Orleans Pond Coalition

Orleans, Massachusetts

Dedicated to the health of Orleans waterways for over 20 years.

Algal Bloom Warning Lifted – Pilgrim Lake

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The previous warning due to the presence of an algal bloom at Pilgrim Lake has been lifted. As a friendly reminder, “When in Doubt, Stay Out”. If you notice pond water is scummy, discolored, or has a strong odor, avoid contact with the water. Please read this CDC document for more information! … [Read more...]

2025 Celebrate Our Waters Summer Edition

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Please Join us for The SUMMER EDITION The theme and focus this weekend is: Water Quality and Testing. When:  Friday June 6th  & Saturday June 7 th Water quality across Cape Cod and in Orleans shows that our waters are degrading.  Science has taught us that the major causes are excess nutrients from wastewater, fertilizer and runoff finding its way into our shared waters.  We are offering informative, interactive and fun hands-on opportunities for you to learn more about the state of our waters, how water … [Read more...]

2025 May Town Election

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Very Important Town Election in May May 20: Election Day Time: 9:00am – 7:00pm Location: Orleans Council on Aging Senior Center Remember to VOTE at the Annual Town Election on Monday, May 19th. Our continued success depends on your participation. PLEASE HELP US FINISH OUR WORK THIS SPRINGAt the Annual Election on Tuesday, May20th: VOTE YES Ballot Question #2 Phase III Lakes and Ponds Sewering.VOTE YES Ballot Question #5: Phase II Meetinghouse Pond Engineering Services Please Attend and Vote! … [Read more...]

2025 Celebrate Our Waters – Earth Day

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On April 26, please join OPC for our traditional Earth Day beach clean-up day, and for additional activities, including hands-on demonstrations of water management strategies and ways to create a Cape-friendly lawn. There will also be a scavenger hunt for kids and families. Schedule: 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. - Earth Day Clean-up at 17 Orleans Beaches and Landings9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. - Scavenger Hunt for kids and families at Nauset Beach12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. - Cape-Friendly Lawn Demonstration at 8 Crystal Lake Drive2:00 p.m. to … [Read more...]

Dedication of New Public Art Sculpture on Main Street

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Friday, September 13th, 1:00 p.m. at 44 Main Street Keen-eyed watchers of developments in downtown Orleans are celebrating the installation of a new Public Art Sculpture “Ripple Effect” at the corner of Main St. and Brewster Cross Road.This hand-crafted bronze and etched black granite sculpture now occupies the circular space embedded in the brick sidewalk.“Ripple Effect, created by Dave Holbrook will be formally dedicated on Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. at an event sponsored by the Orleans Cultural District with a Reception following at Parish … [Read more...]

The Pitter Patter Puppet Show

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Saturday, September 14th, 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m. at Rock Harbor (Map location #2). “You, Me, Trees & The Sea” with Puppets, Paul & Mary is a musical and interactive puppet variety show sure to entertain children and adults from 2-100 years old. Songs, stories, and audience participation will keep you and your littles entertained through the entire show. … [Read more...]

Rain Garden Installation with Orleans Conservation Trust

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Orleans Conservation Trust, 203 South Orleans Road, Saturday, 12:30pm - 1:30pm, (Map location #11) Join the Orleans Conservation Trust at their office at 203 South Orleans Road, Orleans to install a rain garden that will capture runoff from the parking lot while providing valuable native habitat. Volunteers can join OCT staff in digging out the garden area and planting a variety of shrubs and perennials. Attendees will learn about the ongoing transformation of OCT's landscaping practices at its headquarters to create cleaner … [Read more...]

Public Health Advisory – Boland Pond

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By the Orleans Health Department A Public Health Advisory has been issued at Crystal Lake due to the presence of a potentially harmful algal bloom.  It may be unsafe for people and pets, so please do not swim or play in the water at this time.  If you come into contact with the water, rinse off.  No adverse reactions have been reported, however if you are concerned please contact your health care provider for guidance.  The Public Health Advisory will be withdrawn after two samples, collected a week apart, … [Read more...]

Microplastics In Our Waters and What You Can Do

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Join us for a special program at the Snow Library, Orleans on Saturday, October 7th. Join the Orleans Pond Coalition and Education Coordinator and Naturalist Morgan Peck of Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Learn how microplastics are affecting our water resources and wildlife, including sea turtles and birds. Learn common sources of these microplastics and what you can do to help reduce these pollutants from entering our local waters Date:  Saturday, October 7th Time:  2:00 - 3:30 pm Location: … [Read more...]

