Association to Preserve Cape Cod

Above: Monomoy, Chatham. Photo by Sue Machie.

We are proud to announce the opening of the Koppel Center to Preserve Cape Cod!

As our programs have expanded, the initial vision of the mid-19th century barn being converted to serve as a year-round space at our headquarters in Dennis was revived. Thanks to a major jumpstart from generous donors, the renovation began in February 2024. Last week, the completion of the Koppel Center to Preserve Cape Cod was celebrated with a dedication event.

The renovated barn, that once served as a wool store and then a furniture store in years past, is now a space for meetings and staff offices. One cannot help but be impressed with the transformation, with all credit going to our local renovation team: A3 Architects and Sesuit Construction Management.

Projects yet to be completed include the installation of solar panels on the roof and healing of the land from the construction disturbance. Stormwater runoff from the parking area and the building is handled by rain gardens that will be planted with natives. We have special plans for an artful rain water design to be completed sometime later this year.

Watch for opportunities to visit the Koppel Center for workshops and scheduled tours! For more information on the Koppel Center, we have a full webpage with photos of before, during and after. (Click on the photos and scroll through.)

Above and below: Paula and Steve Koppel

Above: Elysse Magnotto-Cleary, APCC board vice president, and Bill Riley, APCC chief operating officer

Above: Andreww Gottlieb, APCC executive director, APCC board member, Molly Karlson, and husband Peter, and Sophia Feuerhake, APCC freshwater science coordinator.

Above: APCC staff members, Molly Autery, saltmarsh specialist, Sophia Feuerhake, freshwater science coordinator, and Lynn Francis, pond and cyanobacteria operations manager

Above: Julie Hambrook Berkman, PhD, pond program manager, Steve Koppel, APCC board president, and Dorria Marsh, APCC communications specialist & volunteer coordinator

Above: Mike Powers and APCC grants administrator, Lauren Powers, and April Wobst, restoration program manager and MassBays regional coordinator

Above: APCC board member Kris Ramsay and Hal Minis

Above: Alison Alessi of A3 Architects, Matt & Sylvia Logan of Sesuit Construction Management, and Alex Begin of A3 Architects.

APCC Ecosystem Restoration Program

Above: APCC, town of Dennis, and CZM staff on the new boat ramp access at Scargo Landing boat ramp. Photo by Gerald Beetham.

Restoration Collaboration at Scargo Lake

This past week, APCC staff along with the town of Dennis and a representative of the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), a key funder for this project, met with our stormwater engineer the Horsley Witten Group for a tour of the newly constructed green infrastructure stormwater systems at Scargo Lake. This project, managed by APCC’s Ecosystem Restoration Program staff in collaboration with the town, is the first of boat ramp stormwater project sites to reach construction.

This site also provides a direct connection to several other areas of APCC programmatic work, including our pond program, salt marsh restoration, and fish passage restoration. Pond monitoring at this site includes both for cyanobacteria and water quality data. This allows us to directly track trends in water quality data, which we anticipate will indicate improvement as a result of this stormwater work.

Scargo Lake is the headwaters of the Sesuit Creek watershed. The connection and outlet of the pond to the creek supports a herring run, which is currently being restored through new culverts under 6A. Farther downstream, work is being done by APCC’s salt marsh restoration staff to improve the revegetation of Sesuit Creek marsh, which was tidally restored in 2008.

Construction at two sites along Scargo Lake began late last year and is now nearing completion. At the Scargo Landing boat ramp, underground infiltration chambers connected to newly constructed trench drains capture runoff from the landing along with a bioretention area (engineered rain garden) next to the boat dock. In addition to these stormwater features, articulated concrete mats were installed along the boat ramp to provide a stable launch area and prevent shoreline erosion. At Dr. Lord’s Landing adjacent to Scargo beach a new porous pavement parking lot and bioretention capture stormwater at this site. These green infrastructure retrofits, collectively, are designed to slow down stormwater, filter it through vegetation, soil and gravel media, and improve the water quality of Scargo Lake.

Over the next few weeks, crews will complete site work, including seeding and installation of native vegetation at both sites. These plants will help stabilize soil, enhance the removal of pollutants, and provide habitat benefits along the shoreline.

