Association to Preserve Cape Cod |
|
|
| Why We Are Here by Andrew Gottlieb, APCC Executive Director
Leaping out of the car, my nine-year-old great nephew exclaimed to everyone and no one in particular, “It’s time to start my Cape Cod Lake Life!" The beginning of his annual visit with the palpable excitement and expectation of a joyous week in the clean clear waters of Cape Cod. Part of the 4th generation of my family to have bonded to our own sliver of paradise, he was not expecting to be told to stay clear of the water, that there was something called cyanobacteria and that he, his sisters, and Gus the poodle (aka “funGus” and “asparaGUS”) needed to stay out of the water.
|
|
|
In explaining the situation, I felt great sadness and a disappointment, perhaps like his, but very different in its origin. Mine came from the direct knowledge that we, collectively, have failed in our responsibility to preserve and protect the quality of our environment in general and water resources in particular. And while deeply personal, sadly, my experience was replicated across the Cape. The holiday weekend was marked by beach closures and swimming restrictions in at least Mashpee, Barnstable, Dennis, Chatham, Eastham, and Bourne. I have no idea how many long-planned and much-anticipated family vacations and traditions were altered because of poor water quality but even one is too many.
It is one thing when bad weather puts a crimp in outdoor plans; it is an altogether different thing when it’s both our fault and easily prevented. And make no mistake about it, bacterial contamination and general degradation of surface waters is the direct result of our continued reliance on antiquated wastewater management technology, stormwater runoff and excessive use of fertilizers. Resolving these problems is not complex, nor does it require much more than awareness, engagement, and some money (with a lot of it coming from visitors to Cape Cod) to fix.
Whatever motivates you, be it an intrinsic valuation of preserving the natural world, not wanting to disappoint my great nephew’s counterpart in your family, or a desire to maintain the value of your investment in the Cape, the need to act is staring us all in the face. I know it is summer, but if not now, when is there a better time to tell your town officials that water quality problems and swimming restrictions are unacceptable and that you want them to prioritize water quality improvements? The future of your Cape Cod life depends on taking action now.
|
APCC Pond Monitoring Program, part of the Cape Cod Commission's Freshwater Initiative ~ 50 Ponds from April to November, with the help of volunteers assisting APCC staff. |
|
|
Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program |
You can sign up to receive an email whenever a cyanobacteria bloom is detected in a Cape pond that is being monitored. Click here to sign up for the cyanobacteria alert. |
|
|
APCC has QR code stickers that link to our cyanobacteria webpage. If you'd like one or more to post on or around your pond, request by email to [email protected] |
| |
|
Saquatucket Harbor Native Planting |
|
|
We are excited to announce a new native planting project that was completed at Saquatucket Harbor just before the July 4th holiday—an APCC project with the town of Harwich and BlueFlax Design. Native shrubs and perennials have been planted on either side of the boardwalk that leads from the parking lot and ticket booths to the marina. Native perennials were also planted in two locations near the art sheds. The purpose of these plantings is to draw attention to native plants and their value to pollinators and wildlife. But they also offer beauty without the need for fertilizers that contribute to the excess nutrients in the Cape's coastal waterways. This native planting expands on the good work the town and the Harwich Garden Club has been doing around town on similar native plant projects. (And thanks to Gerald Beetham for documenting the work with these photos!)
|
Celebrating Cape-friendly Landscapes! |
Our lawn has been replaced with a plethora of colorful pollinator plants. And we increased our pollinator plants even more with perennials from APCC's native plant sale. |
Butterfly milkweed has taken off in our garden and attracts loads of monarch butterflies. We look forward to their return each year. Many thanks to APCC for spreading the word about native plants! - Nancy Ortiz from Brewster (Brewster Ponds Coalition Board Member) |
Do you have a Cape-friendly landscape to share? Tell us your story, send a few pictures and a brief description or comment to [email protected] |
|
|
Friday, July 14th at 10 a.m. Craine Room, Snow Library
67 Main Street in Orleans
|
Kristin Andres, APCC's associate director for education, will talk about creating beautiful, environmentally friendly landscapes in this time of climate change.
Join us to learn about native plants, eco-friendly land care, reducing your carbon footprint, and adapting to extreme weather. Kristin's experience and expertise will help you make the most of your garden and be excellent stewards of your land.
|
|
|
The Jewels of Cape Cod ~ Our Freshwater Ponds |
Stillwater Pond, Chatham. Photo by Chris Seufert |
|
|
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, CLICK HERE.
Our most recent meeting was recorded and we will be sending out an email to all who have signed up with the network with the link to the recording, along with additional information. |
|
|
| 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. |
|
|
A Cape Cod Native Plant-selector ~ to help you choose the perfect native plant for your garden location. |
|
|
| Buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis |
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
Sally Baer's rain barrel! |
| 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 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}}* |
| |
|
|