Monitoring Water Quality
Protecting Healthy Habitat
Protecting Healthy Habitat
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Misty Stillness. Photo by Vineyard Colors

A Restoration
Success Story
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Ripples in the Pond. Photo by Emily Reddington

Monitoring
Water Quality
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Protecting
Healthy Habitat
Otter
Preserving
Pond Ecology

Photo by Anne Mazar

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Mission Statement

To cultivate the resilience of our coastal pond ecosystems through science, collaboration, and education.

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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.

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Latest News

Pond Cut Update

So far so good! This graph shows the beginning of ...

Earth Day Conservation Festival

2nd Annual Earth Day Conservation Festival Join Great Pond ...

Pond Event at MV Museum

Photo Courtesy of Ollie Becker The great ponds of Martha’s ...

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Edgartown Great Pond was cut to the #AtlanticOcean today by the Town of #Edgartown. The pre-cut elevation of EGP was quite high and with the recent #dredging by the Town and today’s fair weather, we have our 🤞 for an excellent cut and flush. The Pond requires 9-11 days of tidal flush to maximize the exchange of pond and sea 🌊. The #spring cut has an oversized influence on the health of the ecosystem throughout the year. Let’s all hope for an excellent cut that increases the salinity and water clarity while decreasing the nutrient pollution and temperature. Spring is also an important time for biological species exchange between pond and #ocean 🐟. The Great Ponds serve as nurseries for many animals 🦀 🦪. Thanks @sully7777777777 for these #drone images! #greatpondfoundation #edgartowngreatpond #beach #ocean #tide #tidal #barrierbeach #southshore #massachusetts #capeandislands #marthasvineyardlife #islandstyle #pond #pondmanagement #dronephotography #sand #shore #oakbluffs #tisbury #vineyardhaven #chilmark #westtisbury #aquinnah #marthavineyard
Edgartown Great Pond was cut to the #AtlanticOcean today by the Town of #Edgartown. The pre-cut elevation of EGP was quite high and with the recent #dredging by the Town and today’s fair weather, we have our 🤞 for an excellent cut and flush. The Pond requires 9-11 days of tidal flush to maximize the exchange of pond and sea 🌊. The #spring cut has an oversized influence on the health of the ecosystem throughout the year. Let’s all hope for an excellent cut that increases the salinity and water clarity while decreasing the nutrient pollution and temperature. Spring is also an important time for biological species exchange between pond and #ocean 🐟. The Great Ponds serve as nurseries for many animals 🦀 🦪. Thanks @sully7777777777 for these #drone images! #greatpondfoundation #edgartowngreatpond #beach #ocean #tide #tidal #barrierbeach #southshore #massachusetts #capeandislands #marthasvineyardlife #islandstyle #pond #pondmanagement #dronephotography #sand #shore #oakbluffs #tisbury #vineyardhaven #chilmark #westtisbury #aquinnah #marthavineyard
3 days ago
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1/8
Cut News 🌊, Welcome Maria, and Pond Event! - EGP to be cut soon following storm, Great Pond event at MV Museum, and Welcome Maria Ventura to the GPF team! Full details in our newsletter and on our website. Link in bio ☝️. 
#greatpondfoundation #edgartowngreatpond #marthasvineyard #mvy #mv #capeandislands #atlanticocean #barrierbeach #atlanticocean #beach #edgartown #oakbluffs #vineyardhaven #westtisbury #chilmark #aquinnah #marthasvineyardlife #islandlife #sand #coast
Cut News 🌊, Welcome Maria, and Pond Event! - EGP to be cut soon following storm, Great Pond event at MV Museum, and Welcome Maria Ventura to the GPF team! Full details in our newsletter and on our website. Link in bio ☝️. #greatpondfoundation #edgartowngreatpond #marthasvineyard #mvy #mv #capeandislands #atlanticocean #barrierbeach #atlanticocean #beach #edgartown #oakbluffs #vineyardhaven #westtisbury #chilmark #aquinnah #marthasvineyardlife #islandlife #sand #coast
7 days ago
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2/8
Great Pond Foundation is conducting off-season sampling thanks to a grant from the Edey Foundation. The conditions of the pond before summer have a large impact on the health of the ecosystem throughout the growing season. Our science staff is measuring 💧 water quality, phytoplankton (including cyanobacteria), nitrogen and phosphorus, and the state of the eelgrass. Our boat 🚤 is not in the water this time of year, so this trip was only possible thanks to the help of the Edgartown Shellfish Department and the @mvshellfishgroup 🦪. We are grateful! A special thanks to Shellfish Constable, Rob Morrison for not only being the captain today but also helping with data 📊 collection. It was an added bonus to be able to see the dredging underway by the Town of Edgartown. The dredge crew is removing the sand that limits pond flushes and making it available for beach renourishment projects on the south shore. #greatpondfoundation #Edgartown greatpond #dredge #sand #beach #water #ocean #coast #greatpond #grateful #marthasvineyard #mv #mvy
