Obituary--Pogo Possum run over by off highway vehicle at Hawksnest

Pogo Possum, a cartoon personality and one of the last surviving members of the “Okefenokee Eleven,” died December 5. Mr. Possum brought blue-eyed cheer and soft satire to millions of Americans during the dark years of the Cold War and the McCarthy Era. He was 66--an exceptionally advanced age for a marsupial. He died the victim of an apparent hit-and-run accident on Hawksnest Road.

In a bizarre turn of events, a hiker spotted his flattened body in the middle of the possum crossing, and took a cell phone photo, running off to summon the Harwich animal body detail. But when they arrived, the remains had disappeared, leaving only a furry grease spot on the road. After several days of deliberation, the Cartoon Coroner pronounced him “out of print.” The SPCA is conducting an investigation.

Accident scene--the cell phone photo

Possum began work in the cartoon industry in 1943, soon growing into the rounder, baby-faced contours of Disney characters. He was famous for introducing political and social satire into comics. But satire led to his phone being tapped by the FBI, and some officials wondered whether the whimsical banter of Pogo and his friends was a code produced by Russian spies.  More

Pogo and his gang of Okefenokee misfits portrayed an ideal southern society, without species divisions.

His increasing popularity led to an unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 1952. His campaign slogan, “I go Pogo,” became an expression of protest. Perhaps the most famous quotation attributed to Mr. Possum is: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

Possum’s longtime friend, Churchy LaFemme said: “That quote says it all… about why our ponds are in trouble.”

Churchy LaFemme was last seen headed south.

"This park ain't safe for critters, because of the OHVs."

In his later years, controversy swirled around his name, while partisans all but forgot the old marsupial himself. Legally, it’s Possum, but the National Association of Taxonomists long championed Opossum, while the Society of English Teachers campaigned for ‘Possum ( the apostrophe to signify the missing “O”). Meanwhile, the Irish claimed it was O’Possum. Next, proponents of Intelligent Design argued that, since opossums hadn’t changed in 60 million years, that meant evolution was dead.

Possum was close to his father, Walt Kelly, and after Kelly’s death in 1973, Pogo entered decline. Possum moved to New Orleans, where locals failed to appreciated his gentle wit.

With the destruction from Hurricane Katrina, Possum became a refugee, eventually moving to Hawksnest State Park, where he established residence in hollow tree #190.

Home at Hawksnest

Bucky Badger, who came summers from Wisconsin, is one of the few who knew Possum during his last years in Cape Cod.  The two used to visit the Chatham Bars Inn after closing time, drinking leftover beer from discarded cups. Badger said, “He wasn’t very talkative… he’d just lean back against that wall, there, and look up at the sky. Kind of sad. He used to be even more famous… than I am. And now, he’s just a... varmint."

Some say Possum moved here with high hopes of starting a casino. According to Badger, Possum said: “We marsupials aren’t bound by any treaties. We’re the Original Americans--we’ve been here 12 million years, and I think that gives us some rights.” Possum thought there was enough traffic on Rte. 137 to support a small casino in a hollow tree. Badger said, "It's ironic that the same traffic he dreamed about for the casino--that traffic’s what done him in.”

In recent weeks, neighbors say Possum was despondent over plans by State Legislators to cut DCR funding even more. And Possum was also grieving for some distant relatives who perished when the State illegally cut the Zimmer Tract, land given the Mass. DCR to safeguard.  Churchy said:  “I think he just lost heart. Probably just stepped in front of a that vehicle, if you know what I mean."

Despondent over cutting of the Zimmer Tract by DCR

Possum leaves no known survivors, although he is rumored to have many half siblings from his father’s days in the Disney Studios and Dell Comics. His stepmother Selby Kelly died in 2005, after several attempts to revive Possum’s following.

Neighbors of Hawksnest regret not knowing about the illustrious old marsupial living in their midst. They have pledged to remember Possum by joining Friends of Hawksnest State Park. 

Park neighbor Liz McBride said, “Posthumously, he‘s still the Protest Possum.  People are going to rally to protest neglect of the park by the State."  The funeral date is to be announced. Thousands are expected.

Tiptoeing over the trash at the Round Cove Rd. parking area. Ouch.

All drawings except Bucky copyright by Walt Kelly, used here under "fair use" provision of law. Photos copyright by David Thompson

A tale of two lakes

Lake Mendota, with Wisconsin state capitol in rear

Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, is famous for its lakes.  But while they look great on post cards, the reality is not so nice.  Recently, Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources has been trying to revise the shoreland zoning rules--with much controversy.  Business groups are howling that property owners are going to lose their property rights. 

L. Mendota: shoreland development, and muddy runoff from a storm

We should start a "Sister Lakes" organization, because the two lakes have a lot to teach one another. Lake Mendota has slipped a long way down that road towards senility (eutrophication), while Hawksnest is still young and pristine. So Hawksnest can teach people in Wisconsin what pure water is like, and how to get there.

Hawksnest is so pure you can see right to the bottom from a canoe. When I was a kid living on its shore, I could drink the water as I swam. And yet it was warm enough for comfortable swimming. You'd come back from a swim cleaner than you went in (now a radical idea in Wisconsin). The bottom is sandy, not mucky--there are no weeds to tangle your legs.

