Dear Friend,
As we are starting to understand and develop science to save our Three Bays estuary, we have learned that 85% of the problem comes from our own septic systems. Cesspools and Title 5 systems are our own worst enemy. These outdated systems are poisoning our estuaries, lakes, ponds, rivers, and drinking water.
The headwaters of the Marstons Mills River are located in the cranberry bogs pictured below. The river carries 40% of the excess load of nitrogen into our estuary. The bogs ARE NOT the problem. Groundwater moves one to four feet a day on Cape Cod and our bog and river systems are natural collection sites. That makes these areas ideal to treat nutrients in a sustainable fashion.
Like Florida’s efforts to restore the Everglades, we can restore select bog systems to their natural wetlands state and reduce nitrogen using native plants and biological approaches.
To that end, we are partnering with local cranberry farmers along the river. Farming is becoming more difficult with climate change, rising costs and competition from industrial farms. Our goal is to work with these farmers so we can transition less productive farming areas into very productive natural treatment systems.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
We are working with the farmers, the town of Barnstable, the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey, The Nature Conservancy, Mount Holyoke College and many others to make this project a great success. Ultimately this project will cost millions of dollars - money to buy bogs that are appropriate for restoration, money for planning and permitting, and money for restoration and ongoing data collection and maintenance.
PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY!
BCWC is also working on new, advanced septic system technology that we believe will be a game changer for future generations. But the bog restoration will help save these bays for OUR generation. For you and me, and for our families and community!
