Mashpee-Wakeby Stormwater
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Stormwater Management
Mashpee-Wakeby Pond is a treasured freshwater kettle pond, valued for boating, fishing, and recreation by residents and visitors of both Mashpee and Sandwich. Protecting the health of this vital waterbody has long been a shared priority among local organizations and stakeholders, including the Massachusetts Office of Fishing and Boating Access, which owns the Mashpee-Wakeby State Boat Ramp, and the Town of Mashpee, which manages the site under an agreement with the state. Stormwater runoff from public boat ramps poses a significant threat to water quality. The Cape Cod Boat Ramp Stormwater Project, led by APCC’s Ecosystem Restoration Program in partnership with Horsley Witten Group and Cape municipalities like Mashpee, is working to address this issue. At the Mashpee-Wakeby ramp, the large, paved parking area and high visitor use generate substantial pollution from stormwater runoff. This runoff carries this pollution directly into Mashpee Pond— which is especially concerning given the site’s proximity to the public beach at Attaquin Park and the Mashpee River herring run. These factors have made the site a top priority for stormwater improvements.
While upgrades to septic and sewer infrastructure along with proposed pond treatment remain critical for the long-term health of the pond, improving stormwater management will also deliver meaningful benefits for water quality—protecting people, pets, fish, and wildlife. With community input, concept and preliminary designs were completed in 2022 and 2023. Permitting was finalized in 2024, and designs were advanced to 100%. Construction is expected to take place in 2025 and 2026. This project has been supported locally by Save Mashpee-Wakeby Pond Alliance, the Mashpee Environmental Coalition, the Mashpee-Wakeby Lake Management Committee, the Mashpee Community Preservation Committee, and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe.
Stormwater Infrastructure Improvements
The proposed design to improve stormwater management at the Mashpee-Wakeby State Boat Ramp includes site regrading and repaving to better direct stormwater flow along with installation of two large underground infiltration chambers, and the creation of five bioretention areas planted with native vegetation to capture and treat runoff. These features are designed to treat stormwater on site—filtering pollutants before water either infiltrates into the ground or flows into Mashpee-Wakeby Pond.
The bioretention areas are intended to capture and treat the first inch of rainfall, which typically contains the highest concentration of pollutants. The underground infiltration chambers are sized to retain and infiltrate stormwater from larger events, including up to a 25-year storm.
In addition to improving water quality, repaving the parking lot will address long-standing maintenance issues and enhance safety and accessibility. New pedestrian pathways will provide safer and more convenient access to the boat ramp for all users.
Upon project completion, the land management agreement between the state and the town will be renewed, with the town of Mashpee assuming responsibility for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the new stormwater infrastructure.
Additional Resources
Project Funding
This project has funded by a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Southeast New England Program Watershed Grant in partnership with Restore America’s Estuaries, the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grants, and private foundation funding. Additional funds for construction have been committed by the Town of Mashpee Community Preservation Committee and the Massachusetts Office of Fishing and Boating Access.
