Association to Preserve Cape Cod |
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| An Appeal - Andrew Gottlieb, Executive Director
It is the time of year when you can expect to receive a letter from me asking you for the money needed to sustain our operations for the year ahead. The collective generosity of our membership represents roughly 40 percent of our operating budget and provides the means to meet our obligations to you to do good work on behalf of the Cape’s environment. I ask you to read on and sacrifice a few more minutes of your day to see how we see ourselves and why we ask for your support.
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APCC distinguishes itself by being Cape Cod’s leading environmental non-profit organization focusing on regional environmental challenges. APCC has always possessed the ability to address current challenges, as presented in our first 55 years, while also looking toward the future and anticipating the pressing needs of our region. APCC member contributions support the staff needed to effectively engage in current issues while always seeking to anticipate, understand, and address future challenges.
APCC achieves its objectives through the development of internal core competencies in environmental policy, advocacy, science, and outreach. We supplement staff expertise as needed through partnerships with towns as well as compatible and complementary environmental organizations, both big and small.
Our ability to work effectively with local, regional, state, and federal government agencies is central to APCC’s ability to achieve success. Establishing ties and connections at all levels of government that reflect a nuanced and detailed understanding of how each level of government functions is an intentional and purposeful part of our work. APCC consciously establishes and maintains durable relationships at the leadership and staff levels of government. APCC maintains a deep institutional understanding of, and appreciation for, the processes of rulemaking, appropriations, and project financing as a means of achieving a better environment.
As a membership-based organization, APCC is reliant on its members for the resources needed to operate. But more than that, APCC staff and leadership have a pact with our members to provide the knowledge and tools needed to effectuate change. APCC members are the implementers of the measures put forth by APCC staff. Staff do their work to inform and enable the membership to make the change happen. APCC’s approach, through aggressive and factual education and outreach, is to create, enable, and motivate an activist membership to work on behalf of the environment of Cape Cod.
The land and waters of Cape Cod will always be the focus of APCC’s attention. Challenges to both are continually evolving and APCC’s approach to their protection is similarly fluid. Over the next year, with your help and support, APCC will focus on: - Water Quality and Nutrient Management
- Land Protection
- Environmental Monitoring
- Education and Outreach
- Resource Restoration
- Emerging Threats
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Promoting Landscaping Practices that Support Nature
If you have read on this far, you know that pressure on Cape Cod’s land and water has never been greater. APCC, with your help, is fully committed to meet the challenges of the day. That is our promise to you. Thank you for your support.
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APCC applauds Falmouth town meeting voters for advancing plans to expand efforts to improve water quality. Voters approved an article funding the design of sewer extensions to the Maravista and Teaticket and the expansion of groundwater discharge capacity at the town treatment plant.
APCC aggressively supported approval of the article and views it as another step forward for clean water restoration efforts across the Cape. |
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APCC is assisting the Cape Cod Water Resources Restoration Project (CCWRRP) with creating a story map presentation documenting the history of CCWRRP and the efforts made to restore salt marshes, fish passages, and address stormwater runoff sites all across Cape Cod. APCC's restoration technician, Eliza Fitzgerald, was out photo-documenting projects. A major stormwater project was the repaving of Commercial Street in Provincetown with porous asphalt.
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The permeable surface allows water to infiltrate directly into the ground, or into underground infiltration chambers, instead of flowing over the pavement surface. This treatment prevents bacteria and other contaminants that are picked up by stormwater runoff on the street from flowing directly into the harbor or onto the beach, while additionally reducing street flooding from heavy rainfall.
Porous asphalt is an example of a green infrastructure solution to the threat stormwater runoff poses to water quality in heavily developed or trafficked areas. Other solutions for stormwater runoff include bio-retention areas and constructed wetlands, which are typically used in tandem with new or existing stormwater infrastructure. |
Packing in the season for cyanobacteria monitoring... |
The season has concluded for cyanobacteria monitoring, so field equipment got packed up last week for storage until next May. Pond groups and towns that participated in the program will receive season summary reports over the next few weeks. Thank you again to all of the folks who volunteer their time to grab water samples and courier them to APCC for analysis—you make this program possible! |
And we bid farewell to our 2023 fall season interns: Anthony Karson, Will Felix, and Meri Ratzel. Thank you for your good work! |
An Important Report from Mass Audubon |
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APCC's Natural Resource Assessment Report -
What's happening in your community to protect the last acreage of priority natural resources? Ask your land trust or your open space committee if they've read, "Hanging in the Balance" and what you can do to protect the last 14 percent. |
An APCC publication - Guidelines for Cape-friendly Landscapes |
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The Guidelines gives homeowners steps they can take in the design and maintenance of their properties that will support pollinators and birds, manage stormwater, conserve water, and protect the Cape's water quality.
This 40-page booklet is beautifully illustrated by Marcy Ford with content that is easily digestible and supported by numerous resources for additional learning. |
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We've enjoyed creating it and hope it will help you with ideas to help you steward your piece of Cape Cod and maybe foster an environmental ethic in the decisions we all make in our own managed landscapes. Get your copy here—and maybe one for a friend? |
We are partnering with several retail shops to make this publication more widely available: Brewster Book Store, Birdwatchers General Store, Crocker Nurseries, Wellfleet Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, Cape Abilities Farm, Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, the Cape Cod Lavender Farm, Heritage Museums and Gardens, and Sea Howl Bookshop. If you are a retailer and would like to sell this publication at your store, contact Kristin at [email protected]. |
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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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| 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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| Fragrant Sumac Rhus aromatica |
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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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