Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
June 2016
Petition to Massachusetts State Government demanding action to fight Monponsett Pond Contamination.
Sponsored by the Monponsett Watershed Association
For many years Monponsett Pond has been afflicted with high concentrations of blue green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, which can reach toxic levels. In 2015 the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) tested the west basin of Monponsett Pond for 175 days (June - November) and a public health advisory was issued for 133 of those days due to high levels of cyanobacteria. Previously public health authorities warned that physical contact with with water containing high levels of cyanobacteria produce toxins that can cause skin rashes, gastric distress and/or respiratory problems. Now scientific research is showing that in lakes and ponds with high concentrations of cyanobacteria the toxins can become airborne, exposing people miles away who have had no physical contact with the water. Most disturbingly the research suggests a correlation between these toxins and devastating afflictions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and Alzheimer’s.1,2
Monponsett Pond is an important natural resource in the Southeast region: it is a major recreational area, a supplemental drinking water supply for the City of Brockton, and home to several endangered species. The contamination of Monponsett Pond not only endangers the public health and the environmental health, it also has a negative effect on property values and the economy in the region.
In September 2015 over six hundred concerned citizens sent a petition to Governor Baker asking for his help in improving the water quality in Monponsett Pond. Aside from some inconclusive meetings with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) there has been little response from state government. Consequently, the undersigned once again urge our state government to take meaningful action to reduce the threat posed to the community by the contamination of Monponsett Pond. We ask that state government:
1) Regularly test Monponsett Pond for cyanobacteria levels
2) Pay for in lake treatments to reduce the cyanobacteria
3) Require the City of Brockton to keep the gates open in the Stump Brook Dam to promote natural water flow
4) Require area farmers to reduce or eliminate fertilizer discharges into Monponsett Pond
1 Are Algae Blooms Linked to Lou Gehrig’s Disease ? L Konkel. Scientific American, December 11, 2014, http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-alga...2 Detection of Cyanotoxins, β-N-methylamino-L-alanine and Microsystins, from a Lake Surrounded by Cases of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.. SA Banack, T Caller, P Henegan, J Haney, A Murby, JMetcalf, J Powell, PCox, EStommel. Toxins 2015, 7(2), 322-336; doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/toxins7020322
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Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
July 1, 2016
June 29, 2016
Watching these numbers climb reminds me of the families already living in the shadow of this toxicity. We need a show of strength before we present this to the state officials so please help get this in front of anyone who cares about our water quality.
June 26, 2016
Seeing this kind of energy for the pond reminds me that I am not fighting this battle alone. Knowing that so many people understand the gravity of these toxins gives me the strength to keep pushing for answers. We have finally reached a point where the state can no longer look away from our community.
June 22, 2016
Seeing one hundred people sign this hits home because I know firsthand how terrifying it is to live near water that might be making our neighbors sick. My own family worries about these toxins every single day, so finding a group of people who care this much means everything to me.
Reached 100 supporters
June 22, 2016
236 Comments
The pond is disgusting you can smell the water from across the street, fish are always dead on the sides of the water. It would be a nice place for people in the halifax area to swim in.Its not even enjoyable to look at because its disgusting and smells like dead fish.
We need help! So many of us are working hard to relieve and to prevent the prevent the problem of algae closing the beaches and posing a public health threat. We are struggling and we need assistance! Health Agent for halifax
I am a halifax resident and a father of three small children. One of the reason we moved to this great town was to be able to use the lake to teach my kids to fish and appreciate the wildlife. Please help us fix this issue. Regards James Walsh
I have lived on East Monponsett for 23 years and I have observed the decline in water quality. I was recently diagnosed with IPF- idopathic pulmonary fibrosis, I'm not sure if it is related to airborne particles from the algae. I had a neighbor that died from IPF several years ago,
The dam on west lake needs to be opened. The fetilizer from the bogs has played a big part in West lake being polluted.west lake is stagnant, no amount of chemical treatments will take care of this issue. Their putting a band aide on a festered sore.
A must for public health safety - thank you
Please assist in improving the water quality in Monponsett Pond
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Share this petition to help it reach more people.
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
June 2016
Petition to Massachusetts State Government demanding action to fight Monponsett Pond Contamination.