That's why I'm a crusader for water quality. I've experienced pure water, and I can't forget what it's like.

Shore vegetation and sandy soil filter water going into Hawksnest

And what does Lake Mendota have to teach Hawksnest?

Sadly, it's a warning. People who visit Hawksnest are oblivious to its rare value, take it for granted, and are hell-bent on abusing till it becomes just like Lake Mendota.

If Hawksnest could give some sisterly advice to Mendota, she would say: "Look at my shore. Everywhere it's clothed in vegetation. Not a drop of rainwater gets into my body--unless if falls on my face, or flows through the ground, or flows through my "skin" of shoreland plants. I need my shoreland zone. Puncture that, and I'll start to die."

A pond starting to die?  Off-highway vehicle abuse at Hawksnest.

Click here for more about water problems of Lake Mendota and Madison, WI.

All-terrain vehicles--a danger for kids

Illegal ATV at Myles Standish State Forest

"In the $5 billion market for A.T.V.’s, the skyrocketing growth of Chinese imports is becoming the latest challenge for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is starting a global campaign to improve the safety of a product that kills more people — about 900 a year — than any of the 15,000 other products the commission regulates."

"On average, the commission reports, more than 100 children are killed each year in A.T.V. accidents, and 40,000 more are sent to the emergency room."

“'A.T.V.’s have been killing and maiming for years,' said Sue Rabe, who helped found Concerned Families for ATV Safety, after her 10-year-old son was killed when the A.T.V. he was driving rolled over and fell on him."  See the whole article at the New York Times, 11/23/09.

Off road vehicles are illegal at Hawksnest State Park and have caused serious damage.  Report any off-road use by dirt bikes, ATVs, or regular vehicles to ParkWatch: 866-759-2824.

At Myles Standish State Forest, the ATVs have been showing up in groups of 30 or 40.  To prevent that from happening at Hawksnest, we have to show that there's ZERO tolerance for ATVs here.

"State Betrays Family's Trust, Cuts Down Trees"

"One family's trust has been betrayed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the state agency in charge of protecting forests and parks, Team 5 Investigates reported Friday."  

See the full story here about how the natural values of the "Hel, Arl, Jo & Ray Zimmer Tract" of forest were destroyed by the Massachusetts DCR.  When the forest was given to the state by the Zimnmer family, they never intended that the trees would be cut. 

This story will air on TV again next Monday between 5:30 and 6:00 pm. on WCBV, Channel 5, Boston.

I'll elaborate on this story in the next few days. 

Of ponds and puddles

Hawksnest State Park has some very nasty puddles.  There's the Godzilla Puddle just above the beach at Hawksnest Pond.   If that puddle rises only a foot more, it will break through to the pond.  When this happens, muddy runoff from the parking lot, and from Round Cove Road will be able to run into the pond.  Goodbye crystalline waters.

"Godzilla Puddle" at Hawksnest, with abusing off-road vehicle. Why does the puddle last?

The Mystery
Cape Cod has very sandy soil, thanks to the glaciers.  Standing water quickly sinks into the porous sand... right?  So the puddles should disappear shortly after a rain.  But that's not the case at Hawksnest, where puddles in the road, along with Godzilla Puddle, persist for weeks.  Why doesn't the water sink in?  It's a mystery!

Solving this mystery could reveal some fascinating things about the lives of ponds.

Clue #1
In the spring and early summer, pines of the Cape release vast quantities of pollen.  It settles on the ponds, and is blown by the wind, where it collects on the beach.  Sometimes you can find up to an inch of beautiful golden pollen on the shore.  As a child digging in the sand, sometimes I would find a layer of golden pollen burried an inch or two deep under the sand.

Pollen scum on a puddle--beautiful and complex

What does pollen have to do with puddles?  Pollen falls on Round Cove Road.  Long stretches of road collect pollen and concentrate it in puddles.  Pollen is microscopic--it clogs the pores between the grains of sand.  So the pollen (and other organic debris) acts like clay, lining the puddles, and making the bottom watertight.  That's why Hawksnest puddles last forever.

OK, hold on, I'm getting to the pond connection.  

Clue #2
There's a curious thing about Hawksnest Pond.  Hawksnest is deep, and unlike the mucky ponds on either side, has few pond lilies or other aquatic plants.  The bottom is sandy, not mucky.  But one spot on Hawksnest has a mucky bottom with lots of aquatic vegetation--that's the cove--the beak of the hawk that gave Hawksnest its name.

The tip of the cove in Hawksnest Pond (green, lower left) is the only mucky part of the pond. source

This part of Hawksnest has lots of decayed organic matter.   But how did that muck get to the cove, and only to the cove?  There are no streams to wash organic stuff into the pond.

"Elementary, my dear Watson"
My guess is that the muck in the cove came from pollen and leaves and anything else that could be blown there.  The cove is on the NE side of the pond, just the place where the prevailing SW winds would blow floating organic matter.

Getting back to Godzilla Puddle
There's a lot of pollen and other muck in that puddle.  If it finally breaks through to the lake, all that muck is is headed for the pond.  Goodbye water quality.  Pollen is natural, but it does contribute to the eutrophication (fertilizing) of the pond, as we see in the cove.  When Godzilla Puddle breaks through, Hawksnest Pond will receive a lot more pollen and other debris, every time it rains.

