Association to Preserve Cape Cod

What I'm Thinking...

Rolling Downhill

by Andrew Gottlieb, Executive Director

Rollbacks of environmental protections are all the rage these days. While a lot of us are focused on changes at the federal level, trouble is brewing closer to home as well. It has become increasingly popular to blame environmental reviews and the underlying laws that ensure project impacts are quantified and mitigated for all manner of societal ills. Delays in commercial development, energy facilities, public construction, roadways all get attributed, no matter what other headwinds a project faces, to environmental reviews and associated appeals processes. But perhaps more than any other sector, the housing community has focused its ire on environmental rules and zoning restrictions for the relative scarcity and high cost of housing as if there were no other factors involved.

The issue has gained such traction that California recently exempted many project types, including some significant housing development, from its landmark environmental review law. Many major projects are now able to proceed without the assessment and mitigation of their impacts, with California having prioritized the speed of project delivery over the protection of its air and water resources.

But that’s California, so while perhaps bad for their environment, why should Cape Cod care? We should all care because the same arguments that prevailed in California are gaining traction in Massachusetts. Recent provisions in the major housing legislation passed last year made it easier to site housing development. The current environmental bond before the State Legislature proposes limiting the review of some housing projects and also limiting the basis for appeals under the Wetlands Protection Act. Maybe the provision will pass, maybe it won’t, but we in the environmental field can’t say we didn’t see this coming.

The next move is collectively ours. We can, and will, push back on compromising environmental review standards. Of perhaps greater importance to Cape Codders concerned with the environment is to ensure that the priority natural resource areas within the remaining 14 percent of our land mass that is neither protected nor developed is preserved to the greatest extent possible. It seems clear from here that we cannot rely on regulatory processes to protect these remaining critical habitat so important to our future.

Cape Cod needs a major push to put these acres in conservation status in perpetuity. Owning land with permanent conservation restrictions is really the best and only way to assure it is not sacrificed to development.

APCC is working on a project that will provide additional tools and strategies to our partners in the land conservation world so that we can collectively protect the remaining open space we need to preserve Cape Cod for future generations. Stay tuned.

What's New at APCC Headquarters? More Solar Panels!

During the heat of last week, solar panels went up on one side of the roof of the Koppel Center. Our contractor, E2 Solar, made quick work of the installation.

We are ready to take in more energy from the sun soon, as we await Eversource to flip the switch that connects us to the grid.

We were able to install this added solar system thanks to the support of Tern Foundation.

Tern Foundation’s TernSOLAR challenge grant program is designed to expand renewable energy use in Massachusetts communities, making solar technology more accessible to nonprofit organizations. Grants are offered to dynamic nonprofits whose leaders engage creatively with their communities and also consider future generations and the natural environment in their strategic priorities and sustainability planning. Since 2010, Tern Foundation has funded 30 solar projects and associated environmental education initiatives.

Despite some soggy summer days, the Cape continues to be in a Level 1 drought

For Regions in Level 1 – Mild Drought, Residents and Businesses:

Minimize overall water use;
Limit outdoor watering to one day per week from 5:00 PM to 9:00 AM, or less frequently if required by your water supplier;
Plant only local and drought-resistant species;
Fix indoor leaks, such as from toilets, faucets, and showers, which result in more than 60 percent of indoor use;
For larger buildings and businesses, conduct water audits to identify areas of leaks and potential water conservation opportunities;
Minimize lawn sizes; and
Harvest rainwater for outdoor watering.

Herring Monitoring Program

Two Runs, Two Stories: The Many Faces of River Herring Runs

On Cape Cod, the annual river herring run is a tradition that brings life back to rivers, ponds, and communities alike. But each run, and each coordinator, sees the migration through a different lens. These are two such perspectives—one fresh and enthusiastic, the other seasoned and deeply rooted—joined by a shared passion to protect these fish and the connections they create.

Bryan Howes: A New Stewardship Takes Root at Tom Matthews Pond

Bryan Howes’ journey as a river herring run coordinator began just a few months ago, stepping in to fill a sudden vacancy at the Bass River Rod and Gun Club. Yet his passion for nature and waterways spans a lifetime—from the ponds of freshwater streams to the saltwater beds where tides ebb and flow.

For Bryan, the herring run is a gateway to something larger: a chance to immerse himself in the natural rhythms of his local environment, to invite others—especially young people and children—into the experience, and to help sustain a fishery vital to the ecological health of the region. His favorite moments come from community—the ease of sharing time outdoors with volunteers who come together, bound by camaraderie and a common purpose. For Bryan, there’s something special about watching the tradition continue, like the day he witnessed 2,000 herring being released into Tom Matthews Pond.

