Membership in the Herring Ponds Watershed Association is a really good deal.  Educational opportunities include an upcoming talk (July 26) by David Gould, head of the Plymouth Department of Marine and Environmental Affairs. Chances to serve the watershed can be found by joining any of HPWA’s standing committees. For the first time, boat tours of Great Herring Pond (with expert commentary!) will be available.  With the addition of Cheryl and Steve Nichols as Social Committee co-chairs, there will be events where you can meet your neighbors – the July 4 boat parade, outdoor movie nights, and the Summer Picnic.  And all of these activities are free of charge to members!

What have we spent your money on this year?  We have given back to community by contributing scholarships for children of needy families to attend summer camps here in our watershed.  We have supported watershed safety by testing beach areas for harmful E. coli.  And we have learned more about how our watershed works by our comprehensive phosphorus testing program. 

This year, more than ever, we need your help.  Soon you will be receiving a membership appeal request.  Please consider membership.  Please also consider a gift.  We are currently unsure about what will be needed to reduce phosphorus in Great Herring Pond to prevent future cyanobacteria blooms, but it is likely that a match will be needed for any grants received.  Permits will be needed to undertake any phosphorus reduction “fixes” and they are not inexpensive.  Our testing program needs to be continued and expanded.

The pollution that we see in the watershed is caused by human activity; it seems logical that managing human activity in our watershed is a logical step to take.  Last year, Geri and I donated to establish a HPWA Land Acquisition Fund in order to buy land in our watershed to dedicate to conservation and reduce pond contamination.  A partnership with the Town of Plymouth further leverages the effect of this money, leading to larger purchases, more conservation, and better control over the number of houses in the watershed.  Please consider making an additional donation to the Land Acquisition Fund; it is an excellent investment in the future.

I look forward to a happy, safe, and prosperous summer for all watershed residents.