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The EOC has also been concerned with the community gardens be revitalized for use by adverse impacts of climate change on our fragile, residents to grow fresh food for their families. coastal community. In particular we have been In 2018, the EOC proposed establishment of a addressing climate resilience: the ability of our town Community Garden Advisory Committee and region to bounce back or transform after climate (MCGAC), and it was formed by the BOS. One events like more common,more severe storms,coastal EOC member is also a member of MCGAC. erosion and sea level rise. MCGAC received CPC funding to construct new In particular, the EOC pressed the town to apply gardens, which started in late 2019. The gardens for the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability were successfully implemented in 2020, with all Preparedness Program(MVP).The MVP is a program 20 plots rented out. of the municipalities"as they build resilience to climate 4. Mashpee has three important herring runs on the change". It includes funding for a resilience planning Quashnet, Santuit, and Mashpee Rivers. Each of process, and then offers funding for implementing these herring runs have important fish ladders action plants to qualifying municipalities. In 2019,the allowing herring access to key spawning grounds town applied for the MVP, and the EOC wrote a letter in Johns Pond, Santuit Pond and Mashpee- of support. Now that the initial workshop has been Wakeby Ponds.The EOC promotes and supports completed, the EOC will help facilitate and support the active citizen science Herring Count Program future actions taken regarding the MVP. with the Association to Preserve Cape Cod and the Division of Marine Fisheries — managed by Mashpee has made an outstanding effort the conservation department. preserving open space and protecting conservation lands. Every acre of undeveloped conservation land is 5. Other monitoring activities regarding issues with one less acre resulting in nitrogen loading that the town conservation lands include problems with has to clean up potentially with expensive sewer dumping on conservation lands and vehicle infrastructure—and one more acre the town can use for damage from use of ATVS and 4-wheel drive recreation and wildlife habitat.The EOC has promoted trucks. The EOC also monitors management of preservation and enhancement of our open spaces and demonstration pollinator gardens at four open conservation resources.Here is a list of our open space space sites and the Land Stewards Program, oversight activities and initiatives: which is another valuable citizen monitoring asset to the Conservation Department. This program 1. Support for the Community Preservation Act allows residents to report on any issues they see (CPA) funding for open space initiatives and on conservation lands,and help with larger clean- projects. We have provided the CPA with ideas up and trail maintenance efforts in Mashpee's for future projects. We also support using some 2000+acres and 33+miles of trails. CPA funds to help defray the expense of sewer The EOC takes its mission of caring for our and wastewater management infrastructure. natural resources and proposing ways to enhance our 2. Support for the upper Quashnet River and at the environment very seriously.We value and utilize every Farley and Garner Bogs on the Childs River. member's unique contribution to the Committee.If you These restoration projects plan to significantly have ideas for environmental initiatives,the EOC meets improve habitat for unique populations of sea-run on the second Wednesday every month at 6:30PM at brook trout and significant enhancement of these Town Hall. Public is welcome. open space resources. Members of the EOC are also working on the Quashnet River Steering The Mashpee Environmental Committtee advising the restoration. Oversight Committee 3. The EOC took an active role, along with MEC, Katelyn Cadoret, Chairman the Mashpee Historical District Commission,and Andrew Gottlieb, Board of Selectman Rep. the Mashpee Historical Commission to prevent Ashley Fisher, Director of Natural Resources the loss of the Community Gardens. They were Paul Colombo, Conservation Commission Rep. abandoned in 2017, as the site was proposed for John Fulone, Planning Board Rep. pickleball courts. The EOC proposed that the Tom Hoppensteadt, School Department Rep. courts be constructed elsewhere, and the 106