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23rd of June 2022

Bird Deaths on Island Beaches

Dozens of birds have recently been falling ill to an unknown cause, many of whom share our shoreline and call it home. Gulls, eiders, and cormorants are some of the few that have “appear[ed] sick, injured, or deceased” according to state officials. Please don’t touch the birds and report any sightings to the state of […]


27th of May 2022

Wastewater Nitrogen Study

Nitrogen Sources in Island Great Ponds: A new study by Marine Biological Laboratory Scientists in collaboration with Great Pond Foundation identifies wastewater and the greatest contributor of nitrogen to 4 great ponds along the south shore of Martha’s Vineyard. Nitrogen from wastewater accounts for over half of the nitrogen in Edgartown Great Pond, Tisbury Great […]


Spring Cut Update

When will EGP be cut next? Edgartown Great Pond was opened to the Atlantic Ocean the Town of Edgartown on Monday April 4th, 2022. The pond drained and then remained tidal for about 24 hours. Per Edgartown Shellfish Constable, Rob Morrison, the official opening duration was 5 days. The salinity of Edgartown Great Pond did […]


10th of March 2022

Changing of the Guard

At the Helm of Great Pond Management: After decades of service to the Town of Edgartown’s shellfish and waters, longtime Edgartown Shellfish Constable, Paul Bagnall has retired. We want to wish him a fond farewell and the best of luck now that he has more time for all the bests parts of life on the […]


Celebrating Women of Science

GPF Women of Science on MVYRadio’s Night Casts March is Women’s History Month and we are celebrating women of science with the help of the wise and wonderful woman of words, MVYRadio’s Laurel Redington. Great Pond Foundation is lucky to have three female scientists on staff: Communications Coordinator – Erin Hepfner, Scientific Program Director – […]


2nd of February 2022

Congratulations Julie!

GPF’s New Scientific Program Director: We are proud to announce that in January, Julie Pringle, formerly GPF’s Scientific Program manager, was promoted to Scientific Program Director. Fortuitously, Julie joined on team on Earth Day 2019. Since becoming a member of our scientific staff, Julie has expanded the Foundation’s scientific capacity, both in terms of the […]


16th of December 2021

Farewell 2021

Ecological Time Capsule: When you are alone on the shores of one of the Island’s great ponds, do you ever feel that you are apart from time, as if you are experiencing a nature of centuries past? To be able to step away from the normal confines of time and technology and simply experience the […]


GPF’s Annual Report 2020:

Explore our work in the 2020 Annual Report! We are proud to bring you Great Pond Foundation’s Annual Report – 2020.  Please join Great Pond Foundation in our efforts to restore the ecological health of our coastal ponds through scientifically informed management, public education, and community collaboration.It is going to take an Island of informed […]


25th of November 2021

Nitrogen Sources

Curious about the sources of nitrogen pollution in our Great Ponds? This is the first installment of the Island Ponds Community Workshop, held on December 2nd, 2021, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Javier Lloret giving a presentation entitled: Using Stable Isotopes to Identify Sources & Effects of Nitrogen Pollution in Great Pond. Our ponds are struggling! […]


24th of November 2021

Giving Thanks

On behalf of the Great Pond Foundation Board of Directors and Executive Director: We are grateful for… Kent Healy who never stopped teaching us all how to be better pond stewards the opportunity to persevere precious pond data, thanks to the MV Community Foundation Town of Edgartown for dredging the Great Pond, ensuring pond cuts result in a […]