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Major water resources restoration project proposed on Cape CodFederal and local agencies to hold public meeting May 18th(HYANNIS, Mass.) April 25, 2005 – The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in partnership with the Cape Cod Conservation District and the Barnstable County Commissioners, is proposing a major water resources restoration project on Cape Cod. A public meeting to inform area residents about the project and seek public participation is scheduled for Wednesday, May 18th, 7:00 pm at the Yarmouth Senior Center, 528 Forest Road, South Yarmouth. According to the Cape Cod Conservation District, water quality is a major concern on Cape Cod because of development pressure. NRCS has inventoried 158 storm water discharge sites, 182 tidal-restricted salt marshes and 93 fish passages throughout Cape Cod for possible restoration. The 433 sites were previously identified by local and state agencies and organizations. “Shellfish beds on the Cape are often closed for extensive periods during the year because of poor water quality,” said Lee Davis, chair of the Cape Cod Conservation District. “Storm water runoff is a significant source of pollution. Salt marsh degradation and barriers that interfere with the migration of fish are also a concern.” The Cape Cod Water Resources Restoration Project will address these issues through NRCS's Small Watershed Program. The program, which targets watersheds less than 250,000 acres, uses comprehensive planning as well as technical and federal cost-share assistance to improve water quality in the watershed. “A watershed plan is now in development that includes conservation improvements to be implemented over a period of years,” said Donald Liptack, District Conservationist for the local NRCS office in Hyannis. “We need public input to ensure that the plan is physically, environmentally, socially and economically sound.” While the Cape Cod Conservation District and Barnstable County Commissioners are the lead sponsors of the project, a partnership of other federal, state and local agencies, as well as all Barnstable County towns is collaborating. NRCS will be the lead technical assistance agency. The public meeting will include presentations on the background and current
status of the project, as well as time for public questions and comments.
Informational materials will also be available. For more information, call the
Cape Cod Conservation District at 508-771-8757 or visit
http://capecodcd.org/.
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Media Contacts: Donald Liptack |
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