Due to questionable weather predictions, the town meeting to vote on the acquisition of the Sea Camp properties by the town of Brewster has been rescheduled to Sunday, September 26th at 1:00, check in begins at noon.  As before, the meeting will be held at Stony Brook School, 384 Underpass Road. 

Please note that, although a town resident has recently publicized her bid to buy the Sea Camps and made some promises, the Board of the Brewster Ponds Coalition has not changed our position.  The board unanimously supports the purchase of the two Sea Camps properties by the town of Brewster for use by the public.

This is an important and unique opportunity.  Town ownership of the properties is the only way to assure control of future use, be it public access to the bay beaches and Long Pond, conservation in a watershed sensitive area, or development that is beneficial to the townspeople such as a community center on the property.

Stand with us.  Attend the town meeting and vote “YES” to purchase the Sea Camps!
The Board Of The Brewster Ponds Coalition

The Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center has two jobs available in this innovative and rapidly growing field.  One is for a Project Assistant and the other is a Lab Technician. 

The Project Assistant will work on a broad range of projects, with a focus on I/A system management, maintenance, and monitoring. Applicants should be just as confident behind a desk as they are out in the field, with strong initiative and an ability to learn quickly.

The Lab Technician will be assigned to the EPA STAR Water Reuse grant, working alongside our Microbiologist at the MASSTC lab to do viral surrogate analysis on I/A systems and treatment plants.​

The details are on the County website: https://www.barnstablecounty.org/barnstable-county/employment-opportunities/

This guided walk through “Sheep Pond Woodlands,” preserved by Brewster Conservation Trust, meanders along wooded paths and rough rocky roads, wanders along paths with views of the pond, by a favorite fisherman’s landing and passes an old cranberry bog and a “borrow pit.”

Walkers are requested to bring water and/or medications that may be necessary and to wear comfortable walking shoes. Time for the walk is estimated to be slightly more than an hour. Pace is a bit faster than leisurely. Folks most likely to enjoy this walk will have had some experience walking wooded paths with some minor uphills and some rough paths.

*FREE to BPC Members.  $10 for all others.

​Click here to reserve your spot.  Please sign up individually. 

The New England Water Environment Association presents this free webinar for an update on a New Generation of Enhanced I/A Septic Systems. Although the objective of this webinar is to educate water, environmental, and health professionals on progress and recent developments in distributed, enhanced I/A septic systems that produce effluent Nitrogen levels, BPC members who are interested in learning more about these systems are welcomed to attend virtually.

Improving water quality in ponds starting to gain momentum says panel at regional summit
Doug Fraser
Cape Cod Times
View CommentsThe health of local ponds or lakes is something Cape Cod residents and visitors take more personally than they do marine water bodies, Andrew Gottlieb, executive director of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, said.
"People have a much more emotional, direct relationship … They talk about going to my pond," observed Gottlieb speaking at an online forum on existing water quality in freshwater ponds and lakes Tuesday afternoon. The forum was part of this year's OneCape Summit, hosted by the Cape Cod Commission on Monday and Tuesday.
"There is a chance to harness a motivated public to stop pollution and improve water quality," Gottlieb said.

Click Here For Full Story in the Cape Cod Times. 

​On August 19, 2021, the Cyanobacteria Advisory at the Schoolhouse Pond public landing was REMOVED by the Brewster Health Department after two weeks of monitoring and water sampling by the Brewster Ponds Coalition. The Cyanobacteria algal levels have dropped to a low risk level for swimming and other 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 .
 
If you have any questions please contact: Marty Burke - marty.burke@brewsterponds.org 
(508) 344-7174

For additional information, please visit https://www.mass.gov/guides/cyanobacterial-harmful-algal-blooms-cyanohabs-water. The Brewster Ponds Coalition www.brewster.org

The BPC 2021 Annual Meeting took place on Saturday, August 14th under the big tent at the Cape Cod Bible Alliance Church just east of Nickerson State Park on Rt 6A.  Brian Baumgaertel, Director of the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center (MASSTC) in Sandwich spoke about the advances in spetic systems that are now removing both nitrogen and phosphourus from wasterwater before it leaches into our groundwater. Thes important innovations are in the pilot stage right now and grants are available for Brewster property owners who wish to participate.  View video above or on the BPC YouTube channel.    The meeting was well attended by more than 60 members and guests and Brian's talk was inspiring. 

Pictured top left BPC Board, top center from l to r 2021 Splash Award winner Chuck Madansky, Citizen Science Team Leader Marty Burke & BPC President Susan Bridges, top right BPC Pond Education Team, bottom left Brian Baumgaertel, bottom center large attendence, bottom right BPC President Susan Bridges. 

​On Tour #3, the Cycling Group will start from the Cape Cod Rail trail parking lot across from the Hot Chocolate Sparrow on Old Colony Way in Orleans. We will head east on the CCRT through Orleans and into Eastham, passing Herring, Depot, and Minister Ponds to stop for a rest at the town line in Wellfleet. A fun ride further out on the Cape! Meet-up instructions will be provided prior to the event.