Image courtesy of the Cape Cod Times
Citizen Scientists play a critical role in fulfilling a core mission of the Brewster Ponds Coalition (BPC). This all-volunteer program, which began in 2017, is composed of members who care passionately about the environment and our community.
The BPC Citizen Science team includes individuals of all ages and walks of life (primarily non-scientific) who are assigned a pond and gather water samples bi-weekly from Memorial Day through October. The team delivers the samples to our research partner, the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC), who then analyzes the samples for the presence of toxic cyanobacteria.
Marty Burke, Citizen Science Team Leader, lowering the Secchi disc to measure water clarity on Upper Mill Pond along with Amaya Giannini, Citizen Science volunteer  
The Citizen Science program is accessible to individuals without a scientific background. In 2024, our program will focus on two studies:
  • Cyanobacteria water monitoring with APCC
  • Remote satellite sensing with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA)
Reid Blute and Chloe Vouvakis collecting water samples at Elbow Pond
​To learn more, volunteer or provide financial support for our programs, please click one of the buttons below!
Why is Citizen Science important?
  • Increases community awareness and education 
  • Contributes directly to scientific research 
  • Provides scientists with large, diverse, usable data sets otherwise unavailable
  • Conserves natural resources and supports environmental sustainability
  • Provides appropriate town officials with important data
  • Can be a catalyst for personal change  ​
Click on map above to see interactive
​APCC Cyanobacteria Monitoring Map
​Click on the links below to see:

Contact  [email protected]
PO BOX 459, Brewster MA 02631
508-258-9801