This little mystery illustrates how Hawksnest State Park, with its three different ponds, could be an ideal laboratory for children from surrounding schools.  Children love puddles... and ponds.

Children playing in a puddle covered with pollen. Better than TV.

What you can do

Write Jon Peterson and ask him to fix this puddle, and to post signs delimiting parking ASAP, before the puddle breaks through!  It's more than a puddle--we're talking about an eroding road and eroding parking lot, all of which are about to drain into the pond.

Jon Peterson

Supervisor, Nickerson State Park

3488 Main St., Rte. 6A

Brewster, MA  02631-1521  

508-896-3491

A cry for help...Godzilla Puddle says: "Help me, before I kill a pond!"

Threatened Hawksnest Pond is just behind the puddle.

Help Friends of Hawksnest Stop Illegal Off-Highway Vehicle Use

Hawksnest State Park (HSP) trails are closed to all motor vehicles except those used for management by Conservation (DCR) employees. There should be signs posted at all roads leading into the forest, and at trailheads informing the public that Hawksnest trails are closed to motorized vehicles--but at present there are only about two signs.

Off-highway vehicles (OHV) are also banned from Hawksnest Road (if they are unlicensed) because it is a county road.  Driving on the beach is illegal and especially damaging because it destroys rare plants and the vegetation essential to maintaining water quality.

Despite this, OHVs regularly enter the forest from the public roads and abutting properties. They have damaged trails intended for use by hikers, equestrians and mountain bike riders, created nuisance noise, and endangered other users. Reckless OHV riders have destroyed Plymouth gentian and caused serious erosion of a path to the beach.

Parking outside established areas, close to the beach, is one form of illegal OHV use.  Signs are needed to indicate where parking is legal.

You can help by reporting information that will be logged and used to gather evidence for identification and prosecution of OHV operators and for guiding official efforts.

 Please report the following information to Harwich Police by phone, or call the toll-free 24-hour of the Environmental Police Dispatch Center at 1-800-632-8075:

1. The time, date and approximate location of the sighting as precisely as you can describe it;
2. The number and type of OHV’s along with any descriptions of machines and operators;
3. Direction of travel of the machines when sighted;
4. Any other information or ideas you have which may be useful in determining where the OHV’s came from or went to;
5. The identities of the operators, if known.  Take photos!

Please do not confront violators. We want to stress that it is the job of the DCR Rangers, Environmental Police and other law enforcement officers to confront violators.

Thank you for your help.
Friends of Hawksnest State Park

Are new trails a priority at Hawksnest?

Recently I learned about plans for a trail around Oliver Pond in Hawksnest State Park.  I understand that this plan died when residents on Round Cove Road objected.  They said there were already nice places to walk, such as the lovely and rustic Hawksnest Road.

Oliver Pond-- The south shore in on the left

Trails exist along the north sides of both Hawksnest and Oliver Ponds.  One can easily circumnavigate Hawksnest Pond if you use the trail, plus Hawksnest Road and Round Cove Road.   But there's one problem with this route--it requires a trespass on private property when you cross the isthmus between Black and Hawksnest Ponds.  And this isthmus, home of the Plymouth gentian, is very sensitive ecologically.  Perhaps that's why instead a trail was proposed along the south side of Oliver Pond--so you could walk all around at least one of the ponds.

But the question remains and will come up again--is there any need for new trails?   Perhaps the question should be rephrased: "Are new trails a priority now?"

Given the serious problems at Hawksnest that I've listed elsewhere, I don't think trail construction is a priority now.  We need to get the existing system of trails marked and under control, which means:

• Eliminating ORVs
• Designating which are for horses and which are foot travel only
• Limiting beach access (maybe closing some trails) when water levels are low, to protect the shoreline

While ORV abuse is still a problem, building more trails just creates more places to abuse. And key to any discussion of trails is: "How can we protect the fragile shoreline vegetation?"  This is essential to protecting water quality. 

For example, the long trail that now leads from Round Cove Road to the beach, starting about midway between the four corners and the parking lot, should probably be closed.  There are several reasons:

• This trail heads straight downhill--overuse will surely lead to a gully forming that will channel runoff into the pond. 
• More use of this area will also lead to out-of-control parking.  People who use the beach there will park there.
• When water levels are low, having several trails to the beach invites horses and ORVs to go along the beach from this trail to the other--a route that damages the shoreline.

This trail, from Round Cove Rd to the shore of Hawksnest, should be closed to protect the shoreline. Note the ORV or bicycle track leading to it.

When the time comes to build more trails, we should be very thoughtful about any that would provide access to the beach, the most fragile part of Hawksnest. 

Here's another priority I would rate higher than building new trails--saving Hawksnest Road from development.  The rustic Hawksnest Road (Seth Whitfield Rd) is designated as a county road.  Hence at any time it could be widened or paved--and it goes right through the heart of the park.   Already the south end is being widened.   We can always create new trails in Hawksnest Park some time in the future.  But once Hawksnest Road is ruined, a great and historic place for walking is destroyed.

Hawksnest Road, great for hiking, is threatened.

And, what about promoting Hawksnest trails in a regional trail guide?  That's like offering a drink to an alcoholic.  First get the existing trails and visitation under control.  Then you can promote them.

