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of Mashpee. That program could save the town many the DNR, which also has responsibility for water millions of dollars in sewer infrastructure costs to quality testing in our estuaries as part of the CWMP. residents and taxpayers. In particular the EOC has been concerned about The EOC has also promoted zero net nitrogen water quality and algal blooms in the last three years loading standards for all future major development in Santuit Pond. The Solar Bees, purchased and projects.We discussed this with the Planning Board in installed to improve water quality in Santuit Pond,were relation to the future expansion of the Mashpee working quite well until run-off from a 100-year storm Commons. The CMWP did not anticipate significant in 2017 seems to have triggered serious,persistent algal nitrogen loading from future major development blooms. The Solar Bees are serviced periodically, and projects such as a major expansion of housing proposed another SolarBee was added in 2019. We discuss the at the Mashpee Commons.It is important to limit future many different measures being taken in 2019 to address nitrogen loads, which may have to be mitigated with the water quality issues on the Pond,and provide input expensive sewer infrastructure. where necessary.In 2021,the EOC hosted the Mashpee Clean Waters and the Save Mashpee Wakeby Pond The EOC directly supported the CMWP by Alliance grassroots organization to collaborate on writing, promoting, and passing the Nitrogen Control efforts to educate the public regarding our water quality Bylaw in 2014. Nitrogen loading from turf fertilizers issues. We assisted with a ZOOM forum on "Healthy is the second leading source of nitrogen pollution after Lawns, Healthy Waters"in September. septic systems. The EOC saw the need to take advantage of a narrow window of opportunity to pass The EOC and its members has provided a forum a local bylaw to regulate applications of lawn fertilizer where Mashpee High School students can explore and further reduce the cost of sewer infrastructure. volunteer opportunities in the shellfish program, Mashpee was the first town to get nitrogen fertilizer Herring Count program, Land Stewards program and regulations approved on Cape Cod by the Cape Cod the PALS program.Several EOC members were judges Commission. at the 2019 high school science fair. In 2017, the EOC wrote and passed an expanded The EOC has been concerned about the adverse Nutrient Control Bylaw that added regulation for impacts of stormwater run-off—another leading source phosphorus fertilizer. Excess phosphorus pollution of nutrient pollution in our ponds and estuaries, from fertilizers is a major cause of degradation of including Santuit Pond,Popponesset Bay and Waquoit freshwater quality in ponds, lakes and streams. The Bay.The EOC supports all efforts to reduce stormwater EOC also expanded enforcement of the bylaw to run-off and to mitigate its effects through "green include staff of the Conservation Department and the infrastructure". Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The bylaw was approved by the Attorney General in 2018, and is In addition to water quality concerns and the being enforced now.The Conservation Commission in CWMP, the EOC has been very concerned about particular has been enforcing provisions to limit lawn plastics pollution.More and more,there is world-wide fertilizer use near wetlands and surface waters. recognition of the serious problems caused by plastic pollution of our land and seas. In particular, these The EOC has also been educating professional adverse impacts affect wildlife, including birds, land lawn care operators about our regulations through the and sea turtles,and marine mammals.Plastics are hard Cape Cod Landscape Association (CCLA). In 2020, to recycle,and most plastics are not recycled.They are the EOC sent a letter to the CCLA and to 25 individual also a nuisance, clogging drains and littering our landscape companies outlining the Nutrient Control conservation lands and roadsides. Bylaw, and plan to continue to send it as a reminder periodically throughout the year. In 2016, the EOC wrote and submitted a Plastic Bag Ban Bylaw that was approved at October Town The EOC has also been monitoring water quality Meeting. Enforcement began a year later, and the ban testing work by the DNR and the PALS program is fully implemented now. We have also hosted (Ponds and Lakes Stewards). The PALS program was Sustainable Practices at our meetings, and supported managed for many years by the Mashpee their initiative to place a citizens-petition municipal Environmental Coalition(MEC).It is now managed by plastic water bottle ban on the May 2020 Town Meeting. 105