Construction is being carried out by J.W. Dubis & Sons under the supervision of the town of Dennis. The Horsley Witten Group provides engineering oversight, while APCC supports project management. Funding for this effort comes from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management’s Coastal Habitat and Water Quality Grants, the Cape Cod Boat Ramp Stormwater Project, private foundation support, the town of Dennis, and the MassBays Partnership.

Above: Gemma Kite of Horsley Witten Group explains the function of the bioretention area at Scargo Beach soon to be completed with the addition of native plants. Photo by Gerald Beetham.

Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program

Above: Lynn Francis, APCC’s pond and cyanobacteria operations manager, training Orleans Ponds Coalition volunteers on how to collect toxin samples for APCC’s Cyanobacteria monitoring Program at Pilgrim Lake, Orleans.

Over the past two weeks, APCC provided a series of successful training sessions for volunteer groups from six Cape towns to kick off this year’s Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program. These dedicated volunteers play a vital role in detecting harmful cyanobacteria blooms across the region, and we couldn’t do this work without them.

The trainings covered how to collect different types of water samples and introduced a new digital method for recording field data using the Survey123 app. Moving from paper forms to the app will make data entry more efficient, organized, and easier to manage throughout the season.

With the season set to begin on May 27, we’re excited to be working alongside these committed community members once again. Thank you to everyone who participated in the trainings - we look forward to a productive and impactful monitoring season.

Above: Julie Hambrook Berkman, PhD, APCC’s pond and cyanobacteria program manager, Lynn Francis, APCC’s pond and cyanobacteria operations manager, and Ron Essig, citizen science team leader with the Brewster Ponds Coalition, training Brewster Ponds Coalition volunteers on how to collect water samples for APCC’s Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program at Long Pond, Brewster.

Above: Julie Hambrook Berkman, PhD, APCC’s pond and cyanobacteria program manager, explaining the “stick test method” to Brewster Ponds Coalition volunteers to determine whether a visible scum may be cyanobacteria, Brewster.

Above: Sophia Feuerhake, APCC’s freshwater science coordinator, training Brewster Ponds Coalition volunteers on how to use the new Survey123 app to enter field data on their phones at Long Pond, Brewster.

Take Action!

In April, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service announced their intention to weaken the power of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by no longer recognizing the harmful effects of altering or destroying the habitat of endangered species.

ESA was voted into law by Congress in 1973. It is designed to protect and conserve endangered and threatened species and their habitats, so that these species are protected from extinction.

This proposed change to ESA would be catastrophic for endangered species everywhere. If the review of proposed human activities on endangered species were to no longer consider negative impacts to the habitat on which these species rely, the very intent and protections of the law will be gutted. You don't have to be a scientist to know that habitat protection is critically important to protecting plant and animal species—especially those at risk.

Your voice matters! Let the government know that biodiversity is important to you, that you object to the weakening of the law, and insist that the Endangered Species Act remains protective of the listed threatened and endangered species and their habitat.

Send your comments today!

Your opportunity to speak out ends on May 19.

APCC sends letter to the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources voicing support for Bill H.898, An Act to End the Taking of Horseshoe Crabs for Bait. Read here.

Help protect a 450-million-year-old species that underpins both

ecological and human health.

Horseshoe crabs play a vital role in both coastal ecosystems and public health:

Their eggs are a critical food source for migratory shorebirds, including the threatened red knot.
They are slow to mature, taking 11 years to reach reproductive size, making them highly vulnerable to over-harvesting.
Horseshoe crabs are taken just when they come ashore to spawn.

As we await the full transition of the pharmaceutic industry to synthetics, it is imperative to reduce preventable mortality. Bait harvest killed over 140,000 crabs last year in Massachusetts.

A personal letter will carry the most weight. Please write to your legislators and/or the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources right now. Ask them to help move Bill H.898 out of committee.

Legislator Letter Template (a Word doc. that you can personalize)

Fact Sheet for Legislators; One-pager Information Sheet; Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources; Find My Legislator

For more information, visit horseshoecrabs.org.

Thanks to the Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Alliance for providing the above content.