Barbara Brennessel: A Lifelong Connection to the River in Wellfleet

Meanwhile, Barbara Brennessel’s story is woven deeply into the fabric of the Herring River in Wellfleet. For 15 years, Barbara has been more than an observer; she’s an advocate, a planner, and a steadfast presence in the ongoing effort to restore the river’s health.

Her involvement began when the Wellfleet herring warden invited her and her husband to help monitor the fledgling volunteer count just as it was taking shape. Living just a mile from the count site, with a tributary of the river running through her own property, Barbara’s bond to the river is personal and profound.

 “The river is close to our home,” she says. “I was intensely vested in the planning of the restoration process and the restored habitat it would provide.”

 Barbara views the annual run as a vital thread in the community’s culture—a harbinger of spring, a link to history, and a symbol of a way of life that once supported local fishermen and the town’s economy. Her decades of experience have also revealed the fragility of this ecosystem: failing culverts, low water levels, and uncertain trends in the data serve as constant reminders of the challenges ahead.

Yet, her dedication never wavers. Barbara cherishes the infectious enthusiasm of volunteers, even in seasons when the fish fail to appear. And her sense of humor shines through, recalling a recent moment when a park ranger’s curiosity led to an amusing misunderstanding about what she and her husband were doing at the count site.

Two Stories, A Shared Passion

Bryan’s fresh enthusiasm and Barbara’s seasoned stewardship illuminate different chapters of the same story. One speaks to new beginnings and the joy of introducing others to nature’s wonders; the other, to deep knowledge, community history, and the patient, persistent work of restoration.

Together, their voices remind us that the river herring runs are more than ecological events. They are living traditions, weaving together generations, communities, and ecosystems—all sustained by people who care enough to watch, wait, and act.

APCC was at Brewster Conservation Day!

APCC was honored to be part of the 14th annual Brewster Conservation Day (BCD), sponsored by BCT, the town of Brewster, and the Brewster Ponds Coalition. This popular educational fair is a Cape-wide favorite that hosts activities and exhibits from over 40 organizations that work to protect the Cape’s natural resources and coastal habitat.

This year we helped celebrate the critical role trees play in protecting the planet, sustaining wildlife, and enriching people’s lives with the theme: “Trees: Superheroes of the Natural World.”

The APCC booth included an opportunity to play a native tree identification game, and younger visitors had fun designing their very own superhero trees. In addition to hearing performances by local musicians and students, BCD visitors heard a talk on the role of trees and forests on the Cape by Russell Norton, horticulture extension educator for the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension. APCC staff and volunteers, Carol Marcy, Cindy Biondi, and Sally Mavroides, enjoyed a busy day connecting with fellow and future conservationists of all ages.

APCC's Pond Programs

<º/,}}}}}}}=<{ <º/,}}}}}}}=<{

We Need Your Help -

Cyanobacteria Survey for Animal Care Professionals

When harmful cyanobacteria blooms (HCBs) containing cyanotoxins appear in our freshwater ponds, they pose a serious health risk—especially to children and animals due to their small size. Dogs are particularly vulnerable because they are more likely to swallow water while swimming or ingest it while grooming themselves afterwards. Unfortunately, we know from past cases that dogs exposed to cyanotoxins can suffer severe illness and even death in as little as an hour.

To help prevent these tragic outcomes, we are conducting a survey of veterinarians, wildlife rehabbers, and animal control officers based here on the Cape. To date we have contacted every veterinary office on Cape Cod, all known wildlife rehabilitation centers and individual rehabbers, and animal control and natural resource officers across all 15 towns.

This survey will help us understand how often these exposures occur, ensure that animal care providers are prepared to respond, and guide us in offering the right support—whether that means providing educational materials for pet owners or creating a regional public database to track animal exposures.

We understand that veterinarians are incredibly busy, and our survey may slip through the cracks. If you’re concerned about keeping your pet safe from cyanotoxin exposure, please give your local vet’s office a call and ask them to fill out the APCC cyanobacteria survey. Let's keep all of our pets safe from toxins together. Thank you for your assistance!

Cape Cod Pond Watchers Bio-survey Program

~ a training video on how to use the Survey123 app to

log your observations in real time

Pond Life Spotlight

Get to Know Cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, are one of the oldest life forms on Earth, having been around for about 3.5 billion years. These single-celled organisms are responsible for dramatically changing Earth’s atmosphere throughout its history because they photosynthesize like plants, produce oxygen, and can grow rapidly under certain conditions—such as warmer temperatures and elevated nutrient levels in freshwater ponds and lakes.

Oxygen isn’t the only thing cyanobacteria produce; they can also generate cyanotoxins, which may impact the health of ecosystems. High cyanobacterial biomass can reduce water quality, disrupt food webs, and lead to oxygen depletion, while cyanotoxins can pose risks to animals and people that come into contact with affected water. This is why APCC monitors ponds for cyanobacteria on Cape Cod. Below are some of the genera of cyanobacteria we have seen recently and how we can identify them in our water sample.

