Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund Management Board supports clean water projects 

Final subsidies awarded, regional pond monitoring program to continue and expand 

The Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund Management Board (Management Board) took final action to advance eight clean water infrastructure projects in six Cape Cod towns this week. The Board previously approved conditional subsidies for eligible projects included on the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s (MassDEP) Clean Water Intended Use Plans in 2023 and 2024. 

The projects, located in Barnstable, Chatham, Dennis, Harwich, Mashpee, and Yarmouth, will be financed through the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust. The projects funded include sewer expansions, sludge processing upgrades, pump station improvements, and construction of wastewater treatment facilities and collection systems. The awards represent over $36 million in subsidies and support more than $145 million in wastewater infrastructure investment across the region.    

During their December 18th meeting, the Management Board also voted in support of an expanded Regional Pond Monitoring Program, a comprehensive effort to monitor freshwater quality on Cape Cod, building on decades of monitoring conducted by towns, organizations, and volunteers. The Cape Cod Commission has partnered with the Association to Preserve Cape Cod to successfully collect data from 50 representative ponds over the last three years. The expanded program will include up to 75 ponds in 2026 and increase data collection to include biological monitoring of zooplankton by 2027. The Management Board authorized the use of a portion of Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund revenues dedicated to monitoring to support the program’s expansion. 

“The Management Board’s decisions this week reflect a strong regional commitment to protecting water quality on Cape Cod,” said Kristy Senatori, Executive Director of the Cape Cod Commission. “Strategic infrastructure investments, paired with expanded pond monitoring, will help communities reduce nutrient pollution and better understand and safeguard our water resources for years to come.” 

For a full list of awarded subsidies and more information, please visit www.capecodcommission.org/cciwpf.