Friends of Pleasant Bay

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Harwich, MA
Friends of Pleasant Bay

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Learn more: https://linktr.ee/friendsofpleasantbay

The Friends of Pleasant Bay is a grassroots environmental group dedicated to the preservation of one of Cape Cod's most stunning recreational and ecological resources. Since its founding in 1985 the group has been successful in achieving State designation of the Bay as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern, and was instrumental in development and State approval of a Resource Management Plan for the Bay. The Mission of the Friends of Pleasant Bay is:

-To promote education, research and public awareness of the area as one of critical environmental concern
-To preserve open space and to retain visual quality of the area
-To preserve the environmental integrity of the bay shore
-To ensure habitat protection and retention of the rich biological diversity and productivity of the bay
-To retain and enhance public access to the shoreline
-To preserve natural and historic sites
-To promote public awareness of historic Native American culture. The Friends encourage innovative education projects centered on the Bay through an annual competitive grant program open to all public schools in the area. The Friends also provide regular support for advanced technical studies of the Bay, and develop and publish informational documents for public education and awareness. We frequently participate in the public process on issues affecting the Bay, and raise and provide funds for purchase of critical open space land.

10/30/2026

Another interesting finding from the Pleasant Bay Fisheries Study: a juvenile African pompano from the creek leading to Arey’s Pond. This little guy was a long way from home! This record was contributed to the Gulf Stream Orphan Project, run by collaborator and prior FoPB grantee Mike O’Neill at the New England Aquarium. Learn more about this project’s work at gsoproject.org

10/23/2026

We’re excited to share some early findings of the Pleasant Bay Fisheries study, from Center for Coastal Studies Director Owen Nichols. Working with the town shellfish departments, the team has unfortunately collected several samples of the invasive manila clam. There is a collaboration amongst many organizations and universities (of which CCS is a part) to better document, understand, and hopefully someday manage manila clam populations in MA. Learn more about this species and effort at the link in our bio. Thank you to the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management for the photo.

09/22/2026

Last month, Arey’s Pond Boatyard’s annual Cat Gathering drew nearly 100 registrants to Pleasant Bay for a parade of sail, friendly racing, and a celebration of one of the Bay’s most enduring traditions. For many years, APBY has generously donated proceeds from the event to Friends of Pleasant Bay, and in more recent years has shared that support with the Sipson Island Trust. This year, proceeds were once again be divided between the two organizations. We are deeply grateful to APBY for its longstanding generosity and commitment to our Bay.

09/19/2026

From October 11-25, Write Out Cape Cod invites people across the region to step outside, explore, and write about the places that shape their lives. This free initiative is open to everyone — students, educators, families, community groups, experienced writers and those who simply want to give it a try. This year’s theme, “Write Where We Stand,” encourages participants to draw inspiration from Cape Cod’s landscapes, natural areas and communities. Coordinated by Barnstable Land Trust, Write Out Cape Cod is a new regional collaboration connecting conservation, education and the arts. Friends of Pleasant Bay is among the conservation organizations invited to participate and help introduce the initiative to its members and the wider community. Learn more here: https://blt.org/writeoutcapecod

09/15/2026

Two members of the Friends of Pleasant Bay community were recognized by The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts at its 40th Annual Meeting in August. Tasia Blough, former FoPB board member, received the 2026 Mark Robinson Award for Open Space Excellence. The Compact highlighted her leadership in creating the Sipson Island Trust and helping lead the successful effort to purchase, protect and restore Sipson Island. Moncrief “Mon” Cochran received the 2026 Ansel Chaplin Award for Open Space Excellence, recognizing a lifetime of conservation leadership that has included service with Friends of Pleasant Bay, the Orleans Conservation Trust, and the Sipson Island Trust, as well as his pivotal role in the campaign to protect Sipson Island. Congratulations to Tasia and Mon on these well-deserved honors!

09/12/2026

Mark your calendars for the Orleans Pond Coalition's (OPC) annual Celebrate Our Waters weekend of festivities, Friday, September 18 - Sunday, September 20. This year's theme is “Our Waters as Artistic Inspiration.” Special new events celebrate the creative inspiration sparked by the beauty and wonder of Cape Cod's waters. Learn more at orleanspondcoalition.org

07/07/2026

Join us at Brewster Conservation Day on July 11th from 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM at the Sea Camps bay property. Enjoy expert speakers, kids' activities, and a pizza truck. All are welcome - we hope to see you there!

06/25/2026

Join us on July 13th from 5 - 7 PM at Wequassett Resort for Friends of Pleasant Bay's 41st Annual Meeting: The Bay as Classroom— Where Learning Meets the Sea. We have an engaging line-up of local educators that will share how FoPB education grants are bringing learning to life throughout the watershed. We hope you'll join us for a wonderful evening overlooking the Bay we all care for so dearly, hearing from people at the forefront of inspiring the next generation of Pleasant Bay stewards. Please RSVP at the link below - we can't wait to see you there!
https://www.friendsofpleasantbay.org/41st-annual-meeting-registration

05/12/2026

Coastal flooding from sea level rise and storm surge is already reshaping life around Pleasant Bay—threatening roads and infrastructure, reducing public access to the water, and damaging the salt marshes, eelgrass beds, beaches, and dunes that protect and sustain the ecosystem. Learn about “Coastal Resilience” planning and zoning tools at the Pleasant Bay Alliance's Climate Resilient Regulations and Policies Project webpage: https://pleasantbay.org/programs-and-projects/climate-resilience/climate-resilient-regulations-policies-project

05/07/2026

Save the date: our 41st Annual Meeting will be held on Monday, July 13th at Wequassett Resort. Registration info to come...we hope to see you there!

Address

Harwich, MA

Website

https://www.friendsofpleasantbay.org/

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