Association to Preserve Cape Cod |
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| Who Are You Really? by Andrew Gottlieb, Executive Director
I have been hearing a lot of new voices speaking passionately about the need to protect Cape’s groundwater and the integrity of the natural resources of Nantucket Sound. On the surface that’s great, as we need more people to speak up for the environment. That said, I find a lot of what I am hearing of late reflect canned talking points from the fossil fuel interests. |
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New organizations, masquerading as environmentalists, have been created to galvanize opposition to low carbon energy sources. These organizations are feeding an unsuspecting public talking points intended to be repeated because they leverage real fears. In this case, their target are the cables from offshore wind coming ashore on Cape Cod. According to this PR campaign, these cable landings and their associated infrastructure pose unique and unacceptable threats to the environment of Cape Cod. What is missing from the arguments against the substation being proposed to connect the wind power to the grid is the reality of actual lived experience.
There are 15 substations already on Cape Cod and transformers through neighborhoods from Bourne to Provincetown, both on the ground and on poles. Each of these represents a small threat to groundwater that we should justifiably be concerned about, although there are no known cases of groundwater contamination from substation leaks. The groundwater protections proposed for the new substation are better than any of the existing stations. Despite the improved protections offered in the new substation spill containment, the conversation remains focused on efforts to stop the newest and most well-designed of these facilities from being built.
Being against the new thing without addressing the problems and threats to groundwater more broadly is a clear indication that this effort is about stopping a project instead of addressing an issue of broad concern like groundwater protection. Were the substation issue to have merit, the focus should on be calling for enhanced groundwater protection by upgrading existing electric substation spill containment, for increased land protection and open space acquisition to protect remaining habitat and groundwater quality, the replacement of polluting septic systems with municipal wastewater infrastructure, or a myriad of other protective steps that anyone serious about groundwater protection would be promoting.
The same inconsistencies exist when it comes to the alleged harm caused by the cable landings connecting the windfarms to the grid. The opposition against seabed disruption seems only to apply to windfarm cables. No similar concerns were voiced about the potential damage done by the five existing cables that supply electricity from the Cape mainland to the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
If it were really about resource protection, these same voices should be yelling for faster sewering and more resource restoration work to improve coastal water resources. APCC spends a lot of time on the ground on these issues and many of the most outspoken opponents of the cable landings have been largely silent in promoting the measures and public expenditures that would provide real environmental protection.
I am left to conclude that many, but not all, of the voices against the wind-related transmission facilities reflect a brief and cynical embrace of environmentalism. It is easy to get people to oppose something when someone invests a lot of energy into convincing them it's bad for their families. It is more challenging to get people to work toward improvements in the environment the benefit us all, especially if that benefit is indirect. The cynical hijacking of environmentalism to defeat advances in environmental protection may make for good talk radio and boost social media profiles, but it is not about what is best for Cape Cod.
I hope to be proven wrong that the goal here is not for a group of people to stop a project and then walk away from speaking about the environment. If you think this assessment if unfair, then prove me wrong. Speak up for increased land conservation, improve your personal yard management practices by eliminating fertilizer and pesticide use and by planting more native plants, cancel scheduled mosquito and tick spraying that kills beneficial pollinators as well, or push your town to invest in water quality.
Being against wind energy does not make you a champion of the environment. Be for something, and put your energy toward leveraging real environmental improvement. |
The Koppel Center to Preserve Cape Cod is underway! |
With the Koppel Center to Preserve Cape Cod as the backdrop, APCC board president, Steve Koppel, and his wife, Paula, gathered February 26th to officially kick-off the $1.3 million Koppel Center renovation project. Steve and Paula Koppel are shown here with APCC board members Jamie Demas, Charlie Sumner, Eliza McCLennen, Pat Hughes, and executive director, Andrew Gottlieb.
The day began with the site visit by the Koppels and concluded with the contractor reaching the milestone of completing the excavation of the soil beneath building. Work on the structure's new footings and foundation will begin this week. When completed, the new walk-out basement will add significant new workspace to accommodate APCC’s growing professional staff, including scientists, resource restoration specialists, and advocates. The new layout has been thoughtfully designed, and considerate of the needs of staff and volunteers, and in keeping with the thoughtful leadership role APCC plays in the region. When finished, it will blend seamlessly with its scenic Rt. 6A setting. The Koppel Center will become a community focal point to showcase APCC’s rich history, mission, and impact on Cape Cod. |
Herring count volunteers needed for 2024
Counting will begin on April 1. Deadline to sign up is March 22.
