To cultivate the resilience of our coastal pond ecosystems through science, collaboration, and education.
About Us
Established in 1998, Great Pond Foundation leads in estuary science and restoration, using data generated by our programs for informed pond management. Our team builds strong partnerships with neighbors; fostering learning and expertise; and sharing tools and techniques. The coastal ponds of Martha’s Vineyard are globally rare, ecologically fragile, treasures whose preservation and restoration are fundamental to the Island’s long-term sustainability. The Island depends on clean and healthy coastal waters to feed families and support the local economy. These living waters define both the spirit and the character of our community.
📈 EGP Elevation Update, 👋 GPF Transitions, & 🧰 Tools of the Trade. The question on everyone’s mind is: When will Edgartown Great Pond be cut? Read our newsletter for the current elevation.
Link in bio ☝️
#greatpondfoundation #EdgatownGreatPond #elevation #goodbye #toolsofthetrade #waterquality #islandponds #Data #MarthasVineyard #Capeandislands 📸 Photo Courtesy of @leftfork
🧰TOOLS OF THE TRADE: TOOL #7: COMPOUND MICROSCOPE
A compound microscope 🔬 is used to look at smaller organisms such as phytoplankton. We use the compound microscope to identify 🦠cyanobacteria collected for our MV CYANO program. GPF also owns a stereomicroscope AKA dissecting microscope, which is useful for larger organisms 🦐.
Both microscopes are attached to cameras allowing us to take pictures 📸!
➡️Stay tuned for more tools of he trade!
#greatpondfoundation #marthasvineyard #water #science#capeandislands #waterquality #microscopes #cyanobacteria #microscopy #science #identfication #coastalponds #ecosystems
Another 2+ inches of snow ❄️ fell around the Pond overnight and we woke up to a winter wonderland. We hope you are all staying warm and cozy on this chilly and picturesque #February morning. #greatpondfoundation #edgartowngreatpond #edgartown #marthasvineyard #winter #winterwonderland #snow #tree #snowscape #capeandislands
🧰TOOLS OF THE TRADE: TOOL #6: BBE MOLDAENKE FLUOROPROBE
After a morning of collecting cyanobacteria 🦠samples as part of our Ecosystem Monitoring Program our science team brings them back to the lab 🥼 for processing. To measure cyanobacteria concentrations we use a bbe Moldeanke Fluoroprobe. This is a spectral fluorometer that can estimate phytoplankton abundance through fluorescence of pigments unique to individual algal groups.
➡️Stay tuned for our next tool of the trade!
#greatpondfoundation #fluoroprobe #fluorometry #cyanobacteria #marthasvineyard #waterquality #capeandislands #data #science #mvcyano
🧰TOOLS OF THE TRADE: TOOL #5: DROP CAMERA
Have you ever wondered how we monitor the benthic zone of our ponds? Our science team uses a device called a DROP CAMERA 📷 which allows us to take benthic images and videos. This is a non-destructive and effective way of observing, monitoring, and studying the diverse habitats that exist on the pond floor. These images are crucial in monitoring benthic changes in our ponds💧.
➡️Stay tuned for our next tool of the trade!
#dropcam #greatpondfoundation #marthasvineyard #water #science #capeandislands #benthic #waterquality #pond #pondhealth
🧰TOOLS OF THE TRADE: TOOL #4: SEINE NET
It’s important for us to know what lives 🐠 in our ponds to determine how water quality can affect these biological resources 🦪. To do this we use a SEINE NET. This 30-foot net is attached to two dowels and is stretched across the running tides 🌊. It captures animals 🦀🐟🦐 in shallow waters before being slowly brought back to shore for identification.
⭐️Join us for our annual seine net event in July (dates TBD)!
➡️Stay tuned for our next tool of the trade!
#seinenet #greatpondfoundation #marthasvineyard #water #science #capeandislands #summer #biodiversity #fish #crabs #livingwaters
The ☀️ sun setting on a very high #EdgartownGreatPond, on Wednesday, January 29th. The Pond is ~3.95 feet above Local Mean Sea Level. The main body of the pond is ice 🧊 free, but some marshes and coves have thin layers of ice. Today is the new 🌚 moon. #edgartown #greatpondfoundation #newmoon #sunset #winter #water #ice #sun #marsh #marthasvineyard #islandlife #capeandislands #january #elevation #massachusettsoutdoors #massachusetts #afternoonwalk #getoutside
🧰TOOLS OF THE TRADE: TOOL #3: VAN DORN
During the field season our science team 👨🔬 collects nutrient samples once a month🗓️. Nutrient samples need to be collected at mid-depth. To do this we use a VAN DORN. This device is essentially a glass tube that gets lowered into the water 🌊column while in the “open” position. When at the desired depth a weighted messenger is deployed which travels down the rope and triggers the sampling tube to close, capturing water💧. After being pulled up, the water is then put into a sampling bottle🫙.
➡️Stay tuned for our next tool of the trade!
#toolsofthetrade #vandorn #greatpondfoundation #marthasvineyard #water #science #capeandislands #waterquality #samples #nutrients
