Barnstable County Announces Inaugural Ripple Effect Award Recipients

Published on: August 31, 2026

BARNSTABLE, Mass. (August 31, 2026) — Barnstable County has announced the first recipients of the Ripple Effect Awards, recognizing three individuals whose leadership, expertise and commitment have made a lasting impact on the protection and restoration of Cape Cod’s water resources.

At their August 26 meeting in Truro, the Barnstable County Commissioners endorsed the inaugural award recipients: Denis LeBlanc, Hydrologist and Scientist Emeritus with the U.S. Geological Survey; Rick Bishop, Executive Director of Friends of Bass River; and Dr. Kimberly Crocker-Pearson, Chair of the Brewster Natural Resources Advisory Commission.

The recipients were selected from 23 nominations representing 11 nominees from across Cape Cod.

Created by Barnstable County’s Clean Water Center as part of the inaugural Cape Cod Clean Water Week, September 13–19, the Ripple Effect Awards celebrate people whose work has created meaningful and lasting change for the Cape’s groundwater, ponds, estuaries and other water resources.

“Protecting Cape Cod’s water has never been the work of one organization or one solution. It happens because people commit themselves to the science, restoration, advocacy and collaboration that move this work forward,” said Brian Baumgaertel, Director of Barnstable County’s Clean Water Center. “We created the Ripple Effect Awards to recognize those individuals and to show how one person’s dedication can extend outward—strengthening communities, inspiring others and creating lasting change for Cape Cod’s water.”

Denis LeBlanc, Hydrologist and Scientist Emeritus, U.S. Geological Survey

For nearly five decades, Denis LeBlanc’s groundwater research has helped shape understanding of Cape Cod’s sole-source aquifer and how contaminants move through groundwater systems.

His groundbreaking research into groundwater contamination at the former Massachusetts Military Reservation, now Joint Base Cape Cod, helped launch decades of investigation and remediation while contributing to improvements in groundwater science and cleanup practices locally and nationally.

LeBlanc also developed and advanced groundwater models, sampling techniques and other scientific tools that have supported environmental research and remediation. Throughout his career, he has shared his expertise through mentoring, technical committees, field demonstrations, public presentations and educational programs, helping make complex groundwater science accessible to professionals and the broader community.

Rick Bishop, Executive Director, Friends of Bass River

Rick Bishop is being recognized for his leadership in turning ambitious restoration goals into measurable environmental improvements throughout the Bass River watershed.

Bishop has helped secure more than $10 million for the restoration of more than 57 acres of former cranberry bogs to natural wetlands while building partnerships among municipalities, agencies, organizations and community members.

His work has encompassed tidal restoration, fish passage, wetlands, stormwater treatment, shellfish projects and environmental monitoring. As Executive Director of Friends of Bass River, Bishop has also helped grow an approximately 1,800-member grassroots organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the watershed and engaging residents in the stewardship of local water resources.

Dr. Kimberly Crocker-Pearson, Chair, Brewster Natural Resources Advisory Commission

Dr. Kimberly Crocker-Pearson is being recognized for bringing together science, public health and municipal policy to strengthen the protection of Brewster’s ponds and water resources.

She played a key role in the development of Brewster’s 2026 Ponds Management Plan, helping strengthen the use and accessibility of more than two decades of water-quality monitoring data and identify opportunities for improved pond protection.

Through her work with Brewster’s natural resources, conservation and health boards, Crocker-Pearson has helped translate scientific findings into practical municipal policy while encouraging collaboration and science-based decision-making. Her ability to communicate the connections among pond ecology, conservation and public health has also helped make complex water-quality issues accessible to the community.

A New Hub for Clean Water Solutions

The Ripple Effect Awards reflect the broader mission of Barnstable County’s Clean Water Center at Joint Base Cape Cod, a regional hub for research, wastewater technology testing, education, workforce development and partnerships focused on improving water quality.

Building on more than 25 years of work at the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center (MASSTC), the Clean Water Center now also encompasses the Septic Utility Program (SUP) and AquiFund. Together, these programs connect researchers, municipalities, technology developers, nonprofits and other partners to develop and advance solutions to water-quality challenges facing Cape Cod and communities beyond the region.

That collaborative approach is also at the heart of the inaugural Cape Cod Clean Water Week, September 13–19. This year’s theme, “From Aquifer to Tap and Back Again,” highlights the connections among Cape Cod’s groundwater, drinking water, wastewater, ponds, estuaries and coastal ecosystems.

Throughout the week, residents and visitors can participate in educational workshops, guided nature walks, panel discussions, art exhibits, volunteer activities and other events at the Clean Water Center and partner locations across Cape Cod.

The three Ripple Effect Award recipients will be honored by the Barnstable County Commissioners and invited to participate in a Ripple Effect photography art exhibit and public oral storytelling evening at the Clean Water Center, sharing the people and stories behind efforts to protect Cape Cod’s waters.

View the full Cape Cod Clean Water Week schedule:
Cape Cod Clean Water Week

Learn more about Barnstable County’s Clean Water Center:
Clean Water Center

About Barnstable County: Barnstable County provides regional services, programs, and leadership to the fifteen towns of Cape Cod. Through collaboration and innovation, the County works to address shared challenges and improve the quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors across the region. Learn more at  www.capecod.gov.

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