Association to Preserve Cape Cod - this week... |
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Big Step Forward by Andrew Gottlieb, APCC Executive Director |
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Most outgoing governors try to wrap up loose ends and go on one form or another of a victory lap celebrating achievements of their administrations. Very few, in my experience anyway, launch major rulemaking initiatives taking on complex and expensive issues that could easily be left as ticking time bombs for the next Ggvernor to tackle. Giving credit where credit is due, kudos to Governor Baker and his environmental leadership team, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Beth Card, Deputy Secretary Gary Moran, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Martin Suuberg and numerous DEP career professionals for issuing thoughtful, progressive and much needed proposed revisions to the regulations governing septic systems.
Septic systems are regulated by Title 5 and the current rules are grossly inadequate to protect the waters of Cape Cod. In fact, the current code makes legal the pollution and ruination of the Cape’s surface waters by allowing the excessive nutrient loading that we know is the root cause of decades of water quality decline. Septic systems, as the primary means of human waste disposal on Cape Cod, are an abject failure. We have known this to be true for a long time and yet Title 5 allows more and more nutrient loading with every system installed or replaced.
Considering all the evidence that Title 5 is the cause, not the cure, to environmental harm, one might logically ask why these rules still exist. The answer is simple: Changing the rules that govern what people do to their house and yards, often a great expense, is hard and politically fraught. I was at DEP in 1994, 28 long years ago, the last time Title 5 was meaningfully revised, and I had a front row seat to the ugly politics and personal attacks endured by the staff working on the issue. Even by today’s exaggerated standards for what is seen as allowable political discourse, it was rough. The result of the compromises needed to finalize those regulations is the fundamentally flawed Title 5 we have now.
Sensing that the Cape has now both a political consensus on the need to move away from sole reliance on septic systems and the existence of new financing tools created over the last decade, the Baker Administration has realized that the time to act is now. The new rules propose scrapping the existing code as it relates to nitrogen-sensitive areas and replaces it with a dynamic new system that recognizes primary responsibility for improving water quality rests with municipalities and incentivizes them to act. Municipal action, through the pursuit of a watershed permit, will shield homeowners from bearing the burden individually of upgrading septic systems. This is as it should be, and DEP and the Baker administration deserve credit for doing what is needed to reverse the decline of Cape Cod waters.
You will be hearing a lot from us on the details of this rulemaking process in the next few weeks. We intend to make it easy for you to participate in the comment process and to voice your support for these much needed, and long overdue, rule changes. It is not often that the regulatory rulemaking process, let alone one dealing with human waste, is seen as an exciting opportunity. But if you live long enough, you will indeed see it all. |
APCC Submits Comments on the New England Wind 2 Offshore Wind Project
Last week, APCC submitted written comments to the Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs office for New England Wind 2, the portion of Avangrid’s Commonwealth Wind offshore wind project under state regulatory jurisdiction, which includes cables running through state waters and making landfall on Cape Cod. The wind turbines for the project are to be located in an offshore wind lease area in federal waters and are currently under federal review.
APCC has been a strong advocate for the conversion of our electric power supply to renewable energy, especially offshore wind energy. APCC reviews each proposed wind project and provides detailed comments through the established state and federal regulatory processes to ensure that impacts from those projects are avoided or minimized, while the benefits from the project are maximized.
The method for bringing the New England Wind 2 cable onshore at Dowses Beach in Osterville, like the landing sites at Covell’s Landing and Craigville Beach in Centerville for two other projects, is designed to avoid impacts to sensitive coastal resources and habitats. And, as with the previous projects, APCC is closely scrutinizing the onshore cable route, emphasizing the importance of avoiding impacts to protected open spaces, sensitive habitats and water resources while calling for appropriate mitigation of project impacts when necessary. Additionally, the potential for coordinating the installation of sewer pipes in roadways while the wind project’s cables are being laid is a huge benefit to the town of Barnstable and efforts to improve Cape Cod’s water quality.
APCC will continue to support responsible offshore wind development as a means of transforming our power grid from its reliance on fossil fuels to the use of renewable energy, which is essential for the future of Cape Cod, Massachusetts and our nation. |
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Enjoy the Colors of the Season! Photo by Sue Machie |
This stunning Cape Cod scenery is of a sea of huckleberry in fall color beneath pitch pines and oaks. Get outside and take it in now, for it is only seen for a fleeting couple of weeks in our woodlands. So much of this type of woodland understory has been cleared for development "improvements" or invaded by non-native honeysuckle. So if you find this view in your town or maybe even on your own property, count yourself blessed. This is what a native plant community looks like! If you peer closer, you'd see low bush blueberry, trailing arbutus, wintergreen, mosses, lichens, and more. This is quintessential Cape Cod that is in need of more of our ♥ and appreciation.
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EPA Funding for Local Groups Will Help Protect and Restore Massachusetts’ Environment
APCC has been awarded an EPA-funded Southeast New England (SNEP) Watershed grant from Restore America’s Estuaries to complete early planning for restoration of Weir Creek in Dennis. A total of $1.9 million was awarded for 2022 SNEP Watershed Implementation Grants for eleven projects in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, including $138,616 for the Weir Creek project.
