 This energetic group joined the BPC on Saturday, May 9, for a 2.5-mile hike on the trails around both Higgins and Little Cliff ponds in Nickerson State Park. The hike was led by members Kristi Dondlinger, Tony Ortiz, and John Keith. It was a perfect spring day to get outside, and the group enjoyed casual conversation and admiring the views of both ponds. Look for more BPC-sponsored hikes in the coming months! General photos of both ponds during other seasons: pictured on the left is Higgins Pond, and on the right is Little Cliff Pond.
The cool and rainy weather didn’t dampen the spirits of last weekend’s Brewster in Bloom Town Parade. Spectators and participants alike enjoyed a parade filled with colorful and imaginative floats representing the theme “Brewster Beach Day.” For the third year, the Brewster Ponds Coalition participated in the parade with a float that won the “Most Creative” prize by the Brewster Chamber of Commerce, the parade host. Over the course of three weeks, the BPC’s team of energetic volunteers designed and constructed its float, complete with a custom-built sandcastle. We sincerely thank the members of our extremely talented team for all their hard work: Marcia and John Kielb, Joanie and Scott Shrier, Kathy Miller, Susan Bridges, Bruce Semple, and John Keith. Click here to read about the additional prize-winning floats.  BPC float in Brewster in Bloom Town Parade, held on Sunday, May 3, 2026.  A huge thank you to the 16 volunteers who joined the BPC "Beautify Brewster" team this year!
On the crisp but beautiful morning of April 25, this energetic group set out to support the annual town-wide cleanup sponsored by the Brewster Department of Natural Resources. Working in pairs, our team cleared half-mile stretches along Satucket and Slough roads to protect Brewster’s vital ponds and groundwater. Among the more unusual finds were a car fender and a Cutco knife—along with a relentless supply of nip bottles!  Mark your calendar for the Brewster Ponds Coalition's 2026 Pond Summit, scheduled for Saturday, June 13, from 9:00 to 11:30 AM, at the Brewster Ladies’ Library (1622 Main Street, Brewster). The topic of this year’s event is “How Brewster Protects Pond Users from Cyanobacteria Blooms.”
The event will begin with a presentation from Ron Essig, a member of the BPC Board of Directors and leader of the Citizen Science program. Ron will provide a history of this BPC signature program which is currently in its tenth year, monitoring Brewster’s ponds for harmful cyanobacteria. He will briefly review what cyanobacteria is, how it can harm both people and pets, and the complexities of the testing procedures. Dan Syriala, Director of the Brewster Department of Health, will discuss the Town’s processes in evaluating cyanobacteria risks in our ponds and the methods that have been developed this season in conjunction with the BPC to ensure timely evaluation of any cyanobacteria blooms. He will also review the new septic system regulations that serve to further prevent harmful chemicals from entering Brewster’s ponds. This event is free and open to the public. Check-in, coffee, and pastries will begin at 9:00 AM, followed by the presentations at 9:30 AM. To register, please click here. The Pond Summit is being sponsored by The Leighton Team, a BPC business partner.
Join the BPC for a 1.5-mile guided hike along a pond trail in Nickerson State Park on Saturday, May 9, at 10 AM (rain date is Sunday, May 10). The hike will be led by our experienced guides, Nancy and Tony Ortiz, and Kristi Dondlinger. We will meet at the parking lot at the end of Flax Pond Road. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water and a snack. The trail is mostly flat; however, there will be some rocky sections and roots. Insect repellent is recommended because of the presence of ticks. There is a limit of 19 participants for this free event. Please register using the link below; further details will be sent to registered participants before the hike.  The 14th Annual Beautify Brewster Day is being held on Saturday, April 25, from 9 AM - 12 PM (rain date is Sunday, April 26). Won’t you consider joining the BPC team - always one of the largest and most fun groups - to help clean up roads in Brewster that contribute to pond and groundwater degradation? To register to join our team, please click on the link below. Additional details will be sent to all registered volunteers after registration. Pictured below is the 2025 Beautify Brewster BPC team.  Monday, January 5, 2026 6 PM, Brewster Town Hall The BPC encourages all supporters to attend this upcoming Select Board meeting during which it will be discussing and voting on whether to proceed with the development of 44 affordable housing units on the Long Pond property. The BPC has sent a letter to the Select Board with its comments; click here to read it. Please attend this important meeting to provide your comments on this issue.  Photograph copyright the Brewster Conservation Trust.
The 2025 Cyanobacteria Report will be linked to the Citizen Science page within the "Programs" dropdown menu here on our website. Similar to the earlier 2019-2024 reports posted there, it will include pond-by-pond results for each sampling day. Of particular interest is Appendix 3 that displays the Association to Preserve Cape Cod risk determinations as Blue, Yellow or Red for each pond and sampling period going back to 2019. Be sure to check out the report in early January 2026.  Map copyright and courtesy of Association to Preserve Cape Cod.
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