Public Health Advisory – Crystal Lake

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By the Orleans Health Department A Public Health Advisory has been issued at Crystal Lake due to the presence of a potentially harmful algal bloom.  It may be unsafe for people and pets, so please do not swim or play in the water at this time.  If you come into contact with the water, rinse off.  No adverse reactions have been reported, however if you are concerned please contact your health care provider for guidance.  The Public Health Advisory will be withdrawn after two samples, collected a week apart, … [Read more...]

Meet the New 2025 OPC Directors

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John Dugan I am a retired anatomic pathologist and have been living full time in Orleans with my wife, Carol since Spring, 2020. Professionally, I worked at Lahey Clinic (now Beth Israel Lahey Health) in Burlington, MA for almost 34 years before retirement after completing residency and fellowship training at the University of Pennsylvania. I have 3 adult children who all live west of the Mississippi River, as well as 3 "grand-puppies." We chose to live in Orleans because of the natural beauty of Cape Cod and its waters, as well as for … [Read more...]

📌OPC Bulletin – Celebrate Our Waters Registrations now OPEN

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Time to Register! Celebrate Our Waters - Sept 15-17, 2023 Registration for events with limited spaces now open for Members on August 29th, 10AM. This year we are offering advanced registration opportunities to OPC members a week prior to the general public. Mark your calendars for Celebrate Our Waters, OPC’s signature event of the year, now bigger and better than ever! We’re offering dozens of events around Orleans to celebrate the beauty of our environment and our waters. Events requiring registration: Arey’s Pond … [Read more...]

Plein Air Painting at Rock Harbor

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Saturday, September 16th, 9:00am to Noon Addison Art Gallery cordially invites the public to watch award-winning artists paint at Rock Harbor Orleans on Saturday, September 16 from 9:00 to noon. The wet paintings will be brought to the gallery at 43 South Orleans Road and displayed as part of the Celebrate Our Waters Reception from 3:00 to 5:00. Paul Schulenburg, Jonathan McPhillips, Andrea Petitto and Maryalice Eizenberg are among the artists planning to paint en plein air.Plein air, French for “open air,” is used to … [Read more...]

Public Health Advisory – Pilgrim Lake

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By the Orleans Health Department Public Health Advisory – Pilgrim Lake A Public Health Advisory remains in effect at Pilgrim Lake due to the presence of a potentially harmful algal bloom.  It may be unsafe for people and pets, so please do not swim or play in the water at this time.  If you come into contact with the water, rinse off.  No adverse reactions have been reported, however if you are concerned please contact your health care provider for guidance.  The Public Health Advisory will be withdrawn after … [Read more...]

Pollinator Hillside Habitat Restoration

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Church of the Holy Spirit, 204 Monument Road, Orleans MA Sunday, September 15th, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., (Map location #19) Join Regenerative Agroecologist Peter Jensen and Holistic Nutritionist and Horticulturalist Lynn Van Norman, for a walk through the water runoff terraced gardens, terraces and swales to learn about the progression of change that led to the removal of locust and Norway maples to make way for a solar panel array.  Road, hill and solar panel runoff was threatening the vernal pool and wetlands below, … [Read more...]

Oyster Grant Tour – Skaket Beach, Orleans

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Sunday, September 17th, 7:30am - 9:00am, (Map location #18) You will visit Mike’s Oyster Farm where you will learn about oyster life and our farming techniques. The oysters on the Orlean’s bay flats are raised from oyster “seed” from hatcheries and are kept in plastic mesh bags, placed in metal wire cages. These oysters are tossed around in their bags by the incoming and outgoing tides and are out of the water for 7 - 8 hours every 24-hour period, and we will visit them near low tide. You will see grown oysters which have been split … [Read more...]

Plastics and Aquatic Habitats Talk

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What Can You Do? Snow Library, Orleans - Saturday, 1:00pm - 2:30pm, (Map location #14) Join Education Coordinator and Naturalist Morgan Peck of Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary to learn how plastics are affecting our aquatic ecosystems. Focusing on local examples, such as sea turtles and shorebirds, learn the how plastics enter our food webs, and what you can do to help reduce these pollutants from our habitats. … [Read more...]

Tour a NEW Pollinator Garden at OCT

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Orleans Conservation Trust, 203 South Orleans Road, Saturday, 12:30pm - 1:30pm, (Map location #11) The Orleans Conservation Trust is undertaking a project to convert traditional lawn to native pollinator habitat at their office at 203 South Orleans Road, Orleans. Learn about the many decisions involved in such a project, including how to design a native garden, where to source native plants, and how to effectively terminate an existing lawn. We will discuss the resources that informed such decisions, and how OCT is going about this … [Read more...]