Above: Microscopy photos of Microcystin taken by APCC interns

Microcystis is usually identifiable as a grouping of small green circles in dense, randomly shaped clumps and is an easy cyanobacteria to spot using a microscope. Microcystis can produce microcystin, a toxin that can cause liver damage and is potentially carcinogenic. Microcystin can also affect other organs and tissues, particularly with chronic exposure. Contact with high levels of Microcystis has also been found to contribute to eye, ear, and skin irritation.

Above: Microscopy photos of Dolichospermum taken by APCC interns

Dolichospermum is another one of our most frequent types of cyanobacteria. Dolichospermum forms in strands that look like green beads on a string and can form straight lines or coils. A fun fact about this genus is that they were once known as Anabaena until DNA sequencing revealed that they are a different genus.

This genus also contains heterocysts, which are the larger clear-looking “beads” on the strand that specialize in nitrogen fixation. Larger, more oval-shaped “beads” are also present, called akinetes, which are resting spores. This genus can produce anatoxin but can also produce microcystin, saxitoxin, guanitoxin, and other cyanotoxins.

Above: Microscopy photos of Woronichinia taken by APCC interns

Woronichinia is made up of small green circles similar to Microcystis, which means that the two are often confused with each other. Although for the most part, they look noticeably different, as Woronichinia has a dense, darker green border and mainly form circular clumps surrounding clear mucilage center. This genus can produce cyanopeptides.

Above: Microscopy photo of Aphanocapsa taken by APCC intern

Above: Microscopy photo of Aphanizomenon taken by APCC intern

Aphanocapsa is also quite similar to Microcystis visually, although these colonies are usually more irregular and a brighter green or slightly transparent color. These cyanobacteria can also produce cyanotoxins.

Aphanizomenon looks eerily similar to grass clippings under the microscope, created by unicellular chains that connect. This type of cyanobacteria can produce many types of cyanotoxins, including the dangerous neurotoxin Anatoxin-a which can cause rapid paralysis of skeletal and respiratory muscles.

One of the most unique formations of cyanobacteria, Gloeotrichia, forms in colonies that look like puffer balls or pom-poms with both the heterocyst and akinete at the base. This makes them easy to spot and generally large compared to other cyanobacteria colonies that we see. While this is a rare cyano for us to spot in the lab, it has been seen recently, and it is important to denote because it can also produce microcystin.

For a deeper dive into cyanobacteria, we are sharing below the link to Dr. Rosen's presentation that he gave to our cyanobacteria interns this past May.

APCC's Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program

"When in doubt, stay out." High concentrations of potentially toxic cyanobacteria were detected in several ponds last week, at levels that are of concern for pets and children who are more susceptible due to ingestion.

Check on the status of your favorite pond on our interactive map.

If you see what appears to be a bloom, take a picture, note the day, location, and time and notify the local health department, and email to cyano@apcc.org.

Sign up for cyanobacteria email alerts.

We Love Botany

Botanize a bit with Erin Camire, APCC's ecolandscape program coordinator in the video below. If you like this one, you are in luck as there are more to come!

Cape-friendly Landscapes

A Cape Cod Lawn ~ It's a thing!

Ecolandscape Consultation Program

If you desire to make your yard friendlier to pollinators and wildlife, learn more about native plants and controlling invasive species, and hear of ways to conserve water and protect the Cape’s water quality, we can help.

APCC’s Ecolandscape Consultation program is aimed at helping homeowners make their landscapes more ecologically friendly by providing site-specific assessments and oodles of information for the DIYers or those that want to be more informed to hire the right landscape contractor. While we are not landscape designers or engineers, we do have the passion, experience, knowledge, and loads of resources to offer guidance to help you achieve your goals for a Cape-friendly yard.

Click here for more information and

to schedule a consultation!

Public Meeting

The next phase of the project, including adaptive management planning, permitting, and final design, is supported by a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Transformational Habitat Grant secured by APCC for work to be completed by 2027. APCC is providing grant administration and technical support, working closely with the town of Falmouth, the Cape Cod Conservation District, Fuss & O’Neill, Woods Hole Group, the NOAA Restoration Center, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service. Pre-restoration water quality, vegetation, and elevation monitoring were completed by APCC in 2024 with funds from the Cape Cod Conservation District under the Cape Cod Water Resources Restoration Project.

For more information, please visit the Oyster Pond Tidal Restoration website. For questions, please contact Jordan Mora, lead ecologist at APCC (jmora@apcc.org).

Events Hosted by Others

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.

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.

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.

Photo credit: Cephas

Grass-leaved Goldenrod

Euthamia graminifolia

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

NEW! T's

Cyanobacteria ~ tiny but mighty

color kiwi

$30

includes USPS shipping

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, Heritage Museums and Gardens, 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.