Flax Pond image courtesy of Skip Caplan 

​The Brewster Ponds Coalition’s Neighborhood Outreach program partners with local neighborhood and pond associations to help them gain a better understanding of these beautiful, complex ecosystems.

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A neighborhood pond is both a great resource and a great responsibility.

​The BPC Neighborhood Outreach program can leverage and enhance your group’s efforts and help to expand them to a broad and long term environmental stewardship program in a non-regulatory manner.

Being a caretaker is the right thing to do: the sandy soils of the cape allow groundwater to flow into and out of ponds. Keeping your pond clean also keeps our sole source aquifer water clean and can be a personally transformative experience.

The BPC Outreach Program
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• Builds a working partnership with your neighborhood group or pond association
• Works with you to understand your pond dynamics
• Helps you focus your pond association on water issues
• Instills a “Pond Caretaker” attitude in your neighborhood
• Explores how you as a neighbor can help 
• Grows BPC awareness and membership through our joint efforts​

​How We Can Help
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• Assemble available information on your pond from various expert sources
• Provide consultative advice on immediate remediation problems like stormwater runoff
• Suggest referral to engineering resources as needed
• ​​Enlist our Citizen Science team to test your pond for cyanobacteria
• ​Hold your donor funds in a tax-free account to be used for eligible remediation projects​​

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• ​Build a "Pond Protection Plan" for your pond
• ​Provide access to resources and educational events available to BPC members

Image courtesy of Dawn Walnut

The BPC Pond Protection Pledge

​We are so fortunate to have access to the beauty of Brewster's ponds and it is our shared responsibility to keep them clean and healthy for generations to come. The BPC Pond Protection Pledge (PPP) is a simple conversation movement that asks everyone in Brewster to take a step forward to ensure that our ponds are protected.

Given the increased and visible environmental threats such as climate change, habitat destruction, rising temperatures, and pollution, the urgent need for us all to take action has never been clearer. Simple steps that we can all take in our homes and on our properties can benefit us all. 

The PPP is the brainstorm of Meghan Taylor, a BPC member and Sheep Pond resident, who united her neighbors to protect their pond. Initially, the BPC worked with neighborhood groups at Sheep, Seymour, and Upper Mill ponds to start the pledge in their pond area. More recently, we recognize that you don't have to live on ponds to pledge to protect them for the future. Any resident can be part of the PPP.

​​Like to learn more, volunteer or provide financial support for this program?  Click on one of the buttons below!

The Three-Part Pledge 

​The PPP asks all Brewster residents, homeowners, and pond associations to:  

• Commit to not using chemical fertilizers in yards which leads to an increase in nutrients. 
• Commit to having septic tanks inspected and pumped every two to four years. 
• ​Commit to decreasing or eliminating phosphate containing household cleaners by watching what goes down the drain and using earth-friendly cleaners. 

When you take the pledge, the BPC will deliver the above yard sign to you, showing your support and that your household is doing its part to protect Brewster's ponds. Your minimum donation of $30 will cover the costs of the sign and, in return, we will consider this your first-year membership in the BPC. You will receive our email communications, annual Ripples magazine, and be kept apprised of all our educational events and activities as well as volunteer opportunities. ​

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE PLEDGE!

For more information about the PPP, please click on this link to view a recent presentation. If you are part of a neighborhood association and would like more information, please send an email to [email protected], with "Pond Protection Pledge" noted in the subject line.

Pictured above is Nancy Decker, Seymour Pond neighborhood resident and PPP member.