, and topics for 2023 were discussed.

Meeting 2. On August 2, 2022, the second network meeting was held in person at the 2022 OneCape Summit.

• View Pond Network Meeting 2.
• Presentation slides (PDF).

Attendees were asked to submit a most recent project their pond group has undertaken. Here is the compilation of those projects!

Meeting 1. In June 2022, the first meeting (YouTube) of the CCPN was convened by APCC and the Cape Cod Commission. At this kick off meeting, objectives of the network were discussed. Here are some objectives:

• Provide a regional forum for discussion and updates around pond issues and related topics
• Inform the stakeholder process for the Cape Cod Commission’s Freshwater Initiative
• Advance pond improvement strategies identified through the Freshwater Initiative
• Serve as a clearinghouse for ideas shared among groups
• Promote public policies for freshwater protection
• Explore funding opportunities

Following the meeting, a survey was sent out to attendees to obtain more information from pond groups to assess regional needs.