Cape Cod's drinking water supply is threatened by pollution, damaging chemical plumes, and other intrusions. Approximately 82 percent of all homes on Cape Cod dispose of their wastewater through septic systems that eventually leech into the groundwater. AmeriCorps Cape Cod is dedicated to helping protect Cape Cod's groundwater through a variety of projects including involvement with research projects that improve the overall water quality throughout Barnstable County. We serve with each town's shellfish department, assisting them with shellfish propagation and other aquaculture services. We have cleared more than 10 miles of herring runs, increased public access to beaches, ponds and streams, conducted water quality surveys for the Cape Cod National Seashore, and worked with Cape towns to assess their stormwater infrastructure.

Examples of Projects

Group Projects

1. Remove leaves and over hanging brush from herring runs
2. Prepare and maintain Town shellfish propagation equipment
3. Harvest Town grown shellfish and distribute it in public water

Individual Placement

1. Serve with several Town Shellfish Departments to manage and improve shellfish propagation efforts as well as educate the community about Town efforts
2. Serve with a Eastham Health Department to complete a 10 year well water quality study, compile a database of existing information, map well locations, and conduct sample collections
3. Serve with the Association to Preserve Cape Cod to coordinate volunteer monitoring efforts at restricted tidal marshes
4. Serve with the Cape Cod National Seashore to monitor the water quality of a recently restored tidal salt marsh
5. Serve with the Cape Cod Commission researching and assisting Cape Towns with stormwater management

Volunteer Projects

1. Falmouth Shellfish Relay - volunteers assisted in transferring shellfish from one pond to another