 The Cyanobacteria Advisories posted at both the Lower Mill Pond Grist Mill and the Lower Mill Pond Beach Association were REMOVED on September 23, 2022 by the Brewster Health Department in collaboration with the Brewster Ponds Coalition and the LMP Beach Association, following two weeks of monitoring.
The Cyanobacteria algal levels have dropped to low risk levels per confirmatory test results and observations. Recreational water activities are confirmed. This is in accordance with MA Department of Public Health recommended guidelines.  On Tuesday September 13, 2022, a Cyanobacteria Advisory was posted by the Brewster Health Department at Lower Mill Pond due to a visible algal bloom indicative of elevated levels of cyanobacteria. The decision was made in conjunction with a recommendation by the MA Department of Public Health. The posting is at the Lower Mill Pond Dam at the Grist Mill off Stony Brook Road.
As a precautionary measure, a second posting was erected at the Lower Mill Pond Beach Association kayak launch area through the collaborative efforts of the Brewster Ponds Coalition and the Beach Association. Testing of the pond will continue on a weekly basis to monitor existing cyanobacteria levels. Out of an abundance of caution and until further notice, people and pets should avoid contact with the pond water. Do not ingest or get pond water in your mouth. Do not recreate in this pond until the posting is removed by the Town of Brewster. The Town and the BPC will report back when the pond is to be reopened. Call your doctor or veterinarian if you or your animals have a sudden or unexplained sickness or signs of poisoning. If you have any questions please contact: Marty Burke - marty.burke@brewsterponds.org For additional information, please visit https://www.mass.gov/guides/cyanobacterial-harmful-algal-blooms-cyanohabs-water or Cyanobacteria Monitoring on Cape Cod - Barnstable County (wpengine.com) or The Brewster Ponds Coalition www.brewsterponds.org.  On Sunday September 4, 2022, a BPC member photographed a potential cyanobacteria bloom at Cliff Pond, and sent the pictures to our organization. We shared this information with the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) at Nickerson State Park. The blooms were sighted by both DCR and BPC and do indicate the presence of a cyanobacteria bloom at Cliff Pond. Accordingly, The MA Department of Public Health is recommending that a public health advisory be issued for Cliff Pond. Signage has been posted warning against any contact with the water. DPH will conduct follow-up sampling once the bloom is no longer present. Out of an abundance of caution and until further notice, people and pets should avoid contact with the pond water. Do not ingest or get pond water in your mouth. Do not recreate in this pond until the posting is removed by the MA DCR and DPH. This is a great example of how everyone in our community can be a citizen scientist and how valuable your contributions are to keeping us safe. If you see something let us know!! The BPC will report back when the pond advisory is removed. Call your doctor or veterinarian if you or your animals have a sudden or unexplained sickness or signs of poisoning. If you have any questions please contact: Marty Burke - marty.burke@brewsterponds.org For additional information, please visit https://www.mass.gov/guides/cyanobacterial-harmful-algal-blooms-cyanohabs-water or Cyanobacteria Monitoring on Cape Cod - Barnstable County (wpengine.com) or The Brewster Ponds Coalition www.brewsterponds.org.  In response to severe drought conditions, the Brewster Water Commission recently voted to increase the mandatory restrictions on outdoor watering in accordance with Town bylaws and relevant state permits.
Effective Tuesday September 6th, these restrictions will only permit hand watering from 4:00AM to 8:00AM and from 5:00PM to 9:00PM. Irrigation systems or use of sprinklers will not longer be permitted. The ban will be in effect until the next Commissioners meeting on September 30th. The Monomoy Lens, from which our groundwater is pumped, is currently experiencing lower than average levels. The lack of precipitation over the past two years has resulted in groundwater levels that are significantly below their historical benchmark. The majority of Massachusetts is currently in a Level 3 Critical Drought Status. Similar water conservation measures are being implemented in all five towns that share the Monomoy Lens. Although properties serviced by private wells are exempt from these restrictions, the Town encourages their participation given their impact on our shared aquifer. Several other exemptions from these restrictions also exist. Please contact the Brewster Water Department at 508-896-5454 if you have any questions. The Brewster Water Department respectfully requests the support of our residents and business community in complying with these restrictions to ensure the future health and adequacy of our water supply. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.  On Tuesday August 30, 2022, a Cyanobacteria Advisory was posted by the Brewster Health Department at Walkers Pond due to a visible algal bloom indicative of elevated levels of cyanobacteria. The decision was made in conjunction with a recommendation by the MA Department of Public Health. The posting is at the Walkers Pond Town Landing off Slough Road.
