2021-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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challenge that we faced. Special recognition is due to DNR staff and volunteers will continue to closely the individuals who work alongside them and support monitor with our partners to protect the public health their efforts. Theresa Cook and Stephanie Coleman within our community, by sampling all freshwater were frequently called upon to play critical roles in ponds for cyanobacteria weekly during the warmer coordinating board and committee meetings, provide spring, summer, and now fall months. essential guidance to residents and town staff on a wide variety of issues,and maintain the highest standards of The Department had another successful Summer excellence. They have worked tirelessly to minimize of Water Quality Monitoring. The DNR along with disruptions to the services that we enjoy, and have multiple volunteers sampled bi-weekly during the come to expect from our town officials. Their daily months of July and August. These samples were sent efforts are often unseen, but deserve our warmest to UMass Dartmouth's School of Marine Science and gratitude. We thank you! Technology (SMAST) for their yearly report on the health of Our Library Board of Trustees have shown their support in many ways as we have moved forward in a Waquoit and Popponesset Bays.All embayments constantly evolving time,and acted as a constant source are being closely monitored through the use of of strength and encouragement. We are all looking deployed water quality monitoring equipment, which forward to a successful new year, and to a time when are serviced and maintained by both the Town's Natural the Library can open its doors and once again fulfill its Resources Department and the Tribe's Department of role as a community center and gathering place. Natural Resources. Respectfully Submitted, The DNR received funding at the October Town Kathleen M. Mahoney Meeting to pursue a diagnostic study on Mashpee- Library Director Wakeby Pond. This study will begin making headway in summer 2022.This all-encompassing study will give Mashpee policy makers the recommendations needed to improve the overall health of the pond. Report of the Department of The DNR continues to collaborate with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution,Coastal Ocean Vision, Natural Resources SMAST, and the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Department of Health to test,gather,and analyze water quality data collected in both fresh and salt water To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the bodies. Citizens of the Town of Mashpee: Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Grant: Water Quality: Watershed-base Solutions to Increase Resilience to For the fifth consecutive year,the persistent blue- Harmful Algal Blooms in Santuit Pond in a Warmer green algae bloomed at Santuit Pond throughout the and Wetter Climate: summer.With multiple advisories posted by the Board of Health throughout the summer, Santuit Pond The Department of Natural Resources received a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) grant to experienced its longest ever advisory from July 15th to November 18th, 2021. Advisories at Ashumet and Feat and target climate change effects on water quality Mashpee-Wakeby Pond also occurred in July, due to in Santuit Pond, to be completed in July 2022. The presence of cyanobacteria scum layers. This was the grant funds will characterize the Santuit Pond first major bloom in Mashpee-Wakeby Pond fora watershed pollutant sources,develop stormwater green infrastructure retrofit number of years showing above normal cell counts. designs, design and permit 1 The advisory on Ashumet was put into place in mid- retrofit design within the watershed, offer non- July and lifted at the end of July. The advisory at structural source control measures to homeowners, Mashpee Wakeby was put into place at the beginning make recommended changes to the Town's Nitrogen of July,but was ended just a few days later on July 7th. Control Bylaw, and finally implement community engagement and public involvement opportunities. 127