[SEMCO] Press release

[Sue_Haley@nps.gov]

I'll try it this way. If I need to shorten it, let me know.

Cape Cod National Seashore News Release

Release date:           Immediate



Contact(s):       Sue Haley

Phone number:           508 255-3421

Date:September    3, 2002



Nature of the Cape Series at Cape Cod National Seashore


WATER, the universal element, will be the focus of this fall's "Nature =
of

the Cape" series presented by Cape Cod National Seashore.  This series =
of

lectures, workshops and field trips will be held Tuesday s at 1:30 PM

September 24th through October 8th at the Wellfleet Public Library.  No=


registration is required.



Arguably there is no other natural resource that is more integral to th=
e

future of Cape Cod than fresh water.  That is, water of a certain quali=
ty

and in sufficient quantity to sustain, or improve the quality of life f=
or

Cape residents and maintain natural ecosystems.  The condition of groun=
d

water on Cape Cod has far reaching effects on human health, the economy=
,

and the environment.  Current research indicates that water conditions =
on

the Outer Cape are being degraded, and that this effects, among other

things, the quality of drinking water, the health of swimming beaches, =
the

clarity of freshwater kettle ponds, the sustainability of vernal pools,=
 and

the vitality of the shellfishing and fishing industries.  "Understandin=
g

the processes by which water sustains these resources and how it can af=
fect

our quality of life helps lead to decisions that set the stage for

maintaining a healthy future for Cape Cod" said Superintendent Maria Bu=
rks.

"Our focus this fall, on water issues, aims to provide Outer Cape resid=
ents

with information about the connection between healthy water resources a=
nd

the health of our communities and national seashore resources."



Several guest speakers who have extensive experience in the community a=
nd

expertise in their fields, have been invited to present the various

sessions. Sessions include "Sustaining Cape Cod ? Focus on Water" by Er=
nest

Duquet, founder and past president of Cape Cod Center for Sustainabilit=
y,

"Groundwater Connection ? Kettle Ponds, Vernal Pools and Swamps", by Dr=
.

Betsy Colburn, Aquatic Ecologist & Bullard Fellow at Harvard Forest, an=
d "

Groundwater Connection ? Salt Marshes, Bays and Harbors " co-presented =
by

Dr. John Portnoy, Aquatic Ecologist, Cape Cod National Seashore and Car=
ol

Ridley, Executive Director, Pleasant Bay Alliance.


For the purpose of presenting a coordinated effort to focus attention o=
n
water issues, Massachusetts Audubon Society at Wellfleet Bay Wildlife
Sanctuary and Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve have work=
ed
closely with Cape Cod National Seashore, and will present a follow up
series, "Green Home 2002 ? Focus on Water". This series, which presents=

practical steps at home to address water issues, takes place Tuesday s =
at
1:00 PM at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (registration required)=

October 15th ? November 5th.

The Focus on Water series culminates with all three organizations
cosponsoring a Public Forum and Panel Discussion: "Facing the Facts ? W=
ater
Quality and Quantity on the Outer Cape", November 19th at 7:00 PM at th=
e
Wellfleet Elementary School.

For more information on this series, call (508) 255-1301 ext. 15 for Su=
e
Haley or ext. ___ for Amanda Smith.
Several guest speakers who have extensive experience in the community a=
nd

expertise in their fields, have been invited to present the various

sessions.  Sessions include "Sustaining Cape Cod ? Focus on Water" by

Ernest Duquet, founder and past president of Cape Cod Center for

Sustainability; "Groundwater Connection ? Kettle Ponds, Vernal Pools an=
d

Swamps," by Dr. Betsy Colburn, Aquatic Ecologist & Bullard Fellow at

Harvard Forest; and "Groundwater Connection ? Salt Marshes, Bays and

Harbors" co-presented by Dr. John Portnoy, Aquatic Ecologist, Cape Cod

National Seashore and Carol Ridley, Executive Director, Pleasant Bay

Alliance.



For the purpose of presenting a coordinated effort to focus attention o=
n

water issues, Massachusetts Audubon Society at Wellfleet Bay Wildlife

Sanctuary and Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve have work=
ed

closely with Cape Cod National Seashore, and will present a follow up

series, "Green Home 2002 ? Focus on Water."  This series, which present=
s

practical steps at home to address water issues, takes place Tuesday s =
at

1:00 PM at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (registration required)=


October 15th ? November 5th.



The Focus on Water series culminates with all three organizations

co-sponsoring a Public Forum and Panel Discussion: "Facing the Facts ?

Water Quality and Quantity on the Outer Cape," November 19th at 7:00 PM=
 at

the Wellfleet Elementary School.



For more information on this series, call (508) 255-1301 ext. 15 for Su=
e

Haley or ext. 11 for Amanda Smith.













=