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.
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 treatments 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.​​

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 by winter 2020.
 B.  Monitor the execution of the 2021 Pond Study requisitioned by the Town of Barnstable**, and advocate for the release of data by fall 2021.
 




* 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".  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. 
** The Town of Barnstable has requisitioned a comprehensive pond study to be conducted on Long Pond during 2021-22.  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.  By fall 2021, begin to work with Town officials to gain approval for our preferred short-term treatment for Long Pond, to be implemented during Spring/Summer 2022.
 B.  By fall 2021, create a fund raising plan for Long Pond’s 2022 treatment.
 C.  By 2021 year end, apply for grants to fund Long Pond’s 2022 treatment.
 D.  Encourage pond front neighbors to take responsibility for maintenance of their shoreline, and hold events in 2021 to engage our pond community in efforts to reduce inputs into Long Pond and protect our pond.