The Washashore Problem & an Artful Solution

This month we’re tackling marine debris, our reliance on plastics, and its impact on our oceans. Living on Cape Cod, we are quite literally surrounded by this pollution on a constant basis. Want to learn how we can play a part in fighting this global crisis? Join us at Cape Cod Beer on Monday, January 23rd at 6:30pm to hear from a local expert and an artist who are committed to addressing this problem in different ways!

Laura Ludwig, director, and founder of the Marine Debris & Plastics Program at the Center for Coastal Studies, turns her passion into leadership through her work to fight the ocean pollution crisis. In 2012, Laura developed a “Beach Brigade” of 300 volunteers who work together to clean our shorelines. Laura will be sharing her knowledge and experience on plastic debris in our oceans and what we can do to help.

However, the informative night doesn’t end there! Ever wonder what can be done with the plastic once it’s collected off the shore? Sarah Thornington, a Cape Cod photographer, and artist has found a valuable answer. As seen on CBS Boston, CapeCodXplore, and more, Sarah has found a new meaning to the word “upcycle” as she converts the trash collected from the shores into works of art!

This event is FREE to attend. Please RSVP through Eventbrite!

Speaker Bios:

Laura Ludwig Short Bio:

Laura Ludwig, director and founder of the Marine Debris & Plastics Program at the Center for Coastal Studies, focuses on an interdisciplinary approach to investigate and respond to abandoned, lost, discarded or end-of-life fishing gear, beach debris, microplastics, and other marine plastic debris issues. Since beginning the program in 2012, she has grown a 300-person volunteer “Beach Brigade” which supports an active year-round shoreline cleanup and debris data collection effort on Cape Cod.

Sarah Thornington Short bio:

The 2022 recipient of CARE (Creating A Responsible Environment) for the Cape and Islands Stewardship Award, Sarah Thornington is a portrait photographer & conservation artist who has lived on Cape Cod for the past 30 plus years. A passionate protector of the planet, she can often be found cleaning the beaches- alone or as part of the Center for Coastal Studies ‘Beach Brigade’ – creating with the marine-debris found to keep awareness on our single-use plastic problem or talking about the issues through workshops and presentations.

Time To Stop Kicking the Can: Addressing the Cape’s Wastewater Crisis

On Monday, February 27th from 6:30-8:30pm, head to Cape Cod Beer for an informative evening on the topic of wastewater on the Cape. Much needed changes are coming to address how to reduce the flow of wastewater loaded with nitrogen and other pollutants into our local waters. And these changes will be impacting all of us here on Cape Cod!

Start the evening by learning about the regional implications of regulations proposed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, which are designed to improve coastal and inland water quality by accelerating reductions in nitrogen releases from traditional septic systems.

The evening will conclude by hearing about BCWC’s neighborhood demonstration and testing project for innovative and advanced (I/A) septic system technologies and other non-traditional solutions for controlling nutrient loading in the Three Bays watershed. A bigger issue is how will the average homeowner pay for these septic system upgrades and sewering. Find out about the financing options available, including the newly revised Barnstable County Septic Management Loan Program.

Speaker Bios:

Zee Crocker:

BCWC Executive Director Zenas “Zee” Crocker grew up on Cape Cod and has ancestral roots in Osterville, Cotuit, and Barnstable. He spent over 30 years in the financial services industry in New York, Boston, and Asia before retiring in 2016. Zee’s extensive travels informed him about our increasingly compromised global environment, especially regarding air and water pollution. Unable to sit still in retirement, Zee agreed to take the helm of Barnstable Clean Water Coalition (BCWC) in June 2017 with a focus on addressing water quality conditions and developing nature-based solutions to improve and clean the Cape’s waters.

Brian Baumgaertel:

Brian is the Director of the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center and is a Senior Environmental Specialist at the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment. He is a Registered Sanitarian, Environmental Health Specialist, Title 5 Soil Evaluator and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator. Originally from Upstate New York, Brian has lived on Cape Cod for 15 years and currently resides in Mashpee.

Beneath the Waves: Local Shellfish and the Impacts of Ocean Acidification

Did you ever wonder where your oysters and clams come from? There’s a good chance they were grown by a farmer. Head to Cape Cod Beer on Monday, March 27th from 6:30-8:30pm, for an educational discussion that dives into the local shellfish industry and learn about the different species grown, the variety of gear used, as well as the challenges facing shellfish growers.

The night will wrap up with an overview of ocean and coastal acidification and its expected impacts to people and natural resources in the region. Guest speakers, Abigail and Jennie, will also share intriguing preliminary results from a field investigation of the effects of coastal acidification on oyster and quahog growth and survival in the Three Bays estuary.

Speaker Bios:

Abigail Archer: Abigail works as an Extension Agent (Fisheries & Aquaculture) for two entities with shared goals; the Barnstable County Cape Cod Cooperative Extension Marine Program and for WHOI Sea Grant. She works with shellfish growers, municipal natural resource managers, shellfish constables and river herring wardens to carry out monitoring and scientific research projects that answer their questions about marine resources. She also serves as staff for the Southeastern Massachusetts Aquaculture Center (SEMAC). The mission of SEMAC is to foster the sustainable development of private/public aquaculture endeavors within the southeastern region and throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through education, research, technical and economic assistance, best management practices and demonstration projects.

