Our purpose is to preserve the character of the village and to work with town officials from Falmouth to meet the changing needs of West Falmouth and the greater Falmouth community including the restoration of West Falmouth Harbor.
As you may be aware, there is much talk in our community regarding public access rights to Black Beach and the Great Sippewissett Marsh. On November 29th, we shared a letter written by the Treasurer of the Black Beach Harbor Head Civic Association informing the public of their intent to install a gate at the entrance to Little Neck Bars Road from the Shining Sea Bike Path. We shared this letter at BBHHCA’s request and posted it on our website to inform residents and not to endorse this action in any way. The West Falmouth Village Association represents all residents in the Village. As such, we view our role in this situation as one to inform. We want to inform you that the Conservation Commission approved the gate with conditions. The Order of Conditions was issued on January 10th. Residents who believe there is a legal public right to access have been circulating a petition directed to the Select Board. We do hope that this increased attention will result in a definitive determination of property rights so that our community can move forward from what appears to be recurring conundrum.
Letter from the Black Beach Harbor Head Civic Association (BBHHCA)
The West Falmouth Village Association Board recently received the attached letter from a member of the Black Beach Harbor Head Civic Association (BBHHCA), who requested that we communicate it to our membership. We are sharing the letter in order to facilitate communication among our neighbors.
Massachusetts Department of Transportation's Safety Audit
West Falmouth Highway (Route 28A) between Chapoquoit Road and Old Dock Road
The report below resulted from the recent safety audit and details short term and long term recommendations for improvements along a small stretch of route 28A from Old Dock road to Chapoquoit Road.
We are advocating for a more comprehensive audit including the entire stretch of 28A through the Village. For your information, below is our request for the Select Board to support this effort and our letter to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
Public Forum about Wastewater
and Watershed Management
A public forum was held on March 2, 2023 at the West Falmouth Library about wastewater and watershed management in the Town of Falmouth, including the environmental impact and benefits of the current plan.
View the Powerpoint presentations in PDF format:
View presentation by Korrin Petersen, VP Clean Water Advocacy
Buzzards Bay Coalition
View presentation by Amy Lowell, Wastewater Superintendent
Town of Falmouth
Recent Litter Clean-Up Efforts
Previous Village Litter Clean-Up
WFVA Members: Taylor, Gedney, Sellers families of West Falmouth cleaning up trash and debris from Black Beach
WFVA regularly partners with Litter Free Falmouth, a volunteer initiative dedicated to keeping our roadsides clean.
Three members of the village association participated in Litter Free Falmouth’s Fall Clean-up of Thomas B Landers Road on Sunday, December 11th. The group parked at the Waste Management Facility and picked up litter working its way to the Route 28 on-ramps and back (2.5 miles total). The group collected 16 large yellow bags of trash in addition to a couple of campaign signs, an 8’ long heavyweight steel pipe, and two five gallon buckets. In addition to the typical nip bottles and fast food wrappers commonly found on most roadsides, this road has especially large amounts of construction-related materials blown out of uncovered truck beds.
Litter Free Falmouth is working with local authorities and MassDOT to raise awareness and put an end to this type of unintentional littering.
West Falmouth beach protected forever with conservation restriction
The generosity of the Shearer family is shown through a remarkable gift of a conservation restriction co-held by the Buzzards Bay Coalition and The 300 Committee Land Trust.
Near Chapoquoit Beach in West Falmouth lies a special stretch of beach and coastal habitat. Tall dunes rise up over the shore, protecting a community of plants and shrubs sandwiched between West Falmouth Harbor and Buzzards Bay. View photos of this unique coastal habitat that is now protected forever.
What you need to know about Falmouth’s Nitrogen Control Bylaw for Fertilizer:
Falmouth adopted this Bylaw to reduce the nitrogen pollution going into our estuaries. The Bylaw applies to nitrogen used to fertilize grass only. The Bylaw does not apply to fertilizer used on your flower and vegetable garden, greenhouse, houseplants, farm, or orchard. The Bylaw also does not apply to the establishment or repair of turf (after substantial damage) in its first growing season.
Prohibitions:
• Don’t fertilize any part of your lawn between October 16th and April 14th, or directly before or during a heavy rain event. Don’t spread fertilizer on paved surfaces and clean it up if you do.
• Don’t fertilize any lawn located within 100 feet of wetlands - specifically the Resource Areas as defined in Falmouth’s Wetlands Regulations, FWR 10.02 (1)(a - d).
• The Bylaw recommends that if you fertilize lawns not covered by the 100’ prohibition, fertilize sparingly! The Bylaw encourages use of materials such as yard waste, compost or other similar materials that are primarily organic in nature and that are not considered “fertilizer” to improve the physical condition of your soil.
'Restoration Of West Falmouth Harbor' Event Leaves Residents With Hope, Challenges
By Claudia Geib, The Falmouth Enterprise
"...In the mid-1990s, scientists began seeing nitrogen levels spike in waters around West Falmouth—and with it, increased algae growth, along with sharply declining shellfish health, eelgrass coverage, and water quality. To this day, groundwater sampled around West Falmouth Harbor still has very high nitrogen levels." Read the full article >
West Falmouth Harbor Eelgrass Study
By Brittany Feldott, The Falmouth Enterprise
"A recent study shows that eelgrass in parts of West Falmouth Harbor is growing relatively healthily, but Philip Colarusso of the US Environmental Protection Agency said last week that it could take between six and 17 years before eelgrass beds fully recover." Read more >
For 23 years, the Baywatchers program has monitored the health of your local waterways. And that research has led to action. On Cape Cod, a major clean water planning process is almost complete and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency just launched a program to reduce nitrogen pollution.
The Baywatchers program is more important than ever. Tell the Senate to support budget amendment 226 to protect clean water in your community today.
