HomeMy WebLinkAboutPalma Puzzuoli Comment letter1
Cavanaugh, Kimberly
From:Palma Puzzuoli <puzzuoli@att.net>
Sent:Monday, May 19, 2025 10:55 PM
To:Cavanaugh, Kimberly
Subject:Public Hearing for Pilot Project at Eagle Pond Little River Sanctuary on May 27
Hi Kimberly,
I received a NoƟce of Intent AbuƩer NoƟficaƟon LeƩer for an upcoming ConservaƟon Commission Public
hearing regarding a project to deploy an 80 sq foot floaƟng vegetaƟve treatment using sparƟna grass a s the
vegetaƟve species for filtraƟon to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus and cynobacteria in Eagle Pond. I have a
number of concerns that I will outline below and request that you share this with the Commission. I’d also
appreciate it if you can please provide me with a Zoom link for the meeƟng.
Dear Members of the Commission,
I appreciate the opportunity to submit this leƩer in advance of the upcoming public hearing regarding
proposed ecological enhancements to Eagle Pond, including the installaƟon of floaƟng gardens.
I am wriƟng to express concerns about the potenƟal inclusion of SparƟna species—specifically SparƟna
alterniflora or SparƟna patens—in these floaƟng systems. While these species are naƟve to Cape Cod’s salt
marshes, they are not appropriate for use in freshwater ecosystems such as Eagle Pond, a spring-fed keƩle
pond.
There are several reasons for this concern:
1. Risk of Invasiveness
SparƟna species are known to spread via both rhizomes and seed dispersal. Introducing them into a
freshwater context—outside their naƟve salt marsh habitat—could lead to unintended colonizaƟon along
pond edges or into adjacent wetland habitats, disrupƟng naƟve plant communiƟes.
2. Ecological Mismatch
These grasses are adapted to brackish and saline environments. Their survival in freshwater condiƟons is
unpredictable and may allow them to outcompete slower-growing naƟve aquaƟc plants, potenƟally reducing
biodiversity and altering ecosystem funcƟon.
3. Regulatory Precedent and Stewardship
Cape Cod's freshwater systems are under increasing pressure from development and nutrient loading.
Introducing a species that has not historically existed in these environments—even if naƟve to the region
more broadly—could conflict with local conservaƟon goals and the precauƟonary principles we use to steward
sensiƟve water bodies.
For these reasons, I respecƞully recommend the Commission consider alternaƟve naƟve freshwater plant s
2
that are well-suited for floaƟng garden installaƟons and nutrient uptake. Although, I am not an expert in this
maƩer, I have researched the topic and read that there are other plants naƟve to Cape Cod that grow in
freshwater zones like Pontederia cordata (pickerelweed), Scirpus validus (soŌ-stem bulrush), and SagiƩaria
laƟfolia (duck potato) which not only support water quality goals but also protect the ecological integrity of
our freshwater habitats.
It is vital that any ecological intervenƟon be approached cauƟously, with careful consideraƟon of the potenƟal
for unintended consequences that could do more harm than good.
Thank you for your careful consideraƟon of this maƩer.
Sincerely,
Palma Puzzuoli