Which future for Hawksnest?

Will we see this sign, sometime in the future, at Hawksnest Pond?

............................................................................

Public Health Notice
Due to a toxic algae bloom

Documented by the University of Massachusetts

Individuals and animals

Should not wade or swim or otherwise use Hawksnest Pond

until further notice

Harwich Health Department

............................................................................

 

You'd think ponds on Nantucket would be safe, with the island so far out in the ocean.  But no.  Look what's happening to Hummock Pond...

Photo, thanks to permission from The Nantucket Independent

Read more about how septic system runoff is harming Hummock Pond.  We can prevent this from happening at Hawksnest, if we act together now.

At Long Pond, in 2007 they were proposing alum treatment to stop the algae blooms and fish kills.  The treatment was to cost $420,000--yet they didn't even have a management plan for how to prevent the nutrients from accumulating again.  Just think what we could do with $420,000 spent on prevention of the problem, instead of closing the barn door after the horse has escaped.

At Hawksnest, let's spend a little now on prevention, before the problem occurs.

I'm involved at Hawksnest, because I've seen where we could be headed.  I now live in southern Wisconsin, where most of our lakes and ponds are sick, like the ones in the aerial photos below:

Runoff after a storm dumps sediment and nutrients into Lake Mendota. This is now starting to happen on a small scale at Hawksnest Pond.

The nutrients from storm runoff and from septic systems lead to algae blooms.  Once this happens, most nutrients stay put.  The lake cannot be cured.  This disease of lakes is called "eutrophication."

Some of our small ponds get this bad, covered with duckweed.

So, Harwich, which kind of pond do you prefer?

The three examples above...?  or, Hawksnest as it still is...

Get involved now. Help organize a friends group for Hawksnest.

Group to protect Hawksnest State Park meets with state officials

For Immediate Release

On October 13, a representative from the newly formed “Friends of Hawksnest State Park” met with State officials to inspect damage to the park. The park includes three undeveloped ponds, and is located in East Harwich. Hawksnest is administered by personnel at Nickerson State Park, but other than a few signs and infrequent pickup of illegal dumpings, the park has been neglected.

The officials viewed serious erosion at the Round Cove Road parking area, where most people enter the park. A large gully has formed, channeling runoff from the road and parking lot into the pond. Ashes from illegal campfires, and waste from humans, dogs, and horses threatens to pollute the pristine pond, known for its clear waters. Hoof prints were observed on the beach, close to where the rare Plymouth gentian sometimes blooms.

History at Hawksnest State Park

While Hawksnest is mostly forest and ponds, there are many signs of former human activity  Here's an initial attempt to list some of the area's historical assets.

Duck Hunting

Duck-hunting camps date back to the late 1800s and early in the 1900s.  Hawksnest Camp, established in 1925,  is still occupied.  At least three other camps existed: one on the isthmus between Black and Hawksnest ponds (now a ruin), one at the Round Cove Rd. parking area (now removed, Thompson family), and one at the Walker Rd. parking area (now removed, Bell family).

Above: Ruins of a duck hunting camp on the isthmus

Hawksnest Camp, established 1925--the only cabin on the pond

When the Thompsons came to Hawksnest in the early 1950s, the camp at the end of Round Cove Road was a one-room cabin with a field stone fireplace, perhaps with a kitchen and bathroom.  It was owned by the Boy Scouts.  There were old calendars showing ducks in a primitive style, by Pope.  The Thompsons added running water, a sleeping porch, a deck, landscaping, and later, built a guest house (where the concrete platform remains).  The Thompsons founded Hawksnest State Park.  There were no other houses on the entire length of Round Cove Road, west of 137.

The Bells were an old couple from Boston.  In the 1950s, Hawksnest was very secluded.  The Bells had a vegetable garden near their cabin, and Mr. Bell, a tall, slightly stooped old man with white hair and a bushy white mustache, used to do his gardening in his underwear--or less.  So you had to loudly announce your presence if you went calling on the Bells.

After the Thompson and Bell lands were sold to the State, their two beautiful cabins were allowed to fall down, whereupon the State removed the remains.  When the Bell cabin remains were carried away, staff found a curious home-made insulation within the walls--sea weed stuffed into "pillows" of brown paper.  It was probably made locally, and I presume used the seaweed with the little air bubbles.

A famous folk-artist
A.E.Crowell is the most famous carver of decoys and decorative bird statues in America.  Two of his carvings sold for over a million dollars.  Mr. Crowell's workshop was on Orleans Rd. in East Harwich, and in 2008 was slated for a move to Sandwich, where it was going to be restored for $4 million. Apparently there was little interest in the old workshop in Harwich.

Crowell began making decoys for duck hunters, then managed a hunting camp--but as his talent began to shine, he made a living of carving and carved more works of pure art.  His bird carvings are so life-like you could mistake them for a live bird, and are found in many top museums.  More on Crowell.

Agriculture
The Walker Farm is located on the north side of Walker Road, looking down across an old field onto Walker Pond.  When I was a boy in the 1950s, the building was still standing though in shambles, and the field was still open. 

