Nobody is talking about this. While the world obsesses over heatwaves and wildfires — and trust me, I’ve covered plenty of both — a group of women in their 60s, 70s, and even 80s is quietly doing something extraordinary. They call themselves the Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage. And they’ve pulled more than 6,000 pounds of trash out of Cape Cod’s ponds. Six thousand pounds. That’s the weight of a small SUV.
I spoke with Nancy H., a 72-year-old retired teacher from Brewster. She’s been diving since she was a kid. “There’s no better feeling than surfacing with a rusted bicycle frame that’s been sitting on the bottom for 20 years,” she told me. “You know that pond is cleaner because of you.”
The group started informally in 2017 when a handful of women noticed fishing line tangled around turtles and soda cans littering the sandy bottoms of local ponds. They grabbed snorkels and mesh bags. No permits, no fanfare. Just old ladies with a mission. Now they’ve grown to about 30 regulars, and they’ve cleaned over 20 different ponds across Barnstable County.
The Dirty Work of Pond Cleanup
It’s not glamorous. These women wade into murky water — sometimes in wetsuits, sometimes in just swimsuits — and feel around for debris. They’ve hauled out tires, anchors, fishing rods, lawn chairs, even a toilet. Yes, a toilet. “The grossest thing was probably a decomposing raccoon,” says Martha G., a 68-year-old former nurse. “But you get used to it. The water is your office.”
They keep meticulous records. Each dive, they log what they find and weigh it on a portable scale. Their total: 6,020 pounds as of September 2024. That’s not counting the microplastics and fishing line fragments too small to collect. “Every piece matters,” says Dr. Sarah Collins, a marine biologist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution who has advised the group. “Removing large debris prevents it from breaking down into microplastics that enter the food chain. These women are doing real, quantifiable conservation work.”
“There’s no better feeling than surfacing with a rusted bicycle frame that’s been sitting on the bottom for 20 years. You know that pond is cleaner because of you.” — Nancy H., volunteer diver
The work has become even more critical as climate change alters pond ecosystems. Warmer water temperatures — like those seen during the record UK heatwave that neared the two-week mark earlier this summer — accelerate algae blooms and decomposition of organic trash. “When you have heatwaves, the biological oxygen demand in ponds skyrockets,” explains Dr. Collins. “Removing trash reduces that demand and helps fish and plants survive.”
A Growing Environmental Crisis
Cape Cod’s freshwater ponds are ecologically fragile. They’re home to rare species like the eastern box turtle and the Plymouth redbelly cooter. But they’ve been dumping grounds for decades. Abandoned fishing gear alone kills thousands of aquatic animals each year. The Old Ladies are filling a gap that local governments can’t. “We have limited funding for pond cleanup,” says Mark T. O’Leary, director of the Cape Cod Conservation District. “These volunteers are worth their weight in gold. They’ve removed more debris than our entire paid crew did last year.”
The group’s methods are simple but effective. They use surface-supplied air for deeper dives — some ponds are 15 feet deep — and they have a system of pulleys to lift heavy items. They coordinate with the town to dispose of scrap metal and hazardous waste. And they’re expanding. New chapters are forming in Falmouth and Orleans. “We’re getting calls from women in other states who want to start their own groups,” says Nancy. “It’s like a movement.”
But it’s not all smooth sailing. The women face health risks: cuts from broken glass, exposure to bacteria, and the physical strain of lifting heavy loads. “I pulled a 40-pound anchor last week,” says Martha. “My back complained for two days. But I’d do it again tomorrow.”
What’s Next for the Old Ladies?
The group has set a new goal: 10,000 pounds by 2026. They’re also launching an educational program for local schools. “We want kids to understand that trash doesn’t disappear when it sinks,” says Nancy. “It stays there, poisoning the water.” They’ve partnered with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to study microplastic accumulation in ponds where they’ve cleaned.
Meanwhile, the weather isn’t making it easier. The recent weekend cooldown that marked the end of a heatwave brought some relief, but the long-term trend is warmer, wetter conditions that increase runoff and debris. “We’re not going to stop,” Nancy says flatly. “There’s always more trash.”
So next time you’re on Cape Cod, look at a pond. Really look. That clear water might be the result of a 75-year-old woman with a mesh bag and a stubborn streak. And if you see a gray-haired lady in a wetsuit, thank her. She’s probably been underwater all morning, pulling out your neighbor’s old lawn chair.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I volunteer with the Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage?
You can reach out via their Facebook page “Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage” or contact the Cape Cod Conservation District. They welcome volunteers of any age or gender — you don’t have to be an old lady to help. Snorkeling experience is helpful but not required; they provide training for underwater debris removal.
What types of trash do they find most often?
The most common items are fishing line, hooks, soda cans, glass bottles, and plastic bags. But they’ve also pulled out car tires, boat anchors, bicycles, shopping carts, and even a full-size refrigerator. They catalog everything and dispose of it responsibly, recycling metal and sending hazardous waste to proper facilities.
Is it safe to swim in Cape Cod ponds after they’ve cleaned them?
Generally, yes. Removing debris reduces sharp objects and pollutants. However, the group does not test water quality for bacteria or algae. They recommend checking with local health departments for current swimming advisories, especially after heavy rains or during heatwaves when bacterial levels can rise.
