Association to Preserve Cape Cod |
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| APCC and our coalition of environmental partners are keeping a close eye on the unfolding budget process in the state legislature, as lawmakers work to bring forward spending proposals for the next fiscal year.
APCC’s focus is on the funding that the legislature will allocate for Massachusetts environmental agencies, which has a direct bearing on the state’s ability to protect and restore natural resources, ensure a safe and healthy environment for citizens, and address the climate crisis through carbon reduction and adaptation programs. As the budget process moves forward, we will advocate for sufficient investment levels in the budget to make sure our state environmental agencies have the necessary resources to do the critical work of protecting our environment.
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Meanwhile, APCC is pleased to report that An Act Relative to Maintaining Adequate Water Supplies Through Effective Drought Management (H.861/S.475) was recently reported out of the Joint Committee on Natural Resources and the Environment and sent to the House Ways and Means and Senate Ways and Means committees. This is the next step forward in moving the bill toward a vote by the respective chambers and its hopeful passage by the legislature. Read APCC’s letters to the Ways and Means committees.
The bill, which is one of APCC’s priorities, would give the Commonwealth the authority to require water conservation measures during times of drought that would be applied in a consistent and fair manner to nonessential water use within a designated drought region. Agriculture and other specified essential water users would be exempt. Currently, multiple towns sharing the same water resource may have different water conservation policies—or no policy whatsoever. The lack of a consistent response to a severe drought could compromise drinking water supplies and adversely impact pond and stream water levels. In the weeks ahead, APCC will let our members know how they can send a message to the legislature to help pass the drought management bill. Stay tuned for more information. |
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Protecting river herring at sea: New England Fishery Management Council seeks public input by Jo Ann Muramoto, Ph.D., APCC Science Program Director
Despite an 18-year-long moratorium on river herring catch, their numbers have continued to decline as evidenced by volunteer herring counts conducted throughout Cape Cod. In late fall 2023, APCC issued a press release describing the results of the 2023 volunteer counts and the declining run sizes in many runs over time where most of the highest run size estimates in monitored runs have occurred in past years (see report). That our herring runs have generally seen their best years in the past is discouraging, given that APCC and numerous partners and agencies have over the years invested significant resources in restoring herring runs. What is going on with river herring populations?
Alewife and blueback herring, aka river herring, spend their lives in two very different environments—inland freshwater streams, rivers, and ponds where adults breed and where the young hatch out and grow for several months—and the sea where juvenile herring grow into adults and where adults live most of their lives. At sea, they mingle with a similar herring species that lives only in saltwater—the Atlantic herring, which is sought by fishing trawlers.
In our freshwater streams, rivers and ponds, river herring are protected by the ongoing moratorium and by management, restoration, and monitoring by herring wardens, state and federal fisheries officials, organizations such as APCC and others, and citizens. In the sea, river herring are managed as part of the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan because they co-mingle with Atlantic herring. In 2014, a cap was placed on river herring catch in three offshore areas: Gulf of Maine, east of Cape Cod, and southern New England. In 2019, mid-water fishing trawlers in a 20-mile-wide zone east of Cape Cod and 12 mile-wide zones elsewhere were prohibited in order to protect river herring from overfishing and bycatch. In 2022, a judicial decision overturned the prohibition, allowing mid-water fishing trawls to resume.
Since the 2022 judicial decision, the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance has worked with the New England Fishery Management Council on a draft Amendment 10 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan to improve management and protection of herring at sea. The council is now evaluating what should be done to rebuild Atlantic herring stocks, as well as actions to avoid river herring and shad catch at sea. The council is holding scoping meetings to solicit public input; the next scoping meeting will be held in Buzzards Bay on March 27 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Comments are due by April 30, 2024.
For more information on the proposed Amendment 10, visit the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance website. For information on the scoping meetings, click here. APCC will provide comments and will distribute our comment letter.
To learn more about APCC’s herring count program, visit APCC’s website. |
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We recently told you that 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 initial 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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The time has come for the EPA to finalize its determination that the construction of the MPMGR poses an unacceptable threat to the Upper Cape water supply. We encourage you to let our congressional delegation hear again that you remain concerned with the protection of our water supply and want and expect them to support the EPA’s findings.
