Association to Preserve Cape Cod

Photo by Sue Machie

What I'm Thinking...

Under the Radar

by Andrew Gottlieb, Executive Director

The state budget is obviously about money, but it is also a vehicle where some important policy changes can be enshrined into law. The FY ‘25 budget just signed by Governor Healey contains two provisions especially important to water quality on Cape Cod.

The first is a technical amendment to the Cape and Islands Water Protection Fund. APCC asked Representative Sarah Peake to sponsor an amendment that eliminates a cumbersome process and allows the Fund board, comprised of representatives from each Cape town, to contract directly through the Cape Cod Commission for water quality monitoring. Having the ability to locally control the selection and contracting for water quality monitoring instead of having to rely on the state to contract ensures that the proper monitoring is done and shared with the public and the communities. This is one of those nuanced but important things that helps determine how well we understand what is happening in our waters and if our management measures are having their intended effect. This is just the latest important measure supporting water quality that is attributable to Representative Peake’s considerable legislative skills. We thank her and will miss her in her well-deserved retirement from the legislature at the end of the year.

The second important change was championed by Senator Julian Cyr and supported by APCC in the conference committee process. The law was changed to make sewer connections in nitrogen sensitive areas eligible for the same tax credit as septic upgrades for year-round residents. This is an enormously impactful change that removes the bias in the tax code against sewer connections and therefore enhances the affordability of town wastewater program implementation. Additionally, this is a tax credit, a dollar-for-dollar reduction in taxes owed, not a deduction, which makes its impact greater. Obviously, you will need to assess the eligibility requirements to determine if they apply to you specifically. That said, as a rule this expanded tax credit will significantly help the year-round population that is already challenged by the higher cost of living and housing here on Cape Cod. Our thanks go out to Senator Cyr for making this important change happen. Our waters and residents will all benefit from his actions.

Subtle, but important, initiatives like these do not grab headlines, but they are every bit as important as the issues that gain more attention. The region is fortunate that our legislative delegation remains focused on the needs of the regions water quality initiatives and continue to deliver results.

APCC's Annual Meeting

Join us!

Sunday, August 25th

12:00 p.m.

Under the tent at the Dennis Inn

26 Scarsdale Rd, Dennis 02638

Registration here.

Take Action to protect the Upper Cape Water Supply Reserve

The Massachusetts National Guard, acting through the Massachusetts Military Division, is once again seeking bids to construct a multipurpose machine gun range (MPMGR) on top of the Upper Cape Water Supply Reserve.

Please write Governor Healey today

and demand that she direct her staff to cancel this bid solicitation.

Please use the state's contact form (link below) to send the governor a message. Here's a sample message you can copy and paste into the comments box on the state form:

Dear Gov. Healey,

I am writing to urge you to use your authority in putting a stop to the multipurpose machine gun range proposed for the Upper Cape Water Supply Reserve. I am very concerned about the Massachusetts National Guard’s recent transparent efforts to prevent existing project funds from expiring on September 30 by opening up another bidding process and securing a construction contract. A construction contract signed before October 1 would enable the Guard to continue to try to force the MPMGR on Cape Cod residents who are justifiably concerned that the project threatens the Upper Cape’s only source of drinking water.

This action by the Guard to advance contracting of the project is a further breach of the public trust and the commitment by your administration—which was agreed to by the Guard—that the project would not move forward until the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has completed its work on the Sole Source Aquifer study and the state’s Environmental Management Commission has reviewed the project. Please use your authority as governor to order the bidding process to stop and to put a halt to this ill-conceived project. Thank you.

Link to state's website: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/email-the-governors-office#email-the-governor-&-lt.-governor-using-this-form-

We'd like to exceed 1,000 emails to Governor Healey, demanding that she ensure this project does not go forward.

If you've already written the governor, thank you!

Species Spotlight: Cape Cod’s Sea-Run ‘Salter’ Brook Trout

Above: Example of a chrome-colored sea-run brook trout caught in late spring on the Quashnet River.

Beyond being prized as a sport fish, brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) are an important indicator species. Being highly sensitive to changes in their environment, they are a gauge for the health of our ecosystem. When one thinks of brook trout, it typically evokes images of cool, pristine, mountain streams—not the crowded coastal areas of southern New England. However, prior to the Industrial Revolution, coastal streams from Long Island to Maine were prime habitat for populations of native sea-run brook trout, colloquially known as ‘salters.’ Today, only a few populations remain.

