The mission of Friends of Long Pond Marstons Mills is to educate, advocate and take action to improve Long Pond's water quality so that it can be enjoyed by all for swimming, fishing, and boating.

Current goals:

1. IMPROVE STORM DRAINAGE

​The Town of Barnstable has included in its fiscal year 2021 Capital Improvement Budget, $300,000 in funding for "Stormwater Improvements at Impaired Ponds Project".  We have been told that this funding will be used to replace 4 catch basins which currently drain storm water directly into our pond, and install a fifth drainage system at the low area near the driveway to the Long Pond Farms Association beach. 

Work is expected to be completed this fall.  In the meantime, the Department of Public Works has installed a compost filled filter sock at our most problematic catch basin, which seems to be functioning well.

2. MAKE CHANGES IN OUR HOMES

​We’re planning more efforts to educate homeowners around the pond and in its tributary area (to the northwest) about what they can do to reduce inputs into the pond, including:
​

• not using pesticides or fertilizers on our lawns or shrubs/trees,
• pumping our septic tanks every 2-3 years,
• using phosphate free cleaning products, and
• disposing of toxic chemicals properly (NOTE: Free collection at Barnstable Transfer Station on 8/22 and 9/12, 9am-Noon.)​

3. GATHER MORE DATA

​We have expanded testing of our pond this summer to include four locations around the pond.  The Town tests in one location, and we have hired the Association to Preserve Cape Cod to test in three others.

Data collected will include field observations and photos, type of cyanobacteria present, digital microscope imagery, phycocyanin and chlorophyll pigment concentrations, amount of cyanobacteria present and cyanotoxin analysis. 

​By tracking these data throughout the monitoring season, we will have a better understanding of the scope and source of our cyanobacteria problem, as well as possible treatment.

​But, we need your help and support.

How we can help you: a free home site assessment

Friends of Long Pond Marstons Mills is offering a property site assessment, free of charge, by Richard Moore, P.E., President of Moore Engineering (www.moore.engineering). Mr. Moore has over 40 years of experience in environmental engineering, specifically related to wastewater (septic systems), drainage, landscaping and site assessments. He is available this summer to meet with home owners, walk their property and discuss these issues as they relate to improving water quality in the Pond.
 
If a site visit results in a recommendation for follow-up work that the homeowner can’t do on his/her own, Rick can provide a memo to be used to hire a local consultant/contractor. Rick has recently retired and is not selling his services.

To schedule a visit, please call or e-mail Amy Mesirow (508-737-5832 or amym@longpondmm.org.)  Priority will be given to homes abutting Long Pond.