Orleans Wastewater Treatment Facility Tour

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20 Overland Way, Orleans, MA Friday, June 6th, Sessions at 3:15 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 4:15 p.m. – registration only PLEASE ARRIVE 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE START OF YOUR TOUR. ALL TOURS WILL DEPART PROMPTLY AT THE SCHEDULED TIME. Join us on Friday, June 6th between 3:00pm to 5:00pm for tours of the Orleans Wastewater Treatment Facility at 20 Overland Way. The tour includes a walk-through of the facility and the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the current plans for Orleans wastewater management. The facility includes … [Read more...]

📌OPC February 2023 Bulletin

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To Celebrate our 20th Anniversary, we’ve created a new logo. We hope you enjoy it! Moreover, we hope you can join the Orleans Pond Coalition during this special 20th anniversary year by becoming a member, volunteering, participating in our events, and helping to spread the word by telling your friends. With your help, we will safeguard Orleans’s most precious resource: our waters. Orleans Blue Pages are being updated First issued in 2008, the Orleans Blue Pages was created to help everyone understand the Cape’s water cycles and to … [Read more...]

📌OPC November 2022 Bulletin

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Orleans Pond Coalition Annual Meeting Recap and Thank You Annual Meeting Recap This past Sunday we celebrated our 19th annual meeting. Thank you to all the brave souls who ventured out last Sunday in the heavy rain. For those of you who were unable to attend, you missed a good one! So let’s recap. First, welcome to our new directors: Ginny Farber, Clint Kaiser and Rich Levy. Great additions to our Board of Directors! Second, we want to thank our outgoing directors Judith Bruce and Natalie Timoshin. Your contributions have been … [Read more...]

📌2022 OPC Annual Meeting – October 23rd

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PLEASE SAVE THE DATE: Orleans Pond Coalition Annual Meeting October 23rd at 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. After two years of meeting remotely via zoom, we are delighted to announce this year’s annual meeting will be in person. Please join us to celebrate this year’s success’s and learn more about what’s going on at OPC. We are also fortunate to have the inventor of the technology we are using in our Oxygen Demonstration Research Program – Dr. Paul Gantzer as our keynote speaker. You will not want to miss this exciting review of this … [Read more...]

The Eastwind Gallery

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Saturday, September 14th, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Eastwind Gallery, 34 Main St., Orleans (Map location #10) Fourteen local artists work and exhibit at Eastwind Gallery and Studio at 34 Main Street, Orleans (beneath Watson’s at the corner of Main Street and Route 6A). From 10:00 until 2:00 on the Saturday of Celebrate Our Waters, studio artists will create and exhibit works. Inspired by and depicting the unique scenery of the Cape, beautiful works fill the gallery. Please feel free to visit … [Read more...]

Vernon Smith’s Orleans

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A Sense of Place – Panel Discussion The Centers for Culture and History in Orleans (10) In conjunction with the extraordinary exhibition current on display at the Centers for Culture and History in Orleans entitled Vernon Smith’s Orleans – A Sense of Place, there will be a panel discussion of the various works on display and anecdotes about the artist.  Included on the panel will be the co-curators of the exhibition, Bill Wibel and Kevin Rita.  Vernon B. Smith (1894-1969), was an American regional artist, often … [Read more...]

Get to know Orleans

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through its Historical Markers (self-guided) Saturday, Sept. 14th, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. starting at Rock Harbor Fun Tent (Map location #2) Pick up a pamphlet showing Historical Sites of Interest in Orleans at our Celebrate Our Waters Event Headquarters, Rock Harbor Fun Tent, or download the app at CHOCENTERS.ORG. Choose among three walking tour options. “Orleans’ Historian Bonnie Snow’s Walking Trails: Main Street,” “East Orleans,” or her map of “Historical Sites of Interest in Orleans.”  Learn about the founding of Orleans … [Read more...]

📌OPC June 2022 Bulletin

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Upcoming Events and Activities SAVE the Date The Family Fun Tent, Beach Yoga, Tour d’Orleans, bird and nature walks and all varieties of water sports including paddleboarding, kayaking and sailing are back for another fun-filled weekend. This year the Paul Fulcher Memorial Bonfire on Saturday night will be celebrating Orleans’ many water volunteers. So all you herring counters, water samplers, members of Boards and Committees, come out to be recognized for your service. We will also have new events including a kayak paddle and walk … [Read more...]

