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MASSTC "Waste No Water" Library Tour Wednesday, July 24: 2 - 3 PM Auditorium, Brewster Ladies Library 1822 Main Street, Brewster The Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center (MASSTC) is conducting a library series in Cape Cod towns that focuses on the wastewater successes and challenges that each town faces. You are invited to attend the program being held in Brewster on July 24 at the Brewster Ladies Library, from 2-3 PM. Those attending will gain a better understanding of wastewater and how innovative/alternative (I/A) systems are one important aspect that are being used to assist with reducing harmful nutrient outflow into groundwater. To learn more about the speakers and to register for this informative and free event, click here.  Saturday, August 10 8:30 - 11 AM Cape Cod Bible Alliance Church 3600 Main Street, East Brewster It's hard to believe, but the Brewster Ponds Coalition is celebrating its 10th year this summer! In honor of this occasion, we will be including a small celebration of all our hard work during the upcoming Annual Meeting. Please mark Saturday, August 10 from 8:30 - 11 AM on your calendars for this meeting at the Cape Cod Bible Alliance Church. Registration and breakfast will begin at 8:30 AM, with the meeting starting at 9 AM.  The BPC is excited to announce that the guest speaker will be Christopher Flanagan, a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the 1st Barnstable District, representing Brewster, Dennis, and Yarmouth. Mr. Flanagan has represented the district since 2023. Prior to being elected to the State House, he worked in the Offices of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of State and as the administrative director of the Offices of Senator John F. Kerry and William "Mo" Cowan. His presentation at the Annual Meeting will focus on important issues to Brewster residents that are currently being discussed at the state level. The Annual Meeting is free to BPC members so be sure to reserve your spot. For non-members, we are suggesting a $10 donation payable at the event. Many thanks to The Leighton Team, a BPC business partner, for its sponsorship of this year's meeting.
 Unfortunately, and for the first time ever, Brewster Conservation Day 2024 is cancelled due to consistent weather forecasts predicting bad weather on Saturday. Such conditions would make the event difficult for exhibitors and volunteers and provide a less than enjoyable experience for attendees. The sponsors of this event - Brewster Conservation Trust (BCT), the Town of Brewster Department of Natural Resources, the Brewster Historical Society, and the BPC - would like to thank the Brewster community for its continued enthusiasm and support of this yearly event as well as the local businesses that so generously donate food and beverages for the volunteers. We look forward to BCD 2025! In the meantime, you can enjoy these activities during Brewster Conservation Week: Calf Field Pond Walk
Tuesday, July 16 at 8 AM Led by the BCT, come learn about the historical uses of this special part of Brewster, how those uses impacted the forests, and how the forests have responded over time. Click here to register. Ruth Pond Walk Saturday, July 20 at 10 AM Join the BPC on this three-mile walk through Nickerson State Park to Ruth Pond. Click here to learn more and register.  Photograph of the "The Big Flush" at BCD 2023, courtesy of William F. Pomeroy. Brewster Conservation Day 2024 Saturday, July 13: 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM Drummer Boy Park, Brewster BCD 2024 is just a few short weeks away! Plan to attend this informative event that is always highlighted as the best conversation fair on Cape Cod. There will be approximately 38 unique environmental exhibits focusing on aquaculture, recycling, native plant gardening, and so much more. This year's theme is "Trees: Superheroes of the Natural World" and there will be exhibits and presentations related to the history of Cape Cod's forests, their environmental benefits, and how we can protect them for the future.
Plan to stop by the BPC exhibit to learn about our ongoing programs such as Citizen Science and Pond Education. As in years past, we will feature "The Big Flush." Over 100 visitors enjoyed being "flushed" at last year's fair! The Conservation Day Committee is still looking for volunteers to assist with various activities such as parking, food service, greeting visitors at the welcome tent, and more. If you are interested in volunteering, please click here to see the full list and sign up. BCD is sponsored by the Brewster Conservation Trust (BCT), the Town of Brewster Department of Natural Resources, the Brewster Historical Society, and the BPC. More information can be found on the BCT website. If you missed the recent BPC Pond Summit or would like to refer to the information presented, the presentations are now available for viewing. Below are the individual links to the recordings; you can also access them on our YouTube channel.
Many thanks to Bryan Horsley, Project Assistant at the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Testing Center (MASSTC), and Hilary Sandler, Extension Professor at the UMASS Cranberry Station, for their participation in this year's Pond Summit. The BPC Cycling Group rides again this summer! Join Marty Burke and the BPC cycling group for Ride #2 on Thursday, July 18. We'll meet at the Route 137 Cape Cod Rail Trail (CCRT) parking lot across from Ferretti's Market at 9:15 AM. The ride will take us east on the CCRT into Orleans with a stop for refreshments at the Hot Chocolate Sparrow. This is approximately an 11-mile ride at a leisurely pace. Come for the fun and camaraderie! Registration is required, and the ride is limited to 12 cyclists. Meet-up instructions will be provided before the ride. Read the BPC Cycling Group’s Rules of the Road for more information.   The BPC's most recent event has been featured in the local news!
