We think of the Cape as salty air and coastal beaches, but we have almost 1,000 ponds and lakes on Cape Cod. We fondly call them the jewels of Cape Cod and if you look at a satellite image of the Cape, they are just that. For anyone who is acquainted with a freshwater pond on Cape Cod, there’s a special emotional connection. Here are some tips to love your favorite pond.
If you are visiting a pond, go there prepared to:
- Pick up any litter you find and dispose of properly.
- Pick up after your pooch.
- Observe wildlife with respect.
- Ensure your kayak or other water equipment has been washed and thoroughly dried to avoid bringing in aquatic invasive species from another location.
- Stay in public spaces designated for pond access.
If you are lucky enough to live on a pond, live lightly on the shoreline:
- Avoid trampling the vegetation.
- Avoid alteration, such as constructing decks, docks, adding sand, or weeding.
- Monitor for invasive species.
- Store boats and other recreational equipment in the upland or on a boat rack.
If you live on a pond or within the watershed of a pond:
Pump your septic system every three years.
Keep stormwater on your property.
Maintain a buffer of naturalized vegetation between your lawn area and the pond.
Reduce your lawn area to just what you need and plant more native plants.
Avoid yard chemicals and lawn treatments.
Upgrade your float system. We’ve become more and more aware of the microplastics they contribute to the plastic pollution in our water ecosystems. Some towns are passing ordinances that ban exposed Styrofoam and require float boxes. Styrofoam is a plastic and it breaks into tiny pieces. It never decomposes. If you’ve got one of these, please retrofit your float (whether in pond or coastal waters). Don’t wait for the town to tell you to do it.
For more ideas about how to love your pond, go to State of the Waters Action Plan. And remember, always check with your local conservation office before undertaking any projects around a pond so that you don’t run afoul of local and state wetlands protection regulations.
Pond Stories are a collection of writings and other media from Cape Codders and visitors who love the almost 1,000 local ponds that dot the Cape. We hope this collection of stories awakens your inner environmentalist to think deeper about our human impacts to these unique bodies of water.
Send us your favorite pond photo, story, poem, video, artwork–we want to share with everyone why the Cape’s ponds and lakes are so special! Email your pond connection to [email protected]
