Association to Preserve Cape Cod - this week... |
|
|
| Hanging in the Balance by Andrew Gottlieb, Executive Director
A fragmented landscape, poor water quality, and the loss of one third of salt marsh are some of the results of decades of development of Cape Cod. It is widely reported that the Cape faces a difficult housing market characterized by high prices, low occupancy rates driven by high seasonal home ownership that push out working families, and a lack of choice in housing types. This is what the combination of historic development patterns has resulted in. In our newly issued report Hanging in the Balance, APCC details not just what has been lost but what is at risk as the region grapples with what to do with the remaining 14 percent of the unprotected and undeveloped land on Cape Cod.
|
|
|
The lines are clear. If the Cape approaches the future of the last 14 percent of the land in the same way the other 86 percent was handled, we can expect more environmental decline and a worsening housing situation. Of the 50,000 acres of unprotected undeveloped land, 80 percent is in critical habitats that provide essential services purifying water, sequestering carbon, cooling the planet, and providing places to go and just, be. The ecological values associated with maintaining these lands cannot be replaced nor replicated. Once gone, these natural spaces and their essential functions are gone forever.
When it comes to addressing housing needs there are options, indeed preferable options, to developing green spaces for yet more single-family subdivisions. As highlighted in Grow Smart Cape Cod, the redevelopment of already disturbed areas and the concentration of density in town centers, when paired with investment in municipal wastewater infrastructure, provides the prospect of increasing housing options while taking pressure off the landscape and improving water quality.
Hanging in the Balance should serve as a rallying point to galvanize the environmental community and our friends in housing advocacy to return to the focus of Grow Smart Cape Cod. Failing to do so will sacrifice the environmental future of Cape Cod for no particular good reason. The environment will be worse and housing market forces inhospitable to affordability will price new housing starts beyond the means of real people. Approaching the remaining 14 percent of unprotected land as we have managed development of the rest will bring more of the challenges we struggle with now. The choice is pretty clear, and the only question is if we have the ability to make different decisions. |
|
|
APCC in the News
WCAI - Environmental group calls for halt to development on Cape’s ‘undisturbed’ land
Cape Cod Chamber's Policy Pod Cape Cod's Wastewater Dilemma: What Will it Cost? |
APCC’s New Report Issues an Urgent Call for Increased Protections of Natural Resources
Historic development patterns on Cape Cod have fragmented and diminished critical habitats, impacted drinking water supplies, and degraded freshwater and marine water quality. If Cape Cod continues to follow existing growth trends, the Cape’s environmental problems will only get worse.
Hanging in the Balance: An Urgent Call for Protecting Cape Cod’s Natural Resources is a report by APCC that provides a comprehensive analysis of key natural resources on Cape Cod. The report examines past and present impacts to natural resources, current threats, case studies, and recommended actions that promote protection, preservation and restoration of the region’s most important resource areas.
Our marine waters, freshwater ponds and wetlands, groundwater, iconic natural landscapes and critical habitats are still under assault by the same land use practices that have failed us in the past. With only an estimated 14 percent of the Cape’s land remaining as undeveloped and unprotected, the actions we take now to protect what we have left will decide what kind of Cape Cod our future generations will inherit. It’s imperative that we protect our remaining natural resource areas and seriously rethink where and how we choose to grow.
Technical assistance in preparing the report was provided by Horsley Witten Group. The report is an accompaniment to Grow Smart Cape Cod, a project by the Association to Preserve Cape Cod and the Housing Assistance Corporation that identifies areas where natural resource protection are a priority and areas most suitable for housing production. Funding was provided by Barnstable County and its Economic Development Council License Plate Grant Program through the Cape Cod Commission.
Click here for the report pdf. Click here for the storymap. |
|
|
APCC submitted written comments to the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for the New England Wind offshore wind project Draft Environmental Impact Statement. |
|
|
APCC Request for Proposals for Weir Creek Tidal Restoration
APCC is seeking experienced and qualified consultant(s) and/or engineering firm(s) to complete feasibility studies, alternatives analysis and design plans for the tidal restoration of Weir Creek. The purpose of this project is to complete early planning and design for this tidal restoration including: a comprehensive Hydraulic and Hydrologic study; an alternatives analysis for culvert design to maximize ecological restoration and minimize flooding to low-lying properties; site survey and existing conditions plan; and preliminary design plans (30/60%) for the preferred alternative.
The project period is March of 2023 through June 30, 2024. Proposals are due no later than 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 15th, 2023. A Zoom meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 28th at 2 p.m. to answer questions from bidders. Contact [email protected] for questions. Download the full RFP with information and details here. |
APCC is Accepting Applications for Seasonal and Year Round Positions |
We are accepting applications for the following positions For more information on these position openings,
CLICK HERE. |
|
|
The Jewels of Cape Cod ~ Our Freshwater Ponds |
If you are interested in starting a pond group, or just want to know more about what is being done by others around the Cape to protect freshwater ponds, join the Cape Cod Pond Network. Sign up here (scroll down the page for the form).
Next meeting of the CCPN is Monday, February 27, 2023 via Zoom. |
|
|
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] |
Have a favorite pond? Want to connect with others who are active in protecting their ponds? Join the Cape Cod Ponds Network. For more information about past meetings of the Pond Network and to sign up (scroll down the page), click here. The next meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, February 27th, 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
|
February's hybrid Open House will include an overview of AVANGRID’s work in Barnstable and the Commonwealth Wind project. Commonwealth Wind proposes a cable landing underneath the Dowses Beach parking lot in Osterville. You can find out more at CommonwealthWind.com/events. Thursday, February 23
5 p.m. - 7 p.m. at the Osterville Library, 43 Wianno Ave, Osterville or attend via ZOOM
If you have any technical issues with Zoom, please contact Rachel Lake at [email protected] |
|
|
|
SAVE THE DATE! Thursday, May 11th at 7 p.m.
For an APCC Film Event The Erie Situation with panel discussion to follow
at the Cape Cinema, Dennis Tickets $15 through Cape Cinema
Proceeds support APCC |
|
|
|
The Pollinator Pathway Cape Cod is a group of organizations promoting native plants and pollinator-friendly land care practices to create a boat load of safe oases for our native bees, butterflies and a whole host of other pollinators that are crucial to the health of our ecosystems. Join us! It's easy. There are no fees. You just need to pledge to ADD native plants, SUBTRACT a little lawn, AVOID yard chemicals, especially pesticides, and LEAVE the leaves. And, help us spread the word. If you wish, please get on the map to show your support of pollinators!
|
|
|
A Cape Cod Native Plant-finder
~ to help you choose the perfect native plant for your garden location. |
|
|
| Black Cohosh, Actaea racemosa |
|
|
| Rain Barrels for Cape Cod Order online from Upcycle Products
$99 each includes FedEx shipping to your door APCC receives a portion of the proceeds.
For more information, click here.
|
|
|
| APCC Enewsletters. Our weekly newsletters will now be archived on our website and easily shared.
Here, you can find past newsletters from July 2022 on.
Share this with your friends and they can sign up HERE. |
|
|
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. |
|
|
| Thank you to the homeowners who just contracted to install solar panels through E2 Solar. May the sun always shine for you! |
|
|
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. |
|
|
Thank you to our business sponsors |
|
|
Our Contact Information *{{Organization Name}}* *{{Organization Address}}* *{{Organization Phone}}* *{{Organization Website}}*
*{{Unsubscribe}}* |
| |
|
|