Cyanobacteria Update: Upper and Lower Mill Ponds

Pictured above, left to right, are Upper Mill Pond and Lower Mill Pond on test date 7/23/24.

On July 23, 2024, water sampling and visual observations were conducted at Upper Mill Pond (kayak launch site on Run Hill Road and from the pond deep spot) and at Lower Mill Pond (association kayak launch site on Mill Pond Drive and the Stony Brook Grist Mill on Stony Brook Road) for ongoing monitoring of cyanobacteria originally detected on July 8.

The lab results revealed that the level of cyanobacteria continues to decrease but small blooms remain visible at various locations on both ponds. The Advisory posted by the Brewster Health Department in collaboration with the Brewster Ponds Coalition will remain in place as a precautionary measure until the algal blooms dissipate. 

Please use caution and avoid contact with water in and around a visible bloom. If exposed to a bloom, rinse off as soon as possible to avoid possible skin irritation.

The BPC will continue the work of monitoring the freshwater ponds in Brewster to provide timely notification to residents of potentially harmful algal blooms. For additional information, please visit this informative Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection resource or contact Marty Burke at the BPC via e-mail ([email protected]).

In addition, please read this article recently printed in The Cape Cod Chronicle that reports on the growing problem of cyanobacteria among Cape Cod's freshwater ponds.