The Cape Cod Commission’s Cape Cod Freshwater Strategy Document, released June 9, 2025

Water Quality and Testing

Cape Cod Commission Water Quality Data Portal: https://waterquality.capecodcommission.org/#/

Barnstable County (E.coli testing and other issues):  https://barnstablewaterresources.com/category/beach-water-quality-updates/

Association to Preserve Cape Cod (cyanobacteria testing and other issues):  https://apcc.org/our-work/science/community-science/cyanobacteria/

Stephanie Sykes, Natural Resource Director for Harwich (as of June 1, 2025). The Harwich Natural Resources Department is the Harwich contact for the Ponds and Lakes Stewards (PALS) program for baseline water quality testing on temperature, clarity, mineral content, etc, run out of the UMass Dartmouth School for Marine Science & Technology (SMAST):  https://www.harwich-ma.gov/317/Natural-Resources

Video of PALS water testing procedure on Skinequit Pond

Pond Buffer Zone Management

Cape Cod Freshwater Pond Buffer Guidance from the Cape Cod Commission: https://capecodcommission.org/our-work/cape-cod-freshwater-pond-buffer-guidance

Invasives Removal

Massachusetts Weed Watcher Program: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/weed-watcher-program

Massachusetts Audubon Society Invasives Guide:  https://www.massaudubon.org/nature-wildlife/invasive-plants-in-massachusetts

Grow Native Massachusetts:  https://grownativemass.org/Know-Your-Landscape/invasive-plants

Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List:  https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-prohibited-plant-list

Native Plant Trust:  https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org

Invasive Plants and Their Native Look-Alikes:  https://www.nybg.org/files/scientists/rnaczi/Mistaken_Identity_Final.pdf

Permitting Process for Invasives Removal and Other Pond Projects

Amy Usowski, Harwich Conservation Commissioner: https://www.harwich-ma.gov/207/Conservation

Harwich Conservation Commission:  https://www.harwich-ma.gov/591/Conservation-Commission

MA National Heritage and Endangered Species Program: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/masswildlifes-natural-heritage-endangered-species-program

Other Useful Resources

Harwich Conservation Trust: https://harwichconservationtrust.org

Cape Cod Commission Freshwater Initiative (a 3-year grant-funded project to study Cape Cod ponds and develop solutions to issues): https://capecodcommission.org/our-work/cape-cod-freshwater-initiative/

Cape Cod Commission Updated Pond Atlas Pond Viewer

2021 Cape Cod Pond and Lake Atlas [Cape Cod Commission]

Cape Cod Pond and Lake Atlas Final Report May 2003 [Cape Cod Commission]

Priority Ponds Project, Harwich Conservation Trust

Contact Harwich Pond Coalition: info@harwichwaters.org