Send emails to: [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected] with some version of the following:
The time has come for the EPA to finalize its determination that the construction of the MPMGR poses an unacceptable threat to the Upper Cape water supply. I remain concerned with the protection of our water supply and want you to do all you can to support the EPA’s findings and put this issue to rest once and for all. [Name] |
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Horseshoe crabs, prized by the biomedical industry for their blood, to get new protections in Massachusetts - The controversial regulation won final approval from a group of fishing industry representatives. - Boston Globe
"Massachusetts’ protections for the crabs have long lagged behind other states with biomedical fisheries. The blood of horseshoe crabs, which are more similar to scorpions or spiders than crabs, is the main ingredient in an important pharmaceutical test to determine whether vaccines are safe to administer to humans.
Their blood has been used to test vaccines for contamination since the 1970s because it naturally clots around harmful bacteria. An alternative synthetic test has been developed, but has not yet been approved by US drug regulators for widespread use.
The new ban will put Massachusetts on the other side of the spectrum with among the strictest regulations on horseshoe crab harvesting in the country. The controversial ban was approved Tuesday after a commission that represents the fishing industry gave its blessing; the regulation still awaits final approval by the governor, which is expected this spring." |
Still Accepting Volunteers for 2024 Herring Monitoring Deadline to sign up is March 22.
Volunteers 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.
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. Brewster Herring Runs: Stony Brook When: Monday, March 25, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Where: Lower Mill Pond Park at 830 Stony Brook Road, across from the Stony Brook Mill.
Dennis Herring Runs: Bound Brook and Scargo Lake When: March 27, 1:00 pm to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Scargo Lake, parking lot located near 44 Dr Lord’s Road South Dennis, MA 02638. The second part of the training the group will drive to Bound Brook located at 730 Airline Road South Dennis, MA 02660 – volunteers can also put “Sears Cemetery” into the GPS and will be brought to the parking lot.
Eastham Run: Herring Pond When: Friday, March 22nd, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: Eastham Public Library, 190 Samoset Rd Mashpee
Runs: Mashpee River, Quashnet River at Johns Pond, and Santuit Pond dam When: Thursday, March 28th, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Where: Mashpee Town Hall Wellfleet Run: Herring River
When: Thursday, March 28th, 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Where: Wellfleet Public Library Yarmouth Herring Runs: Herring River, Tom Mathews Pond, Lond Pond, and Baxter Grist Mill When:
Long Pond – Tuesday, March 26 at 10:00 a.m.
Baxter Grist Mill – Tuesday, March 26 at 11:30 a.m.
Where: Baxter Grist Mill – 142 MA-28 West Yarmouth, 02673. There is a parking lot across from the Cape Sands Inn. The parking lot is in between the Mill and Town Brook Road.
Details on these trainings and others can be found on our website at the Herring Monitor Hub. |
Upcoming Meetings, Talks & Events
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Resilient Roots hosts APCC's education director, Kristin Andres |
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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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| State of the Waters Intern - full-time, seasonal position We are seeking a college- or graduate-level intern to assist with our “State of the Waters: Cape Cod” project. Tasks include: - Collection and organization of water quality data for coastal embayments, ponds, and public water supplies.
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Data analysis, scoring and grading of water quality data using established Excel formulas.
- Conducting statistical analyses to summarize results using Excel.
- Collection and analysis of drinking water Consumer Confidence Reports.
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Preparation of data summaries, coordination with APCC’s GIS contractor, and participation in team meetings.
- Assist with other projects as needed.
Minimum Education Requirements: A bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., water resources, hydrology, limnology, natural resource management, etc.) and experience and skills as described here. |
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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, Sea Howl Bookshop, Soares Flower Garden Nursery, and Eight Cousins 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. Please get on the map to show your support of pollinators on Cape Cod!
You can purchase now your 9-inch aluminum Pollinator Pathway Cape Cod sign at Hyannis Country Garden.
If you are a retailer, and you would like to sell the signs, you can order online here, or email [email protected]. |
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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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| Rain Barrels for Cape Cod
Order online from Upcycle Products $122 each
includes FedEx shipping to your door APCC receives a portion of the proceeds. For more information, click here. |
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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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| Boneset
Eupatorium perfoliatum |
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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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