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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources Chapter_Summary of Expert Presentations1 CURRENT ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES: SUMMARY OF NATURAL RESOURCES EXPERT PRESENTATIONS Expert Presentations For each chapter of this plan, experts were invited to speak before the Local Comprehensive Plan CommiƩee on issues of concern related to each topic. For Natural Resources, speakers included Andrew GoƩlieb, ExecuƟve Director of the AssociaƟon to Protect Cape Cod (APCC) and staff of the Town’s Department of Natural Resources. Association to Protect Cape Cod Mr. GoƩlieb focused his remarks on the issue of water quality. APCC conducts an annual evaluaƟon of water quality throughout Cape Cod. State of the Waters: Cape Cod 2023 Report indicates that about 90 percent of estuaries on Cape Cod had poor water quality in one or more locaƟons and at one or more points in Ɵme during that year. This was up from 68 percent five years previously. Acco rding to Mr. GoƩlieb, the primary culprits for this poor water quality are sepƟc system waste (which pollutes water with unhealthy levels of nitrogen), increased severity of storms, and heat/drought. There is not much people can do about the weather, but we can help control the nutrient loads of our water. ParƟcularly in the summer months, when the populaƟon swells, there are more people using sepƟc systems and more leaching of sepƟc waste into the ground. Even very modern sepƟc systems are inadequate to remove wastewater pollutants, like nitrogen, to a level where they are not further degrading the environment and water quality. Mr. GoƩlieb praised the Town for invesƟng in modern sewer systems and for working to expand the exisƟng network. However, he noted that water quality will conƟnue to decline during the decades it will take to fully build out the public sewer network. On top of estuaries, APCC tracks the health of 150 of the approximately 890 lakes and ponds on Cape Cod. About 39 percent of these ponds report poor water quality in any given year. Approximately 50 percent of these water bodies are marginal – right on the Ɵpping point of poor water quality. SomeƟmes, one heavy rainstorm is all it takes to Ɵp the balance. To date, the health of coastal waters and estuaries has been the priority, but equal aƩenƟon should be paid to ponds and other inland freshwater. Mr. GoƩlieb noted that five of the 21 water suppliers on Cape Cod are in Barnstable. Water quality is good, but PFAS is now present in nearly half of the Cape’s water supply systems. While the levels are sƟll below what the State of MassachuseƩs considers acceptable, this is something the whole region will conƟnue to monitor. Mr. GoƩlieb pointed to two recent APCC studies that can help guide development and conservaƟon in Barnstable and across the Cape. Grow Smart Cape Cod, a partnership with the Housing Assistance CorporaƟon, analyzes the most important habitat across the Cape to preserve and the areas that might be more appropriate for denser housing development or redevelopment. Hanging in the Balance, a follow up report, analyzes the value of the remaining 14 percent of Cape Cod’s land area that is undeveloped and unprotected. Mr. GoƩlieb noted that if this remaining land is developed into large-lot 2 residenƟal, like much of the rest of the Cape has been, the community can only expect to exacerbate exisƟng problems. Mr. GoƩlieb also encouraged everyone in the community t stop using fer Ɵlizer, another major source of nitrogen and other nutrient loading. Town of Barnstable Division of Natural Resources Staff from the Town’s Division of Natural Resources presented a summary of what they do and what their key concerns are for the Town’s natural resources. Natural Resources staff are in charge of shellfish, management of Sandy Neck, enforcement officers, herring runs, hunƟng and freshwater fishing, domesƟc animal control, wildlife and endangered species protecƟon. They also play an important role in water quality, open space management, land and ponds management, wetlands, stormwater, and groundwater protecƟon. Staff noted that over the decades, they have witnessed first hand the degradaƟon of natural resources, including degrading water quality, increased algal blooms, loss of fishing and swimming opportuni Ɵes, loss of habitat, and an increase in damaging storms. Staff does a great deal to combat these issues, and described their efforts around preserving fish runs, stocking of fish ponds, building of habitat support for birds, shellfish propagaƟon, managing of local aquaculture, protecƟon of habitat and resiliency of infrastructure at Sandy Neck, and more. Natural Resources staff also provided a list of priority acƟons which have been incorporated into this plan.