The fields of the Walker Farm have nearly returned to nature

Elsewhere around the park, there are numerous signs of old activity in the woods, which must have been fields at one time.  The old deeds refer to ditches and stone walls as property boundaries.  Oliver Pond shows the most signs of activity: there are old diggings on the north side, an old road coming down to the pond on the east side, and roads and ditches on the south side bluff. 

Old road to E end of Oliver Pond

Furrow on uplands S of Oliver Pond--an old boundary or path?

There is an old cranberry bog near the Walker Road parking area.

At the NE corner of SR 39-137, there was a small farm operated by Mr. Nickerson in the 1950s.  He grew vegetables and corn.  The fields came nearly to the south side of Round Cove Rd.

Old Roads

Seth Whitfield County Road (Hawksnest Rd.) runs mostly north-south, and bisects the northern portion of the park.  I'm told it goes back hundreds of years, and it's connection between Long Pond and Queen Ann road (also very old) also suggests an early origin.  The road still looks just as it did 50 years ago, and ought to be preserved in this same rustic condition.  However, it was recently widened at the southern end, showing its vulnerability.

Seth Whitfield County Road is rustic but endangered

When the park began, except for Round Cove Road (and it's former extension to the isthmus cabin), Seth Whitfield Road, and Walker Road, there were no roads or trails in the park.  I believe that the several trails that now ring the ponds or go down to the ponds, were cut by equestrians after the park was established.  (Excepting, of course, for the two short trails that led from the two parking lots to the beach.)

Cemeteries
The Head of the Bay Cemetery is just across Walker Rd. from the NW end of the park--indicating there were probably farms in the area.  See the list of names on gravestones here.

Head of the Bay Cemetery in Eash Harwich, at the edge of Hawksnest State Park

Off-Road Vehicles at Hawksnest

"Illegal off-road vehicle activity is damaging sensitive lands, including wetlands and rare species habitats, all across the state,” said E. Heidi Ricci, senior policy analyst at the Massachusetts Audubon Society and a member of DCR's working group on the problem.

Rare spotted turtle killed by ORV (source)

Off road vehicles (ORVs) have been a serious problem at Hawksnest for many years:

• ORVs started the gully at the Round Cove Rd. parking lot
• Lack of limits to the parking area allow 4x4 vehicles to drive nearly to the beach, worsening the erosion.
• ORVs have enlarged and damaged some of the trails
• When the pond level drops, ORVs ride around the pond on the beach, threatening the Plymouth gentian flowers.  Water levels are now nearly low enough to allow this.
• Concerns about conflict with equestrians led to posting of "no motorized vehicle" signs on horse trails

At Hawksnest, vehicles drive off-road to the beach, causing serious erosion.

Report ORV's!
ORVs are not allowed at Hawksnest State Park.  And especially, they ae not allowed on the beach.  Click here for regulations.  Call 1-866-PK-WATCH (866-759-2824).  DCR Rangers answer the hotline 24/7. The dispatcher will contact the appropriate agency AND keep a record of every call, which will help in enforcement planning.  Next, call Harwich Police, to increase their awareness. 

The "Friends Network" has a campaign against ORVs.  Click here to find out more.

The "Friends Network"

As the Friends of Hawksnest State Park starts up, we have some important support from the "Friends Network."  Here's some info from their website:

"Massachusetts Forest and Park Friends Network is an independent grassroots organization of volunteer "friends groups" working together to better protect and enhance Massachusetts’ state forests and urban parks. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) oversees 259 properties in Massachusetts. Currently only about 34 friends groups serve particular forests and parks. Our goal is to see a strong friends group in every forest and park in the Commonwealth. "

"If you do not belong to a friends group, consider joining one or starting one. We are here to help! If you do belong to a friends group, please join us. We need your expertise to help guide new friends groups. If you are a friend to a non DCR property, you can still join as a "Friend of the Friends Network".
Click here for more information about  the Friends Network or a membership form.

Status Report--Hawksnest Oct. 2009

On Oct. 13, I visited Hawknest with staff from Mass. DCR.  In brief, here's what we found:

• Litter was the worst I have ever seen it, including two mufflers from cars.
• Erosion in the Round Cove Rd. parking area is worse compared to July. Especially, erosion along the trail down to the beach (caused by vehicles) is worse.
• A new residential development is underway on the park border at the south end of Seth Whitfield Rd.  The road has been substantially widened.
• The level of Hawksnest Pond has dropped substantially, and the beach is beginning to emerge.  Horse footprints are visible on the beach in the area where Plymouth gentian has grown.   If the drop continues a bit more, then ATVs and horses will be able to ride around the pond.

The officials present were dismayed by what they saw, and promised improvement.  More on my next post.

Traffic safety and Hawksnest

This summer, I watched as revelers at Hawksnest dragged a drunken comrade to their car. They tossed a beer can out the window as they drove away. Probably they were headed for the 39-137 intersection.

"The intersection of Route 39 and Route 137 in East Harwich is a high accident location showing 24 crashes in the years 1998 through 2000. The town took steps in 2000 to improve safety at this intersection including intersection widening, turning lanes,and signal improvements which are now complete." Reference

The State Conservation Rangers clearly have jurisdiction, but there are only two for the whole Cape. State Police...?? Nickerson State Park is understaffed, at some distance, and their unarmed rangers don't have arrest powers.  That leaves Harwich Police. They'd have plenty of moral authority at Hawksnest. For my dollar, Harwich police are responsible for policing parties at Hawksnest.

