We are pleased to introduce you to the Friends of Wellfleet Ponds(FWP) . While the Friends of Wellfleet Ponds is a new organization, it is the successor to the long-standing GUPACA – Gull Pond Area Conservation Association –  which over the last decade evolved to include members  from Long Pond and other Wellfleet ponds.

The Friends of Wellfleet Ponds comprises year-round and seasonal residents, and includes visitors as well! Our immediate goal is to raise awareness about the issues that face the freshwater ponds of Wellfleet. Through education, advocacy, and monitoring, our mission is to help preserve the health, beauty, and enjoyment of the ponds for future generations.

As a visible contribution to the oversight of the ponds, FWP volunteers have assumed from GUPACA the water sample collection duties for the Cyanobacteria testing of the ponds by the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC). FWP has drafted a Pond Lover’s Guide and Pond Pledge which we distribute widely in Wellfleet. Also FWP officers and Board members represent Wellfleet freshwater interests in the Cape network of pond associations, and liaise with the Wellfleet Natural Resources Advisory Board (NRAB).

FWP members are involved with community events, including the 4th of July parade and and the weekly Farmers Market, as well as the State of the Harbor conference in November. We look forward to talking with you about the ponds.  Please reach out to us with any questions. Finally, we invite you to become an FWP member and work with us to preserve Wellfleet’s beautiful freshwater ponds.