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What We Do:

The Association is comprised of persons with an interest in the long-term protection of Long Pond, the largest great pond on Cape Cod, covering over 740 acres and split between the Towns of Brewster and Harwich.

The Association was started in the summer of 1996 after an algae breakout, or "bloom*". Local residents joined together see what they could do to better understand the issues that relate to water quality and to try to act as a positive force in concerning water quality.
*Algal blooms are one of the more insidious consequences of eutrophication. In addition to being unsightly and smelly, masses of blue-green algae can literally choke the life out of a lake or pond by depriving it of much needed oxygen.

At first glance this may seem like something of a paradox - since blue-green algae undergoes photosynthesis, it should produce more oxygen than it consumes. However, after large concentrations of algae have built up, aerobic processes such as respiration and the decomposition of dead algal cells becomes increasingly significant. Under extreme conditions a eutrophic lake or pond may be left entirely devoid of fish.
This interest has led to a number of meetings with association members, town officials, state officials, and water quality experts.

As this is a grass-roots, all-volunteer organization, our schedule remains, shall we say, flexible.We do plan to meet as a group twice a year, once in the early Summer and again at the end of the Summer. Smaller committee and Directors meetings occur more frequently. We also stay in contact with town officials in Harwich and Brewster, as well as with the Cape Cod Commission.

Press coverage from local newspapers has been very good over the past few years. Several news articles, including front page coverage of the Long Pond water quality issues have been published.

The Association is now incorporated. We will seek to expand its membership to all persons in the watershed. Any person interested in joining the Association, attending the meetings, and or receiving the newsletter, is encouraged to submit an application for membership.

Please stop by this site in the future to see the updates we plan to post.

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