Orleans Pond Coalition

Orleans, Massachusetts

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

  • Home
  • About
    • Overview
    • Mission/Vision
    • Board of Directors
    • Meet the New 2025 OPC Directors
  • Our Waters
    • Orleans’ Watersheds
    • Freshwater Ponds
      • Baker’s Pond
      • Boland Pond
      • Cedar Pond
      • Crystal Lake
      • Deep Pond
      • Gould Pond
      • Icehouse Pond
      • Kettle Pond
      • Meadow Bog Pond
      • Pilgrim Lake
      • Reuben’s Pond
      • Sarah’s Pond
      • Shoal Pond
      • Twinings Pond
      • Uncle Harvey’s Pond
      • Uncle Israel’s
      • Uncle Seth’s
    • Estuaries
      • Cape Cod Bay
      • Nauset
      • Pleasant Bay
      • Lonnie’s (aka Kescayogansett) Pond
    • Drinking Water in Orleans
    • Wastewater Challenges
    • Cape Cod Land Owner Resources
    • The Orleans Blue Pages — A Guide to Protecting Cape Cod Waters
  • Programs
    • Overview
    • Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program
    • The H2Orleans Pond Pledge
    • OPC’s Compost Spreader Loan Program
    • Oxygenation Demonstration Project
    • 2024 Earth Day Clean-Up: Thank you and Pictures
    • The Orleans Blue Pages
    • Fertilizer
    • Mutt Mitts
    • Oysters
    • Water Sampling
    • Member Photo Submissions
  • Celebrate Our Waters
    • 2025 Celebrate Our Waters: Save the Dates
    • 2025 Celebrate Our Waters Summer Edition
    • 2025 Celebrate Our Waters – Earth Day Event in Pictures
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer
    • Subscribe
    • Join/Renew
    • Contact Us
    • Submit Photos
  • News
    • 2025 May Town Election
    • 📌 Bulletin
    • Ponderings  
    • Water, Water, Everywhere
    • Ask the Osprey
    • Hugel Terracing report and pictures
  • Join OPC Today

2023 OPC Annual Meeting Minutes

September 20, 2024 By John Smith

2023-OPC-Annual-Meeting-MinutesDownload … [Read more...]

Filed Under: BOD Meetings, Uncategorized

Dedication of New Public Art Sculpture on Main Street

August 29, 2024 By John Smith

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...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

The Pitter Patter Puppet Show

August 14, 2024 By John Smith

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...]

Filed Under: Events, Uncategorized

Rain Garden Installation with Orleans Conservation Trust

August 12, 2024 By John Smith

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...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Public Health Advisory – Boland Pond

June 5, 2024 By John Smith

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...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Minutes from the 2022 OPC Annual Meeting

October 9, 2023 By John Smith

OPC-2022-ANNUAL-MEETING-MINUTESDownload … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Microplastics In Our Waters and What You Can Do

October 5, 2023 By John Smith

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...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Public Health Advisory – Crystal Lake

October 4, 2023 By John Smith

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...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Meet the New 2025 OPC Directors

October 3, 2023 By John Smith

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...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Plein Air Painting at Rock Harbor

August 28, 2023 By John Smith

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...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Public Health Advisory – Pilgrim Lake

August 10, 2023 By John Smith

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 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Pollinator Hillside Habitat Restoration

August 3, 2023 By John Smith

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 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Oyster Grant Tour – Skaket Beach, Orleans

August 3, 2023 By John Smith

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...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Plastics and Aquatic Habitats Talk

August 3, 2023 By John Smith

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...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Tour a NEW Pollinator Garden at OCT

August 3, 2023 By John Smith

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 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Orleans Wastewater Treatment Facility Tour

August 3, 2023 By John Smith

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 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

📌OPC April Bulletin

April 24, 2022 By John Smith

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, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bulletin, Uncategorized

PRESS RELEASE: Monday April 26, 2021

April 26, 2021 By John Smith

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...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

OPC President’s Presentation

October 14, 2020 By John Smith

Orleans Pond Coalition President’s Report - without videoDownload Orleans Pond Coalition President’s Report - without videoDownload Orleans Pond Coalition President’s Report - complete - compressedDownload … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Horseshoe Crabs at Pochet Island

May 9, 2020 By Tim Counihan

Carol and I paddled from Lonnie's Pond over to Pochet Island on Thursday and were surprised to see horseshoe crabs along the shoreline, mating. It was the day after the full moon at a high tide. There's a great chapter entitled "At a Horseshoe Crab Orgy" in William Sargent's classic: Shallow Waters: A Year on Cape Cod's Pleasant Bay. Anyway, here are a few of the pictures that I took. - Tim Counihan (5/9/2020) … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Ponderings Spring 2019

