Great Pond Foundation header banner

News



18th of August 2020

2019 EMR EGP

2019 Ecosystem Monitoring Report – EGP: Beginning with 2019, Great Pond Foundation will be releasing an annual Ecosystem Monitoring Report in addition to our traditional Annual Report. This new report describes the health of Edgartown Great Pond, based upon data from our scientific monitoring program. It contains educational resources such a visual glossary that will […]


12th of August 2020

GPF Annual Report – 2019

Explore our work in the 2019 Annual Report! We are proud to bring you Great Pond Foundation’s Annual Report – 2019.  Please explore our work and learn about how our work over the last decade has made Edgartown Great Pond a Restoration Success Story. ~ Learn how Dredging Keeps Edgartown Great Pond Alive. ~ Discover […]


10th of August 2020

2020 Zoom Speaker Series: Cocktails and Conversations

Join us for an online speaker series, presented by the Great Pond Foundation Advisory Council. You supply the cocktails; we supply the conversation! Nitrogen: Too Much of a Good Thing Transforming Nitrogen in Your Own Backyard: Green Practices for Greenscapes


3rd of July 2020

Watershed Housing Density

Density Matters: One of the reasons Edgartown Great Pond is among the healthiest Island ponds is because of the very low housing density immediately surrounding it.  Properties with frontage on Edgartown Great Pond (EGP) have an average housing density of 212 square feet per acre (367,049 ft2 / 1734 acres). By the same methodology, the […]


EGP Delisted by DEP

Edgartown Great Pond Removed From Impairment List: Edgartown Great Pond has been delisted by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (Mass DEP). This means that Edgartown Great Pond has sufficiently low levels of bacteria to be considered safe for shellfishing, swimming, and boating.


Dredging Is Essential to Pond Health

A Tale of Two Cuts: A decade of dredging in Edgartown Great Pond has increased the circulation of seawater throughout the Pond during openings, which has resulted in measurable improvements to water quality and ecosystem health.  Before annual dredging began, EGP had impaired water quality, frequent algal blooms, and a struggling oyster population.  With regular […]


8th of May 2020

Island Resilience

The water that divides us from the mainland, unites us as a community. Martha’s Vineyard is celebrated for abundant and beautiful natural spaces, but one of our greatest assets is our strong and resilient community. Our physical isolation from the mainland reminds us of the essential role our community and its resources play in our […]


23rd of March 2020

Bald Eagles

Bald Eagle Pair Visits EGP Bald Eagles have been seen near Edgartown Great Pond in recent years. Yesterday, Sunday March 22nd, while the Pond was draining into the Atlantic Ocean, a pair of bald eagles was spotted in the air above the Pond. The Gazette reports that the pair recently nested in an undisclosed location […]


Spring Cut 2020

EGP Spring Opening: March 2020 Edgartown Great Pond was about 3.7 feet above sea level before the barrier beach was cut open to the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday, March 22, 2020.  The Pond was began draining with a strong flow and was still draining as of Monday afternoon.  There are two phases to every cut: […]


5th of March 2020

Data & Pond Health

Data Supports the Continued Health of Edgartown Great Pond EGP has a vibrant and thriving ecosystem thanks to the data-driven management by the Town of Edgartown, the scientific monitoring and conservation by GPF, and the oyster restoration of the MVSG. The elevation of the Pond is on the rise as we head towards spring.  Data indicate […]