If Harwich is concerned about safety at the intersection, why aren't they policing Hawksnest, where alcohol consumption is illegal, and the park closes at 8:00 pm in the summer?  At present, the Round Cove Rd parking area is a lawless zone.

The Box Turtle and Hawksnest

The Eastern box turtle is listed as a "species of special concern" in Massachusetts. This means that it's illegal to "take" the turtle. "Taking" includes a variety of actions that might interfere with the welfare of the species.

Recently, a 15-acre development in Sandwich was blocked until a plan could be worked out to safeguard the turtle. By reserving 70% of the development's area as turtle habitat, plus planning for extreme protections for the turtles during construction, the development was able to secure a permit to go ahead. More. Still more

Hawksnest State Park and surrounding undeveloped lands seem like ideal habitat for the turtle--although it is not officially designated at turtle habitat. Except for Route 6, there are few highways nearby. However, habitat fragmentation and danger from vehicles remain major threats to the species.

The new development on Hawksnest (Seth Whitfield) Road threatens the turtle from construction activities, from habitat fragmentation, and from the increased road traffic that will result.

Hawksnest is an incomplete state park. Not only has it been sadly neglected in maintenance, but it needs more land added to become a viable conservation unit. There are two portions of the shoreline of Hawksnest Pond that are still not within park boundaries.

Hawksnest and the lands surrounding it are valued by the community--it was identified as a "Heritage Landscape" in a community meeting, and was designated a District of Critical Planning Concern (The Six Ponds District). The undeveloped, private lands around Hawksnest serve as a sort of buffer zone, and they also represent the last opportunity to add new land to the park. That's why it's sad that the new development on Hawksnest road is underway--its a sign that opportunities to complete Hawksnest Park are closing.

The new development also points out the danger from Seth Whitfield Road. The north half of Hawksnest State Park is habitat for several endangered species.  Although the road bisects the north portion of the park, the road is outside the control of park management. At any time, the county could decide to pave the road for the convenience of a few local residents. Then the road would fragment Hawksnest habitat, and become a "killing zone" for box turtles and other wildlife.

So, let's add more lands to Hawksnest while there's still time, and work to remove the northern portion of Seth Whitfield Rd. from the county system.

Local legal tools that may apply here

• District of Critical Planning Concern
• Wetland Protection By-law
• Area of Critical Environmental Concern
• Corridor Protection Overlay
  
  This reference (p.5) indicates that Harwich needs to set aside more scenic roadways.

Volunteer "rangers" needed at Hawksnest

There’s a vacuum of stewardship in the park... waiting to be filled. Already neighbors are picking up litter and trying to stop other abuses at Hawksnest. So why don’t we just get a bit more organized?

You can work with the ParkWatch program. "Park Watch is enlisting the eyes and ears of park visitors to report illegal or suspicious activity, vandalism, hazardous conditions, illegal dumping, maintenance needs, or violations of park rules and regulations. ParkWatch encourages law enforcement agencies to work together, participate in ParkWatch events, share information, and support volunteer's efforts." So it's clear that your volunteer help will have official support.

In working with ParkWatch, we have three tools:

• Digital camera: If you get a photo of someone abusing the park, I’ll post it on this blog. See the Gallery of Abusers in the right sidebar.And, if there's a visible license plate, ParkWatch may send them a letter.


• A cell phone can be used to alert Park Watch (866-PK-WATCH or 911 if emergency), and to help the "ranger" feel safe.


• GPS and Google Maps: If there's a hazard, dump site, erosion, or a rare plant--something that needs an exact location, you can place it precisely on a Google Map and forward that to Park Watch or another concerned state agency. I'll have more on this later.

I don’t have any illusions that police are going to rush out and arrest anyone at the Round Cove parking lot for cussing. But people who party at Hawksnest leave intoxicated, and they can and will be arrested on the highway if we alert the police. Maybe it won’t happen right away, but it is a point of leverage for improving the park.

I’ve heard that off-road vehicle abuse has dropped, due to involvement of citizens. Again, get their photo, and try to find out where they are coming from. Look for a transport vehicle with a license plate. Call Park Watch. With your involvement, we CAN stop this abuse. Vehicles cause serious erosion and are a real danger to hikers and equestrians.

Volunteer Rangers
The next step, beyond participating in ParkWatch, is to be a "volunteer ranger." Right now, there's no official program--just go to it! And use common sense.

In the old days, small towns were largely free from crime because everyone knew each other, and because people noticed what you did. At Hawksnest, the simple presence of “rangers” will go a long way toward stopping abuse.

It may sound corny, but rangers should wear a uniform. Just a khaki or green shirt, and a baseball hat (maybe one of the Harwich Conservation Trust ones). Coordinate with neighbors so there’s someone there almost every afternoon.

Know the rules of the park (see below on this blog), and always be polite. Most people simply don’t know they are harming the park, or that anyone cares. “Did you know parking isn’t allowed close to the beach? That’s because it cause erosion, and that pollutes the water. I’m with the volunteer group that looks after the park.”

