Association to Preserve Cape Cod

Above: Pollinators on seaside goldenrod. Photo by Sue Machie

What I'm Thinking...

The Work Goes On

by Andrew Gottlieb, Executive Director

As much as I hate to admit it, we have turned the corner on summer. While there will be plenty of summer weather in the days to come, sundown is noticeably earlier now than in June, return to school thoughts are more prevalent and some of you are beginning to plan your return trips to where home is. For us, the summer is a very busy period in which our programs are in full swing and our campus is a beehive (quite literally) of activity.

The truth is that our workload changes during the non-summer months, but it never lets up. The business of protecting the Cape’s environment from overt exploitation and profiteering is constant. The effort to distill complex data into understandable and actionable pieces is never finished. The need to educate, inform and equip the public to the environmental challenges the Cape faces is limitless. In sum, our work to help preserve this wonderful place for current and future generations is really never done.

Everyone here at APCC has embraced the challenge of making a difference and being a force for positive change for Cape Cod. That said, and while APCC staff accomplishes way more than what might be reasonably expected from a staff our size, we can only accomplish what the resources we have allow. That is where you come in. We are approaching the end of our Summer Appeal and I hope that you will take the time, if you have not already and perhaps before you say goodbye to another Cape summer, to give as generously as you can so that we can remain the guardians of the Cape’s environment this year and well into the future.

Improving the environment is work that is never done, but with your support, we will keep hammering and will make things better.

Donate

Ecosystem Restoration Program

Above: The view of Hinckleys Pond from the Cape Cod Rail Trail prior to the pumphouse demolition (left) and after (right). Photo credit: Harwich Conservation Trust.

The Hinckleys Pond restoration project in Harwich continues to make meaningful progress, with recent milestones, including the removal of the old pumphouse and ongoing grading to shape new trails and improve public access. These improvements not only open up scenic views of the pond but also contribute to broader ecological goals like wetland reconnection and habitat restoration. Installation of fencing and boardwalks is helping to create more accessible pathways for community members to enjoy the revitalized landscape.

APCC is partnering with the Harwich Conservation Trust and other stakeholders to support project planning, oversight, and monitoring. From coordinating funding to ensuring restoration best practices, APCC’s involvement has helped advance the vision of a healthier, more resilient pond and wetland with recreational access for all. For more details and photos, check out the Week 18 update on the Harwich Conservation Trust website here.

APCC welcomes their new restoration intern, Lydia Rheinhardt, to the Ecological Restoration Program team. Starting on August 4th, Lydia began helping the team in crab monitoring, water quality checks, and reviewing historical documents of our local Cape Cod wetland project sites.

She graduated from the University of New Hampshire in May 2024, studying wildlife and conservation biology. She just finished a service year with AmeriCorps Cape Cod in July and is looking forward to assisting the APCC team collecting data while continuing to grow her field skills.

YOU’RE INVITED!

A Public Meeting for the Weir Creek Restoration Project

In coordination with the town of Dennis and project partners, APCC invites you to the Weir Creek Restoration Project public meeting on August 20th, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the Police Department Office, 90 Bob Crowell Road, South Dennis.

This project is supported by a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Transformational Habitat Grant, the Cape Cod Conservation District, and private foundation funding. APCC is providing grant administration and technical support, working closely with the town of Dennis, the Cape Cod Conservation District, Tighe & Bond, Woods Hole Group, the NOAA Restoration Center, Dennis Conservation Land Trust, Friends of Bass River, Cape Cod Commission, Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.

For more information and to sign up for the project email list, please visit the Weir Creek Tidal Restoration webpage.

For questions, please contact Jordan Mora, lead ecologist at APCC.

Town of Barnstable is Updating its

Open Space & Recreation Plan

The first community meeting will be held Thursday August 28th at 6:00 PM, in person at Barnstable Town Hall.

Take the Survey —open through end of day Sunday, August 17th.

BOSTON – Today, [August 8, 2025] Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared the Cape Cod Region has been upgraded to a Level 2 - Significant Drought from a Level 1 – Mild Drought last month. The Southeast, Connecticut River Valley, Western, Central, and Northeast Regions remain at Normal Conditions, although conditions are starting to dry all across the state. Nantucket County is currently at a Level 1 – Mild Drought, while Dukes County remains at Normal Conditions within the Islands Regions.

Drought is a look back on conditions over a period of time. July was notably warm in Massachusetts, with average temperatures 2 to 5 degrees above normal. Precipitation levels vary in the state, with some areas getting above-normal rainfall amounts, while areas north of I-90, and the Northeast, Southeast, Cape Cod, and the Islands Regions have seen below-average rainfall. Regions that are currently not in a drought are starting to see some indices impacted by the low precipitation. More precipitation is needed to improve hydrological systems, especially groundwater and fire danger indices, in areas that are lagging.