📌OPC Reminder: Please Vote Today – Tuesday, May 17th, 2022

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We’re almost there! Let’s not lose momentum. Please vote Tuesday May17th Thank you to all OPC members who were able to attend last Monday’s Annual Town Meeting and vote yes for the 3 key wastewater articles. There is just one final step to get the job done. Please mark your calendar and vote yes on Tuesday for Ballot Question #2 – Fund Meetinghouse Pond Area Sewer Collection System Construction. A yes vote is needed for construction to be approved. Importantly, waiting will forfeit our favorable top of the list position to … [Read more...]

📌OPC April Bulletin

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It's almost time for the Orleans Town Meeting May 9th - 6:00 p.m. - NRMS Gym In preparation for this community event the Orleans Pond Coalition would like to bring the following items to your attention. A Town Meeting review letter from Orleans Select Person, Andrea Reed Andrea Reed on Environmental Progress:…. ‘I strongly support (the articles for wastewater and budget question) and hope we pass.’ Wastewater Progress: Articles 18 & 19/Ballot Question 2 Article 18 Sewer Assessment General Bylaw defines how we measure, assess … [Read more...]

Water, Water, Everywhere: River Herring Are Harbingers of Spring

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by Mary GriffinOrleans Pond Coalition The return of river herring to their native spawning grounds in freshwater rivers and ponds from the sea is a welcome sign of spring. Orleans Natural Resource Manager Nate Sears says, "Some may rely on the groundhog, but Cape Codders trust only the herring." According to Sears, "The herring run at Pilgrim Lake, like many other runs in the region, is so special because it is only possible with the support of the community. The journey of these fish and the promise of their return seems to inspire and … [Read more...]

📌OPC March 2022 Bulletin

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Connecting to Our Clean Water Future Dear Friends, As Phase I of the Orleans Wastewater Infrastructure Project nears completion later this year, we thought that the attached notice from Tom Daley, Director of the Orleans Department of Public Works and Natural Resources, would be of interest to our community, and particularly helpful to those who work and reside in the downtown area. It provides timely information and advice about when and how to arrange your connection to the first leg of the town’s advanced new wastewater system. Your … [Read more...]

📌OPC February 2022 Bulletin

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Do You Love our Waters??? It’s Time to Dive In and Get Your Feet Wet We’re recruiting for multiple water-related volunteer activities. Make new friends, help watch over our waters, learn more about how your actions can make a difference to water quality. It’s fascinating…. And fun! Cyanobacteria Monitors. OPC in conjunction with APCC is monitoring Crystal and Pilgrim Lakes, Uncle Harvey’s, Icehouse, and (starting this year) Cedar Ponds. Help us track this threat to our ponds and provide safety warnings to humans and pets. For more … [Read more...]

📌OPC January 2022 Bulletin

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Special Reports from OPC and APCC on two major Fresh Water programs in Orleans Your Voice is Needed to Help Secure Funds to Improve Water Quality on Cape Cod! You may have seen Legislation in the news this month outlining approval of a new bill called the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) providing Barnstable County with $41.3 million in grant federal funds. “Cape Cod has a tremendous opportunity to utilize (these) American Rescue Plan Act funds to make progress in key areas for our region, including protecting our water, investing in … [Read more...]

Scavenger Hunt

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Saturday, September 14th, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Rock Harbor Fun Tent (Map location #2) It’s a challenge for your family and friends!!!  Begin at the Family Tent at Rock Harbor where you can get your “hunt” bag and list of 10  small easy to carry items which can be found around the beaches, bike trail and  Orleans Town Park by Snow Library.  All you need to do to win a prize is to complete the “hunt” by filling your bag will 1 each of the 10 items in the fastest time.  There will be a sign-up sheet at the family … [Read more...]

Terra Firma Ecological Solutions

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Saturday, September 14th, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. at 155 Monument Road (Map location #13) Stormwater runoff mitigation can be beautiful! Join Regenerative Agroecologist, Peter Jensen and his wife, Holistic Nutritionist and Horticulturalist, Lynn Van Norman, for a dynamic and engaging “Aquifer Protection through ecosystem strengthening and resilience walk”. This will be a pleasant walk through Road and Driveway Runoff Raingardens, Downspout Keyhole Gardens, Tuscan WaterWalks, Hillside Lithic Swales and Hugel Terraces on their hillside 1790s … [Read more...]

Addison Art Gallery Demonstrations, Reception & Exhibition

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Saturday, September 14th, 3:00 to 5:00 at Addison Art Gallery (Map location #14) As it has since the inception of Celebrate Our Waters, The Addison Art Gallery will host a reception from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 14, 2024.  In addition to the beautiful artwork, established artists will demonstrate painting and be available to discuss their inspirations and processes. The art exhibit will feature recent works that capture the famous Cape light and favored water views, along with a diversity of other … [Read more...]