Under contract to the Cape Cod Conservation District, APCC completed an initial site assessment of Weir Creek in 2021. APCC will be working with the town of Dennis and other partners to complete feasibility studies and concept designs for restoration of close to 120 acres of wetlands along Weir Creek. This wetland system is impaired by two undersized culverts restricting flow of the creek. The result is a degraded salt marsh and negative impacts from storm-related flooding on the nearby community. The site is a priority for the town and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service under the Cape Cod Water Resource Restoration Project.
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Aerial photos above courtesy of the town of Dennis |
Above - long horned bee © Heather Holm |
Learn all about pollinators from the experts in this weekly series on Fridays at 10 a.m., courtesy of Ohio University. Here's a recording of last Friday's webinar with Heather Holm. To register for future webinars (it's free), click here. |
Boat Ramp Stormwater Meetings This Week |
Join APCC staff on Zoom to review the initial stormwater system concept designs for each of the 20 proposed sites. The meetings will be recorded and posted on APCC's website.
Tuesday, November 1st (2-4 p.m.) meeting will include upper Cape sites located in Bourne, Falmouth, Mashpee and Sandwich. Here's a link to the meeting recording. Thursday, November 3rd (2-4 p.m.) meeting will include mid Cape and lower Cape sites located in Barnstable, Brewster, Dennis, Harwich, Orleans and Yarmouth.
Based on your interest, you are welcome to join one or both meetings. REGISTER HERE.
The goal of this project is to complete a regional assessment and prioritization to inform development of conceptual and permit-ready designs for stormwater management at priority boat ramp sites. Green infrastructure stormwater systems that use soils and native plants for pollution removal will be designed to maximize nutrient and bacteria reduction to improve water quality.
Partners - This project is in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game Office of Fishing and Boating Access and the following towns: Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Dennis, Falmouth, Harwich, Mashpee, Orleans, Sandwich, and Yarmouth. Funding for this work has been provided by a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Southeast New England Program Watershed Grant in partnership with Restore Americas Estuaries. |
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Striving for Sustainability on Cape Cod
TWO SESSIONS: 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Tuesdays, November 8 and 15 Location: Eldredge Public Library, Chatham Association to Preserve Cape Cod’s executive director, Andrew Gottlieb, will give APCC’s perspective on what sustainability means for Cape Cod. Critical issues facing Cape Cod will be covered, such as water quality, renewable energy, climate resilience, and a viable economy. Learn about recent regional achievements, projects underway, and actions still needed.
In the second session, Kristin Andres, APCC associate director for education, will provide practical tips for the property owner. Our managed landscapes have a role to play in the health of the Cape’s environment in both their design and maintenance. Learn about some ways to strive for sustainability at home by being climate-wise in your landscape choices, how to best support pollinators and birds, and ways to deal with drought and deluge.
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Looking for a speaker? Check out APCC's Speakers Bureau.
APCC staff speak on a variety of topics and are available by Zoom. If interested, please contact the staff person directly to make arrangements. |
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The Jewels of Cape Cod ~ Our Freshwater Ponds |
Aerial image of Dollar Pond, Brewster by © Steven Koppel |
Pond Stories is a collection of writings and other media from Cape Codders and visitors who love the 890 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] |
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A Cape Cod Native Plant-finder ~ to help you choose the perfect native plant for your garden location. |
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| Smooth Sumac - Rhus glabra
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APCC Enewsletters. Our weekly newsletters will now be archived on our website and easily shared.
You can find past newsletters starting in July 2022 here.
Share this with your friends and they can sign up HERE. |
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Water Use Restrictions Posted in Your Town?
How about a rain barrel (or two) to harvest rainwater for your garden! |
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Rick & Joan's rain barrel |
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APCC Rain Barrel Program $99 includes delivery
to your door via FedEx. Upcycle Products repurposes food barrels, otherwise destined for the landfill, to make these rain barrels. Choose your color - gray, black, blue, or terracotta. For more information and to order online,
CLICK HERE. For a how-to-use video, check this out from Brewster Conservation Trust! |
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Are you thinking of going solar? We hope so! In partnership with SUNPOWER BY E2 SOLAR in Dennis, APCC receives $500 for every solar installation when APCC is named as referral.
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| Thank you to the homeowners who just contracted to install solar panels through E2 Solar. May the sun always shine for you! |
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| Every cup of coffee you drink could be supporting APCC's work and a local Cape Cod business.
But ONLY if it's Coastal Cape Blend from Cape Cod Coffee!
Order online. A portion of the proceeds for every bag of
Coastal Cape Blend sold is donated to APCC. It's important to know that Cape Cod Coffee sources beans are
Fair Trade & Rainforest Alliance certified, and grown without the use of pesticides. |
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Expressions Gallery, 578 Main Street, Chatham
CLICK HERE |
Ocean to Office. APCC has partnered with EXPRESSIONS, a fine art photography gallery located in Chatham center, to provide Cape businesses the opportunity to beautify their offices with coastal photography while directly supporting protection of our cherished environment. This special offering gives back to APCC. CLICK HERE to learn more. |
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Thank you to our business sponsors |
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