YARMOUTH – A newly-formed Cape Cod non-profit organization, dedicated to the protection of the Cape’s largest river, held a volunteer summit on Wednesday night.
Friends of Bass River held the event at Thirwood Place and Executive Director Ryan Mann presented “The State of Bass River”.
A report last year by the Massachusetts Estuaries Project that showed that in the upper parts of the Bass River, there is a need for 47 percent reduction in nitrogen loading.
“There’s a lot of work that needs to happen, it’s not going to happen overnight, but with many, many steps and a lot of good partnerships, we believe that there could be real progress,” said Mann.
The agency was formed over six months ago by three neighbors who share a lifelong love for the waterway: Bob Churchill, DeWitt Davenport and Mark Anschutz.
Mann was brought on as Executive Director in June, after previously serving as Executive Director of the Westport Land Conservation Trust and Stewardship Director for the Harwich Conservation trust.
The organization has been working to find ways to improve the degraded conditions of Bass River and is seeking individuals and families to serve in various capacities to help save the river.
“Now it is time to enact some common sense, economically-viable solutions and we’re hoping that inspires folks and that they become engaged in the mission to make sure that the largest river on Cape Cod becomes as pristine as it once was,” said Mann.
So far, 40-60 people have expressed interest in volunteering for the Friends of Bass River.
“Without that group of individuals, this effort won’t be possible,” said Mann.
For more information, go to friendsofbassriver.org.
By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter
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