Association to Preserve Cape Cod - this week... |
Bells Neck, Harwich. Photo by Sue Machie |
|
|
| The Evidence is Clear by Andrew Gottlieb, Executive Director
Part way through town meeting season the message is clear: Voters want to increase environmental protections. From the large open space purchase approved in Harwich, to the increased wetlands setbacks approved in Mashpee, to the $200 million wastewater management plan approved in Yarmouth, there is irrefutable evidence that a better environment is at the top of voter concerns. While there are a lot of issues jostling for priority and attention, none has more obvious voter support than a clean environment.
|
|
|
It is equally clear that we can do more to promote good environmental outcomes. The pace of wastewater cleanup has increased, but it remains too slow. Thousands of acres of high priority lands that support clean water, affordable recreational opportunities, a healthier environment, and better drinking water need protection before being lost forever to the insatiable appetite of the bulldozer. Nutrient reduction strategies are needed to reverse decades of water quality decline and far too much chemical fertilizer and pesticide is being applied on the land.
Progress is all voter driven. In some cases, voters have elected executive boards populated with members who respect and prioritize the environment. In other cases, voters have bypassed or otherwise leveraged recalcitrant elected bodies and have taken their agenda directly to town meeting in the form of petition articles. Sometimes it is a combination of town officials being successfully moved into taking actions they would, absent palpable public pressure, not have taken. Underlying these circumstances, in all cases, are environmentally educated and increasingly aggressive and tacitly sophisticated advocates pushing the environmental agenda forward. This is not only how it should be, but also how it must be to counteract strong forces pushing in the other direction. Left unchallenged, these forces will devour what remains to be consumed and will leave the environment worse.
The environmental vote, when presented to town meeting for the things that really matter—water quality restoration, water supply protection and the enhancement and expansion of open space—wins. We need to increase the number of chances voters have to make the right choice. If, as a united environmental community, we consistently and repeatedly bring environmentally oriented articles to each and every town meeting, we will win way more than we lose. Now is the time to develop the articles for the fall 23 and spring 24 town meetings.
|
|
|
Help us pass much-needed drought management legislation!
Last week, APCC submitted written testimony to the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources in support of An Act Relative to Maintaining Adequate Water Supplies Through Effective Drought Management (S.475/H.861).
Please help us get this important legislation passed into law by sending a simple message to the State Legislature.
Our current approach to drought management is a confusing patchwork of conservation measures that have limited impact. Currently, the state does not have the authority to require water conservation during a drought until the governor declares a drought emergency. Climate change will only increase the frequency and severity of droughts. Our state needs to have a better, coordinated response. With the drought bill, the state can be proactive in saving water during a drought, rather than waiting until an emergency strikes. The drought bill would change that by giving the state the authority to require regional water conservation measures during a declared drought, affecting only nonessential outdoor watering. Water use for agriculture or business would be exempt.
Here's how you can help: Send an email to [email protected] in support of the drought bill. Sample Message: Dear Chair Rausch, Chair Cahill, and Members of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources: I strongly support An Act Relative to Maintaining Adequate Water Supplies Through Effective Drought Management (S.475/H.861) and respectfully urge the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources to report it favorably out of committee. This legislation is a priority for my region, which has experienced the effects of significant drought over the past several years.
Climate change is bringing more frequent and severe droughts to Massachusetts, and our management is falling short. The drought bill would give the Commonwealth the authority to require water conservation during periods of drought, implementing a more impactful regional approach to drought management before an emergency hits. Providing a coordinated response to drought management will help protect our drinking water supplies, ponds, streams and other water resources that we depend on.
Thank you, (Your Name and Full Address) |
VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR POND MONITORING PROGRAM
Want to contribute to the study of Cape Cod's freshwater ponds, learn more about our ponds, and have some fun? We are seeking volunteers to accompany APCC staff in a canoe and assist with the data collection. -
Minimum time commitment is a full morning: A volunteer shift is 7:30 a.m. to ~ 12:30 p.m. Sampling days are Monday through Thursday.
