3/10/2011 ENVIRONMENTAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE Minutes

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significant drop in land values in comparison to properties around other ponds in Mashpee and compared to the increase in property values away from the pond.) Additionally, shoreline property owners are having difficulty renting their summer vacation properties. The loss in property value leads to a loss of real estate revenue annually which, after a small number of years, will equal the cost of the proposed approach to preservation and rernediation of Santuit Pond. vii, The project is based on the recommendations derived from a Town funded study by AECOM (overseen by the Mashpee EOC), which leverages the approximately $58,000 expenditure for the study conducted during 2009-2010, viii. The project aims to preserve the currently owned town asset of Santuit Pond, used for swimming, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and jet skiing. ix. The proposed project has received the endorsement of other municipal boards including the Environmental Oversight Committee and the Board of Selectmen, who advocated for the initial assessment study by AECOM, and who later recommended the specific approach of solar powered circulators, and who submitted a pre- proposal letter of interest to the Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET) requesting partial funding of$100,000 (this letter request was recently rejected due to a severe lack of available funds by the MET, and the MET's preference to fund smaller projects that do not involve the purchase of capital equipment). This project has also been strongly endorsed by two citizens groups, the Friends of Santuit Pond and the Mashpee Environmental Coalition. This proposal supports a variety of Category Specific Criteria as follows. Open Space Proposal Criteria: i, Permanently (expected lifetime of 25 years) protects wildlife habitats, both aquatic and shoreline areas, that support significant diversity of local fish species, water fowl, birds, and small animals, and includes the spawning grounds of herring that is disappearing from the entire Cape Cod region. ii. Santuit Pond provides many opportunities for passive recreation including swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. The pond has recently been the subject of an environmental education project of the Mashpee High School Science Club (which conducted its own assessment of the pond's condition). It will undoubtedly continue to support environmental education, especially in conjunction with the proposed approach to preservation (an excellent topic of discussion and field trip for High School and Middle School students). iii, Santuit Pond provides lovely scenic views, but its summer view has been marred by the "green pea soup" appearance of the algae blooms. The proposed project will restore the summer view to a scenic one. iv. Santuit Pond is an important surface water body, for the many reasons already stated, but also for its historical significance to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal members, many of who live near Santuit Pond. Recreation Proposals: i. The pond supports multiple recreational uses, both passive and active. ii. Santuit Pond serves a significant number of residents within walking distance of the pond (estimated at more than 600 dwellings), others who drive to the town landing on the pond, and many summer visitors who populate the rental homes around the pond.