2001-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

{�I 'I Another complex and time-consuming review Report of the was the Phosphorus Treatment project on Ashumet Conservation Commission Pond by the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence. The project involved pumping Aluminum Sulphate and Sodium Aluminate at depths below 35 To the Honorable Board of Selectmen feet, to remove Phosphorus from the water column. and the Citizens of the Town of Mashpee: (The Phosphorus, emanating from the old Otis ANG base septic-treatment plant, has caused trouble-some , 2001 was another very busy year for the algal blooms in Ashumet Pond. Much preparatory `x Commission. 361 hearings (for wetland permits) were work was involved, as was extensive monitoring dur- received, down 22% from the previous year, but still ing application of chemicals (incorrect dosages and/or slightly above (2%) the average for the nine years we water-depth injections could have caused significant have kept such statistics. Cited violations were fish kills). The Commission's Agent and consultants markedly up to 70, an increase of 45% over the previ- (URS of Portland, Maine) were on the water at all ous year. times during application. The Commission lost (in early 2002) its long- Thankfully, the application went according to time Administrative Assistant, Diana Lund to retire- plan and preliminary analysis indicates that the treat- ment. Diana had been with the Commission since ment significantly accomplished its goals.The cooper- 1983. She will be missed for her professional compe- ation between AFCEE, its consultants and the tency, her sense of humor and for the good will she Commission(and its consultants)was very effective in created as our"ambassador", as she was the first con- making this project an apparent success. tact for most people who deal with the Commission. The Commission has become the new stewards The Commission's membership underwent some of approximately 24 acres of land donated by the changes, too, as former associate member Len Pinaud Mashpee Land Trust. Some of these parcels have moved to a regular membership and Stephanie Jones unusual natural features such as vernal pool or beech ` joined us as an associate member. forests. A former member, the late Dave Sharpe was The Commission was please to obtain a new remembered as we dedicated the 17 acre Conservation vehicle, a Jeep Liberty, to replace its 1988 GMC land adjacent to Santuit Pond in his name. Jimmy.Though the Jimmy served us well for 13 years, we definitely appreciate a heater that works, a radio Member Carole Moore completed the and air-conditioning! Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commission's Certification program, the first of our One disturbing trend that we have seen on Town- owned land is an increased use by ATV's and motor- regular members to do so! r� cycles, with many of the users callously damaging Several big projects occupied considerable staff fragile areas. Chief among the affected areas are the and Commission's time and attention, notably two Quashnet Bogs, where considerable erosion has been gold-courses- the Cape Club (near Santuit Pond) and caused nearby Brook Trout spawning areas. There the nine-hole expansion of the Willowbend Golf have been new trails blazed through Conservation lands and actual wetland damage done to other Town Course. As of the beginning of 2002, neither had received all of their wetlands permits, with more lands, notably between Noisy Hole Road and review due. Meetinghouse Road. The Commission is working closely with the Police Department, and the Conservation staff also spent a considerable Massachusetts Environmental Police, but we have not amount of time participating in the New Seabury yet been able to identify individuals responsible. Any MEPA review process as well as the Cape Cod members of the public who can help us should call us Commission's Jurisdiction Determination process this at 508-539-1400, Exts. 540, 538 or 539. past year. In 2001 the Conservation Commission referred this large project to the Cape Cod Another disturbing trend has been the increase in Commission fora jurisdictional determination. On illegal dumping on Conservation land. The Board of January 10, 2002, the Cape Cod Commission deter- Health, Department of Public Works, Board of mined that the proposed New Seabury project did fall Selectmen and the Commission are raising the fines under their regulatory review and qualified as a for these violations. Clean ups are done by staff, vol- ,z Development of Regional Impact, requiring New unteers and DPW staff on an all too frequent basis. Commission staff continues to pursue these violations Seabury to go through the DRI process. 107 i