Observed groundwater levels have begun to decline once more in the Cape Cod Region. Due to a lack of precipitation and prolonged higher temperatures, the risk for outdoor fires has elevated. These weather conditions have resulted in drier soil and reduced water levels in rivers, streams, and ponds, which have impacted fish passage, particularly in the Cape Region.

As outlined in the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan, a Level 1 – Mild Drought and a Level 2 – Significant Drought require detailed monitoring of drought conditions. These levels also require ongoing coordination among state and federal agencies to implement drought response actions such as water use restrictions. Additionally, engagement with municipalities, including local Boards of Health, is essential. This includes providing technical outreach and assistance to water suppliers and affected municipalities.

The Drought Management Task Force (DMTF) collected and analyzed data from August 2024 through July 2025. Residents can report dry environmental conditions and submit photos to help monitor the situation here. Additionally, a FAQ is now available for questions regarding the current drought status and water conservation.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) will continue to assist communities in managing their water systems. The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) water supply system is not experiencing drought conditions.

Below are recommendations for communities and individuals living and working within Level 2 – Significant Drought, including those utilizing a private well. Residents and businesses are also asked to check with their local water system in case more stringent watering restrictions are in place.

For Regions in Level 2 – Significant Drought

Residents and Businesses:

Minimize overall water use;
Limit outdoor watering to hand-held hoses or watering cans, to be used only after 5 p.m. or before 9 a.m.;
Follow local water use restrictions;
Fix indoor leaks, such as from toilets, faucets, and showers, which result in more than 60 percent of indoor use; and,
For larger buildings and businesses, conduct water audits to identify areas of leaks and potential water conservation opportunities.

Immediate Steps for Communities/Municipalities:

Adopt and implement the state’s nonessential outdoor water use restrictions for Drought Level 2 which calls for limiting outdoor watering to hand-held hoses or watering cans, to be used only after 5 p.m. or before 9 a.m. If local restrictions are more stringent, continue to keep them in place during the course of the drought.
Limit or prohibit washing of hard surfaces (sidewalks, patios, driveways, siding); personal vehicle or boat washing; and,
Establish water-use reduction targets for all water users, identify top water users and conduct targeted outreach to help curb their use.

Short- and Medium-Term Steps for Communities/Municipalities:

Establish a year-round water conservation program that includes public education and communication, taking advantage of the state’s library of outreach materials;
Provide timely information to local residents and businesses;
Implement or establish drought surcharge or seasonal water rates;
Check emergency inter-connections for water supply; and,
Develop or refine your local drought management plan using guidance outlined in the state Drought Management Plan.

APCC's Pond Programs

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Pond Life Spotlight

Water Striders

The above 30 seconds of video was taken mid-July on a drizzly afternoon at Goose Pond in Chatham. The number of water striders was incredible!

Water striders are able to walk on water because their legs are covered with thousands of microscopic hair-like structures called micro-setae. The hairs have grooves that trap air, which helps them take advantage of the water's surface-tension.

Striders are insects and therefore have three pair of legs: The front legs are short and grab their prey, the middle legs act as paddles, and the third—the longest pair—provide a boost of propulsion, steerage and braking.

It is fun to watch their big bursts of speed as they dart about. They can move 100 times their body length in a second! (Someone calculated it to be similar to a six foot human moving at 400 miles per hour.)

Water striders predate other insects and are particularly effective predators of mosquito larvae, and if food is scarce, they will eat each other. Of course, they themselves are fish food.

Striders can jump to escape their own predators by pushing their middle legs downward against the water's surface, and without breaking the surface tension, create enough of a dip that the tension propels the insect upwards.

This week, the next meeting of the

Cape Cod Ponds Network

Thursday, August 14, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

in person at the

Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster

REGISTER

Cape Cod Pond Watchers Bio-survey Program

~ a training video on how to use the Survey123 app to log your observations in pondside!

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.

Please note: The cyanobacteria alert is only sent out when a concern is first identified at a pond. All updates following this initial notice are shared on APCC’s interactive map.

Join Us for an

End of Season Gathering

The consultation program is about to conclude for the season, and we thought it would be a great time to ask program participants and others to join us for a short presentation by Erin Camire, APCC's ecolandscape program coordinator, and meet others with similar interests in having a Cape-friendly landscape.

Friday, August 22nd

10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

The Koppel Center at APCC's headquarters

482 Main St (Route 6A) in Dennis

We hope you can join us! We want to show off the Koppel Center and what has been accomplished around the grounds of APCC, and the projects underway.

If you can't come to the event, we will offer Erin's presentation online via Zoom and will record it for viewing at a later time. If you'd like to receive a Zoom link, please register and select the virtual attendance option.

REGISTER

We Love Botany

Botanize a bit with Erin Camire, APCC's ecolandscape program coordinator, in the video below. A short clip from a walk at Forest Beach in Chatham.

SAVE THE DATE!

APCC's Annual Meeting

Sunday, September 14th at 12:00 p.m.

at the Dennis Inn

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.

American Elderberry

Sambucus nigra L. ssp. canadensis

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.