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<br />COMMITTEE REVIEW <br /> <br /> Conservation Planning – Mark Robinson Land Trusts Follow-Up <br />o Contract Discussion and Approval <br /> Cultural Respect Easement on Mashpee Lands <br />o Additional documents provided on the shared file <br />o Mr. Colombo updated the members on the new co-management/stewardship <br />committee formed <br /> Members: Dan Kent, Paul Colombo, Seana Pitt, and Sarah Thornbrugh <br /> <br />COMMITTEE UPDATES <br /> Water Quality Updates <br />o Ms. Fisher provided extensive updates on various pond management projects: <br /> Wakeby Pond: The implementation of alum treatments is underway, with <br />an approximately $250,000 budget allocated for monitoring and <br />procurement. The School of Marine Science at UMass Dartmouth will <br />conduct heavy monitoring during this process. <br /> PFAS Studies: Ongoing studies related to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl <br />substances) are being conducted in multiple ponds, including John's Pond <br />and Ashumet Pond, in collaboration with various research entities. The <br />studies aim to assess water quality and contamination levels and involve <br />partnerships with organizations such as the Waquoit Bay National Estuary <br />Research Reserve and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Efforts <br />are also being made to monitor foam formation on the shorelines of these <br />ponds, which may indicate PFAS contamination. Strategies for addressing <br />water quality issues related to these substances are being developed. <br /> Funding for Diagnostic Assessment: The town is seeking funding for a <br />diagnostic assessment of John's Pond. It plans to present a proposal at the <br />May 2026 town meeting. <br /> Freshwater Initiative: A project in collaboration with the Association to <br />Preserve Cape Cod (APCC) and the Cape Cod Commission, the <br />Freshwater Initiative aims to improve water quality in freshwater ponds <br />across Cape Cod. This initiative will provide educational materials and <br />advisory sheets to the public and municipal employees to promote best <br />practices for freshwater pond management. <br /> Grant-Funded Projects: Multiple grant-funded projects focused on <br />improving water quality in Mashpee's freshwater bodies are currently <br />underway. These include the alum treatment for Wakeby Pond, diagnostic <br />assessments for Schumann and John's Ponds, and ongoing PFAS studies. <br />Collaboration with various organizations, including UMass Dartmouth and <br />local stakeholders, is essential for the successful implementation and <br />monitoring of these initiatives. <br /> Student Coastal Research Program <br />o Mr. Weeden presented a STEM-based learning program from the Cohasset Center <br />for Student Coastal Research. <br />3 <br /> <br /> <br />