Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund supports regional water quality monitoring
Established in 2018, the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund (CCIWPF) helps Cape Cod towns pay for necessary wastewater infrastructure and water quality remediation projects. Over the years, the Fund has provided more than $200 million to support projects across the region, demonstrating a significant commitment to safeguarding water quality.
On January 13, 2025, the CCIWPF Management Board voted to approve funding for critical water quality monitoring programs, highlighting their connection to the Fund's mission. These programs aim to improve the understanding of both coastal and freshwater ecosystems, ensuring informed, science-based decision-making for the region.
The coastal water quality monitoring program, conducted by the Center for Coastal Studies for nearly two decades, has been instrumental in tracking changes in the waters surrounding Cape Cod, including Nantucket Sound, Cape Cod Bay, and eastern Buzzards Bay. The program collects baseline data on key environmental elements, enabling scientists and decision-makers to analyze trends and evaluate the health of these vital marine ecosystems.
Amy Costa, Director of the Water Quality Monitoring Program at the Center for Coastal Studies, noted that funding from the CCIWPF has fostered unprecedented collaboration among organizations monitoring water quality across Cape Cod. This collective effort has resulted in an extensive dataset encompassing nearly every coastal water body in the region.
The Regional Pond Monitoring Program, established in 2023, complements existing monitoring efforts by providing baseline data on the response of Cape Cod's diverse ponds to changing environmental conditions. This program, managed by the Cape Cod Commission and Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC), helps track seasonal and annual variations, offering critical insights into how ponds are affected by regional factors. Currently funded by Barnstable County as part of the Cape Cod Freshwater Initiative until March 2026, it aims to guide efforts to both preserve healthy ponds and restore those that are degraded.
During a presentation to the CCIWPF Management Board, APCC Executive Director Andrew Gottlieb emphasized that the program provides the foundation for developing strategies to manage ponds more effectively. "Once we begin addressing issues in freshwater systems, ongoing monitoring and analysis will ensure we are achieving the intended outcomes and help us identify any further steps required to improve water quality," Gottlieb explained.
Cape Cod Commission Deputy Director Erin Perry highlighted the importance of this work: "This monitoring supports adaptive management and planning in each town, and also ensures the Board can evaluate whether its investments are delivering long-term improvements in water quality." Perry also stressed the need for sustainable funding to maintain and expand data resources, ensuring accessibility of information for communities and stakeholders.
To support these efforts, the Board voted to approve increasing the annual set-aside for water quality monitoring to $1.5 million starting in FY26 and approved authorizing the Cape Cod Commission to issue Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and contract with responsive vendors for both coastal and freshwater monitoring programs, consistent with previously funded scopes of work. These contracts may include up to two optional one-year renewals, subject to funding appropriations.
These actions reflect the Management Board's commitment to advancing regional water quality initiatives and ensuring Cape Cod's waters remain a vital resource for generations to come.