Unlike the more commonly known land-locked form, Cape Cod’s native trout are anadromous—meaning they use both fresh and saltwater environments during their life cycle. Once the fish have spawned in the fall, many will overwinter in the estuaries. There, the trout feed and grow in the relatively food-rich marine environment. They will return to the rivers in spring before the seasonal arrival of ocean predators like bluefish and striped bass. To better survive in the marine environment, sea-run brook trout turn a silvery color, losing much of their distinctive markings. Within weeks of returning to freshwater, the green, red, and orange coloration more typical of brook trout will return.

Brook trout are a cold water species, preferring water temperatures from 45 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. On Cape Cod, they thrive in the cold, clear, coastal streams that are fed by groundwater seeps. Since the mid-1800s, mill dams and cranberry farming have severely impacted trout habitat. Impoundments, such as dams, berms, and culverts, have raised the water temperatures and sanding of the bogs shallowed river channels and covered up much of the rocky/gravel habitat that trout require to spawn and feed.

Through restoration efforts managed by APCC and other local and regional partners, Cape Cod’s brook trout populations can recover. One of the most important aspects of brook trout habitat restoration is restoring stream channels to their natural state. This has been successfully accomplished on the Coonamessett and Childs Rivers by removing barriers to fish passage, restoring gravel beds for spawning, and adding structure to provide cover for young trout. In both restored river systems there’s been an observed decrease in water temperatures and the presence of newly spawned young-of-the-year fish—all good signs for the future of these populations.

Long-term monitoring and adaptive management are essential for the success of brook trout restoration. Working with partners at Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and MassWildlife, APCC and the Falmouth Rod and Gun Club are continuing to track water quality, fish populations, and habitat conditions on the Childs River for evaluation of project effectiveness and adjustments to restoration strategies as needed. By working together, it is possible to restore and protect Cape Cod's precious brook trout populations for future generations.

Farming Falmouth

Photo courtesy of Ellie Costa

Farming Falmouth is raising money to purchase land they are currently leasing. Read the article in The Enterprise. Learn more about Farming Falmouth.

From MassWildlife: In the spirit of the Summer Olympics...

Above photo credit: Gerald Beetham

"Gold medal in long jump: Bullfrogs

Bullfrogs may be iconic for their loud and recognizable call, but their undeniable athleticism is on full display when they use their strong back legs to leap into the air. Even though they average 3.5–6 inches long, these fierce competitors have been recorded jumping over 50 inches! Even if they happened to lose out on gold in the long jump, they may have a chance in the Olympic sport of wrestling. Male bullfrogs are known to be incredibly territorial and will aggressively fight off intruders.

Gold medal in weightlifting: Ants

You may be expecting something big and burly to win the gold in weightlifting, but ants shouldn’t be underestimated in this event. Although they are small in size, ants can carry up to twenty times their bodyweight. Ants have strong jaws to grasp objects to carry and they use their very strong neck muscles to lift objects into the air. To put it in human terms, this would be like a human lifting a 4,000 lb. car with their mouths, lifting it over their heads, and putting it on their back.

Gold medal in long distance swimming: American eels

American eels may not fit the athlete stereotype, but these slender fish can really go the distance. These eels hatch in the middle of the ocean in a large area called the Sargasso Sea. They are carried around by ocean currents until they reach coastlines throughout the North Atlantic, including traveling 400–2,000 miles to the coast of Massachusetts. From there, they swim upstream and primarily live in rivers and estuaries for most of their lives. When it is time to spawn, these amazing eels will head back to the ocean and swim over 1,000 miles back to the Sargasso Sea to spawn and die."

Read more...

Pond Volunteers in Action

Above: Kristi Dondlinger monitoring Greenland Pond Brewster. Photo courtesy of Brewster Ponds Coalition.

Cape Cod Ponds Network

Reminder!

Cape Cod Ponds Network next meeting

at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster

Thursday, August 8th, 6:00 p.m.

Register to attend.

This is an in person meeting. Sorry, we will not be recording, but look for a recap of the presentations in the September Ponds Network eNewsletter.

