In The News

Rapid development over the last few decades has fragmented the Cape’s critical habitats, impaired drinking water, and degraded water quality, according to a new report from the Association to Preserve Cape Cod. Now, the environmental organization based in Dennis is urging towns and developers to stop building on undisturbed land, saying the Cape’s housing needs can be met elsewhere.

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The State of Cape Cod Waters is not good. Embayments, estuaries and fresh water ponds are all declining from excess nutrients in wastewater. On The Point, we discuss how many Cape towns have implemented comprehensive wastewater management plans, the promises and limitations of Alternative septic systems, and changes to Title V septic systems proposed by the Mass Department of Environmental Protection that would require upgrades to systems in nitrogen sensitive areas. Towns could be exempt from the septic regulations if they obtain watershed permits demonstrating they’re managing nitrogen.

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CAI has learned that the Association to Preserve Cape Cod has hired a Boston law firm to try to block the discharge of radioactive water from the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station.

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The Environmental Protection Agency issued another stern letter to the company cleaning up the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in Plymouth, warning them not to dump contaminated wastewater into Cape Cod Bay. In the letter to Holtec president Kelly Trice, the EPA reaffirmed that unauthorized discharges into the Bay would be violation of the Clean Water Act.

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DENNIS — A West Dennis saltmarsh that has been nearly cut off from the ebb and flow of the tides, its marine heartbeat fading as it has steadily choked on invasive reeds and freshwater plants, may have a chance at rebirth thanks to a grant from the Southeast New England Program.

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In an effort to manage the stormwater runoff that has been impacting bodies of water on Cape Cod, the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC) has selected and identified improvements to be made at 20 potential sites across the region—including at Peters Pond in Sandwich.

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Six Cape Cod ponds have cyanobacteria blooms serious enough to possibly shut down swimming and lead to restrictions.

Cyanobacteria can lead to serious illness and even death.

Current ponds where use restrictions are recommended are Santuit Pond in Mashpee, Long Pond in Barnstable, Long Pond in Centerville (a different pond), Scargo Lake in Dennis, the West Reservoir in Harwich and Flume Pond in Falmouth.

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