Ponds & Lakes Monitoring Programs
There are 163 ponds in Barnstable — 27 ponds greater than 10-acres, 17 public and semi-public freshwater beaches, 12 Town Way to Water locations, 6 boat ramps, and 4 ponds stocked with trout. Learn more about the Town’s robust monitoring initiatives to track the health of our freshwater ponds and lakes, below.
Freshwater Monitoring Efforts
Ponds & Lakes Stewardship (PALS) Monitoring
Initiated in 2002 as PALS, this annual monitoring program collects data from 40 ponds as part of a collaborative effort involving Town of Barnstable staff, Barnstable Clean Water Coalition, and citizen volunteers.
Producing over 40,000+ data points, field data is collected for water clarity, dissolved oxygen, and temperature, with water samples delivered to the School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) at UMass Dartmouth for determination of total phosphorus, total nitrogen, and chlorophyll-a concentrations, and pH and alkalinity.
Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program
Initiated in 2008, the annual Cyanobacteria Monitoring Progam takes place from late May through September and monitors 38 sites covering 28 ponds (including all freshwater public and semi-public beaches). This is a collaborative effort between the Town of Barnstable staff (Department of Public Works and Health Department) and the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC).
Monitoring is conducted weekly to monthly, with the frequency dependendent on cyanobacteria
levels and historic occurrence of blooms at each site. If a waterbody shows evidence of cyanobacteria, advisory postings are made within 48-hours of sample collection. Advisories are posted to our Cyanobacteria Monitoring Page, via the Town’s myBarnstable mobile app, Town social media, and physically at the site.
Ponds & Lakes Management Program
Traditionally, management of ponds was completed as a reaction to a visual problem, such as Harmful Cyanobacteria Blooms and Invasive Species. From 2015 onward, there continued to be water quality issues in ponds including: cyanobacteria blooms, low dissolved oxygen, poor water clarity, excessive macrophytes (plants), and diminishing habitat for migratory fish, cold water fish, and rare species.
In 2017, Water Resources Advisory Committee recognized a lack of information on freshwater ponds to appropriately identify management
solutions and take action to improve water quality. This led to the 2020 establishment of the Ponds and Lakes Monitoring and Management Plan Program, enacted by Barnstable Town Council.
View program and site-specific management plan updates, below.
Rivers & Streams Monitoring and Restoration Projects
The Town of Barnstable is home to 11 diadromous fish passageways which include Centerville River, Lake Elizabeth Stream, Bumps River, Skunknett River, Marstons Mills River, Rush Marsh Culvert, Litte River, Santuit River, Stewarts Creek, Halls River, and Boat Cove Creek.
Each year, Town staff, citizen volunteers, and community organizations such as the Barnstable Clean Water Coalition, participate in a variety of monitoring activities that help determine the health of these rivers, streams, channels and fish passages. From annual herring countrs to water level monitoring, data collection is paramount to developing and prioritizing restoration projects.
View a list of current projects, below.
Hear from the Experts
On May 23, 2024, the Barnstable Town Council hosted a Surface Freshwater and Coastal Resources Workshop, which welcomed presenters from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), Association to Preserve Cape Cod, Barnstable Clean Water Coalition, a water scientist from TMDL Solutions LLC, and the Town’s very own Senior Project Manager for Special Projects, Amber Unruh. The worshop covered a variety of topics including the monitoring and management of our natural water resources as well as a high level overview of current projects and initiatives.
Ponds & Lakes Management Program
Management Plans are developed over two phases. Year 1 consists of a monitoring phase which includes water quality sampling, stormwater sampling, and stream sampling. Monitoring efforts also consist of sediment and nutrient analysis, bathymetry, mussel and macrophyte mapping, and phytoplankton enumeration and composition.
current projects
Shubael Pond
Shubael Pond is approximately 55 acres, making it one of the Town’s Great Ponds. Home to trout, this pond offers two boat ramps, four beaches, and a Town Way to Water. Shubael Pond was the first freshwater site identified as part of the 2020 establishment of the Ponds & Lakes Monitoring and Management Program.
The monitoring phase, also known as the diagnostic nutrient assessment, was initiated in 2020 and has since been completed. A variety of factors were studied including DO and temperature; nitrogen, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a pigments; pH /alkalinity; phytoplankton composition (including cyanobacteria); nutrient regeneration from the internal sediments; septic system assessment; stormwater monitoring; and runoff from surrounding the watershed.