We are taking appointments now through August (first come, first serve). Click here for more information.

2024 testimonials:

This is so fantastic!! You have provided so many great ideas and lots of detail, everything I need to be successful!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! - Kathy W.

Thank you for your ideas, suggestions, recommendations, and education. - Judith B.

Most excellent!! VERY well done, and SO much useful information. Definitely exceeded my expectations, which were pretty high! - Eli W.

APCC's Ecolandscape Audit Program is hands down, the best investment for the money that I have made in my yard EVER. What a comprehensive evaluation! It will leave you inspired to better your Cape Cod landscape in relation to water use, plant selection, and pollinator & animal habitat. Wonderful, wonderful! - Rick M.

Events Hosted by Others

Brewster Ponds Coalition is celebrating its 10th year!

Annual Meeting

Saturday, August 10th, 8:30-11:00 a.m.

the Cape Cod Bible Alliance Church, Main Street, Brewster.

Guest speaker: Christopher Flanagan, Massachusetts House of Representatives for the 1st Barnstable District

Please register here.

Brewster Ponds Coalition and SUPfari Adventures Host

an Evening Glow Eco Paddle Fun-Raiser

Photo credit: SUPfari Adventures

BPC invites you to this guided fund-raising Eco Paddle on

Sunday, Aug 11, 7-8:30 p.m.

The paddle is $50 for ages 14-25 and $75 per person for over 25,

and is limited to 12 participants.

Pre-registration and payment are required.

Join BPC for a unique evening glow paddle illuminating the water underneath your kayak or SUP,

starting from Arey’s Pond in Orleans.

FRESHWATER POND SCIENCE 101
Free Zoom Webinar
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 4:00-5:30 p.m.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87160986875?pwd=znULqp5EnLwRe1d1p5ExbFli4BBhab.1

Protecting our freshwater ponds requires passion, commitment, and knowledge. We need at least a basic understanding of pond science if we’re going to effectively communicate with our pond neighbors and develop effective strategies for protecting our ponds. With that in mind, we hope you will participate in this free Zoom webinar.

The webinar will provide an introduction to Freshwater Pond Science, helping us understand the basic biological, chemical, and physical processes that govern these dynamic and critically important ecosystems. By understanding pond ecology, water quality, the biodiversity of aquatic life in our ponds, cyanobacteria, and the impacts of human activities, we will be more effective in protecting our ponds.

The webinar will:

explain the importance of freshwater ponds in the ecosystem
cover the basic physical and chemical properties of freshwater ponds
identify key biological components of pond ecosystems, including plants, animals, and microorganisms
describe the nutrient cycles (nitrogen and phosphorus)
highlight human impacts on ponds, including pollution, invasive species, and conservation and restoration efforts.

The presentations will be followed by a generous amount of time for Q&A.

The presenters are:

Julie Hambrook Berkman, Ph.D. - As the Association to Preserve Cape Cod’s pond and cyanobacteria program manager, Julie is responsible for coordinating and managing the Pond Monitoring Program and the Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program. In her role, she builds and maintains partnerships with municipalities, agencies, organizations, and volunteers, engaging with interested citizens and organizations who care about Cape Cod’s 890 ponds to preserve pond water quality for the benefit of all.

Liz Moran, Ph.D. - Liz is a planning and restoration specialist at Anchor QEA and an environmental scientist with a long career in lake and watershed management. She is also a member of the Cape Cod Commission team that is guiding the Freshwater Ponds Initiative. Liz has worked on multiple pond assessment and restoration projects across the Cape.

If you know you plan to attend please send a note to FPCwebinarsevents@gmail.com

REGISTER HERE.

APCC's Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program

Our cyanobacteria monitoring map is live for 2024. Results are displayed on the interactive map. You can sign up for cyanobacteria bloom alerts here - and receive a notice when a bloom is detected.

Guidelines for Cape-friendly Landscapes - an APCC publication

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.

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?

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 kandres@apcc.org.

You can also view the book's content as a pdf on our website.

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, Crocker Nurseries, Brewster Book Store, Orleans Conservation Trust, and

Cape Abilities Farm.

If you are a retailer, and you would like to sell the signs, you can order online here, or email pollinators@apcc.org.

APCC Merch