Outer Cape water supply and drought take center stage during county tour stop in East Ham

At the East Ham stop on the commissioners' road tour, Mark Forest said drought and constrained groundwater resources are pressing issues on the outer Cape.

Forest explained the region relies on several local aquifer lenses with limited capacity—the interview names the "Naset" lens as the principal supply for parts of East Ham, the Pamet lens for Truro and Provincetown, and Monomoy/Chickahominy options as transfer sources. He said some communities may need to share supplies or move water between lenses depending on conditions.

Forest warned that the Cape Cod National Seashore controls much of the land on the outer Cape, which restricts options for well drilling and new local sources. He said the Cape Cod Commission has presented data on water-supply challenges and the county will elevate the issue to promote conservation and coordinated planning among towns.

Forest framed the problem as a mix of climate-driven drought risk, localized supply limits and development pressure; he urged a regionally coordinated approach to identify vulnerable communities and prioritize conservation measures and planning support.