Michaela’s Letter to the Mashpee Enterprise April 24, 2026

The Town of Mashpee is entering a busy period. With spring here, many folks are attending youth sports and cleaning up after winter. Town government is also busy. The Town Warrant is out; Town Meeting is May 4, the special election is May 9, and early voting runs from April 27 to May 1.

Mashpee voters will decide on several important warrant and ballot items. While I support many of these, given the word limitations for letters to the editor I focus on one item that appears on both the warrant and the ballot and is critical to the health of the Town.

I strongly support the proposed wastewater facility and collection system in Waquoit Bay (Article 4, Ballot Question 3). Recent history shows that Mashpee voters have overwhelmingly supported water quality initiatives. As a result, once Phases 1, 2, and the Mashpee-Wakeby cluster system are fully operational, the Town will prevent 46% of nitrogen from reaching Popponesset Bay. This is an important accomplishment and one of which Mashpee voters should be proud.

Mashpee, however, has two watersheds: Popponesset Bay and Waquoit Bay. While we’ve made considerable progress in the Popponesset Bay watershed, nitrogen pollution in the Waquoit Bay watershed is still unaddressed and nutrients from Title V septic systems continue to severely degrade its waters.

Article 4 and Ballot Question 3 allocate $12 million for the design of a wastewater facility and collection system to sewer about 1,050 homes in the Waquoit Bay watershed. Once operational, this project will prevent nitrogen from entering the watershed by 30%, prevent phosphorus from reaching Johns and Ashumet Ponds, and reduce nutrient pollution in the Quashnet River.

Building and designing wastewater treatment systems is costly, which leads some residents to wonder why the project is happening now. The reality is that protecting the health of Mashpee's bays, ponds, and rivers is essential for both the community and local tourism economy. Also, the Town is required by the state to reduce nitrogen levels in both its watersheds by 75% within the next two decades. With costs rising everywhere, moving forward with this project now is more affordable than delaying it. In addition, current SRF financing at 0% interest and a 28.3% principal forgiveness from the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund and the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust help lower expenses significantly.

Now is the time to address water quality in Waquoit Bay, Johns and Ashumet Ponds, and the Quashnet River. Financially, it's smart to move forward now with the significant taxpayer savings through SRF and the Clean Water Trust.

Please join me at Town Meeting to vote yes on Article 4 and then vote yes for Question 3 on the ballot. It will require both votes to pass and begin to restore Waquoit watershed.