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