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Great Sand Lakes Association

Welcome to the Great Sand Lakes, a neighborhood community in Harwich, Massachusetts. As proud stewards of several kettle ponds on Cape Cod, we are committed to protecting the water for our recreational enjoyment and the town wells they feed just two miles away.

On this site you will find information about the Great Sand Lakes Association which owns and maintains the beach areas. There are forms, pictures, water quality reports and a discussion board of current topics.

Analysis of Water Quality Data Collected at Bucks Pond and John Joseph Pond, 1999-2021

View Presentation

Harwich Phase 3A Sewer Project

SELECT BOARD MEETING
Monday, March 10, 2025
6:00 p.m.

Please join us at the Select Board meeting on Monday, March 10 at 6 pm in the Griffin Room at Town Hall to advocate for the Great Sand Lakes Sewer Extension Project, which will help protect our ponds from the continued influx of excess nutrient content.  We need to show the Select Board that we care about the quality of the water in our ponds!  

Click below for the call-to-action from the Association to Preserve Cape Cod. The APCC letter explains that passing a warrant article at the Town Meeting in May will reduce Harwich taxpayers' share of the cost of building infrastructure that can protect the waters of Great Sand Lakes. This opportunity is not likely to come again in the foreseeable future.

YouTube Video (GHD Presentation is at 24.10)
Agenda
Call-to-action from the Association to Preserve Cape Cod

Call-to-action from the Association to Preserve Cape Cod

Harwich Residents

The select board in Harwich recently voted 3-2 against placement of an article on its upcoming town meeting warrant that would let voters decide on funding the next phase of water quality project implementation. APCC has written to the select board asking it to reconsider its vote at the board’s meeting on Monday, March 10. Read here to understand why APCC views action this year to be so critical.

Because hearing from voters directly carries the most weight, APCC is asking you to contact the select board members.

Tell them that you support clean water and want the chance to vote for it at town meeting. Even better would be for you to also attend the select board meeting and tell the board what you think in person.

 

Our Contact Information

Association to Preserve Cape Cod
482 Main St.
Dennis, MA 02638

(508) 619-3185

https://apcc.org/

BOARD OF WATER & WASTEWATER COMMISSIONER’S
JOINT MEETING AGENDA*
Town Hall, Griffin Room
732 Main St, Harwich MA
Monday, March 3, 2025
6:00 p.m.

GSLA Public Comments

GSLA Public Comments

Dan Pelletier's presentation

Dan Pelletier's presentation

Agenda
Board Of Water/Wastewater Commissioners Meeting February 28, 2025

SELECT BOARD MEETING
Monday, February 24, 2025 6pm

YouTube Video (Ann's Presentation is at 39.45)

Dear Neighbors, Please watch the Select Board Meeting from February 24.  The Select Board voted not to approve a town-sponsored appropriations warrant article to be placed on the May Town Meeting ballot that would enable Harwich to use the State Revolving Funds to construct the Queen Anne Road sewers.  The vote was Mike McAskill, Peter Piekarski and Jeffrey Handler against the funding; Don Howell and Jennifer Kavanaugh for it.  We lost 3-2.  We still have our own article to be heard at the May Town Meeting agenda, but it is non-binding.  We need to pressure the Select Board to reconsider their decision.  Please email, call or write to all of them to let them know how much we all care about the quality of the water in our ponds as well as the town’s drinking water which is in the watershed of our ponds.

Click the button below for details and a sample comments email

Details and Sample Comments Email

Dear Neighbors,

 

As members of the Board of Directors of the Great Sand Lakes Association, we are writing to ask for your help in assuring that the sewer project along Queen Anne Road goes ahead.  There are two important next steps:

Please submit comments by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with “2025 Draft IUP Testimony” in subject line or by mail to:

 

Robin McNamara

MassDEP, Bureau of Waters Resources,

Division of Municipal Services – 2025 Draft IUP Testimony

100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900

Boston, MA 02114

 

Written testimony will be accepted until March 3, 2025 at 12:00 PM.  

 

For more information on how the State Revolving Fund works, please see:

 

https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2023/06/09/2023%20Borrower%20Presentation%206.6.23-optimized.pdf

 

Sincerely yours,

Catherine Frazier, President, Great Sand Lakes Association

Ann Frechette, Water Quality Committee, GSLA

 

 

***

SAMPLE LETTER TO SEND TO ROBIN McNAMARA via U.S. post or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Dear Clean Water Administrators,

 

I am writing to express my support for SRF funding for the Harwich Great Sand Lakes Sewer Extension project.  I live in the Great Sand Lakes neighborhood and am very concerned about the quality of the water which has been degrading due to excess nutrient content.  We have seen cyanobacteria blooms every summer on Bucks Pond in recent years and sporadically also on John Joseph Pond.  The ponds are essential to the quality of our neighborhood where residents swim, fish, sail, kayak and otherwise enjoy the ponds as a part of our everyday existence.

 

I am also concerned about the drinking water wells to the immediate south of our neighborhood which could potentially also become contaminated, as they are in the watershed of the ponds and water flows from north to south in this portion of the Cape.

 

The sewer project would help prevent additional excess nutrients from entering the ponds, protect the quality of the water, and ensure clean drinking water for the entire town long into the future.

I appreciate your attention to the project.