Jennie Rheuban: Jennie is a Research Specialist in the Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and Research Coordinator for WHOI Sea Grant. Her research focuses on human impacts to coastal ecosystems, focusing on issues related to coastal chemistry and influences on natural resources. Her work combines observations, experiments, and modeling on topics such as coastal water quality, ocean acidification, and climate change.

Cape Cod Beer has teamed up with Barnstable Clean Water Coalition to create Clean Water Wednesdays, an educational series that will be held at Cape Cod Beer. Join the experts as we deep dive into topics that are affecting not only our water on Cape Cod but globally as well! #CleanWaterMatters

This is a free event, however, RSVPs through Eventbrite are encouraged!

Spring is Here: Water-Friendly Landscaping

With Spring right around the corner, our thoughts turn to sprucing up our lawns and gardens. Many conventional landscape practices impact our water quality and use excess water. Join us in the taproom on Wednesday, April 26th at 6:30 PM to learn about water-friendly landscape practices. Jack Ahern will discuss various practices including lawn reduction, lawn alternatives, responsible turf management, as well as the use of native shrubs and trees. He will also discuss green infrastructure practices to manage runoff, filter stormwater and promote infiltration, along with presenting designed landscapes that employ water-friendly practices.

Speaker Bios:

Jack Ahern: Ahern, FASLA, is emeritus professor of landscape architecture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  He researches and writes about how ecology can be applied in landscape design – at multiple scales and in diverse contexts. Jack consults on plant community establishment and management for private clients and leading design firms – integrating his horticultural, design and ecological knowledge to create and manage memorable landscapes. His latest book is “Design with Nature on Cape Cod, UMass Press 2022. He is a board member of the Barnstable Clean Water Coalition.

Cape Cod Beer has teamed up with Barnstable Clean Water Coalition to create Clean Water Wednesdays, an educational series that will be held at Cape Cod Beer. Join the experts as we deep dive into topics that are affecting not only our water on Cape Cod but globally as well! #CleanWaterMatters

This is a free event, however, RSVPs through Eventbrite are encouraged!

Water Pollution: What about Phosphorus?

We hear so much about nitrogen pollution from wastewater impacting the water quality in our ponds and bays. But what about phosphorus? Join us at Cape Cod Beer on Wednesday, May 17th at 6:30 p.m. to learn more about this lesser-known nutrient. Excess phosphorus can lead to cyanobacteria blooms and increased invasive algal growth in ponds. Tara Nye Lewis from the Cape Cod Commission and John Keith from the Brewster Ponds Coalition will discuss sources of phosphorus, the ecological impacts of phosphorus pollution, and remediation methods. They will also provide information on how to get involved and learn more about protecting our local ponds.

Speaker Bios:

Tara Nye Lewis has been on Cape Cod since 1998, first working at Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve as the Regional Water Quality Monitoring Coordinator. She moved to North Carolina for a few years but returned to work as the Staff Biologist for the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC) for 13 years. At APCC Tara worked with the Pond and Lake Stewards (PALS) Program, initiated the salt marsh restoration program, and conducted numerous education and training workshops. She next accepted a job at Horsley Witten Group as a Coastal Ecologist. Tara has been with the Cape Cod Commission as a Water Resources Analyst since early 2020. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from UMass Dartmouth and a Master of Science in Zoology from the University of New Hampshire.

John Keith is Vice President and a founding member of the Brewster Ponds Coalition and a semi-retired engineer. For 10 years, he was Director of Operations and then Lead Technical Advisor to Pure Earth, a New York non-profit. He was also at Pfizer as Vice President for Environment, Health and Safety for 16 years and prior to that was Assistant Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection leading the State’s air and water pollution programs. John holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan, a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Executive Leadership Program. John has a strong interest in helping Brewster develop a plan that addresses long-term water quality concerns, particularly controlling nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen in our ponds. Specifically, John has been leading a plant harvesting demonstration project to improve water quality in Elbow Pond in Brewster.

Cape Cod Beer has teamed up with Barnstable Clean Water Coalition to create Clean Water Wednesdays, an educational series that will be held at Cape Cod Beer. Join the experts as we deep dive into topics that are affecting not only our water on Cape Cod but globally as well! #CleanWaterMatters

This is a free event, however, RSVPs through Eventbrite are encouraged!

Frontline Whale Rescue: Detangling Their Threat

Entanglement in fishing gear is a well-documented source of human impact on baleen whales. The Center for Coastal Studies has been on the front line of whale disentanglement response since 1984, releasing more than 200 whales from life-threatening entanglements. Head to the brewery on Wednesday, June 21st at 6:30pm, to hear from a member of the Center for Coastal Studies, Paulette Durazo, who’s on the frontlines of whale rescue. Paulette’s presentation will cover the scope of whale entanglements, the history of the Marine Animal Entanglement Response team, and guide you through the steps of how to detect, document and report a live entangled large whale or sea turtle.

Speaker Bios:

Paulette Durazo is originally from Baja California, Mexico. She has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Coastal Oceanography with 10 years of experience working with marine mammals. She spent most of her time in Mexico working along the Baja Peninsula in research projects involving seals, sea lions, gray whales, and humpback whales. Paulette engaged with the public giving talks about marine mammal conservation while working as a whale-watching guide in Cabo San Lucas and San Ignacio Lagoon. For the last 4 years, she has been working for the Center for Coastal Studies as a research assistant with the Humpback Whale Research Program and as a rescue assistant for the Marine Animal Entanglement Response team.