Friends of Sengekontacket Inc.

President's Annual Report FY 2009

Events 

Agricultural Fair: The FOS display on beach litter was designed and built by Christina Miller and Jeanne Wells won three blue ribbons! This is Island-wide coverage and recognition for FOS! Congratulations to Christina and Jeanne.

Oar and Paddle:  This event was postponed by rain and rescheduled for September 6.

Martha’s Vineyard Magazine Awards - FOS again won Best Place on the Island to Kayak.

“Ponds in Peril”: This Program sponsored by the Vineyard Conservation Society about protecting Sengekontacket and the other Great Pond and held at the Oak Bluffs Sailing Camp Park was a great success. 

Water Alliance:  Jan Riley and Fred Hotchkiss have been attending meetings. I thank them for doing so. 

Beach events:  Annual beach grass planting in early spring brought out 100 volunteers.

Beach Clean-up (Earth) Day involved many volunteers.

Beach Programs  

Carry In / Carry Out - Thank you, Debbie Lewis for all your work on the contest and on the posters. This program promotes leaving no trash on the beach.  Many thanks to the FOS “Boys” who attached posters to poles with the new staple gun. 

Dog Stations:  Funded by FOS the dog stations at the pond seem to work well until mid-August when beach goers started leaving trash at Dog Stations.  Town of Oak Bluffs is now placing trash barrels at other Oak Bluffs beaches.  The Carry In / Carry Out approach is preferable since barrels attract vermin and other animals. 

The Balloon Wars continue: We still have to convince retailers and groups not to distribute balloons.  As noted in the Beach Litter display at the Ag Fair, balloons are very detrimental to shore birds. 

Finances  

Our financial situation is in good shape even in troubled times.  Recent audit gave positive results with praise for the organization and for our Treasurer for record-keeping.  Terry Appenzellar, Treasurer for many years, will step down from this office but will remain on FOS Board.  Her successor is Edward O’Melia.  While he is home in PA in winter, Deborah Lewis, Assistant Treasurer, will send bills, donations, and financial correspondence to Ed.  Thank you, Ed and Debbie to stepping up to this task.  Thank you, Terry, for your thorough, excellent work as Treasurer of the Board.

Testing 

We continue to test the waters of Sengekontacket.  Some samples have gone to the Tribe; however, major samples have been sent to the Lab at UNH for analysis.  Full results are unknown at present as are the costs of UNH testing.

Dredging

Plans for Dredging of Sengekontacket Pond in Oak Bluffs have stopped. The Wampanoag Tribe claim a Wampanoag Weir exists in the Pond and must be explored.  Sengekontacket has been dredged three or four times and no remains of a weir have been found previously.  The Tribe’s formal objection to the U.S. Government will delay the dredging for 180 days. Probable resumption of dredging is fall of 2010. Dredging bids by the Town of Oak Bluffs have been issued.

Other Issues

La Croix property, Boulevard, Ocean Heights, Edgartown. After at least five meetings and many letters, the Edgartown Conservation Commission deemed the property as a buildable lot even though the planned dwelling will be within feet of the salt marsh and Sengekontacket Pond. This is a disappointment.

Massachusetts Estuaries Project study for Sengekontacket has not yet arrived.  We have been waiting years for this report. This critical report may arrive in the spring of 2010. 

Some concerns for FY 2010

Major problem with the Pond is nitrogen loading from septic systems, run off, and acid rain.  What can FOS do about this?

Testing – are we testing for only one type of problem?

The Joint Committee on Sengekontacket – how does it compare with FOS Mission? Who is making decisions about the Pond?  How should FOS participate in an area where we have no direct control?

Jeremiah (Jerry) McCarthy

September 9, 2009