Association to Preserve Cape Cod - this week... |
Dennis Indian Lands. Photo by Sue Machie.
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| Balls in the Air by Andrew Gottlieb, Executive Director
Boston media pays scant attention to Cape Cod other than breathless summer coverage about traffic and sharks. Over the weekend I heard a Boston news commentator say, “There sure is a lot going on on the Cape." The comment was prompted by a discussion about the EPA public hearing on the multi-Purpose machine gun range proposal, but it reaffirmed something that we already know: The Cape’s environment is under pressure on multiple fronts. |
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While there are more, we have major front burner action on the aforementioned MPMG that EPA has found represents a significant threat to the water supply of the Upper Cape; Holtec’s proposed release of 1.1 million gallons of radioactive wastewater to Cape Cod Bay; the continued decline in water quality from nutrient enrichment from excess fertilization and inadequate wastewater treatment; relentless pressure to sacrifice critical habitat and open space to accommodate more housing; and the ongoing and pervasive effects of rapid climate change that are showing up in the form of increased storm intensity and frequency, accelerating erosion rates, increasing cyanobacteria blooms and extended periods of drought.
So yeah, there is a lot going on and it demands much from those of us who care about Cape Cod. Protecting the environment always takes vigilance, but right now feels a little different than typical. Perhaps that is because we are approaching pivotal decisions on the MPMG, the Holtec discharge, the issuance of long overdue and much needed improvements to the rules governing septic systems and watershed management, and a state level discussion about changing the rules about housing production. Blink now and we might miss the chance to achieve important environmental victories. APCC is on it, and we will stay engaged on all these issues. We are going to ask something of you as well when your help can make the difference. Pay attention to the requests in our emails to send comments, make a call or attend a meeting. These things matter.
I understand many of you come to the Cape to enjoy and unplug and not to sit through meetings or write comments. That said, the hard truth is that as much as APCC can do to protect that which you value about Cape Cod, we need help. You matter not just because you may provide the resources we need to watch out for the environment, but because collectively, we can all make the difference between good and bad environmental outcomes. Enjoy your time on the Cape, but please make time to make your voice heard, especially now.
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| Voice Your Support for the EPA’s Report on the Machine Gun Range
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency determined that the multipurpose machine gun range proposed by the Massachusetts Army National Guard on the Upper Cape Water Supply Reserve would create “a significant public health hazard” due to potential contamination of the region’s drinking water supply. If the draft determination is finalized, federal funding to construct the project will not be allowed.
A press release issued by the EPA includes a link to the draft determination and can be read here. The EPA has opened a 60-day public comment period that ends on June 26, and will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, May 24. A final decision will be issued by the EPA at the end of the comment period.
The public comment period gives us the opportunity to let the EPA know that concerned Cape Cod citizens and visitors support its draft determination—that the machine gun range poses too much of a risk to our drinking water supply and should be prohibited from being constructed. |
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The Wednesday, May 24 public hearing will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will be preceded by a public meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. It will take place at:
Center for Active Living 70 Quaker Meetinghouse Road Sandwich, MA |
EPA will accept public comments on its proposed decision until June 26, 2023. During this time, the public and interested stakeholders may submit written comments for EPA's consideration. Written comments may be submitted to: [email protected] Sample language: To: David Cash, EPA Region 1 Administrator Dear Administrator Cash:
I am writing in strong support of the Environmental Protection Agency Region 1 draft determination that the proposed multipurpose machine gun range (MPMGR) at Joint Base Cape Cod has the potential to contaminate the aquifer and would create a significant public health hazard. The proposed MPMGR would be located over the Upper Cape Water Supply Reserve and the Sagamore Lens, which is the single source of drinking water for the towns in the Upper Cape region. According to the EPA report, the MPMGR would produce a four-fold increase in the amount of ammunition and associated contaminants that would be deposited on the ground over the aquifer, thereby increasing the potential for those contaminants to reach the groundwater and pollute it. The Cape’s sandy, highly permeable soil further increases the potential for contaminants from the project to adversely impact regional water supplies.
The Massachusetts Army National Guard’s Environmental Assessment of the MPMGR project failed to adequately study and identify the potential environmental and human health impacts of the project, and the Guard has not proposed any meaningful mitigation that would prevent adverse impacts from occurring. The Cape Cod aquifer has experienced significant damage from many decades of JBCC activity, with cleanup efforts still ongoing. As pointed out in the EPA study, if current drinking water sources become further contaminated, new drinking water sources in Upper Cape towns may not be easily found, if they can be found at all. I therefore agree with the EPA determination that neither the aquifer nor the public should bear the risk and uncertainty of a large-scale expansion of pollutants impacting the water supply, and that the most effective way to mitigate significant future impacts to drinking water is for the MPMGR to not be constructed on the Upper Cape Water Supply Reserve.