Out of an abundance of caution and until further notice, people and pets should avoid contact with the pond water. Do not ingest or get pond water in your mouth. Do not recreate in this pond until the posting is removed by the Town of Brewster. Additional testing is scheduled at the pond on a weekly basis. The Town of Brewster, the Brewster Ponds Association, and the Association to Preserve Cape Cod will continue to monitor the freshwater ponds in Brewster and provide timely notification to our residents of potentially harmful algal blooms. The Town and the BPC will report back when the pond is to be reopened. Call your doctor or veterinarian if you or your animals have a sudden or unexplained sickness or signs of poisoning. If you have any questions please contact: Marty Burke - marty.burke@brewsterponds.org For additional information, please visit https://www.mass.gov/guides/cyanobacterial-harmful-algal-blooms-cyanohabs-water or Cyanobacteria Monitoring on Cape Cod - Barnstable County (wpengine.com) or The Brewster Ponds Coalition www.brewsterponds.org.  Image courtesy of Steve Heaslip, Cape Cod Times Join us at the Brewster Ladies Library on Tuesday, September 13, at 5:00 PM for a talk by Bruce Taub, attorney for the Town of Brewster, who will update us on the ongoing battle between Eversource and the Town over the spraying of herbicides to remove brush from under the powerlines. Limited to 30 people. Click here to reserve a spot.
On August 26, 2022, the Cyanobacteria Advisories at Lower Mill and Schoolhouse Ponds' were removed by the Brewster Health Department. The advisories posted at each pond were lifted in conjunction with the MA Department of Public Health recommendation that a minimum of two successive water samples, collected a week apart, demonstrate cell counts or toxic levels below the quantitative guideline values as published. Cyanobacteria algal levels have dropped to a low risk level for recreational water activities.
The Brewster Ponds Coalition (www.brewsterponds.org) and the Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod (www.apcc.org) continue to monitor our freshwater ponds in Brewster, and in partnership with the Town of Brewster Health Department will provide timely notification to residents of potentially harmful algal blooms. For additional information, please visit https://www.mass.gov/guides/cyanobacterial-harmful-algal-blooms-cyanohabs-water .  Join the BPC and business partner SUPfari Adventures for a two hour exploration of Brewster’s Paines and Quivet Creeks salt water marsh. This paddle presents a rare opportunity to paddle at high tide into the various water ways that meander through the peaceful outermost reaches of the marsh. The fee is $76 per person, and pre-registration and payment are required. Limited to 12 participants. This is a no-refund, no-cancellation event since reservations are extremely limited and will go fast! Click here to register.
 The BPC Cycling Group rides again this summer! Join us as we explore the backroads and kettle ponds of Brewster and beyond. Join us for Tour #2 on Thursday, August 25, beginning at 9:15 AM. Ride the Cape Cod Rail Trail past four kettle ponds and into Harwich and back. Limited to 12 riders. Registration is required. Click here to reserve a spot.
 The 2022 BPC Annual Meeting, hosted by the Cape Cod Bible Alliance Church in Brewster, was held on Saturday morning, August 13, 2022. Keynote speaker Zenas (Zee) Crocker, Executive Director of the Barnstable Clean Water Coalition, spoke about alternative septic systems their organization funded and installed at Shubael Pond in Marston Mills. Zee provided great details about how promising these systems are performing in the early stages of second phase testing. You can watch the entire meeting on the BPC Facebook page. The video is public so you do not need a Facebook account to view it. Click here to view. Communications Team designer Amy Darbyshire (center) and Pond Education Team creative force Shirley Vautin (right) were honored as 2022 Splash Award winners.
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