Sponsored by the Monponsett Watershed Association
For many years Monponsett Pond has been afflicted with high concentrations of blue green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, which can reach toxic levels. In 2015 the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) tested the west basin of Monponsett Pond for 175 days (June - November) and a public health advisory was issued for 133 of those days due to high levels of cyanobacteria. Previously public health authorities warned that physical contact with with water containing high levels of cyanobacteria produce toxins that can cause skin rashes, gastric distress and/or respiratory problems. Now scientific research is showing that in lakes and ponds with high concentrations of cyanobacteria the toxins can become airborne, exposing people miles away who have had no physical contact with the water. Most disturbingly the research suggests a correlation between these toxins and devastating afflictions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and Alzheimer’s.1,2
Monponsett Pond is an important natural resource in the Southeast region: it is a major recreational area, a supplemental drinking water supply for the City of Brockton, and home to several endangered species. The contamination of Monponsett Pond not only endangers the public health and the environmental health, it also has a negative effect on property values and the economy in the region.
In September 2015 over six hundred concerned citizens sent a petition to Governor Baker asking for his help in improving the water quality in Monponsett Pond. Aside from some inconclusive meetings with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) there has been little response from state government. Consequently, the undersigned once again urge our state government to take meaningful action to reduce the threat posed to the community by the contamination of Monponsett Pond. We ask that state government:
1) Regularly test Monponsett Pond for cyanobacteria levels
2) Pay for in lake treatments to reduce the cyanobacteria
3) Require the City of Brockton to keep the gates open in the Stump Brook Dam to promote natural water flow
4) Require area farmers to reduce or eliminate fertilizer discharges into Monponsett Pond
1 Are Algae Blooms Linked to Lou Gehrig’s Disease ? L Konkel. Scientific American, December 11, 2014, http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-alga...2 Detection of Cyanotoxins, β-N-methylamino-L-alanine and Microsystins, from a Lake Surrounded by Cases of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.. SA Banack, T Caller, P Henegan, J Haney, A Murby, JMetcalf, J Powell, PCox, EStommel. Toxins 2015, 7(2), 322-336; doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/toxins7020322
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
July 1, 2016
June 29, 2016
Watching these numbers climb reminds me of the families already living in the shadow of this toxicity. We need a show of strength before we present this to the state officials so please help get this in front of anyone who cares about our water quality.
June 26, 2016
Seeing this kind of energy for the pond reminds me that I am not fighting this battle alone. Knowing that so many people understand the gravity of these toxins gives me the strength to keep pushing for answers. We have finally reached a point where the state can no longer look away from our community.
June 22, 2016
Seeing one hundred people sign this hits home because I know firsthand how terrifying it is to live near water that might be making our neighbors sick. My own family worries about these toxins every single day, so finding a group of people who care this much means everything to me.
Reached 100 supporters
June 22, 2016
236 Comments
My family lived very close to that pond for 11 years. Never once did I let my children swim or fish in it. The fact that Brockton water uses it for drinking water is appalling. It is past time to clean this body of water up
The pond is disgusting you can smell the water from across the street, fish are always dead on the sides of the water. It would be a nice place for people in the halifax area to swim in.Its not even enjoyable to look at because its disgusting and smells like dead fish.
We need help! So many of us are working hard to relieve and to prevent the prevent the problem of algae closing the beaches and posing a public health threat. We are struggling and we need assistance! Health Agent for halifax
I am a halifax resident and a father of three small children. One of the reason we moved to this great town was to be able to use the lake to teach my kids to fish and appreciate the wildlife. Please help us fix this issue. Regards James Walsh
I have lived on East Monponsett for 23 years and I have observed the decline in water quality. I was recently diagnosed with IPF- idopathic pulmonary fibrosis, I'm not sure if it is related to airborne particles from the algae. I had a neighbor that died from IPF several years ago,
The dam on west lake needs to be opened. The fetilizer from the bogs has played a big part in West lake being polluted.west lake is stagnant, no amount of chemical treatments will take care of this issue. Their putting a band aide on a festered sore.
A must for public health safety - thank you
Please assist in improving the water quality in Monponsett Pond
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My family lived very close to that pond for 11 years. Never once did I let my children swim or fish in it. The fact that Brockton water uses it for drinking water is appalling. It is past time to clean this body of water up