I urge the EPA to finalize its draft determination, which would require that federal financial assistance not be allowed for this ill-conceived project. Sincerely, (Your name and address) |
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We welcome the arrival of more summer interns! Thanks to our membership donations and program funders, our summer interns are paid for their efforts. |
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Hi, my name is Lillie Ells and I live in Centerville. I am currently graduating from Barnstable High school as well as Cape Cod Community College with an associate degree. This fall I'll be headed to Norwich University in Vermont to study civil engineering. I'm looking forward to working with the cyanobacteria monitoring program and learning more about our water. |
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Hi, I'm Matthew Pittsley, one of the cyanobacteria monitoring interns here at APCC for the summer. I am a seasonal resident of Barnstable where I found my passion and adoration for marine life and the environment. I am an environmental science major at University of New England in Biddeford, Maine. I have minors in marine biology and GIS (geographic information systems). I have interests in coastal and wetland ecology, which I hope to learn more about through this internship. I am looking forward to a fun summer here at the Association to Preserve Cape Cod helping with the Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program.
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Caitlin Cavanaugh is a recent graduate of the University of Maine where she studied ecology and environmental science. She is interested in sustainability and natural resource management and will be working on the cyanobacteria monitoring program. She is excited to learn more about APCC and is looking forward to a fun summer! |
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Nick Sanders is a rising senior at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia majoring in environmental science. He has a minor in animal studies and is working towards a certificate in GIS. Following graduation next year, he is interested in studying coastal ecology and conservation. Nick has spent the last two summers in Eastham and is excited to be on the APCC cyanobacteria monitoring team this summer. He is looking forward to this summer and the new experiences it brings.
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Hi, I'm Haley Synan. I just finished my master of science in marine science from UMass Dartmouth's School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST). I have a bachelor's degree in environmental science from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York. I will be working with Dr. Muramoto on the 2023 State of the Waters report! I am excited to see what the APCC has in store for me this summer! |
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| Luke Boshar. I am originally from Andover, MA and am a rising sophomore at Tufts. This summer, I am beyond excited to interact with the ponds on the Cape, both to understand their individual ecosystems but also to learn about the origins and harms of cyanobacteria.
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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. Once per month. Sign up for one time or more!
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.
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. If you are interested in learning more, please SIGN UP HERE. | |
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About Septic Systems ~ and advice on planting on or around the components
Most homes on the Cape have their own septic systems that consist of a septic tank and leach field. What you put down the drain first enters the septic tank, where grease and solids separate from the household wastewater. The solids settle to the bottom, grease floats to the top. As the tank fills, watery effluent leaves through an outlet to a distribution box that disperses the effluent to underground perforated pipes that spread the liquid throughout the leach field to slowly drain into the soil. In a properly functioning septic system, percolation through the soil removes harmful bacteria and viruses before they can reach the water table.
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| | Planting Considerations
Planting over a septic leach field is possible if it is done with care. If you have limited space on your property where you can garden, the leach field may be the only spot for landscaping. Although turf grass is the typical choice, there are native herbaceous perennials and groundcovers that can be planted, and we encourage you to do so.
Planting over a leach field deserves special consideration because plant roots can clog the distribution box and associated pipes and potentially damage the drain field—an expensive problem to fix. Many herbaceous perennials are safe options because their roots will not grow deep enough to reach the pipes. Read more...
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From the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative... |
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An important natural resource assessment report on what's at stake - "Hanging in the Balance"
The preservation of open space on Cape Cod isn't over yet! There are known mapped areas of critical habitat and valuable natural resources that need protection and should not be lost to development.
Click on the photo below to reach the Hanging in the Balance story map. 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. Click here for the full report (pdf).
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The Jewels of Cape Cod ~ Our Freshwater Ponds |
Hamblin Pond, Barnstable. Photo submitted by Emily Ferguson. |
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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| 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. |
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APCC's 3rd Annual Native Perennial Plant Sale |
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Sponsored by BlueFlax Design, LLC |
| The plants are growing... Mark your calendars! We expect to make the online sales live Tuesday, June 6th at 8 a.m.
As in the past two years, orders are taken online, APCC staff person will contact you to confirm we can fill your order, arrange for payment and to schedule a pickup day and time.
Be thinking about where you have room for more native plants, and where lawn can be reduced and planting beds expanded.
The list is below - start doing your research! Native perennials for Cape Cod Gardens: CapeCodNativePlants.org. All are native, but some are native to regions south and west, but will do well here in the managed landscape. To learn more about the nativity of each, go to GoBotany.NativePlantTrust.org.
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Plants that will be available at the sale: Pyncanthemum flexuosum; Penstemon digitalis; Sympyhotrichum cordifolium; Solidago caesia; Eupatorium perfoliatum; Helinium autumnale; Veronicastrum virginicum; Rudbeckia laciniata; Tiarella cordifolia; Zizea aurea; Eupatorium hyssopifolium; Echinacea purpurea; Sporobolus heterolepis; Eragrostis spectabilis; Hibiscus moscheutos; Asclepias incarnata; Prunella vulgaris; Pycnanthemum muticum; Pycnanthemum tenuifolium; Sympyhotrichum laeve; Monarda punctata; Geranium maculatum; Chelone glabra; Monarda fistulosa; Aquilegia canadensis; Baptisia tinctoria
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A Cape Cod Native Plant-selector ~ to help you choose the perfect native plant for your garden location. |
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| Pussytoes, Antennaria neglecta |
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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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| 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 are archived on our website and easily shared.
You can find past newsletters and share with your friends to sign up for future enewsletters 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 |
Expressions Gallery donates 20 percent of its profits to APCC's work. |
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Thank you to our business sponsors |
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