Great Pond Foundation is conducting off-season sampling thanks to a grant from the Edey Foundation. The conditions of the pond before summer have a large impact on the health of the ecosystem throughout the growing season. Our science staff is measuring 💧 water quality, phytoplankton (including cyanobacteria), nitrogen and phosphorus, and the state of the eelgrass. Our boat 🚤 is not in the water this time of year, so this trip was only possible thanks to the help of the Edgartown Shellfish Department and the @mvshellfishgroup 🦪. We are grateful! A special thanks to Shellfish Constable, Rob Morrison for not only being the captain today but also helping with data 📊 collection. It was an added bonus to be able to see the dredging underway by the Town of Edgartown. The dredge crew is removing the sand that limits pond flushes and making it available for beach renourishment projects on the south shore. #greatpondfoundation #Edgartown greatpond #dredge #sand #beach #water #ocean #coast #greatpond #grateful #marthasvineyard #mv #mvy
4 weeks ago
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3/8
Dredging is underway at #EdgartownGreatPond by the Town of #Edgartown. Each time the cut is open, the tides bring sand into the Pond and a delta of sand builds up on the pond side of the barrier beach. This delta is larger than usual this year because of the extreme #overwash during a series of south-facing strong winter storms. Dredging increases the effectiveness of pond flushes, following cuts because it makes a channel through the delta of sand. A cut is successful in EGP when there are at least 9-11 days of #tidal flush. The Town cuts EGP ~3-4x per year, lowering pond elevation, reducing nutrient pollution, increasing #salinity, and allowing the exchange of creatures between #ocean and #pond. The sand that blocks flushing (dredge spoil) can be used to for coastal resilience projects, combating storm damage due to #erosion. Thank you 🙏 @sully7777777777 for the beautiful image. #greatpondfoundation #grateful #drone #dronephotography #dronestagram #atlanticocean #beach #sand #capeandislands #marthasvineyard #southshore #coastal #coastalresilience #resilience #dredge
Dredging is underway at #EdgartownGreatPond by the Town of #Edgartown. Each time the cut is open, the tides bring sand into the Pond and a delta of sand builds up on the pond side of the barrier beach. This delta is larger than usual this year because of the extreme #overwash during a series of south-facing strong winter storms. Dredging increases the effectiveness of pond flushes, following cuts because it makes a channel through the delta of sand. A cut is successful in EGP when there are at least 9-11 days of #tidal flush. The Town cuts EGP ~3-4x per year, lowering pond elevation, reducing nutrient pollution, increasing #salinity, and allowing the exchange of creatures between #ocean and #pond. The sand that blocks flushing (dredge spoil) can be used to for coastal resilience projects, combating storm damage due to #erosion. Thank you 🙏 @sully7777777777 for the beautiful image. #greatpondfoundation #grateful #drone #dronephotography #dronestagram #atlanticocean #beach #sand #capeandislands #marthasvineyard #southshore #coastal #coastalresilience #resilience #dredge
1 month ago
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4/8
The sun is shining after the storm. Areas around #EdgartownGreatPond received about 5 inches 📏 of snow ❄️. The wind 💨 is gusting 21 mph WNW as the sun ☀️ rises above the snowy landscape on this #ValentinesDay #morning. #greatpondfoundation #snow #sky #sunrise #trees #winter #february #marthasvineyard #mv #mvy #edgartown #tisbury #vineyardhaven #oakbluffs #chilmark #westtisbury #aquinnah #capeandislands #morningwalk #snowontrees #outside #getoutside #getoutdoors #clouds
The sun is shining after the storm. Areas around #EdgartownGreatPond received about 5 inches 📏 of snow ❄️. The wind 💨 is gusting 21 mph WNW as the sun ☀️ rises above the snowy landscape on this #ValentinesDay #morning. #greatpondfoundation #snow #sky #sunrise #trees #winter #february #marthasvineyard #mv #mvy #edgartown #tisbury #vineyardhaven #oakbluffs #chilmark #westtisbury #aquinnah #capeandislands #morningwalk #snowontrees #outside #getoutside #getoutdoors #clouds
2 months ago
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5/8
Sending you a moment of ☀️ #sunshine from #EdgartownGreatPond and hoping you get the opportunity to soak up the sun wherever you are. Do you have time for a walk on the water today? Snow ❄️ and wind 💨 are forecast for tomorrow, Tuesday. #greatpondfoundation #grateful #monday #february #morning #morningwalk #marthasvineyard #marthasvineyardlife #island #islandlife #water #cleanwater #healthywater #livingwater #brackish #ripples #dog #dogsofinstagram #dogwalk #edgartown #oakbluffs #tisbury #vineyardhaven #chilmark #aquinnah #capeandislands #bluesky
