The Watershed Vol. 2, No. 2

Fund Raising Campaign to pay off debt on OPET's conservation land off to a running start

OPET's Roard of Directors agreed in April of 1997 that it is time to pay off the S98,O00 debt on OPET's 7 acres of conservation land (see History on page 4). A $100,000 Capital Campaign was initiated to secure this property once and for all from development. In the quiet phase of this campaign, pledges totaling $30,000 were secured from OPET members living on Ransom Rd. And since announcement of the campaign at the Annual Meeting, leadership gifts of S5,000 to $1O,O00 have been made by Cecily Selby Coles, John and Judith Bowling, James and Pat Ferguson, adding to an earlier $5000 gift ny Marjorie Whittemore. Further major gifts by other generous donors have already reduced our principal to about $72,000 at the date of this writing.

Now it is your turn to come forward with as geneerous a donation as you can make to help us achieve our campaign goal. Oyster Pond is your pond to enjoy - - with human activities ever increasing in its watershed by continued development, we no longer can leave the Pond to its own devices for a healthy survival. One way to help is by conserving undeveloped watershed areas. Become a partner in this effort -- make a generous donation now! All donations are tax-deductible. OPET accepts gifts of cash, shares or real estate (by donation of appreciated stock shares or real estate you may avoid capital gains tax yet you can deduct the full gift value from your income tax).

Why We Need Conservation Land in the Oyster Pond Watershed.

During the past few years, as Oyster Pono has become tresner, we have seen the return of white perch and, presumably as a result of better spawning/nursery conditions, evidence of a large crop of alewife fingerlings. Oxygen was found again in deeper waters this summer. The pond seems to be doing well. Why then the need for land conservation in the pond's watershed?

Simply put, we must consider what the future holds and act now. The pressures on the pond from surrounding development are ever-increasing. The seepage from septic systems, run-off from road pollutants and lawn/garden care products, decreased filtration capacity due to decreased vegetation coverage all are part of the pressures that will grow as more lots are put up for sale and become developed. Although there is still a lot of undeveloped acreage in the Oyster Pond watershed, we must not be complacent: the nitrate level in the Pond is very high and Land-for-Sale signs are sprouting by the month everywhere in the watershed.

Will the Ransom Rd wetlands that constitute a buffer, filter and cleansing system for much of the surtace water inflow into Oyster Pond, be able to cope with the consequences of more development in its immediate and greater vicinity (undeveloped properties on Fells, Hackmatack, Oyster Pond and Woods Role Rd)? Will the pond be able to bear the burden of a build out in its watershed and survive as a healthy spawning ground and nursery for resident and ocean-going fish? Let's not wait and see the answer to this question. Lacking nitrogen-removing septic systems and control over landscaping, fertilizer application and road runoff, land conservation NOW is the only option. --br

Large White Perch Make Comeback in Pond

The fishing continues to improve in Oyster Fond! Large white perch (up to 14 inches) have been caught both by hook (humans) and claw (3 ospreys fished the pond past summer) and who knows by what else under water (snapping turtle, cormorants, otter?) or from shore (herons). The alewife spawn must have been very successful: thick mats of 2" fingerlings could be seen seeking shelter in the shallows in September, and throngs of hundreds upon hundreds left Oyster Pond via Trunk River outlet as late as mid-November (see following pages).

OPET's Book Project Receives $1000 Grant

OPET is very proud to be the recipient of a $1000 grant from the Community Foundation of Cape Cod for the Cape-wide distribution to high schools and libraries of K.O. Emery's classical study on Oyster Pond, updated and reprinted by OPET. The grant application called for distribution to public schools and libraries, However, the Board of Directors decided to include private schools and libraries so as to make available this reference book on how to study a coastal pond and to arrive at a possible management plan for it based on such long term studies, We sent out 85 books! We received letters from some very grateful science teachers and librarians, and hope the books will acquire a fair share of "ears" and smudge marks from frequent use by students of all ages interested in the ecology of coastal ponds. -- hr

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