TOWN OF MASHPEE BLUE PAGES A Citizens’ Guide to Protecting Cape Cod Waters Shannon Cushing, Grade 11 Acknowledgements Acknowledgements This information is reprinted from the Island Blue Pages, courtesy of the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group and the WampanoagThis information Tribe ofis Aquinnah.reprinted from For the a complete Island Blue version Pages of, courtesy the Island of theBlue Martha’s Pages, visit Vineyard the website Shellfish www.islandbluepages.org Group and the . or contactWampanoag tbe Martha’s Tribe Vineyardof Aquinnah. Shellfish For a Groupcomplete at 508version-693-0391. of the TheIsland Island Blue BluePages Pages, visit isthe an website adaptation, www.islandbluepages.org with permission, of the. or Pugetcontact Soundbook tbe Martha’s, a game Vineyard plan for Shellfish maintaining Group the at health508-693-0391. of our sister The Island estuary Blue on Pagesthe West is an Coast. adaptation, To learn with more permission, about the of the Puget Soundbook, a game plan for maintaining the health of our sister estuary on the West Coast. To learn more about the original project and the inspiration for the Blue Pages, visit www.forsea.org/pugetsoundbook/ original project and the inspiration for the Blue Pages, visit www.forsea.org/pugetsoundbook/ Thanks to Jim Kolb and Diane Bressler, the creators of the Puget Soundbook, which continues to inspire us with its words and Thanks to Jim Kolb and Diane Bressler, the creators of the Puget Soundbook, which continues to inspire us with its words and illustrations. illustrations. The Town of Mashpee, with permission, undertook the task of adapting the Orleans Blue Pages to reflect conditions specific to The Town of Mashpee, with permission, undertook the task of adapting the Orleans Blue Pages to reflect conditions specific to Mashpee. Thanks to the Orleans Pond Coalition, www.orleanspondcoalition.org, for their guidance and assistance with our Mashpee. Thanks to the Orleans Pond Coalition, www.orleanspondcoalition.org, for their guidance and assistance with our project. project. TheThe Mashpee Mashpee Environmental Environmental Oversight Oversight Committee, Committee, appointed appointed by by the the Mashpee Mashpee BoardBoard ofof SelectmenSelectmen designated thethe MashpeeMashpee EnvironmentalEnvironmental Coalition Coalition (MEC (MEC) with) with the the adaptation adaptation tasks. tasks. MEC MEC is is a a Chapter Chapter 501-C3501-C3 not-for-profitnot-for-profit organization whosewhose missionmission is isto toinform, inform, engage engage and and mobilize mobilize our our community community to to make make Mashpee Mashpee the the cleanest,cleanest, greenestgreenest town on Cape Cod.Cod. PleasePlease visitvisit our our website website at atwww.mashpeemec.us www.mashpeemec.us. TheThe Mashpee Mashpee Blue Blue Pages Pages booklet booklet was was produced produced with with the the following following goals goals in in mind: mind: 1. 1. ToTo ensure ensure that that all all Mashpee Mashpee residents residents and and visitors visitors are are provided provided with with information information regardingregarding the natural resourcesresources locatedlocated in inour our town. town. 2. 2. ToTo ensure ensure that that all all Mashpee Mashpee residents residents and and visitors visitors are are provided provided with with information information regardingregarding the protective actionsactions theythey cancan take take to toimprove improve and and protect protect our our natural natural resources. resources. 3. 3. ToTo motivate motivate and and encourage encourage all all Mashpee Mashpee residents residents to to become become actively actively involvedinvolved inin thethe stewardship of our naturalnatural resources.resources. ThanksThanks to toeveryone everyone whose whose contributions contributions helped helped make make this this project project a a reality, reality, with with specialspecial thanksthanks to the following: TownTown Manager Manager Joyce Joyce Mason Mason for for successfully successfully obtaining obtaining the the necessary necessary funding. funding. BoardBoard of ofSelectmen, Selectmen, Theresa Theresa Cook, Cook, Chairperson, Chairperson, for for their their strong strong support support of of this this project.project. MashpeeMashpee Environmental Environmental Oversight Oversight Committee Committee (appointed (appointed by by the the Board Board of of Selectmen) Selectmen) chairedchaired by Selectman John Cahalane,Cahalane, whosewhose strong strong leadership leadership and and determination determination resulted resulted in in the the publication publication of of this this booklet.booklet. PaulaPaula Peters, Peters, Mashpee Mashpee Wampanoag Wampanoag Tribe Tribe SuperintendentSuperintendent of of Schools Schools Ann Ann Bradshaw, Bradshaw, for for directing directing the the Blue Blue Pages Pages Art Art Contest Contest andand toto allall the students who participated.participated. TownTown Planner Planner Tom Tom Fudala Fudala We all want to protect our water resources, but often we do