Sending you a moment of ☀️ #sunshine from #EdgartownGreatPond and hoping you get the opportunity to soak up the sun wherever you are. Do you have time for a walk on the water today? Snow ❄️ and wind 💨 are forecast for tomorrow, Tuesday. #greatpondfoundation #grateful #monday #february #morning #morningwalk #marthasvineyard #marthasvineyardlife #island #islandlife #water #cleanwater #healthywater #livingwater #brackish #ripples #dog #dogsofinstagram #dogwalk #edgartown #oakbluffs #tisbury #vineyardhaven #chilmark #aquinnah #capeandislands #bluesky
2 months ago
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6/8
We’re hiring! Come work with Great Pond Foundation! GPF is seeking two college students for the Summer Science Internship, and one candidate for a 6-month Field Crew Leader position. These positions will assist in various capacities with the Ecosystem Monitoring Program and MV CYANO (cyanobacteria monitoring program) among many other exciting endeavors. Spend your summer studying the coastal waters of Martha’s Vineyard. Visit https://greatpondfoundation.org/jobs/ for application details. #greatpondfoundation #summer #marthasvineyard #summerjob #internship #science #getoutside #boat #water #edgartown #oakbluffs #chilmark #vineyardhaven #aquinnah #westtisbury #mvcyano #fieldcrew #paidinternship
We’re hiring! Come work with Great Pond Foundation! GPF is seeking two college students for the Summer Science Internship, and one candidate for a 6-month Field Crew Leader position. These positions will assist in various capacities with the Ecosystem Monitoring Program and MV CYANO (cyanobacteria monitoring program) among many other exciting endeavors. Spend your summer studying the coastal waters of Martha’s Vineyard. Visit https://greatpondfoundation.org/jobs/ for application details. #greatpondfoundation #summer #marthasvineyard #summerjob #internship #science #getoutside #boat #water #edgartown #oakbluffs #chilmark #vineyardhaven #aquinnah #westtisbury #mvcyano #fieldcrew #paidinternship
3 months ago
View on Instagram |
7/8
The #barrierbeach has healed with sand filling in the #breach made by #nature. Much of the sand that entered #EdgartownGreatPond during #overwash #storm events remains north of the barrier beach and in the Pond. Good news 🗞️ from the #Edgartown Dredge Committee meeting last week, the Town has scheduled the crane to bring the #dredge into the Pond in early #March. Our data 📈demonstrate that cut success is greater following winters with dredging. Thanks to the Town of Edgartown’s Dredge and Shellfish Committees and staff for all the work they do keep our waters thriving. 🙏Thanks also to @sully7777777777 for these wonderful #drone images of the dynamic environment of the cut. #greatpondfoundation #grateful #pond #water #ocean #beach #atlantic #atlanticocean #sand #dune #massachusetts #capeandislands #greatpond #january #winter #dronelandscape #dronephotography #marthasvineyard
The #barrierbeach has healed with sand filling in the #breach made by #nature. Much of the sand that entered #EdgartownGreatPond during #overwash #storm events remains north of the barrier beach and in the Pond. Good news 🗞️ from the #Edgartown Dredge Committee meeting last week, the Town has scheduled the crane to bring the #dredge into the Pond in early #March. Our data 📈demonstrate that cut success is greater following winters with dredging. Thanks to the Town of Edgartown’s Dredge and Shellfish Committees and staff for all the work they do keep our waters thriving. 🙏Thanks also to @sully7777777777 for these wonderful #drone images of the dynamic environment of the cut. #greatpondfoundation #grateful #pond #water #ocean #beach #atlantic #atlanticocean #sand #dune #massachusetts #capeandislands #greatpond #january #winter #dronelandscape #dronephotography #marthasvineyard
The #barrierbeach has healed with sand filling in the #breach made by #nature. Much of the sand that entered #EdgartownGreatPond during #overwash #storm events remains north of the barrier beach and in the Pond. Good news 🗞️ from the #Edgartown Dredge Committee meeting last week, the Town has scheduled the crane to bring the #dredge into the Pond in early #March. Our data 📈demonstrate that cut success is greater following winters with dredging. Thanks to the Town of Edgartown’s Dredge and Shellfish Committees and staff for all the work they do keep our waters thriving. 🙏Thanks also to @sully7777777777 for these wonderful #drone images of the dynamic environment of the cut. #greatpondfoundation #grateful #pond #water #ocean #beach #atlantic #atlanticocean #sand #dune #massachusetts #capeandislands #greatpond #january #winter #dronelandscape #dronephotography #marthasvineyard
3 months ago
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8/8
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Eelgrass in Edgartown Great Pond

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