The APCC is the most effective non-profit organization with which I've ever been involved. All residents on Cape Cod benefit from the work of the APCC, whether they even know of their work or not. The APCC not only watches out for the environmental resources of this area, protecting the wildlife, wetlands and other natural spaces of the Cape, but also the soil, groundwater, pollinator spaces and habitat of animals and humans in our developed spaces.
There is only one aquifer on Cape Cod, and this organization fights to protect it as if our lives depended on it. And they very well may.
Outstanding boots on the ground work, like water monitoring for cyanobacteria, is more than equaled by the environmental awareness and education the group shares, as well as the excellent advocacy of its leadership. I feel empowered when an issue I care about requires public support, and the APCC lets us know which government leaders need to hear our voices. I'm very grateful that such a talented team is doing such good work, right here on our small peninsula.
I’ve lived on the Cape for thirty years and—like everyone else—love and appreciate all its natural beauty. My family and I spend a great deal of time walking the woods and beaches with our dogs, and are now so incredibly fortunate to live on Mashpee-Wakeby pond. As much as I love EVERYTHING about living here (except maybe a few noisy jet skis on Sundays), we have had in recent years seasonal outbreaks of cyanobacteria blooms. Potentially deadly for dogs, my first real connection to the APCC was through their alert system warning of high levels of the bacteria. Since then, I have become a member and signed up for their weekly e-newsletters. What a great way to stay informed about environmental issues and restoration in our local communities. Andy Gottlieb and staff/volunteers are making a difference here. I’ve learned about native plants and pollinators and “Cape Cod lawns.” Of significant value to me is making my very small whisper into a voice—they very gently and respectfully offer easy ways to contact our Governor and Legislators regarding issues specific to protecting our home.
APCC is a very special non-profit that truly makes a meaningful difference in the protection and preservation of Cape Cod's natural resources. With a lean team of highly skilled and dedicated staff members, APCC is enhancing the Cape's environment through a combination of landscape restoration initiatives, focused advocacy, and impactful educational programs. In my post-retirement career, I have been involved in a wide range of non-profits, and APCC ranks at the absolute top in terms of achieving maximum impact in a very cost effective manner!
In anticipation of moving to the Cape full time, I researched non-profits of interest and in my wheelhouse. I had been intrigued with APCC for several years. I contacted the Board Chair, met with him and the CEO. The efficiency, effectiveness, and strategic focus of the organization is impressive. I knew I was all in. And what is more important to life on the Cape than the environment and specifically the water. The drinking water, the ponds, the estuaries, the costal embayments....all critical and in need of protection, help and repair. In my opinion, if there is one place where you can spend your time and invest your money, and your company's money, it is The APCC. The APCC gets results. Look at the recent rejection of that crazy Machine Gun range project over the water aquifer! Proactive effectiveness producing tangible results.
First time volunteer with APCC, doing the herring counts in the spring. Great excuse to get out and observe nature. The APCC is, in my opinion the premier environmental protection organization on Cape Cod. They have great educational resources that can help everyone understand how their own activities can impact the environment both positively and negatively. All Cape towns could adopt the landscaping practices the APCC recommends as one way to mitigate climate change destruction. Thanks for all you do.
My introduction to APCC was several years ago when I realized that I needed to be a better land steward for my property on Cape Cod. I've lived here many years but am new to the importance of environmental awareness and action. I turned to APCC for information. I learned about native plants, invasive species and how to modify my little part of the earth. I gained a wealth of information including what to leave, what to remove, and what to plant. I've since attended several education opportunities to learn about rain gardens, storm water, and surfaces to name a few areas of learning from APCC. Protection, restoration of the environment, advocacy and education is part of what APCC is about. All that this organization does, it does well and keeps moving forward to identify threats and protect the environment - land, water, all of it. I am so proud to be included as a part of this organization as a board member and volunteer because it is effective in what it does for our beautiful Cape Cod regionally and one small property at a time. It's an organization that makes one want to be involved and helps with the tools to take action. Thank you APCC.
I volunteered for the pond monitoring program. My experience was awesome! JT and I set out in the canoe on Scargo Lake, Dennis on a sparkling day. JT's knowledge was incredible. He explained everything we did and how our efforts provided extensive data to protect Cape Cod ponds. I loved 'being a scientist' by recording data from JT (after repeating it back which was cool) as we took samples. I was quickly able to take samples myself under his tutelage which made me feel I was part of the project.
I learn so much from the e-newsletters and other material from APCC. They make it easy to advocate for environmental issues on Cape Cod by providing links and pertinent information.
I am actively involved with a number of local environmental groups. APCC is my number one resource that I share with other interested people and organizations. They are doing critical water testing, environmental restoration, and actively promote and educate about native plants and their importance. Their political advocacy is impressive. There are few other groups where I always read their emails and newsletters. APCC truly is a great non-profit!
