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Falmouth advocates ask committee to oppose Mashpee subdivision they say would add nitrogen to Waquoit Bay
Summary
A citizen group urged the committee to support Trout Unlimited’s appeal of a MEPA finding after a developer sought a streamlined EIR for a 25‑home subdivision above the Quashnet River, arguing additional wastewater could shift nitrogen‑removal burdens to neighboring towns including Falmouth.
A citizen advocate told the Water Quality Management Committee that a proposed 25‑home subdivision on a bluff above the Upper Quashnet River in Mashpee could add nitrogen discharges that will affect Waquoit Bay and neighboring towns.
"The filing made by the developers literally does not mention Waquoit Bay," Maggie McGahn of Citizens for the Protection of Waquoit Bay told the committee and asked Falmouth to consider supporting Trout Unlimited’s appeal to the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. She said the developer requested a streamlined or "rollover" EIR but was told by MEPA that a simple EIR is required; Trout Unlimited has asked for a full EIR and regional review.
McGahn cited figures from the filing indicating up to 11,000 gallons per day of wastewater associated with the project and raised concern that sewage discharge standards the filing references (high milligram‑per‑liter allowances for on‑site systems) would leave the downstream removal burden to towns that share Waquoit Bay. "That leaves the taxpayers of Mashpee holding the bag," she said, and "it also leaves the taxpayers of Falmouth holding the bag" because a portion of the downstream nitrogen load would affect Falmouth waters.
Committee members agreed the matter warranted a formal statement and asked staff to draft a letter for Select Board consideration. The committee also discussed requesting regional review by the Cape Cod Commission and coordinating with Mashpee officials and Trout Unlimited to clarify what permitting and mitigation options are required.
The committee did not vote on a final statement at the meeting but the chair said he would prepare a draft for the next meeting and that committee members would work with staff to refine language before forwarding to the Select Board.
