Association to Preserve Cape Cod - this week... |
Happy Meteorological Spring! March 1 through May 31 is the transition between the three coldest and three warmest months of the year. You may have noticed that meteorologists and climatologists define seasons differently from “regular” or astronomical spring, summer, fall, and winter. So, why do meteorological and astronomical seasons begin and end on different dates? In short, it’s because the astronomical seasons are based on the position of Earth in relation to the sun, whereas the meteorological seasons are based on the annual temperature cycle. [Source]
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Some favorite "new" books: |
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Webinars Hosted by Others |
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| Brook Trout Restoration & Research in the Quashnet River
Thursday, March 2 @ 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
The Quashnet River has been the site of long standing brook trout restoration and monitoring activities. These efforts have inspired similar progress at other coastal coldwater streams. Steve will discuss the results of these efforts in the Quashnet River, the results of the ongoing Brook Trout PIT tagging studies started in 2007, and the opportunities and challenges for the river and its fish populations in the future. Steve Hurley, Southeast District fisheries manager, MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife REGISTER
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| Sandplain Grasslands: A Rare Habitat at the Waquoit Bay Headquarters Thursday, March 9 @ 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Sandplain grasslands are unique, treeless ecosystems in the Northeast. Like similar grasslands across the United States, the extent and quality of these grasslands has greatly diminished over recent decades. A few thousand acres remain in New York, Massachusetts, and Maine. This habitat is critical for endangered plant and animal species, from harriers and short-eared owls, to several state and federally endangered plants, some of which are globally rare. Dr. Robert Wernerehl, botanist, Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, MA Div. of Fisheries and Wildlife REGISTER
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| An In Person Event
On Saturday, March 25th at 1:00 p.m., the Barnstable Youth Commission, Barnstable High School Green Club, and Sturgis East Environmental Club are hosting an event called PFAS and Your Community. There will be a screening of short films about the impact of PFAS pollution on human health and the environment followed by a panel discussion. Panelists include Massachusetts State Senator Julian Cyr and Dr. Laurel Schaider, senior scientist at Silent Spring Institute, among other local leaders and experts. Dr. Schaider is the lead investigator of the Massachusetts PFAS & Your Health Study, which is sponsoring the event. See below for more details. |
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The event is FREE. All are welcome!
WHAT: PFAS and Your Community — Film Screening and Panel Discussion WHEN: Saturday, March 25, 2023, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Sturgis Charter Public School Community Center, 529 Main Street, Hyannis, MA Featured films:
PFAS: The secret toxins in your body – German multimedia reporter Tim Schauenberg explores the history and pervasiveness of PFAS chemicals and what people can do to protect themselves (Deutsche Welle, Planet A).
Forever chemicals: The threat of PFAS in our water – CBS Sunday Morning correspondent Lee Cowan looks at how the chemicals got here, and talks with families, farmers, and health advocates fighting for clean, safe water. Background:
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a class of chemicals that companies add to a wide variety of consumer products to make them non-stick, waterproof, and stain-resistant. The chemicals can be found in products such as stain-resistant carpets and upholstery, waterproof apparel, floor waxes, non-stick cookware, greaseproof food packaging, dental floss, and some cosmetics. They are also used in firefighting foams for putting out fuel fires. People can be exposed to these chemicals from direct contact with products, or through the air they breathe or the food they eat.
They can also be exposed through drinking water. Before 2016, levels of PFAS in the Hyannis water system were higher than in any other public water supply in Massachusetts. Although the water in Hyannis is now being treated to remove PFAS, scientists are concerned about possible long-term health effects from exposures that happened in the past.
The Massachusetts PFAS & Your Health Study is a five-year effort led by Silent Spring Institute in collaboration with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Eastern Research Group. The study is focusing on two communities in Eastern Massachusetts—Hyannis and Ayer—where public drinking water supplies have been contaminated by PFAS from the use of firefighting foams at nearby fire training areas. It is one of seven projects funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) as part of the ATSDR Multi-Site Health Study on PFAS. Community partners include Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) and People of Ayer Concerned about the Environment (PACE).
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For you gardening geeks, Roy Diblik is a plantsman, garden designer, author, and philosopher. He has an inspiring way to look at your garden. Okay - so he's not 100 percent native species, but he's a grower of native plants. And he's from Wisconsin , not Cape Cod. But he inspires us to connect with our gardens in way that might be new to you and will affirm your views if you already do! There is a series of videos on his channel that will delve into design and plant patterns.
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More with Roy Diblik: A Container Plant's Path To Maturity |
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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. |
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| Hanging in the Balance - A New APCC Report
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.
Click here for the report pdf.
Click here for the storymap. |
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The Jewels of Cape Cod ~ Our Freshwater Ponds |
Ahh, summer serenity at Elbow Pond, Brewster. Photo by Sanford Zevon |
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. |
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.
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| 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 |
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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!
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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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| Foam Flower, Tiarella cordifolia |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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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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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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