The Pond Summit held on June 8 at the Brewster Baptist Church was attended by a reporter from The Cape Cod Chronicle. An in-depth article about the event and its speakers and presentations was published in the June 14 edition of the newspaper. If you missed it, be sure to read it by clicking here! (Masthead of the newspaper above is the copyright of The Cape Cod Chronicle.)  On Saturday, June 8, the BPC held its annual Pond Summit at the Brewster Baptist Church. Approximately 60 members and community residents attended this informative event which featured three presentations that generated many questions and comments. Pictured above are (left to right): Dr. Hilary Sandler, Extension Professor from the UMASS Cranberry Station; Marty Burke, BPC Board member; Susan Bridges, BPC President; and Bryan Horsley, Environmental Project Assistant with MASSTC. The Summit started with Bryan's presentation "Considering Eco-Toilets for Nutrient Management on Cape Cod." Attendees were given a wealth of information about how various systems offer source control of reducing nitrogen and phosphorus from entering groundwater along with saving water and conserving energy. Dr. Sandler's talk, "Natural History and Current Stewardship Practices for Cape Cod Cranberry Bogs," provided a history of the area's cranberry farming and techniques that are in place to protect surrounding water resources. Marty capped off the morning's presentations by explaining the BPC's "Pond Protection Pledge" (PPP) program. He noted that whether we act as individuals, or members of pond associations/neighborhood groups, we can all make a difference to the health and quality of our water resources by taking simple everyday actions. (You can read more on the PPP on this website.) The recorded presentations with accompanying slides will be posted soon on this website. We hope you have marked your calendars for the upcoming BPC Pond Summit, scheduled for Saturday, June 8 from 9:30 - 11:30 AM at the Brewster Baptist Church (1848 Main Street, Brewster). As mentioned in our earlier communications, the focus of the event is on removing nutrients from our water sources. Here are more details about the speakers and their individual presentations. (If you have not already registered, please click here!)  Bryan Horsley MASSTC Project Assistant “Ecological Sanitation and Eco-Toilets: Source Control Measures for Water Quality Protection” As we know, groundwater and surface waters across Cape Cod are polluted with nutrients stemming primarily from wastewater. Ecological sanitation practices, including usage of urine diverting and composting toilet systems, offer a solution that can be adopted quickly, at an affordable cost along with low energy usage, water conservation, and nutrient recycling opportunities. Bryan’s talk will offer an overview of these strategies and summarize recent efforts to test and implement ecological sanitation systems on Cape Cod. Bryan joined the MASSTC team in 2020 as the site operator and currently serves as Project Assistant. A lifelong Cape Codder and avid outdoorsman, he is passionate about protecting the local environment. Although relatively new to the wastewater field, he has significant environmental science related work experience including coastal ecology research, ecological restoration, stormwater management, eco-toilet design and construction, and monitoring lakes and ponds for harmful algal blooms.  Hilary Sandler, PhD Extension Professor, UMASS Cranberry Station “Natural History and Current Stewardship Practices for Cape Cod Cranberry Bogs” Cape Cod is famous for its long history of cranberry farming, dating back to the early 1800s. More recently, conventional farming practices have raised concerns for the environment including water resources. Dr. Sandler will discuss the natural history of cranberry bogs and describe typical wetland vegetation communities with an emphasis on the Vaccinium species. She will describe current, research-based management practices used by commercial cranberry growers with an emphasis on impacts on adjacent water bodies. Since water is used in a myriad of ways in cranberry culture, time will be spent to describe typical flooding and water use practices. Dr. Sandler’s specialty is Integrated Pest Management, Weed Science. At the UMASS Cranberry Station she has managed various research and extension projects including: factors that influence the dynamics of crop and weed ecology within the cranberry production system; the development and implementation of non-chemical pest management, especially weeds; and investigations on the vine establishment, weed colonization, and fertilizer management.  Marty Burke BPC Board Member, Membership & Citizen Science Teams Coordinator, Pond Protection Pledge Program Coordinator “How to Bring the Pond Protection Pledge to Your Neighborhood” The Pond Protection Pledge Program (PPP) is a citizen conservation movement that the BPC started in 2022. It is a way for everyone to get personally involved in protecting the groundwater and freshwater ponds in Brewster. You can join and take the pledge individually, or with your neighborhood or pond association group. Marty will explain how you can get involved. Marty has been involved with the BPC and its many initiatives since 2018. He is an active Board member and currently serves on two important committees: Membership and Citizen Science. He was instrumental in the PPP’s start up and continues to be involved in its advocacy. Important note: If you are unable to attend the Summit, you will be able to access the recorded presentations and slides on our website shortly after the live event.
Saturday, July 20: 10 AM Ruth Pond in Nickerson State Park Brewster Join the Brewster Ponds Coalition and leader Nancy Ortiz for a three-mile narrated hike to Ruth Pond in Nickerson State Park at 10 AM on Saturday, July 20 (rain date is Sunday, July 21). We will be parking at the Brewster Recreation Park off Freeman’s Way so no parking passes will be needed. In other words, instead of visiting Ruth Pond from the traditional Nickerson main entrance off 6A, we will be entering from a completely different location. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water and a snack. The area is mostly flat but there will be some rocky trails and roots. There is a maximum of 25 participants for this free event. Details will be sent to registered participants before the walk. Please register here! Pictured below is the group that joined the May hike in the Punkhorn Parklands.  |
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