Phosphorus removal accomplished by harvesting pond plants from Elbow Pond
Sometimes a pond needs a little help from its friends. Its water quality may be degrading, causing low clarity or excessive pond plant growth. Perhaps there’s a nutrient loading problem from stormwater runoff. Your neighbors and you may not know what to do, but the Brewster Ponds Coalition can help.
Contact the Brewster Ponds Coalition at [email protected] or 508-258-9801. After an exploratory conversation, BPC representatives will determine whether or not your situation or problem falls under the BPC mission. If it does, the BPC can lend a hand, bringing neighbors together to understand the issues affecting your pond and assisting in developing an action plan. In addition, the BPC can hold contributed funds as tax-deductible donations in a dedicated account and pay invoices for the project.
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Seymour Pond
With initial consultation assistance from the BPC, association neighbors undertook a project to improve an existing stormwater drainage system to prevent runoff and erosion across their beach. Volunteers worked together in a very cost-effective way to repair existing infrastructure and construct a new retention system to redirect rainwater away from the pond.

​Click here to see a PDF of a slide presentation of this project.

In addition to the project described above, the BPC is currently working with the residents of Beechwood Drive and Tracy Lane on further remediation options for two projects on Seymour Pond. 
Elbow Pond
When excess phosphorus and plant growth threatened Elbow Pond’s water quality, the BPC helped the Friends of Elbow Pond implement an innovative solution to remove phosphorus by cutting pond plants 1-2 feet below the surface with the Town’s eco-harvester. ​
BPC volunteers assisted with funding, permitting, and even the loading of harvested plants onto a trailer for composting. The 2019 harvest removed 13.8 tons of aquatic plants, amounting to 55 pounds of phosphorus removed. 

Click here to see a PDF of a slide presentation of this project​
​Robinwood Homeowners Association
After years of use, the small Robinwood neighborhood landing had become trampled down, and several sources of stormwater were running into the pond. The Town of Brewster Conservation Commission and MassDEP approved a plan to restore and stabilize the bank leading down to the pond. BPC provided input and held donor funds in its tax-free account for use in this important water quality project. Coir rolls and 100% biodegradable erosion control netting stabilized the bank, which was then revegetated with organic topsoil and approved plant species. This project will directly improve the water quality in the pond by eliminating stormwater runoff, erosion, and the soil compaction of the banking.
Canoe Pond
The BPC awarded its first pond remediation matching grant to the Canoe Pond Village Association to replace an aeration pump. 
Blueberry Pond
The Save the Blueberry and Sol’s Ponds Association formed a coalition of partners including the Brewster Conservation Trust, Ocean Edge. and the BPC to remediate stormwater runoff into Blueberry Pond.   ​
​Together they constructed a large rain garden and retention basin to capture runoff and infiltrate it into the ground, limiting direct stormwater discharge into the pond. The BPC also produced a video to educate other neighborhoods on stormwater remediation solutions.
​Click here to see a video of this project
Lower Mill Pond
Major erosion from years of traffic to Lower Mill Pond was causing runoff from the road to flow directly into the pond. The Save Lower Mill Pond group created a riprap basin in spring 2020, which passed its first test during an August storm, filling two-thirds with stormwater flowing from the asphalt road and slowly subsiding over the next six hours as the polluted water filtered through the soil. A rain garden was added later in the fall with plants provided by Crocker Nurseries (a BPC Business Partner). BPC provided input and held donor funds in its tax-free account for use in this important water quality project. The project was made possible with thanks to many generous donations and volunteer labor from residents around the pond, along with a successful yard sale in late July, and the helpful donation of Bobcat services by Arbor-Way Gardens (also a BPC Business Partner).
Storm Runoff Concern
The BPC, in conjunction with the Town, is working to address locations in Brewster where storm runoff to ponds from public or homeowner association roads is a potential concern. This work was started in 2016, when an inventory of runoff concern locations was developed. Since then, some of the locations have been addressed by the Town or associations through such measures as installing infiltration catch basins, rain gardens, or storm runoff diversion and control structures.

The inventory was updated in the fall of 2025, including identifying some new locations and noting where improvements were made. Click here to review the report. The BPC will continue to work with associations to address storm runoff problems with, where needed, technical assistance and financial support for improvement projects.
Like to learn more, volunteer, or provide financial support for our pond remediation programs? Click on one of the buttons below!

Contact  [email protected]
PO BOX 459, Brewster MA 02631
508-258-9801