The Back Story:Over-Nutrification of Cape WaterwaysFor decades, Shoestring Bay has been under attack by nitrogen-rich septic system effluent [human urine] that leaches from Title-5 septic systems. The nitrogen from our leaching fields moves quickly through the Cape's sandy soil (up to five times faster than text book Title-5 flow rates) into the water table, and …
Continue reading Sewering Comes to Barnstable…But Not Shoestring Bay
What: A proposal for a Sewer Assessment Ordinance to finance a portion of the cost to construct the sewer expansion will be presented for community discussion at a series of virtual public forums. Who: Mark Ells, Barnstable Town Manager, will present the proposed sewer assessment ordinance; along with Daniel Santos, Director, Department of Public Works; and Mark …
Continue reading Learn about the Barnstable Sewer Assessment Ordinance
Following its successful Supreme Court challenge to the city of Maui, the Conservation Law Foundation has put Barnstable, Mashpee, and the Mass. DEP on notice that it intends to file a lawsuit to stop septic systems from pumping nitrogen and phosphorous pollution into local waterways. CLF is not only seeking the temporary suspension of new …
For more than 20 years, Cape Cod residents, scientists, and citizen organizations have been sounding the alarm about the decline of ourwaterways due to nitrogen pollution, among other contributors. It's been a long slog for these committed neighbors and organizations. Residents and town officials have balked at the cost and inconvenience of mitigating nitrogen run …
Two more ponds closed due to toxic algae blooms. Read Cape Cod Times article. How many bodies of water in Barnstable need to be ruined before the town takes bold, brave action on saving our bays, ponds, and streams?
Shoestring Bay flows between two towns on the Cape - Barnstable and Mashpee. While we at Save Our Shoestring live in Barnstable, we work closely with Mashpee Clean Waters to raise awareness of the desperate situation in our Bay. And thanks to the hard work of Mashpee Clean Waters, the town is edging closer to …
Continue reading Mashpee Voters Approve Funding for Wastewater Treatment Plant Design
On April 23, 2020 the Supreme Court issued a major ruling on the Clean Water Act in County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund. The Court ruled that the law can forbid polluters from dumping waste into navigable streams, rivers, and coastal waters without a permit, even if the pollution reaches those waters through groundwater. …
Continue reading Supreme Court Decision Could Pave Way for Cape Water Clean-Up
And so it spreads. The toxic algae bloom that's been plaguing Santuit Pond since June is leaving the pond and spreading down to the Santuit River. It's now a sickly green color. According to today's Cape Cod Times, the Mashpee Board of Selectmen will "bring up the topic at its meeting at 6:30 p.m. Dec. …
The Draft Plan (CWMP) is Out: Urgent Call to Action for Cotuit The draft plan covers the entirety of the town’s plan for nitrogen mitigation as well as handling other “Contaminants of Concern.” It’s worth reading through the entire [227 pages!] document. But to save you a little time, we’ve whittled the findings down to …
Continue reading Update: Barnstable’s Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan/Part 1
Save Our Shoestring 