On August 24, 2022, the resulting Management Plan for Shubael Pond was presented, which included nutrient reduction targets and an evaluation of management options to meet those targets. Recommended solutions included an alum treatment (near term) and traditional sewering of the homes contributing phosphorus (long term).
Status: Download a copy of the Shubael Pond Management Plan public presentation, here.
Long Pond (Marstons Mills)
Long Pond is a relatively shallow, ~50 acre Great Pond located in the village of Marstons Mills. Long Pond is located within a wellhead protection area and the watershed to the Three Bays Estuary.
The monitoring phase, also known as the diagnostic nutrient assessment, was initiated in 2021 and has since been completed. The 2021 review of Long Pond water column data found that the pond had impaired water and habitat quality, “largely based on the high nutrient and chlorophyll concentrations.” This assessment was based on six samplings during the annual late summer Pond and Lake Stewards (PALS) Snapshot. The CSP/SMAST reviewers noted that there were a number of data gaps that would need to be addressed in order to understand the impaired conditions. Data gap surveys proposed and completed in 2021 included: measurement of sediment nutrient regeneration; continuous measurement of water column conditions; phytoplankton sampling; rooted plant and mussel surveys; and review of the watershed, land use, and development of phosphorus and water budgets.
On November 29, 2022, the resulting Management Plan for Long Pond Marstons Mills was presented, which included nutrient reduction targets and an evaluation of management options to meet those targets. Recommended solutions included a Floating Treatment Wetlands and implementation of approximately 23 innovative/alternative enhanced phosphorus reducing septic systems for identified properties.
Status: Download a copy of the Long Pond Marstons Mills Management Plan, here.
Lovells Pond
Lovells Pond is an approximately 56 acre natural kettlehole pond that acts as a home to a variety of fish species incuidng bass and trout. The Lovell’s Pond Boat Ramp offers easy access and opportunity for visitors to take advantage of the beach.
The monitoring phase, also known as the diagnostic nutrient assessment, was initiated in 2022 and has since been completed. Draft report findings indicate that spetic systems contribute approximately 35% of the phosphorus load, while noting that a primary source of phosphorus load is also coming from the pond’s sediments.
Status: A final Management Plan and public presenation is currently in process and is anticipated to be scheduled in the near term.
Wequaquet Lake, Bearses Pond, and Gooseberry Cove
Status: Monitoring of these ponds was initiated in 2023-2024, results are under review. A Management Plan and public presentation are anticipated this year (2025).
Long Pond (Centerville)
Status: Monitoring is anticipated to take place through 2025, with a Management Plan to follow.
Fish Passage & Culvert Restoration Projects
Since 2020, the Town has undertake a number of fish passage restoration projects, as listed below. This work is a collaborative effort between the Barnstable Department of Public Works, Barnstable Marine & Environmental Affairs, Cape Cod Conservation District and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. With special thanks for additional collaboration with Association to Preserve Cape Cod, Barnstable Clean Water Coalition, and Red Lily Pond Protective Association.
Current Projects
Lake Elizabeth Fish Ladder & Culvert Replacement
In partnership with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). NRCS has provided funding for design and construction of improvements to the fish ladder and culvert under Lake Elizabeth Drive.
Status: Evaluation of scope and boundary survey in process.
Little River Fish Passage Feasibility Study
The purpose of this project is to evaluate the feasibility of restoring fish passage in the Little River to Lovells Pond. The feasibility study is intended to evaluate if this run is hydrologically feasible given that present day hydrology of the Little River is impacted by local water supply and water availability in Lovells Pond. In addition, the project will assess other environmental, physical, regulatory, and private issues along the route that would need to be evaluated in future phases.
Status: Preparing Request for Proposal (RFP) to retain engineering services for feasibility evaluation.
Long Pond Centerville Outlet / Fish Passage
In partnership with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Status: Currently on hold, due to federal funding uncertainities.
Long Pond Downstream Channel Feasibility Study
In partnership with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Status: Currently on hold, due to federal funding uncertainities.
Mill Pond Fish Ladder
In partnership with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Project intent is to improve fish passage from the Marstons Mills River below RT28 into Mill Pond. Currently, migratory species pass must through the culverts under RT28 and RT149 and up the fish ladder to enter Mill Pond. Adlen Research Group has completed survey and modeling determining that the RT28/149 culverts are a velocity barrier to small and medium sized river herring.
Status: Project is in design; 30% design plans are in review.
Rosa Lane Culvert Replacement Project
In partnership with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Status: Engineering proposal and scope of work in review.