My tactful friend Liz says it's important not to back people into a corner--for example, accusing them of doing something, or asking that they stop doing something. When you do, they get defensive--they try to defend what they are doing, and that leads to an argument. Instead, just inform them of the issues or rules, and trust them to choose the right thing. If they don't, you can always take their photo a bit later from a discrete distance.

The ranger's role is more to inform and educate than to command or to embarrass anyone. The fact that you are there and being helpful will do 95% of the job.

Want to stop the alcohol parties?

Alcohol is illegal at Hawksnest, and the park closes at 8 pm. With some enforcement, these two rules would go a long ways toward stopping parties. If parties haven't stopped, neighbors simply haven't complained often enough or loudly enough!

No one cares about someone quietly drinking a beer after work, then carrying out the can. But parties cause much litter and damage in the park, not to mention endangering other drivers outside the park. Controlling parties should be our top priority, along with erosion control. We'll consult with ParkWatch about the best way to control them. In the meantime, quietly call ParkWatch 866-PK-WATCH when you see one.

It's urgent that we find someone living nearby who can serve as a lead volunteer ranger. This person can receive additional training from the ParkWatch program. If you want to volunteer, or know someone who might, please let me know!!

The shoreline--a fragile filter

Imagine that you are brewing a nice cup of coffee, using fresh grounds heaped in a paper filter. Normally, the water flows through, and the grounds stay back, so you have a clear, tasty cup of java. Now imagine that when you pour the water in, the filter breaks! Your cup is filled with bitter grounds, the brew is cloudy, and your morning treat is ruined.

We're faced with the same issue at Hawksnest. The thin veil of vegetation around the lake, and the sand below, is our filter. Normally, no water gets into the lake without flowing through the vegetation and sand.

The lakeshore is especially important. Whereever the shore is undisturbed by man, thick vegetation grows right to the water, holding back and filtering any runoff from a heavy storm. This is why Hawksnest is so incredibly clear--a pond where you could see right to the bottom, 30 feet down. Coastal plain ponds like Hawksnest are actually quite rare--despite the fact that we take them for granted on Cape Cod.

When people, horses, or vehicles trample the bank, the filter is broken, and soon our pond will be ruined, just like the java.

Severe erosion on path to beach from Round Cove Rd parking area

Protecting this fragile filter all around the lake is probably the most important management goal for the entire park. It's essential if the unique quality of the pond is to be preserved. Yet the shoreline vegetation has been neglected, until erosion has finally reached the point where serious, lasting damage is about to occur. Protecting the shore at Hawksnest is all the more important, because the shores of most other ponds have been severely damaged.

The shore of a pond like Hawksnest is the only place where the Plymouth gentian grows, a plant of special interest, which property owners (the State included!) are required by law to manage for. Common sense management requires keeping people, horses and vehicles off the beach where the gentian grows.

No, I'm not saying "no swimming." For the gentian, just post signs limiting access to certain areas.

Where serious erosion of the "fragile membrane" is occurring at the Round Cove parking lot, control of erosion and restoration are urgently required. In the long run, the only way to prevent further damage to the pond's shore is to build a boardwalk where many people tread down to the beach .

Because of the humid air and mild climate, the land will heal itself in only a few years, if given the opportunity.

Boardwalk, National Seashore, Provincetown. Our boardwalk might use wire mesh, to allow vegetation to grow underneath.

Volunteer research needed at Hawksnest

If you know the answer to any of these questions, or want to work on the answer, please let me know.

1. Are painted turtles declining? When I was a kid swimming at Hawksnest, at any one time you could see the little black heads of 4 or more painted turtles floating in the water around Hawksnest. On my last visit, I didn’t see any, though I swam around the entire pond. On my previous visit several years ago, I saw only one. Although they are primarily aquatic, the turtles do migrate from pond to pond across land, where they are often squashed by vehicles. Moreover, Route 6 to the north is a complete barrier to migration. Are the turtles really in decline?

1. Does Plymouth gentian still grow near the isthmus? See the earlier article on this plant of special interest.



2. Do any rare orchids or other threatened plants occur at Hawksnest?
3. Which way does the groundwater flow at Hawksnest? Is the pond near the divide between N and S flow? If so, that might protect the pond from pollution of groundwater. If a large residential area with septic systems is upstream, that might threaten water quality at Hawksnest.


4. Have Ospreys nested at Hawksnest in recent years? They are often seen on the NE bluff.


5. Does flow of surface water between Black Pond and Hawksnest Pond present any problems? Boaters or pedestrians have established a shallow channel on the isthmus between the two ponds. When the wind blows, the water flows from Black Pond into Hawksnest. Is this harmful, or a benefit to Hawksnest water quality and wildlife? It might be harmful, since Black Pond has lower water quality (it’s “eutrophic”).
   
   
6. Do box turtles occur in the woods at Hawksnest? Is Hawksnest and the undeveloped land to the east officially recognized as Eastern box turtle habitat? Have environmental impact studies been done to justify the new development there, and the widening of Seth Whitfield Road?