 

Sincere thanks,

Your Name

Your GSLA Address

Harwich

SELECT BOARD MEETING
Monday, February 10, 2025

The State Revolving Fund Draft Intended Use Plan allocated $31 million toward financing the Queen Anne Road sewer project in Harwich.  The project would help protect the Great Sand Lakes from continued inundation of excess nutrients, most notably Phosphorus and Nitrogen, from septic systems in the upper watershed and would help prevent future cyanobacteria blooms.  The Select Board has yet to put together an appropriations warrant article to accept the allocation and enable the project to move forward.  GSLA Board Member Ann Frechette spoke at the Select Board meeting on February 10 to advocate for the Queen Anne sewer project and has put together a citizen petition for Town Meeting in May to ask voters to approve the project.  Please see the link below for the Town Meeting discussion.

GSLA Presentation to Select Board 2-10-25

Harwich Phase 3A Sewer Project Forum
October 29, 2024

View Meetng Video
Download Presentation (PDF)
Wastewater Project Information Page
Priority Ponds Project
Harwich Conservation Trust

Stay Informed!

ALL DATES AND TIMES ARE TENTATIVE. PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES

Upcoming Events

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ALL DATES AND TIMES ARE TENTATIVE. PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES

Upcoming Events

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As pollution worsens on Cape Cod, some are investing hopes in a new type of septic system

BARNSTABLE — For years, pollution from septic systems has spawned algae blooms,toxic bacteria, and a putrid scum coating the waters of Cape Cod, destroying vitalecosystems, contributing to coastal erosion, and harming tourism.

“The water that comes from this system is treated to such a high degree that it’s almostpotable,” said Zenas Crocker, executive director of the Barnstable Clean Water Coalition,which has been overseeing a pilot project here that is installing the new septic systems atno cost to homeowners. “We see this as having an easier runway for expansion thansewers; they can be built more quickly and lower tax bills.”
The pollution has also spawned billion-dollar plans to dig up roads and install extensivesewer systems that local officials say is essential to cleaning up bays, estuaries, and pondsfrom Bourne to Brewster.

Read more
Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP)

The Town of Harwich was seeking public comment on suggested revisions, edits or improvements to the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP) which outlines the procedures and timeline for the construction of sewers throughout the town.

The public comment meetings were held to advocate for expediting the sewage construction process so that we can better protect the water quality of our ponds.  

Click to view videos on the Water Quality page
Barnstable County survey regarding priorities for newly available federal funds

If you have not yet completed the Barnstable County survey regarding priorities for newly available federal funds, you can still do that until tomorrow, February 4. See the information below.

The Barnstable County Commissioners Office will hold a public comment period through Friday, February 4, 2022, for residents of Barnstable County and stakeholders to provide input and feedback on how the county’s ARPA funds should be allocated.

Please share your comments with us in one of the following three ways:

  • Click here https://forms.office.com/g/zPczsLxhhbor scroll down to complete an online survey. 
  • Send an email with comments and letters to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
  • Call and leave a voicemail with comments by calling 508-556-4733.Voicemails may not exceed 3 minutes.

In order to avoid duplicate responses, the respondent’s full name and address must be provided with any comments in order for them to be considered.

Eligible Use Areas:  

Below are the eligible use areas for Barnstable County’s allotment of ARPA funds.

Note: These are listed in order of priority, as approved by the Barnstable County Commissioners on November 10, 2021. 

  1. Invest in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.
  2. Fund public health system costs associated with the COVID response, and other costs and related capital investments necessary to strengthen the public health system of the County and its towns.
  3. Fund projects targeting the negative economic impacts of the COVID pandemic on households, small businesses, non-profits, impacted industries, and disproportionately impacted communities.
  4. Fund proposals to replace lost public sector revenue; Provide premium pay to employees providing essential work during COVID-19.

We are grateful for your feedback and look forward to advancing priorities with the help of these funds to benefit the residents of Cape Cod in the years to come. 

 

Member Forms and Policies

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Upcoming Events

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Weed Watcher Program

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

4:00pm - 6:00pm

Waquoit Bay Reserve Boat House

131 Waquoit Highway, Waquoit

Are you concerned about the health of Mashpee-Wakeby Pond, Ashumet Pond, Mystic Lake, or another favorite local pond? If so, attend this Weed Watcher workshop offered by the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Lakes and Pond Program to learn how to best to monitor your backyard pond for harmful invasive plants. During this hands-on workshop focused on plant identification, you will learn how you can help prevent the spread of invasive weeds in Massachusetts waters.

REGISTER NOW

A Proactive Approach: Learning How to Identify Invasive Plants!

A key goal of DCR’s Lakes and Ponds Program is to prevent further infestation of Massachusetts’ lakes and ponds by invasive plants and removing existing populations of invasive plants. To meet this goal the Lakes and Ponds Program has developed a training to teach local lake groups to monitor their ponds for the presence of invasive plants and to develop a removal plan if an infestation is found. Lakes and Ponds Program staff will bring live plant specimens to the training for a hands-on identification workshop. Those who register for the event will receive more information about how to bring potential nuisance plants from your ponds to identify at the workshop!  

What are the Harmful Effects of Invasive Aquatic Plants?

When invasive plants become established in a lake or pond, they are almost impossible to remove and very expensive to control. Invasive plants spread rapidly and form dense mats that can make boating, fishing, and swimming impossible. As the recreational and aesthetic value of the pond declines, property values around the lake also decrease. Invasive species also alter pond habitat and disrupt the ways aquatic ecosystems normally function. If a pioneer infestation of invasive plants is identified early, there is a greater chance that the plant can be eradicated before it becomes established in the lake or pond.  

By monitoring your lake or pond you are taking an active role in ensuring the protection of your lake for the future. 

Co-Sponsors 

Waquoit Bay Reserve, Falmouth Pond Coalition,

Falmouth Water Stewards

Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

131 Waquoit Highway/Route 28

Waquoit, MA 02536

 

Questions? Contact: Kristen Weir, Coastal Training Program Coordinator This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.