August 3, 2019 By Orleans Pond Coalition

Click to View Ponderings Spring 2019 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ponderings  , Uncategorized

Rock Creek Oyster Farm Tour – Draft

August 21, 2018 By Orleans Pond Coalition

  Walk the flats at low tide to the successful oyster farm owned and operated by Wendy & Kyle Farrell. Learn how oysters are grown and harvested for sale to high-end restaurants in the Northeast. Tours run continuously. Wear shoes that can get wet. On the flats at Skaket Beach.   by Rock Creek Oysters … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Robert Finch Book Signing – Draft

August 14, 2018 By Orleans Pond Coalition

Saturday 4-6 at Addison Art Gallery (1) Come meet Cape Cod nature author, essayist and radio commentator, Robert Finch who will be signing copies of his books, including his latest book released this summer, The Outer Beach: A Thousand-Mile Walk on Cape Cod's Atlantic Shore, apoignant, candid chronicle of a beloved nature writer’s fifty-year relationship with an iconic American landscape. Those who have encountered Cape Cod – or merely dipped into an account of its rich history – know that it is a singular place. Robert Finch writes … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Amy Sanders Pastel Demonstration – Draft

August 14, 2018 By Orleans Pond Coalition

Saturday 4-6 at Addison Art Gallery (1) Amy Sanders will demonstrate building depth and luminosity with pastel as she works towards bringing a painting to life through multiple layers. Pastel particles retain their individuality within layers. If carefully layered using strokes in a variety of colors, weights and direction, light bounces among the particles creating a unique radiance. Questions and comments from audience member of all ages will be encouraged and add to the event. The soft pastel medium can trace its roots back to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Stand Up Paddle Board Lesson and Tour * – Draft

August 14, 2018 By Orleans Pond Coalition

Sunday 12-1:30 at  Goose Hummock Docks Led by members of the Goose Hummock staff, begin with a 30 minute lesson followed by a 90 minute paddle around scenic Town Cove, weather permitting. Paddleboarding offers a different and fun way to get out on the water and experience paddling this gorgeous area. This tour is best suited for people 15 years of age and over, and a guardian is required to accompany all minors. Warm dress is recommended, as it is likely that participants will get wet while on the tour. Paddleboarding is a full-body workout, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Draft: Nauset Marsh Kayak Tour *

August 11, 2018 By Orleans Pond Coalition

Image of kayakers on pond

Saturday and Sunday 11-2 at Goose Hummock Docks Led by members of the Goose Hummock Outdoor staff. Kayaks supplied by Goose Hummock. Our guides will lead you through Nauset Salt Marsh Estuary located within the Cape Cod National Seashore, replete with winding creeks and coves. It is home to a wide array of marine and avian species and offers amazing wildlife viewing. This tour is slightly more demanding than our Town Cove Tour and is recommended for conditioned paddlers with prior kayaking experience. Age 15 and up with minors accompanied by … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Get to Know Orleans through its Historical Markers (self-guided)

August 7, 2018 By Orleans Pond Coalition

Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. starting at Rock Harbor Fun Tent (9) 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 and its proud lifesaving, commercial, and battle history. Check out Academy Place, Depot … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Events, Uncategorized

Water Water Everywhere: Ice Fishing

January 26, 2015 By Orleans Pond Coalition

An excerpt from The Innermost Waters: Fishing Cape Cod’s Ponds and Lakes by Peter Budryk     The ponds and lakes of Cape Cod, unlike most of the stillwaters in the rest of the Commonwealth, do not always freeze over during an average winter.  The salty influence of the Cape’s weather patterns produces milder winters.  This difference cuts two ways:  1- the less severe winters mean bigger fish because it results in a longer feeding and, therefore, growing season for the Cape’s freshwater fish; 2- for those who enjoy ice fishing on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized, Water, Water, Everywhere

What Water Sampling is Happening in Orleans Right Now?

April 14, 2012 By Orleans Pond Coalition

Osprey head sketch

Water Quality monitoring has been taking place in Orleans since 2001. Each year volunteers sample 18 named freshwater ponds in early spring and again in late summer. These are done by kayak or canoe in order to reach the deepest spot in each pond. Measurements are taken for water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and visibility into the water. Samples are taken to determine the phosphorus and nitrogen in the water column. Notes are made about changing conditions and plant and animal life. Each summer similar measurements and sampling takes … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ask the Osprey, Uncategorized

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.

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