Walk & Tour of Sarah’s Pond Oxygenation Demo

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Sunday, September 15th, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. along Quanset Road (Map location #17) Join OPC project coordinators Eric Spengler and Judith Bruce for a walk to and tour of OPC’s Oxygenation Demonstration Project at Sarah’s Pond.  See the OST equipment and learn about phase IV of this project.  This is our first post demonstration project year for the program where OPC is continuing to monitor the longer term benefits of OST and where the property owners around Sarah’s are managing equipment operations.  The talk will … [Read more...]

Sipson Island Kayak & Walk*

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Sunday, September 15th, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon Sipson Island is now open to the public after being in private hands for 300 years! We’ll enjoy a tour of the island hosted by the Sipson Island Trust after a paddle through Pleasant Bay with Guide and kayaks provided by SUPfari Adventures. This tour is offered free of charge; we request a gratuity for our SUPfari Guide and please consider a donation to the Trust in support of their work to “undevelop” and restore the island, via sipsonislandtrust.org.   This trip is for … [Read more...]

PRESS RELEASE: Monday April 26, 2021

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Side Stream Saturation comes to Orleans By: Eric Spengler, VP Orleans Pond Coalition The Orleans Pond Coalition announced this past week that it has successfully installed new equipment into Sarah’s Pond as part of its Oxygenation Demonstration Project.  ‘The new equipment we are exploring is based on technology called side stream saturation (SSS).  We’re excited about its potential,’ said past president Judith Bruce. ‘It’s so different from our earlier work. We’re now calling this phase II of our Oxygenation Project.’ OPC’s … [Read more...]

Water, Water, Everywhere: An Orleans treasure: 109 Portanimicut

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By Karen Back One might think that someone having grown up in a home literally surrounded by water – Cedar Swamp, Paw Wah Pondand Little Pleasant Bay – might become blasé about the wonder of the experience. Not so for 84-year-old, RachiaHeyelman, who has a life lease on 109 Portanimicut Road and has made a personal and financial commitment to keepingthis bay fronted parcel undeveloped, by its transfer of ownership to the Orleans Conservation Trust (OCT.)From her, one is exposed to a wealth of knowledge about this specific site in South … [Read more...]

📌Replay of the 2020 OPC Annual Meeting from November 8th

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For those who were unable to be with us on November 8th for the 17th Annual Orleans Pond Coalition Meeting, we recorded the event. If you wish to see the meeting and the featured presentation by Dr. Kenneth Wagner just click the link below. Dr. Wagner reported on OPC’s Sarah’s Pond nanobubble demonstration project, and he gave us all a primer on cyanobacteria. … [Read more...]

📌2020 OPC Annual Meeting (via Zoom) – 5:00 PM November 8th

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YOU ARE INVITED TO:THE 17th Annual Meeting of the Orleans Pond CoalitionNovember 8, 2020 at 5:00 PM Register Today via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tYvnhOd-SGmN9a57_aQr1w After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Featured Speaker: Dr. Kenneth Wagner, PhD., Water Resource Services, Inc. Dr. Wagner holds degrees from Dartmouth College and Cornell University, with his Ph.D. earned in Natural Resource Management in 1985. He has over 40 … [Read more...]

📌2020 OPC Annual Membership Renewal and Appeal

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As summer draws to a close, we hope you had wonderful times enjoying our waters.  We all felt joy and relief to be out of our houses walking the beaches, swimming in the cool waters, and being out in boats, kayaks and paddleboards. For many of us, our waters are central to our quality of life. This has been a strange and challenging year, but also a year to take the time to think about what is important in our lives--what brings joy to our hearts and peace to our souls.  This was a year to celebrate approval at Town Meeting of the … [Read more...]

About Orleans Pond Coalition

Orleans Pond Coalition, Inc. is a volunteer organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the saltwater estuaries and freshwater ponds and lakes of Orleans. Our work includes offering educational programs to encourage mindful land use practices, sponsoring water quality research, working with community, regional and state organizations to formulate constructive policies to protect our … Learn More

Our Mission

Orleans Pond Coalition is dedicated to the protection and health of our shared watersheds, estuaries, ponds and lakes.

Orleans   Pond   Coalition
PO Box 2485
Orleans, MA 02653

info@orleanspondcoalition.org

OPC is a volunteer organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the saltwater estuaries and freshwater ponds and lakes of Orleans, MA.