- Must have transportation. Two ponds will be monitored during the shift (likely ponds will be in your town, but could be in a neighboring town).
-
Dress for the field. Wear waterproof boots, (e.g.) muck boots or clamming boots for access in and out of the canoe, and be prepared for being outdoors the entire time, including rain gear as weather warrants. A pfd (personal flotation device) will be provided and must be worn as part of APCC's safety protocol.
-
Physical ability. Volunteer must be comfortable being on the water and have the physical ability to get in and out of a canoe, to paddle to deepest point of pond, and to safely pivot in their seat to assist with the sampling and recording information on a field data sheet.
As part of the Cape Cod Commission's Freshwater Initiative, APCC was contracted to conduct pond monitoring of 50 ponds Cape-wide from 2023 through 2025. This three-year program involves monitoring each pond seven times per year from April through October. The goal is to help Cape Cod communities to better protect and manage our ponds by collecting water quality data to characterize pond conditions, to understand the effects of watershed development and other stressors, and to inform pond protection and management strategies.
Pond monitoring will be conducted by APCC staff at the deepest point in the pond. Staff will use a canoe, and with the help of volunteers will measure depth, Secchi disk depth, water quality parameters using a sonde, and collection of water samples for lab analyses of nutrients, chlorophyll, and alkalinity. Lab analyses will be done by the Center for Coastal Studies, a state-certified laboratory contracted by APCC. We will be holding an informational Zoom session on Monday, May 8th at 6 p.m.
If you are interested in learning more, please SIGN UP HERE. |
Avalon Hadley, AmeriCorps member, and Jordan Mora, APCC restoration ecologist, check water level and salinity loggers at Parkers River marsh in Yarmouth. APCC continues to monitor the hydrological impacts of the tidal restoration resulting from the Route 28 bridge enlargement at this marsh by deploying loggers throughout the system for a one-month period. Originally from Foxboro, MA with a degree in anthropological sciences, Avalon is close to finishing her one-year term with AmeriCorps on Cape Cod and was eager to learn more about APCC’s restoration work. She plans to pursue a graduate degree studying sustainable agriculture and soil health. Photos courtesy of Gerry Beetham. |
|
|
| By popular request...
APCC Caps are now available for purchase! $25 includes shipping & handling Click here for more information and to order. ~ This is one great way to show your support for APCC's work. |
|
|
Please Join Us for an APCC Film Event on
Thursday, May 11th at 7 p.m. The Erie Situation
at the Cape Cinema, Dennis A panel discussion will follow the showing.
Tickets $15 through Cape Cinema Proceeds support APCC |
|
|
| 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. |
|
|
It's Storytime!
Click on the photo below to reach the Hanging in the Balance story map. Don't know what a story map is? It's a format that allows images, both still shots, maps, and video to be linked together in one smooth transition accompanied by text. Once you click the photo, you will be at the story map. Then simply scroll down through the images and text that tell the story.
|
The Jewels of Cape Cod ~ Our Freshwater Ponds |
Long Pond, Harwich. Photo by Gerald Beetham |
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 plants are coming...
We will hold our third annual native plant sale the week of June 5. As in the last two APCC native plant sales, you must order online and schedule a pickup time. We expect to make the order form live the morning of June 6th.
In the meantime, be thinking about where you have room for more native plants, and where lawn can be reduced and planting beds expanded. Click here for some garden examples and scroll down the page. |
|
|
|
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-selector
~ to help you choose the perfect native plant for your garden location. |
|
|
| Golden Alexander, Zizea aurea |
|
|
| 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 are now archived on our website and easily shared. You can find past newsletters and share with your friends to sign up for future enewsletters 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 |
Expressions Gallery donates 20 percent of its profits to APCC's work. |
|
|
Thank you to our business sponsors |
|
|
Our Contact Information *{{Organization Name}}* *{{Organization Address}}* *{{Organization Phone}}* *{{Organization Website}}*
*{{Unsubscribe}}* |
| |
|
|