About Us | Barnstable Ponds Coalition

The Barnstable Ponds Coalition was formed in 2025. We strive to be stewards for all of the 163 ponds in our town, especially our twenty-five Great Ponds (those over 10 acres).

Unfortunately, many of these ponds are experiencing dangerous cyanobacteria outbreaks. These outbreaks are due to excess nutrients from septic systems, stormwater runoff, fertilizers, pesticides and warming temperatures. Harmful cyanobacteria blooms (HABs) may emit toxic chemicals. Ingested by dogs, the right toxins can become instantly and irreversibly fatal. They are also harmful to humans, particularly infants and the elderly. Phosphorus is generally the problem nutrient in fresh water, while Nitrogen is the concern for estuaries. Read more information about cyanobacteria.

Additional resources to learn about cyanobacteria:

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in Water Bodies (EPA document)
Harmful Blooms of Cyanobacteria in Cape Cod's Freshwater Ponds (APPC document)

The first step in addressing this problem is testing. In Barnstable, water quality monitoring occurs annually on only 40 ponds, or one-quarter of the ponds in Barnstable. The 2021 Barnstable Ponds & Lakes Water Quality Database looked at the water quality of 32 ponds and found that 23 were impaired, seven were borderline, and only two were unimpaired. In 2024, 28 percent of all Cape Cod ponds tested by APCC were deemed “Unacceptable”. Read APCC’s Sate of The Waters: Cape Cod 2024 report.

The second step is remediation. The Town of Barnstable has been dedicating significant resources toward improving the health of our ponds and lakes by evaluating and addressing one pond per year and by its 20-30 year plan to sewer most of our town. Read the Town's Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan. However, our ponds and lakes cannot wait that long.

This is why the Barnstable Ponds Coalition was formed. We will:

Help residents have a greater voice in Town efforts to address the problem
Share ideas, experiences and information across pond groups
Provide funding and volunteers for ponding testing
Raise funds to implement solutions.

We hope you will join us.

The Barnstable Ponds Coalition was formed in 2025. We strive to be stewards for all of the 163 ponds in our town, especially our twenty-five Great Ponds (those over 10 acres).​

The Barnstable Ponds Coalition was formed in 2025. We strive to be stewards for all of the 163 ponds in our town, especially our twenty-five Great Ponds (those over 10 acres).