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Town of Mashpee <br /> U'a -, aims 16 Great Neck Rd North <br /> 1 r * ' Mashpee, MA 02649„ <br /> Mashpee Conservation Commission Minutes <br /> Thursday, November 16th, 2023 <br /> Waquoit Meeting Room, Mashpee Town Hall <br /> Board Members Present: Absentee Members: Additional Attendees: <br /> Paul D.Colombo,Chair Alexandra Zollo,Vice Chair Andrew R.McManus,Conservation Agent <br /> Steven Cook, Secretary Marjorie Clapprood,Member Daniel Kent,Assistant Conservation Agent <br /> Sandra Godfrey,Member Chad Smith,Associate Member <br /> Erin Copeland,Member <br /> CALL MEETING TO ORDER <br /> 5:45 p.m. <br /> Mr. Colombo,the Chairman, calls the meeting to order. <br /> Pledge of Allegiance/Moment of Silence. <br /> PUBLIC COMMENT(For any issues not related to agenda items) <br /> There are no public comments. <br /> PRE/POST-HEARING AGENDA: <br /> 5:50 .m.-Water_Quality Presentation: Nicole Corbett, Popponesset Water Stewardship Alliance. Ms Corbett <br /> described her professional and personal background/experience in terms of local water quality issues in <br /> Popponesset Bay. Ms Corbett described the issues with various seaweed and jellyfish populations. She <br /> described the nuisance issues with decomposition of accumulated seaweed along the shorelines and the mucky <br /> conditions this process creates along with noxious odors. Ms Corbett engaged with local residents & scientists <br /> at the Center for Coastal Studies to begin studies on seaweed inundations and any impacts this situation creates <br /> in terms of nutrient loading. Ms Corbett described a species of red algae-dasiphonia-a species native to the <br /> northwest US-that has been particularly invasive in Popponesset Bay and Nantucket Sound. Additional studies <br /> and mapping took place to identify areas of significant inundation. The results indicated the highest <br /> accumulations along the shorelines abutting Nantucket Sound between Hyannis and.Falmouth. Protocols were <br /> created for public identification/education and awareness of this invasive species. Various water quality test sites <br /> established around Popponesset Bay to conduct benthic studies to categorize and map seaweed species in the <br /> Bay vs in Nantucket Sound. Studies revealed a thick layer of muck and sludge making up the substrate of the <br /> bay. This is from constant decomposition of accumulated seaweed &algae. Many of the seaweed species found <br /> in the bay are not beneficial or of a native variety. There's been a significant shift in the abundance and species <br /> of seaweed accumulation over the years since the early 80s when water quality monitoring began. <br /> Ms Corbett also described the increase in jellyfish species (2 main species in the bay-Moon Jellyfish &Atlantic <br /> Bay Nettle) Additional studies of these species are being conducted to determine genetic distinctions (referred <br /> to as "bar coding") and categorization/documentation of any potentially new subspecies. Ms Corbett described <br /> some of the possible triggers for the population growth of these species which are mostly attributed to increases <br /> in water temperatures and food supply. Ms Corbett entertained questions from the commission about her studies <br /> 1 <br />