Contributing Areas to Ponds

Contributing Area to Ponds (CAPs) - To be more protective of ponds, two areas, the Freshwater Recharge Area and the 300 foot buffer upgradient of a pond, were effectively combined on the RPP Data Viewer to yield Contributing Area to Ponds (CAPs). Upgradient Pond Buffer - These areas of the 300-ft buffer zone are delineated as significant based on groundwater contours and groundwater flow direction. To calculate and classify groundwater flow direction across ponds on Cape Cod, aspect rasters derived from interpolated water table surfaces and ½ foot elevation contours were used. Three-hundred-foot buffers around the ponds were added. Final output identified whether each side of the pond’s buffer zone is facing “up” or “down” in terms of water table gradient. The buffers were split in half, with the half of the buffer facing “up” as upgradient of the pond. Freshwater Recharge Areas - This layer identifies potential Priority Lands for Future Water Supply Development. The in-house analysis studied the natural, pervious land cover areas across Cape Cod and delineated places where at least one well & well protection buffer diameter could be reasonably placed based on the absense of certain conflicting land uses.