not know what we can do. This booklet will give you some ideas. We all want to protect our water resources, but often we do not know what we can do. This booklet will give you some ideas. It begins with the big picture – providing everything you need to know about the Cape’s water cycles – and then identifying It begins with the big picture – providing everything you need to know about the Cape’s water cycles – and then identifying actions that each of us can take to safeguard our region’s waters. Many of the solutions are simple; some will even save you actions that each of us can take to safeguard our region’s waters. Many of the solutions are simple; some will even save you money. Let’s get started! money. Let’s get started! After all, what is the cost to our community in terms of public health, recreation, economics and other factors of NOT After all, what is the cost to our community in terms of public health, recreation, economics and other factors of NOT participating as active environmental stewards of our natural resources? participating as active environmental stewards of our natural resources? 2011 Town of Mashpee. All rights reserved. Reproduction of “The Mashpee Blue Pages” in whole or in part is prohibited 2011without Town permis of Mashpee.sion. Coastal All rights towns reserved. and organizations Reproduction are encouragedof “The Mashpee to consider Blue thePages” creation in whole of your or inown part “Blue is prohibited Pages”. withoutContact permis [email protected]. Coastal towns and organizations for information. are encouraged to consider the creation of your own “Blue Pages”. Contact [email protected] for information. Ta b l e of Contents Introduction... page 2 Chapter 7... page 42 Together we can make Spare those Trees & Shrubs a difference! Helpful hints for controlling surface runoff and erosion Chapter 8... page 48 Chapter 1… page 8 Landscaping for Healthy Watersheds All About Mashpee Landscaping choices, gardening, composting, and pest manage- ment techniques Chapter 9... page 53 Chapter 2... page 23 Recovery from A Quick Start for the Lawn Obsession Water-Wise 12 steps to learn how to grow a Te n simple things you can natural lawn do right now to begin caring for our local waters Chapter 10... page 57 Chapter 3... page 25 Getting Out on the Water Water, Water Everywhere Good Boating Practices Saving water is as important as keeping it clean - simple tips for water conservation Chapter 4... page 28 Chapter 11... page 60 Out of Sight, Out of Mind: A Wastewater Primer Not Just for Kids Activities for the whole family Just what does “down the drain” mean? - how your sewer or septic system works Chapter 12... page 61 Chapter 5... page 32 Taking Action: Hazardous Waste? The Big Picture Not in My House! On our own or together, let’s make a difference! Good practices for using and disposing of water soluble household products Chapter 6... page 38 Chapter 13... page 63 Rethink/Reuse/Recycle Where to Go for Help Improve water quality by pre- Resources for taking the cycling, recycling and re-using next steps 3 A Water Primer Our Beautiful Blue Planet rom outer space, our earth appears blue. Over three-quarters of its surface area is covered with water. Water is a miraculous substance. It is the universal solvent; just about every element can mix or dissolve in it. Over most of the globe, water exists in its liquid state. In constant motion and dissolving everything in its path, water is the Flifeblood of our dynamic planet. This vast cycling and recycling process is called the water cycle. The Water Cycle: What Goes Around Comes Around! If 5 gallons represented all the water in the world, all of it except for 2 cups would be found in the oceans. The remaining 2 cups break down as follows: Glaciers ...... 1-1/2 cups Groundwater ..... a tad under 1/2 cup Inland seas ..... 1/2 teaspoon Freshwater lakes ..... 1/2 teaspoon Rivers ..... less than one drop Water vapor ..... less than one drop The human body is 70% water. Our eyes are 99% water. Plants contain from 70% to 90% water. Earth never gets any new water; it just changes form. The water you drink today might have watered the gardens of ancient Egypt. 4 FROM GLACIERS TO KETTLE PONDS Some 10,000 years ago, as the last glacier receded from this, its southernmost reach, the Cape was formed by the deposit of sand and debris over an ancient clay base. Colder, denser blocks of ice remained embedded in the substrate, and when these finally melted, the terrain collapsed, producing hollows. These then filled with groundwater, forming the freshwater ponds and lakes of Mashpee. Later, as the sea rose some 300 feet the estuaries and salt ponds (Hamblins, Jehu, Sedge Lot, and Great Flat) were formed. Cape Cod Aquifers All of our drinking water, whether from municipal water supplies or from private wells, comes from the rain and snow that falls on Cape Cod and soaks into the sandy soils left by the glacier. The entire layer of groundwater beneath the Cape is referred to as the Cape Cod Sole Source Aquifer and is made up of six separate freshwater lenses.