Jan &  Bob McGann collect PALS water samples from Blueberry Pond

Become A Pond Steward​
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For nearly 20 years volunteers have been testing Brewster’s ponds as part of the Cape Cod Pond and Lakes Stewardship (PALS) program.  This work has been a collaborative effort with the Brewster Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Cape Cod Commission and the School of Marine Science and Technology at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth.  The Brewster Ponds Coalition is actively supporting this important program with the DNR.

The result of this decades-long program is a series of snapshots of water quality in 29 of Brewster’s ponds.  The data collected by our dedicated volunteers is helping set priorities and identify possible solutions to water quality problems

The testing of ponds takes place in April and September and includes measurements of oxygen, temperature, and water clarity.  Water samples are collected at different depths and are analyzed for phosphorus, nitrogen, and other indicators that may show changes in water chemistry and possible eutrophication.  To learn more about pond water quality, click here for a short video.

Volunteers Needed! 

​We are always interested in volunteers who would like to participate in this important work.  No special experience is needed and we will provide the necessary training.  

If you are interested in being on the water, we have opportunities for pond testers.  For those who prefer to work on land, we have important roles for volunteers who coordinate with pond testers to prepare equipment, receive water samples, verify data quality, and assist with the transport of samples for the lab.  Either way (or both!), we welcome new and returning volunteers to help keep this long term effort going.

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