TRURO — The nor’easter that struck the Outer Cape on Oct. 10 and lingered for almost three days caused massive erosion at Ballston Beach. Sand dunes and bluffs were carved […]
Environment
ENVIRONMENT
Shark Mitigation Study Offers No Guarantees
Woods Hole Group analyzed 27 alternatives
EASTHAM — “There isn’t a single alternative or suite of alternatives that can 100-percent guarantee the safety of all individuals who choose to enter the water,” coastal scientist Adam Finkle […]
oysterfest 2019
OysterFest Goes ‘Plastic Free’
Beer and wine in cans and stainless steel mugs replace plastic cups
WELLFLEET — Organizers of the Wellfeet OysterFest announced last week that this year’s event will be “plastic free” in response to rising concerns about the environmental impact of single-use plastics. […]
environment
Opening the Way for the Herring Run in Eastham
An easier swim for fish on a mission to Deborah's Pond
EASTHAM — The culvert connecting Great Pond and Deborah’s Pond will be replaced to allow significantly increased water flow, the conservation commission decided last week. This is good news for […]
ENVIRONMENT
Warmer Water Leads to Lobster Die-off in Cape Cod Bay
Animals died while trapped in waters with unprecedented low oxygen levels
The reports of dead lobsters being pulled from Cape Cod Bay started on Sept. 23. The cause: warmer than average late fall water temperatures and low wave action that led […]
environment
The DEP Says the Blasches May Build Their Wall
The town still hopes to prevail against the revetment in court
WELLFLEET — The owners of a mansion teetering on the edge of a dune near Great Island won approval from the state Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) to construct a […]
ENVIRONMENT
Permaculture Expert Teaches How to Grow Food in Our Forests
Kids and adults learn how agriculture can restore ecosystems at Nauset H.S. garden
EASTHAM — Restoration Agriculture author Mark Shepard of Wisconsin visited the Nauset Food and Research Garden at Nauset Regional High School last week to speak with about two dozen community […]
environment
A Battle for Whales Against Rope
Cape Cod lobstermen are frustrated by Maine’s withdrawal from rescue effort
Maine lobstermen have withdrawn their support for an agreement made last April to protect whales by limiting the amount of rope they use, and Cape Cod lobstermen are not happy. […]
PEOPLE
An Audubon Leader Fascinated by Humans
Melissa Lowe Cestaro on watching shifts in nature, culture, values
WELLFLEET — In September Melissa Lowe Cestaro became the director of Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. She succeeds Bob Prescott, who is retiring after nearly 40 years in the […]
Environment
Local Bird Banders Think Globally
Audubon work may shed light on alarming worldwide decline in bird populations
WELLFLEET — A Cape May warbler is flying through a pine forest. Its brown-green wings flutter madly as it races to keep up with its flock. It has been feeding […]
Health
Rats Don’t Deserve Their Bad Rap
Experts say humans are to blame for rising rodent population
PROVINCETOWN — Concerned residents have been calling the health dept. to report rat sightings in recent weeks, according to a public notice posted on the town website. The notice urges townspeople […]
Economy
Selectmen Tighten Rules on Overwintered Shellfish Racks
Farmers say new regs to avert wrecked gear won’t work
WELLFLEET — At a contentious meeting on Tuesday, the Wellfleet Select Board voted 3-0 to limit the number of shellfish racks that may be left on aquaculture grants through the […]
NATIONAL SEASHORE
Revival of CCNS Advisory Commission Moves Ahead One Square
But chances for reauthorization still seen as dim
Efforts to revive the Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Commission, which was deep-sixed by the Trump administration and Senate Republicans last year, produced a glimmer of hope on Wednesday. The […]
CLIMATE
Libraries Team Up to Prepare for Crisis
‘Blue marble librarians’ aim to promote social resilience
WELLFLEET — As citizens organize to address the certainty of disruptive climate-related events here, librarians — including Wellfleet’s Gabrielle Griffis — are taking a leading role in urging communities to […]
ENVIRONMENT
Mayo Creek Project May Be Key to Harbor Improvement
Some residents wary of restoration plan OK’d by select board
WELLFLEET — A multimillion-dollar plan to restore Mayo Creek could significantly improve water quality in Wellfleet Harbor and would not threaten nearby structures or septic systems, town officials have concluded. […]
