Gratitude List:
We are grateful for…
a great Fall cut, the Pond is still tidal and flowing
Paul Bagnall, for getting the Pond open at a critical time to protect the eelgrass
our continued partnership with the town of Edgartown, using data to inform management
the Great Pond Foundation Council, a newly formed group of advisors from around the Pond
the Permanent Endowment for Martha’s Vineyard for funding our Pond Biodiversity study
the Vision Fellowship and its fellows for enhancing STEM programming for the Island
the Slough Farm Foundation, who hosted a summer Pond outreach event
the Bronner Family for funding the Microbial Diversity of EGP
EPA scientists helping us document the health of eelgrass in the Pond
assistance from the EPA and the MVC to identify “nutrient hot spots” in the watershed
our collaborators from WHOI and the MBL, Mary Carman and Kristin Gribble
the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group’s oyster restoration on EGP
Julie Pringle, our Field Science Coordinator
YOU, who make our work possible
Fall Flush
As of the 26th of November, the Pond is still open and flowing. Following a day of drainage, when the Pond dropped from ~3.6 to 1.8 feet above sea level, we have had over a week of tidal flow through the cut.
When the Pond remains open and tidal, the water within the Pond is exchanged with clean, salty, and oxygenated seawater. This infusion of salt is vital to the health of the eelgrass meadows and other Pond life. Prior to the opening, the Pond had a salinity of about 15-16 ppt (parts per thousand). The Atlantic Ocean is ~33 ppt. After 8+ days of tidal exchange, the Pond salinity has risen to 26-28 ppt throughout.Â
