Association to Preserve Cape Cod |
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| No Escape by Andrew Gottlieb, APCC Executive Director
Having spent the last several days in the Canadian Rockies, a place as contrasting from Cape Cod as any place in the world, I was struck by the vastness and size of everything. The mountains are big, the streams are big, and the views are big. Also big were the large pipes draining the stormwater from downtown Banff directly into the river flowing through town. |
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It was hard not to be struck by the familiarity of it all. A community reliant upon the natural beauty of its surroundings, much like Cape Cod, awash with income driven by tourism, not doing the minimum necessary to preserve the quality of the resource. Perhaps the thinking is that because the area is so vast that the contaminated stormwater won’t make much of a difference, but have we not learned that the environment has a carrying capacity that cannot be exceeded without dire consequences? The grey and orange haze from wildfire smoke that descended upon and blotted out the surrounding Rockies on our last day in Banff is a reminder that, at least when it comes to mistreating the environment, what goes around indeed comes around.
Getting back to what triggered this discussion in the first place, the stormwater pipes in the river (and yes, I am no fun to travel with; as my party was admiring the sweeping views, I was pointing out and complaining about the drainage pipes), we have major stormwater drainage problems impacting both fresh and saltwater resources that need attention in all 15 towns. Here at APCC we are preparing several grant applications with towns and other partners seeking millions in federal funds to address some of the larger stormwater projects that need to be built. We are also continuing our work to mitigate stormwater runoff from several public boat ramps.
Despite our efforts, there is a lot of work remaining to be done at the local level. Even though it’s only early September, it is not too early to start to nudge your town about what plans it has for projects going to town meeting in the spring of ’24. It is not too early to push for funding of stormwater mitigation projects for next year. If you live on a pond and are frustrated that wastewater management improvements are far off in the future, tackling stormwater is something that doesn’t have to wait and can be done now to help your treasured pond. Go to town hall or call your DPW and ask if they know where the direct stormwater discharges are and what plans there are to remediate them. Take that information and push to have projects funded in the next town meeting cycle.
Because we are already living with the results of years of mistreating our water resources, we know all too well that our waters have taken enough abuse. We also know how to treat them better and had better get busy doing so while it still matters. |
We've been busy! APCC in the field...
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APCC was out at Mass Audubon Barnstable Great Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary last week with staff from Mass Audubon and NOAA to complete a survey of salt marsh vegetation. This pre-restoration monitoring is in support of a project being led by Mass Audubon to restore the marsh through techniques of ditch remediation (filling of man-made ditches) and runnelling (creating shallow channels to help drain areas of pooling water on the marsh surface). Combined, these techniques will help maintain high marsh vegetation important to species like the salt marsh sparrow and increase the resilience of this system to the impacts of climate change. APCC is excited about being involved in this work and hopes to learn and transfer knowledge from this project for the preservation and restoration of marshes across the Cape.
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APCC restoration staff, along with representatives of MA Division of Ecological Restoration, UMass Amherst, and the town of Dennis, visited Sesuit Creek marsh this week for a quick assessment of the status of a 2018 pilot planting study and ongoing sediment sampling on the site.
We were surprised and excited to see how much the Spartina alterniflora salt marsh grass that was planted had grown since 2018 and since our last year of full monitoring in 2020. There has also been new vegetation growing in from the creek and upland edges, which is very positive to see. Further assessment this fall will help inform planning of future management measures with our partners for restoration of this kind on other salt marsh sites on Cape Cod.
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Test plot in summer 2018.
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Beyond Preservation ~ A Spotlight on Natural Resource Restoration in Harwich |
Rejuvenation of the natural water connection through projects like the Childs River restoration project, completed in 2021, and the Coonamessett River restoration project, both have proven to be valuable to water quality and habitat improvement. We will be watching the progress of this Harwich project, anticipating great results. Preserve ~ Restore ~ Explore!
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APCC is Hiring: A Fulltime, Year-round Position |
Cyanobacteria Science Coordinator: APCC seeks an experienced project manager to manage the sample analysis, interpretation, and reporting of results for APCC’s Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program. The cyanobacteria science coordinator is responsible for ensuring the overall scientific quality of the program through oversight of sample collection, analyses, interpretation, and reporting of monitoring results, and communicating results and other information to municipal officials, agencies, organizations, and the public in an accurate clear manner. The position is fulltime, year-round, salaried with benefits. For the full description, click here. To apply, email a cover letter and resume to Dr. Julie Hambrook at: [email protected]
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Baltimore checkerspot butterfly (left) and locust borer beetle (above). |
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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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The Jewels of Cape Cod ~ Our Freshwater Ponds |
Above aerial photo of Dollar Pond by Steve Koppel.
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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.
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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] |
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| By popular request...
APCC Caps are 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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A Cape Cod Native Plant-selector ~ to help you choose the perfect native plant for your garden location. |
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| Elderberry, Sambucus nigra L. ssp. canadensis |
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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. |
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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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