River Herring Update

Above (clockwise from top left): River herring volunteer, Bill Wood, keeping a watchful eye on the Stony Brook run in Brewster; Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries staff preparing to stock Tom Matthews Pond in Yarmouth with 2,000 river herring; a school of river herring making their way up Stony Brook; a youth volunteer counting at the Mashpee River.

Workshop at the Koppel Center to Preserve Cape Cod

Join us for the first workshop to be held at

APCC's new Koppel Center

Friday, May 16

10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Introduction to Propagating Native Plants for the Homeowner

Russ Norton, Cape Cod Cooperative Extension horticulture & agriculture educator, will lead us through the basics of propagation. The presentation will cover how to encourage native plants in your landscape and dive into propagation: what’s easy and what’s not, and how to get started.

This will be a hybrid event and will be recorded and available to all. While our parking and seating is limited to 25 people, our bandwidth for viewers is unlimited.

Cape-friendly Landscapes

Get ready...

APCC's ANNUAL PLANT SALE

goes live on Tuesday, June 3rd at 8:30 a.m.

Online orders only.

Pickup by appointment

at APCC’s headquarters,

482 Main St, Dennis 02638

CLICK HERE for the list of species

Perennials are 1-quart size pots

$10 each plus MA sales tax.

Payment accepted at time of pickup: Credit Card, Apple Pay, Cash, Check accepted.

Pickups will be scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (June 4 – 6) during our office hours: 8:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. only.

VOLUNTEER with APCC!

Raptors, foxes, coyotes, and other predators help keep our ecosystems in balance. Shocking numbers have been sickened and killed after eating poisoned rodents. Cape Cod wildlife advocates meet every month on the fourth Thursday of the month, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. via Zoom. To join, sign up with Mass Audubon here. To register for the monthly meetings, register here.

Local partners with APCC are Cape Wildlife Center, Wild Care Cape Cod,

and Sierra Club Cape Cod. Stay informed on Facebook: Rescue Cape Cod Raptors

If you are a farmer or someone who wants to grow native plants to sell, or just want to be updated on the program's development, please submit an interest form that appears on our webpage. We will be sending periodic email notices of workshops and meetings.

Funding for the project is provided by Barnstable County and its Economic Development Council License Plate Grant Program through the Cape Cod Commission.

Events Hosted by Others

South Yarmouth Library,

312 Old Main Street South Yarmouth 02664

South Yarmouth Library

Wednesday, May 14 at 4:00 p.m.

Pollinator Pathway Cape Cod ~ meet the pollinators and learn how to support them.

Learn about choices you can make in your garden that will support pollinators, birds, and butterflies and that will also make your garden a beautiful, enjoyable space. Kristin Andres is APCC's associate director for education.

Join the Brewster Ponds Coalition at Terra Firma Permagardens to learn about meadowscaping and how terraces can be designed to protect our aquifer and strengthen our ecosystem. This free event is limited to 30 people and will be held rain or shine on Saturday May 17, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at 155 Monument Road, Orleans.

For more information and to register, please visit https://www.brewsterponds.org

Native Plants and Pollinators

Saturday, June 7th, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Kristin Andres, APCC's associate director for education, will take us on a journey through the natural world, uncovering a hidden life of insects that you didn’t know existed but that drives our ecosystem. The insect world includes specialists and generalists that together form the foundation of our food web; by ensuring that we provide the native plants they need, we gain better food production as well as more beauty in the garden.

Hosted by Resilient Roots at Fuller Farm.

A Cape-wide Conservation Event Calendar

The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts (“the Compact”) and its nonprofit members launched a new regional calendar of events. The Conservation Calendar includes programs across Cape Cod hosted by these groups. The goal of the calendar is to encourage visitors and residents to take part in nature and environmental events. You can always find the link to the calendar on APCC's website under News & Events.

A Cape Cod Native Plant-selector

~ to help you choose the perfect native plants for your garden.

Email kandres@apcc.org and we'll send you a CapeCodNativePlants.org decal.

Golden Groundsel

Packera aurea

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.

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, please contact us.

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

APCC Merch

APCC caps

$25

-includes USPS deliver in the U.S.

Garden for Life T's

$30

-includes USPS delivery in U.S.

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 the 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.