7. How did Hawksnest get it's name? When you look at a map of the pond, it looks surprisingly like a hawk on a nest. The main part of the pond is the round nest, the cove is the head, and the little cove on the cove is the beak. But is there any historical suport for this conjecture?
8. Duck hunting at Hawksnest. There’s a long tradition of duck hunting at Hawksnest, and we support it. What is the history? Who owned the old hunting camps? How and where is it practiced today? Ducking hunting figures in the career of the renowned East Harwich bird carver, A.E.Crowell.
9. Protection for Seth Whitfield Rd. Also known as Hawksnest Rd, it runs along the western boundary of the park. Because it has county road status, it is beyond the jurisdiction of the park. Can the northern portion of the road be removed from county status? Or can it be designated as some kind of historic or rustic road, so it can be left narrow and rustic as it is now? Otherwise, it will be eventually paved and... turtles watch out!

Officials "Pass the Buck" at Hawksnest

There’s an absence of responsibility--or stewardship--at the Pond.  Harwich police say they don’t have jurisdiction at the park because it’s state land. It's true--Nickerson State Park has nominal responsibility for Hawksnest, but they are understaffed and “don’t have two nickels to rub together.” So don’t expect to see them anytime soon. State enforcement rangers (enforce fishing licenses, etc.) do have jurisdiction, but there are only two for the whole of Cape Cod. 

A lot a neighbors care about Hawksnest, but most are too busy to take the lead. I care about Hawksnest because my parents helped found the park. We summered for many years in a house by the Round Cove Rd. parking lot. And it makes me sad to see the uncontrolled abuse, with erosion channeling muddy water and dog feces into the pond. Because I’ve seen it over many years, I know the pond we love is headed for trouble, unless someone takes responsibility. What kind of trouble? Imagine a hundred people on the beach at Hawksnest...

Beach at Nickerson State Park

Imagine a big, paved parking lot, filled with cars. Imagine the wooded banks everywhere trampled, vegetation gone, sandy banks caving onto the beach.

Trampled hillside, National Seashore at Provincetown

Imagine ugly weeds tangling your body as you swim through smelly water that looks like pea-soup. Here we are, like Scrooge with the Ghost of Hawksnest Future. We can drift towards the big beach with the big parking lot, or we can create a better future for Hawksnest. It could become an example of pristine water quality for the whole country—in a time when most people have forgotten what clean water is. In America, there are few things as powerful as a vocal, aroused neighbors. The State and the local police will listen, if we have a cause and a common voice. So let’s get started. Grab those cameras and cell phones. Let’s fill the vacuum with something better. Yes, we can!

Rules, Regulations & Kiosks

Visitors are urged to promptly report violations to 1-866-PK-WATCH. Program the number into your cell phone. Follow up by taking a photo of the car or abuser, and license plate.

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A summary of rules follows, or... Read the complete rules here.

1. Pack it in... pack it out (which means zero litter and no dumping)
2. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in all MA State Parks
3. Parking only in designated areas
4. No vehicles off the road or parking areas
5. Keep pets leashed (10 foot leash maximum) at all times. Note that there may be areas posted off-limits to pets. Help us maintain a clean, healthy environment. Always clean up after your pet. Properly dispose of pet waste.
6. No fires--anywhere (especially not on the beach)
7. No cutting of trees, branches, downed wood, or any vegetation. And please leave pine needles in place on the ground (prevents erosion)
8. No glass containers on the beach
9. No soap within 100 feet of pond
10. Respect closed areas/areas under restoration
11. Horses not allowed on beach (danger to Plymouth gentian), and are allowed only on designated trails.
12. No camping at Hawksnest
13. Hikers must keep to designated trails
14. State Parks, Hawksnest included, close at 8 pm, 5/1-8/31; on other dates, 1/2 hour after sunset.

The Need for Kiosks

MA State Parks already have rules. Rules require kiosks, parking signs, and designated trails. Most people in FHSP want as little development as possible, but there is no avoiding the kiosk. Of course, we expect these will be done as tastefully and inobtrusively as possible.

The 64-thousand dollar question is: "Will the kiosks and signs be destroyed by vandals?" Hawksnest has been a "anything goes" zone for so long that the kiosks may indeed "disappear." The answer to this concern is--at the outset, let's just make them inexpensively. If they last, then more permanent ones can be installed. We have to expect a slow transition to law and order in Dodge City.

Volunteer is needed to construct simple kiosks

• All that's needed is something to hold a four sheets of paper, protected from the rain.
• One kiosk for each of the two parking lots
• Mount them in front of beach access point, on a tree (without damaging tree)
• Check them regularly, and replace sheets or kiosk if missing
• Sheets: map of designated trails, list of rules, Map of parking area limits, Park Watch brochure

Leash rule for dogs

Hawksnest Pond has been a wonderful place for dogs. I love dogs! I wish they could run loose. But many people are uncomfortable when approached by strange dogs, and these people have the right to be left alone. Besides, it's the law.

In addition, dogs that run free often leave a "pile" that the owner doesn't notice.

Animal and human waste near the water is a serious threat to our health and to the health of the pond. The nitrogen and phosphorus (called "nutrients") in waste stimulates the growth of algae. Each pound of waste stimulates the growth of roughly 20 pounds of weeds.) The great majority of lakes and streams in the USA have been severely damaged by the runoff of nitrogen and phosphorus from septic systems, farms, pavement, and lawns. Don't let that happen here!

Equestrians: Horse manure is also harmful to the pond. Pick it up!