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"Preserving public trust,providing professional services"' <br /> 9IT«� <br /> Rodney + . Collins Office of the Town Manager <br /> Town Manager <br /> Mashpee Town Hall. <br /> ,508-,53 -1401 ,' t <br /> x� � 1 Great NeckRoad North <br /> rccollins@mashpeema.gov Mashpee,MA.0264' <br /> ADVISORY—SA► TUI T POND <br /> GATE: August 25, 2020 <br /> T0.- Abutters to Santuit Pend W � <br /> f <br /> FROM. Town Manager Rodney C. Collin.. <br /> f <br /> 1 <br /> RE. Santuit Pond Water Quality f <br /> As you know, Santuit Pond has had a history of water quality issues mainly stemming from algae <br /> blooms during the spring to fall seasons. The algae blooms are caused by phosphorous in the pond. <br /> As nitrogen is the cause of algae issues in the saltwater estuaries, phosphorous is the feeder of the <br /> algae in freshwater. <br /> There are many sources of phosphorous that can impact the environment. Phosphorous is introduced <br /> through the food we eat, the cleaning products we use, the fertilizers for our lawns and gardens, the <br /> rainfall that ends up as surface drainage, water-based paint and coatings, personal care products, <br /> pharmaceutical products and many more sources. <br /> The environment has a natural way to reduce phosphorous using the iron in shallow soils to <br /> chemically adsorb the phosphorous so it doesn't reach the groundwater. Once in the groundwater it <br /> can travel to the open pond. The examples below use this natural ability of the environment to <br /> prevent the impact of phosphorous to the freshwater ponds. <br /> 1. Preservation of Naturall ve etated Buffers Aln the Shoreline <br /> Maintaining naturally wooded/vegetated areas between homes and the water will not only <br /> preserve wildlife habitat and connective corridors for wildlife passage, but these buffers also <br /> serve to uptake nutrients from groundwater and surface water, such as phosphorous and <br /> nitrogen, before they leach into the pond, thus improving water quality. Additionally, natural <br /> buffers provide stability to shoreline areas, thus reducing erosion, which can adversely impact <br /> water quality. The more these naturally vegetated areas are left intact and not disturbed, the <br /> better the overall water quality. <br />