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The Town of Barnstable has 163 ponds within its boundaries; of these the town is currently only able to monitor 29 ponds for cyanobacteria blooms. It is our goal to enhance that number to the extent that our funding and volunteers allow. Our partner, the Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod, has offered to process and report the water samples.

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Remediation

 

Solving the problem of cyanobacteria overgrowth in our ponds and lakes will not be easy, but the State, County and Town of Barnstable are hard at work. You can read the Cape Cod Commission Freshwater Strategy Draft 2025 report to learn more.

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There are numerous remediation strategies for cyanobacteria overgrowth. These are summarized by the EPA's Control Measures for Cyanobacterial HABs in Surface Water and in a Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute 2024 report (see p.145).

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Barnstable Pond Coalition members will act as “citizen scientists”, researching new and emerging solutions. We will advocate for increased responsiveness and out-of-the-box thinking by the Town of Barnstable.

 

Homeowner steps to reduce nutrient flow

 

Each of us have an impact on the flow of excess nutrients into our ponds and lakes which fuel cyanobacteria overgrowth.  We can reduce this flow by taking the following steps:
 

1. Maintain your septic system. The MA Department of Environmental Protection recommends that a septic system be pumped out at least once every three years. Read more septic systems do’s and don’ts.
    

2. Plant a Cape-friendly landscape. The Association to Preserve Cape Cod's Guidelines for Cape-friendly Landscapes includes guidelines for designing and caring for a yard that supports pollinators, birds and other species and helps protect the quality of our water.
    

3. Refrain from using fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. Click here to learn about a “Cape Cod lawn.”
    

4. Consider installing a phosphorus-reducing septic system, which is designed to remove phosphorus from wastewater before it enters the environment, helping to protect water quality in lakes, ponds, and other sensitive areas. These systems utilize various technologies to chemically bind or filter out phosphorus, preventing it from contaminating surface and groundwater. 
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5. Consider installing an eco-toilet system: a urine diverting toilet or urinal, composting toilet or incineration toilet. 

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