Volunteers are needed to count several times a week between April 1 and June 15. Counts are done for 10 minutes. Volunteers must be able to safely traverse rough terrain, be able to visually see fish in the stream, and provide their own transportation to and from the counting site. The counts are reported to APCC via our website data entry system.
Cape Cod has many herring runs that provide opportunities for volunteers to view the spring herring migration while collecting valuable scientific data. This year volunteers are needed to count herring along the following runs: - Stony Brook, Brewster
- Bound Brook and Scargo Lake, Dennis
- Trunk River, Falmouth
- Mashpee River, Quashnet River and Santuit Pond, Mashpee
- Mill Creek, Sandwich
- Long Pond, Yarmouth
- Baxter Grist Mill, Yarmouth
If you are interested in counting herring,
you can sign up at APCC’s volunteer site here.
Deadline to sign up is March 22nd. |
Currently Scheduled Trainings
Note: Trainings are for the volunteers who have signed up for that run. Mashpee – two trainings
Runs: Mashpee River, Quashnet River at Johns Pond, and Santuit Pond dam When: First training: Thursday, March 14th, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Second training: Thursday, March 28th, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Wellfleet
Run: Herring River When: Thursday, March 28th, 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.
Details on these trainings and others can be found on our website at the Herring Monitor Hub. |
Advocacy at Work - Proposed Multi-purpose Machine Gun Range |
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With federal spending bills for the year finally seemingly coming to some finalization, APCC renewed its request to Senators Markey and Warren and Congressman Keating to be on the lookout to continue to block efforts by the Massachusetts National Guard to obtain additional funding for the construction of the proposed multipurpose machine gun range (MPMGR).
The Guard has a history of seeking funding without the knowledge or support of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation and such exceptional diligence is required to assure that no additional funds are allocated to the project, given the EPA's determination that its construction would pose a significant threat to the water supply of the Upper Cape. The project does not yet have the necessary approval of the state Environmental Management Commission either, and therefore cannot proceed regardless of EPA or Congressional appropriations.
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Saturday, March 9th 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Tilden Arts Center, Cape Cod Community College
The annual Cape Cod Natural History Conference, now in its 27th year, will be hosted in-person once again at the Cape Cod Community College Tilden Arts Center! This conference will feature a series of presentations from area researchers from environmental organizations across Cape Cod, speaking on a diversity of timely natural history topics. Registration is required.
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Resilient Roots hosts APCC's education director, Kristin Andres |
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APCC's Dr. Julie Hambrook was a guest speaker in The 300 Committees Winter Speaker Series: Cyanobacteria and the Cape Cod Pond Monitoring Project |
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Now accepting applications for these positions: |
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| Eco-landscape Audit Program Manager - April through November
APCC is seeking a qualified individual who is passionate about native plants and ecological landscapes to be the team leader of APCC’s Eco-landscape Audit Program. It will be the second year for the program designed to offer ecological landscape consultations for homeowners. The program team will consist of one or two summer interns and the manager will be the team leader. Read more...
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| Restoration Coordinator - Full-time, year-round position
Responsibilities include managing restoration projects; managing and developing project and consultant engineer scope of work and budgets; working effectively with multiple partners and constituents to plan, initiate, manage and complete multi-year restoration projects, and assisting with seasonal field survey work as needed. Read more...
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The 2023 State of the Waters: Cape Cod report content can be viewed on this dedicated website: CapeCodWaters.org |
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Guidelines for Cape-friendly Landscapes - an APCC publication |
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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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Thank you for this important book! Hopefully everyone of us with a yard will read it and put it to use! - Vicky Titcomb of Titcomb Bookshop |
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?
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We are grateful for the several retail shops that are partnering with us 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, Titcomb's Bookshop, and Sea Howl Bookshop, Soares Flower Garden Nursery.
If you are a retailer and would like to sell this publication at your store, contact Kristin at [email protected]. |
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Guidelines got a great plug from CL Fonari as she interviewed Marie Chieppo, contributing author, on her radio show, Garden Line on WXTK. Check it out here.
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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. Please get on the map to show your support of pollinators on Cape Cod!
SOON, you'll be able to purchase a Pollinator Pathway Cape Cod sign for your garden! These nine-inch round aluminum signs of the Pathway logo will be available for purchase at participating retail nurseries in the coming weeks. |
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| 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 plants for your garden. |
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Aromatic Aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium |
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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 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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APCC is rated four stars by Charity Navigator and 2023 Platinum by Candid (formerly Guidestar). |
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