I got involved with APCC in 2021 shortly after moving to Cape Cod from Washington, DC, in support of their effort to stop Joint Base Cape Cod from building a big high-caliber machine gun range on top of our only aquifer (which the base seriously polluted years earlier and has spent over $1 billion to clean up). I was able to help APCC to obtain email correspondence between the base commander and local congressional staff, revealing JBCC’s knowledge that the project would not survive an EPA environmental impact assessment and their deliberate attempts to prevent that analysis. It took APCC three legal filings under public records law to get JBCC to finally release their emails. No other local environmental group had the interest, persistence, legal commitment, and strategic focus to force the release of such important incriminating information.
As the machine gun range issue dragged on, APCC took further legal action to force JBCC to disclose information it was illegally withholding from the public about construction contracts it was about to approve; helped build a very influential coalition of local governments and groups in opposition to the machine gun range; and successfully lobbied the governor to ultimately block JBCC from approving the contracts. APCC has been singularly active and effective in protecting Cape Cod’s aquifer from further pollution from Joint Base Cape Cod.
JBCC has taken similar steps to protect local residents and the environment by seeking to block the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant from discharging massive amounts of irradiated water into Cape Cod Bay. This is an ongoing struggle, to which APCC has devoted significant legal, financial and political resources. They are an extremely active member of the coalition fighting to protect our water.
Although APCC is probably best known for conducting water quality analysis of Cape Cod’s freshwater ponds for cynobacteria outbreaks ever summer, they do far more than that, with programs on habitat protection and native plant restoration. For a small organization, it has terrific leadership and vision, widespread public support, and punches far above its weight.
-- Stephen Blakely
East Sandwich
The APCC is one of the most active environmental defenders of Cape Cod. I was so proud to be affiliated with them co-running Pond Stories with Kristin Andres. When they tell me to write a government official to make impact, I write. When they tell me to share info with friends and colleagues, I share. Thank goodness they exist to do all the hard work most of us can't.
Thank you APCC!!
The APCC is a great resource for information on water quality, native plants, and how to help improve our environment here on the Cape.
Retired last year on Cape Cod and was looking to get involved. Reached out to APCC and met with their volunteer coordinator Dee and was warmly received! I volunteer with the pond monitoring as well as doing some educational outreach at events. Met some wonderful people and so happy to support the work they are doing! Don't hesitate to support this organization in whatever way you can!!
Having spent the last 35 years vacationing and living on Cape Cod, the preservation of its beautiful and unique ecosystems has always been of prime importance to me. I was thrilled to discover APCC through my collaboration with the Brewster Pond Coalition. It can be difficult to know how to help the things you care about, but APCC has many volunteer opportunities that allow me to dig right in. As a pond monitoring volunteer, I’ve been able to assist the pond technicians gathering valuable data about fresh water ponds on the Cape. Not only does this opportunity allow me to learn more about the ecology of the ponds, but it also provides me with more time spent on the ponds - what a great bonus to valuable work! I’m grateful to APCC for protecting our local water through many different programs and advocacy work.
I'm immensely grateful for the tireless work of the people of APCC. Their commitment to safeguarding our region's natural wonders is truly inspiring. Whether it's their meticulous water quality monitoring, hands-on wetland restoration projects that I've had the privilege of volunteering for, or the thoughtful insights shared by Executive Director Andrew Gottlieb, the APCC's efforts consistently demonstrate an unwavering dedication to evidence-based conservation. Their work is absolutely vital to preserving Cape Cod's unique beauty and ecological balance, and I encourage anyone who treasures this special place to get involved with and support the APCC's critical mission.
The APCC has been working tirelessly to preserve and improve the Cape environment for years. It's such a relief to know that smart people are keeping an eye on all the shenanigans that crop up that would be devastating for our marine environment and our drinking water. In these times of major environmental uncertainty, we need the oversight desperately. They also rely on volunteers and there are many fun ways to help including visiting quiet hidden lakes to check water quality and beautiful woodland locations to count the herring in the spring. Thank you APCC!
APCC is a truly impactful organization. Their groundbreaking work raising awareness about harmful cyanobacteria blooms is helping to keep Cape residents and pets safe. Their work encourages all of us to promote clean water practices at home and within our towns.
This is really the only nonprofit environmental organization working Cape-wide on so many issues which affect the Cape -- open space, water resources, sensible development, salt marsh restoration. They are now based in Dennis, MA, in a restored house, where they are transforming the former lawn into a demonstration garden of native plants, creating a bountiful habitat for native pollinators. They also sponsor screenings of films, speakers, workshops --so much for both the professional and the layperson.