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2. Support for restoration of the upper Quashnet River 5. Mashpee has three important herring runs on the and at the Farley Bogs on the Childs River. These Quashnet, Santuit and Mashpee Rivers. Each of restoration projects plan to significantly improve these herring runs have important fish ladders habitat for unique populations of sea-run brook allowing herring access to key spawning grounds trout and significant enhance of these open space in Johns Pond,Santuit Pond and Mashpee-Wakeby resources. Members of the EOC are also working Ponds. The EOC promotes and supports the active on the Quashnet River Steering Committee citizen Herring Count program with the Association advising on the Quashnet River Restoration. to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC)—managed by the 3. The EOC took an active role, along with the Conservation Department in Mashpee. Mashpee Environmental Coalition (MEC), the Two of those fish ladders have had significant Mashpee Historic District Commission, and the issues affecting the herring runs. The EOC has Mashpee Historical Commission, to prevent the monitored and supported efforts by the loss of the Mashpee Community Garden. This Conservation Department to design and fund valuable open space resource was abandoned in herring run fish ladder improvements on the 2017,as the site was proposed for construction of Quashnet and Santuit Rivers. pickleball courts. The EOC proposed that the 6. Other monitoring activities regarding issues with courts be constructed elsewhere, and the conservation lands include problems with community gardens be revitalized for use by dumping on conservation lands and vehicle residents to grow fresh food for their families. damage from use of ATVs and four-wheel drive In 2018 the EOC proposed establishment of a trucks. The EOC also monitors management of Community Garden Advisory Committee,along demonstration pollinator gardens at three open with the MEC; and the Mashpee Community space sites and the Land Stewards Program, Garden Advisory Committee (MCGAC) was which is another valuable citizen monitoring formed by the Board of Selectmen in 2018. One project of the Conservation Department. This EOC member is also a member of the MCGAC. program allows residents to remove trash, clear Other EOC members have taken an active role in pathways,and monitor the condition of about 100 the revitalization of the existing Community parcels in Mashpee—including misuse and illegal Gardens,which is well underway. dumping. It has proven to be a valuable program Also, in 2018 the CPC awarded the MCGAC a in caring for our conservation lands. significant grant to construct new Community The EOC takes it mission of caring for our nat- Gardens starting in late 2019—a grant that must ural resources and proposing ways to enhance our be approved by Town Meeting in May of 2019. environment very seriously. If you have ideas for The new garden design addresses some serious environmental initiatives, the EOC meets on the sec- problems with the existing Community Garden and Wednesday of the month at 6:30 PM at Town design. The EOC strongly supported that grant Hall. The public is welcome. application and wrote a letter of support. T 4. The EOC has been monitoring and supporting he Mashpee Environmental Oversight Committee efforts to design and construct the Mashpee Michael Talbot, Chairman Greenway, a trail connecting conservation lands Katelyn Cadoret, Vice-chair Conservation (including the Quashnet Woods State Reservation) Andrew Gottlieb,Board of Selectmen Rep. to the Mashpee Commons. A key component of Rick York,Director,Shellfish this Greenway trail is design,location and funding Andrew McManus, Conservation for one or two footbridges over the Quashnet Ashley Fisher,Shellfish River. Members of the EOC have also Dale McKay,Conservation Commission Rep. participated in the planning of this Greenway and Joseph Cummings,Planning Board Rep. its footbridges in 2018—a project being promoted Tom Hoppensteadt,School Dept.Rep. primarily by the Planning Board. This included testimony before the CPC and participation in a subcommittee working on this project. 116