Newsletter: November 2025

The fall/winter 2025 issue opens with President Maggie Megaw's letter on CPWB's revised mission statement and its shift toward advocacy: support for new-construction septic rules in Falmouth that take effect November 15, a push on the algal mats in Waquoit Bay, and a letter backing a refundable Title 5 septic tax credit. Inside are a report on the August 12 annual meeting with the Falmouth Water Quality Management Committee's chair and a MASSTC project assistant, a tour of the MASSTC septic test center, and news that the urine diversion pilot has its grant. Other pieces cover new board members, a wildflower yard on Collins Road, Mashpee's wastewater votes, the first Local Politics 101 column on Town Meeting, a remembrance of former president Matt Patrick, winter oyster harvesting, upcoming Waquoit Bay Reserve programs and CPWB's year-end appeal.

In this issue

• From the President
  Maggie Megaw on the new mission statement, CPWB's growing advocacy (septic code change effective November 15, algal mats, refundable septic tax credit bill H.4082) and plans for the Martin Road stormwater site.
• Meet some of our new board members
  Profiles of Tim Martin, Glenn McCarthy and Hannah Werdmuller, voted onto the Board at the summer annual meeting.
• You too can make a difference
  Bobye Anderson on why to skip lawn chemicals, and on Paul Henriksen's low-care wildflower meadow yard on Collins Road in Waquoit.
• Leave the leaves for our pollinators
  A fall tip from Soares Flower Garden Nursery: keep leaves in outer beds and leave perennial stalks standing for overwintering pollinators and birds.
• Annual meeting, August 12, 2025
  Pam Biscoe reports on the meeting: Rick Otis's retirement, new president Maggie Megaw, and a conversation on Falmouth's watershed plan, septic options, financing and urine diversion.
• Urine diversion pilot project: volunteers sought
  MASSTC's nearly $417,000 state grant will fund urine diversion systems in 25 homes starting in 2026, with priority for Waquoit Bay area watersheds.
• Red Brook community engagement meeting
  Patty Waltner on the July 31 meeting about the Red Brook Road culvert failure and the brook's declining water quality, with a follow-up expected before year's end.
• Mashpee Town Meeting
  Michaela Wyman-Colombo on Mashpee voters' support for a cluster wastewater system north of Mashpee-Wakeby Pond and the town's search for a treatment plant site.
• Residential wastewater options
  CPWB and the Falmouth Pond Coalition are preparing an online Homeowner's Guide to Residential Wastewater Options, and the issue lists the questions it will answer.
• Oyster harvesting on Waquoit Bay
  Lisa Bonneau's guide to the winter season: permits, the November 1 to March 31 dates, the weekly peck limit, size limit and which areas were open at press time.
• MASSTC tour, September 12, 2025
  Lisa Bonneau on a CPWB member field trip to the septic system test center, including composting toilets, nitrogen-removing systems and urine-derived fertilizer test cells.
• Politics 101: Town Meeting
  The first Local Politics 101 column explains Town Meeting in Falmouth and Mashpee, the Warrant, Articles, how to become a member, and a plea to Precinct 7 voters.
• Remembrance of Matt Patrick
  Winthrop Munro and Maggie Megaw remember the former CPWB president and legislator who died July 19, and his work on the Quashnet watershed and alternative wastewater approaches.
• Programs at Waquoit Bay Reserve
  A Quashnet River hike on November 28, a Holiday Open House on December 6 and a First Day Hike at South Cape Beach on January 1, 2026.
• 2025 fundraising appeal
  CPWB asks for year-end gifts as it plans new projects for the Bay; a $35 donation makes you a member.