Oysters, anniversaries, & grant opportunities

Vol. 7: August 2025

In the news, above the fold

Friends Of Pleasant Bay Mark 40 Years

Of Conservation, Access, Research And Education

by Alan Pollock, Editor, Cape Cod Chronicle, July 30, 2025

PLEASANT BAY – The year was 1985, and Pleasant Bay — the pristine, 9,000-acre estuary that connects Orleans, Brewster, Harwich and Chatham — was under serious threat. Human activity, chiefly nutrient pollution from residential septic systems, was threatening water quality. Erosion, and the struggle to prevent it, were changing the shoreline. Beloved sailing camps had closed, opening the likelihood of a waterfront building boom. And the four towns lacked a plan for working together to protect the Bay. Read more.

A Once-in-a-40-Year Opportunity

Meet Our Moderator, Panelists & Special Guests

Thank You, Event Sponsors!

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our business sponsors—both longtime partners and new supporters—for championing the mission of Friends of Pleasant Bay. Their commitment helps protect this extraordinary ecosystem, fund vital programs, and ensure that future generations can enjoy and learn from the Bay. We are deeply grateful for their generosity. Please visit our website for a full list of sponsors here.

Volunteer Opps

Local cleanup coordinators wanted for COASTSWEEP 2025

From late August into November, thousands of volunteers in Massachusetts turn out for COASTSWEEP, the statewide beach cleanup sponsored by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM).

COASTSWEEP is part of the International Coastal Cleanup organized by the Ocean Conservancy, with participants from all over the world collecting trash and other marine debris and recording data to help reduce marine debris problems. In Massachusetts, local coordinators choose a cleanup location (beach, marsh, dive site, or riverbank), publicize the event locally, receive supplies and distribute materials to volunteers, oversee the cleanup, arrange for proper trash disposal, and ensure data are collected (either through the mobile app or on data cards)—all with support from CZM.

For more information on getting involved as a cleanup coordinator or volunteer for the Pleasant Bay estuary, see Sign Up to Volunteer for COASTSWEEP.

Events

Save the Dates! "Celebrate Our Waters" events to be held Sept. 13, 14

Orleans Pond Coalition's (OPC's) third and final edition of Celebrate Our Waters showcases Pleasant Bay, its profound beauty, and extraordinary assets. Six upcoming Pleasant Bay events offer something for everyone: 1) a kayak trip to Sampson Island; 2) a kayak trip from Arey's Pond to Orleans Conservation Trust's Namequoit Woods property; 3) sailing on Pleasant Bay with Pleasant Bay Community Boating; 4) a trip to Pochet Island from Nauset Beach; 5) a kayak trip to Sipson Island; and 6) a presentation by B.U. marine ecologist Alyssa Novak, Ph.D. about her research on eelgrass resilience in Pleasant Bay. Click here for more information and don't forget to Save the Dates!

Cape Cod Conservation Calendar

Looking for walks, talks, birding, and other programs around Pleasant Bay and elsewhere on the Cape? This month's calendar is chock full of activities for people of all ages, interests, and abilities.

Check out FoPB's Cape Cod Conservation Calendar here or click on the calendar to view.

Brewster Conservation Day 2025: A great day for trees & eelgrass

FoPB scientists, educators and board members were out in full force at Brewster Conservation Day 2025. Held on July 12 at Brewster's Sea Camps Bay Property, the event drew hundreds of families, visitors, and nonprofit partners to celebrate "Trees: Superheroes of the Natural World." FoPB's table featuring "Eelgrass: The Forest of the Ocean," had a continual stream of visitors of all ages. We hope you had fun, and look forward to seeing you again next year!

Grants, webinars & other brain food

FoPB Grants = Big Learning Opportunities for Your Students

For nearly 40 years, FoPB has encouraged innovative and educational projects centered on Pleasant Bay through an annual competitive grant program. The program is open to all schools in the towns of Chatham, Orleans, Harwich, Brewster, Nauset Regional District and Cape Cod Regional Technical School, and grant approval is based on proposed merit and project alignment with FoPB's mission. While the application period has closed for the 2025/2026 grant cycle, it's never too early to begin planning for next year; the new grant cycle opens in early 2026.

Educators are encouraged to join us for Friends of Pleasant Bay’s 40th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Meeting on August 7 to hear how past FoPB grant recipients, and grants, have made a difference for their students. To RSVP for the event, click here. For more information about our grants program, click here.

MassWildlife drafts 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan, seeks public comment

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife)'s Draft 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) for Massachusetts is ready for public review and comment.

An approved State Wildlife Action Plan is required by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to be eligible for State Wildlife Grants, a key federal funding source for states to conserve plants and animals of greatest conservation need and the habitats on which they rely. Participation by conservation partners and the public is critical to updating the SWAP and putting its recommendations into practice.

Public comments on the Draft 2025 SWAP will be accepted through Monday, August 18 using this online form or in writing by mail to: MassWildlife Re: SWAP Public Comment, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581.

MassWildlife hosted an information session in July to provide an overview of its revisions to the 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), demonstrate how the public can review its major components, and explain how to provide feedback.

MassWildlife developed its first State Wildlife Action Plan in 2005, updated it in 2015, and is sharing its draft revisions to the 2025 SWAP with some exciting new highlights.

View the Zoom presentation by MassWildlife's assistant director of Natural Heritage and Endangered Species, by clicking here.

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(More) volunteer opps

We want YOU! (Photographers, that is!)

Are you attending our 40th Anniversary/Annual Meeting on August 7th, and an enthusiastic photographer? If so, please consider being one of several "roving photographers" during the event. While enjoying the event yourself, you would simply snap some candids and/or posed photos of reception guests, panelists, audience members, and special guests for use in our newsletters and website. Interested? Let's talk! Email Fran Schofield to learn how you might help!

Oysters are natural water filters & an important hedge against climate change

Oysters. They might be best known as a local delicacy, but oysters are also some of the hardest-working creatures in Pleasant Bay. These humble bivalves quietly improve water quality, build habitat, and even help fight climate change—one filter-feeding gulp at a time.

One Oyster, 50 Gallons: A single adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day. As they feed, oysters draw in water, trap particles of nitrogen, algae, and sediment, and expel cleaner water back into the Bay. This improves water clarity and helps prevent harmful algal blooms.

Nature’s Nitrogen Reducers: Excess nitrogen from fertilizers and septic systems threatens the health of Pleasant Bay. Oysters naturally remove nitrogen from the water column, making them a valuable ally in keeping the ecosystem in balance.

Habitat Builders: Oysters don’t just clean water—they also build reef structures that offer shelter for fish, crabs, and other marine life. These reefs help stabilize sediments and can even reduce shoreline erosion by buffering wave energy.

Oysters in Pleasant Bay: Communities around Pleasant Bay, including Chatham and Orleans, are investing in shellfish restoration and oyster aquaculture as part of their long-term water quality and climate resilience strategies.

Science and Stewardship: Friends of Pleasant Bay supports water quality research and environmental protection efforts that complement the services oysters provide. A cleaner bay means a healthier future for shellfish, wildlife, and all who enjoy this remarkable estuary.