12/08/2025 FRESHWATER POND COMMITTEE Minutes (3)

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Freshwater Ponds Committee December 8,2025 The Committee reviewed a drafted meeting calendarthat maintains regular meetings on the third Tuesday of each month, with noted exceptions due to conflicts. The revised and finalized meeting schedule will be distributed to Committee members via email. Updates on Freshwater Pond Studies It was reported that the member has made multiple attempts to contact Ed Eichner of UMass Dartmouth SMAST to obtain updates on the mussel study and sediment dosing work, but no recent information has been received. The most recent public update, previously delivered to the Friends of Ashumet Pond, indicated that the mussel studywas expected to be completed by late fall and readyfor committee review in both Mashpee and Falmouth thereafter. Members expressed general disappointment regarding the lack of ongoing communication and updates. The committee agreed that any new information received should be shared promptlywith members and the public, ratherthan waiting fora subsequent meeting. Johns Pond: Updates to the fish ladder project are underway to improve long-term sustainability. Itwas noted that current surface water input to the Quashnet River is dry; however, the river continues to be sustained by spring flow. The goal is to submitthe amended project materials to the Conservation Board in earlywinter of the following year. Santuit Pond: The fish ladder project design approach has shifted to a locally led effort through the Cape Cod Conservation District. This change replaces the previous design process conducted through the Natural Resources Conservation Service and is expected to result in a more efficient timeline. Mashpee River and Headwaters: Coordination is ongoing with the Association to Preserve Cape Cod to install permanent, full-time water quality monitoring instrumentation. Proposed monitoring parameters include flow, temperature, water height, and sedimentation; nitrogen monitoring is not included. Site selection is currently underway dueto concerns about ice damage and equipment displacement. Existing monitoring conducted by Tighe& Bond will be extended in support of the Mashpee River Restoration Project. However, the installation of permanent monitoring instrumentation remains a priorityfor long-term data collection and project evaluation. Mill Pond and "No Pond" Option 2