July 21 test results show HIGH cyano levels at all 3
    test locations.   High Warning;  Swimming poses a
    health risk, especially for children and pets.
    Town has designated "Warning" at beach.
 
     Visit "2021 Test Results" sub-tab under "About Our Pond" for more info.

A message from Andrew Gottlieb, President of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod:
These steps can be taken by anyone who cares about ponds.
1. Get educated about the causes of cyanobacteria outbreaks and how what you do has an impact on pond health.
2. Get active. Go to meetings and speak up. Demand action and a faster pace. I can’t stress enough that comments at select boards / town council meetings matter. Facebook posts do not.
3. Register to vote and show up to vote for water quality investments. Support the candidates who support water quality improvement. Vote against those that don’t.
4. Stop fertilizing your lawn. Period. A lot of the nutrients end up in the pond. Sure, the bogs may add some too, but if you fertilize your yard, you are part of the problem. Blaming the bogs and others is easy, but it is lazy. If you don’t like the green pond, say goodbye to the green lawn. They are related.
5. Plant a buffer of native plants between your lawn and the water. The native plants don’t need fertilizing and will intercept some of the nutrients coming off your lawn and keep them out of the water. Look up native plant lists at APCC.org.
6. Organize your neighbors. Share information and knowledge. No one sets out to harm the pond, but a lot of what we do does just that.
7. Realize this will take time but keep pushing. The towns will move as fast or as slow as voters and taxpayers demand or allow.   

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Current goals and objectives:

I.  CONTINUE TO EDUCATE OURSELVES AND OUR NEIGHBORS ABOUT THE CAUSES OF AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO CYANO-BACTERIA OVERGROWTH IN LONG POND. 

2020-21 Objectives:
 A.  By March 2021, work with the Town of Barnstable to provide Long Pond neighbors with additional educational information about how to reduce inputs into the pond.
(COMPLETED)
B.  Continue to gather pond data by hiring the Association to Preserve Cape Cod to conduct pond testing during the summer of 2021.
 C.  By fall 2021, create a list of the most the promising and affordable short term solutions to reduce Long Pond’s cyanobacteria overgrowth during Summer 2022.
 D.  Continue to work with the Town of Barnstable to investigate promising long term treatments for our town’s ponds and lakes.

​We encourage homeowners around the pond and in its watershed area (to the northwest)  to reduce inputs into the pond.  
Click on red links to see how we can help you.

• ​​Don't use pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers on your lawn, shrubs or trees. Instead of fertilizing, consider  lawn aeration, mulching leaf & grass clippings and leaving on your lawn to naturally fertilize and prevent evaporation, and/or reducing the square footage of your lawn by using low- maintenance ground covers. 
• pump your septic tanks every 2-3 years,
• capture roof, driveway or road run off in rainscaping or in a french drain,
• Rake fallen leaves and other debris away from pond shore,
• Move compost piles away from the pond,
• Use phosphate free cleaning products, 
• Dispose of toxic chemicals properly (2021 hazardous waste collection dates at Barnstable Transfer Station are  8/28 and 9/18, 9:00 - noon.)​​

II:  ADVOCATE FOR REMEDIATION OF LONG POND'S CYANOBACTERIA PROBLEM.
 

2020-21 Objectives:
 A.  Monitor the Town of Barnstable’s storm drain remediation work* to ensure its completion. (COMPLETED)
 B.  Monitor the execution of the 2021 Pond Study requisitioned by the Town of Barnstable**, and advocate for the release of data ASAP.
 




* The Town of Barnstable included in its fiscal year 2021 Capital Improvement Budget, $300,000 in funding for "Stormwater Improvements at Impaired Ponds Project".  This funding was used to replace 4 catch basins which had been draining storm water directly into our pond, and install a fifth (new) drainage system at the low area near the driveway to the Long Pond Farms Association beach. 
** The Town of Barnstable requisitioned a comprehensive study  of Long Pond during 2021-22 (currently underway.)  The result will be a management plan to address our cyanobacteria problem. 
Click here to read about 2021 Pond Study
Click here to see Town Pond Improvement Plan

III:  AS A BOARD AND OVERALL COMMUNITY, TAKE ACTION TO IMPROVE LONG POND'S WATER QUALITY. 
 

2020-21 Objectives:
 A.  If safe & effective short term solution is identified, by fall 2021, begin to work with Town officials to gain town, county and state approval for that solution, to be implemented during Spring/Summer 2022.
 B.  By fall 2021, create a fund raising plan for Long Pond’s 2022 solution.
 C.  By 2021 year end, apply for grants to fund Long Pond’s 2022 solution.
 D.  Encourage pond front neighbors to take responsibility for maintenance of their shoreline, and hold event in 2021 to engage our pond community in efforts to reduce inputs into Long Pond and protect our pond.