04/28/2026 MASHPEE-WAKEBY LAKE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Minutes (2)

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MWLMC April 28,2026 expertise or safety support. Participants noted that the town now has greater focus, resources, and expertise related to water quality and environmental management, and that several organizations already monitor conditions around the pond and restoration areas. The group discussed drafting a formal request asking the town to take over responsibility for lake level management after ﬁrst speaking with relevant town o?icials and environmental sta?. Mashpee River Fishway Dam update A well-attended public meeting with approximately 25–30 residents, including many members of the Tribe and neighbors from around the lake area, focused on the proposed Mashpee River restoration project from Mashpee Pond and Mill Pond down to Popponesset Bay. Representatives from numerous organizations participated, including NOAA, the Department of Conservation, APCC, DPW, river and ﬁsh passage groups, and environmental science organizations. Presentations explained the current proposal to remove the existing ﬁsh ladder and create a more natural herring run channel extending from the lake through Mill Pond to the bay. Concerns were raised that Mill Pond currently causes herring to spread into shallow dead- end areas where predators gather, while warmer water temperatures also negatively a?ect their habitat. Engineers explained that the aging ﬁsh ladder and culvert require signiﬁcant maintenance and that future phases would narrow the channel to improve water ﬂow for ﬁsh migration. Strong concern was expressed by many attendees, particularly Tribal members, about the possible loss of Mill Pond, which holds important historical and cultural signiﬁcance and was remembered as a longtime ﬁshing area. Questions were also raised about whether repairing the ﬁsh ladder had been fully considered instead of complete removal. It was clariﬁed that the lake water level itself is controlled primarily by the dam boards, which would remain in place. Current project timelines estimate construction beginning in fall 2028 with completion targeted for spring 2029. Mashpee & Wakeby Stormwater Restoration Project A discussion was held regarding concerns at the boat ramp and surrounding lake property. It was reported that the DPW Director (Catherine Laurent) stated there are currently no plans to address the issue because it is considered a state matter and outside the scope of the stormwater project, which is focused primarily on the parking lot. Reference was made to detailed plans available through the APCC website. It was also noted that several islands in the lake, once privately owned and later roped o?, were eventually transferred to the Native Land Conservancy Trust. While the town owns the land near the boat ramp and may 2