Indian Ponds Association

“To preserve and protect the natural environment and ecological systems of the Indian Ponds and to participate in studies and work with other agencies to educate the public, serve the community, and promote and preserve the Indian Ponds and surrounding areas”

Indian Ponds Association (IPA) History

• 1958 IPA founded• 1961 One-acre zoning around ponds• 1967 1200-acre conservation area• 1975 10-hp. maximum for motors• 1981 Prevented draining of ponds• 2001 Newsletter and website• 2003 First edition of A Resident’s Guide to

the Indian Ponds• 2008 2nd edition of A Resident’s Guide

Indian Ponds,

Marstons Mills

MA

Mystic Lake

Middle Pond

Hamblin Pond

Mystic Lake (top), Middle Pond, Hamblin Pond (bottom)

Chain Pickerel

Largemouth Bass

Brown Bullhead

Pumpkinseed Sunfish

Yellow Perch

Smallmouth Bass

Fishes of Mystic Lake

New England Bluet Damselfly

Comet Darner Dragonfly

Eastern Pondmussel

Tidewater Mucket

Triangle Floater

Species “of Special Concern” – Mystic Lake

First Pond Study, 2003-2005

First Order Assessment of the Indian Ponds

(Mystic Lake, Middle Pond, and Hamblin Pond)

FINAL REPORT March, 2006

for the

Indian Ponds Association and the Town of Barnstable

Prepared by: Cape Cod Commission Water Resources Program 3225 Main St., PO Box 226 Barnstable, MA 02632 508.362.3828

Pond StudyFindings for Mystic Lake

• Lost 10 vertical feet of oxygenated water in prior 50 years• Impacted by high levels of phosphorus (P)

– 16 ppb in summer– 10 ppb is acceptable

• Principal source of P was regeneration from sediments in summer conditions of low O2

• Watershed sources of P found to be insignificant• Recommendations for Mystic Lake:

– Remediation of P (alum, aeration, etc.)– Continued testing– Address watershed sources of P, review of regulations

Septic System Study

• Average age of residences within 300’ is 35 years

• Average distance of leachfields is 196’ from Mystic Lake

• P travels in ground water at rate of 1 m/yr

• Average time to reach lake ~ 60 years

Obtaining Funding

• June, 2006 – Design and Permitting funded - $80K

• Spring, 2007 – Remediation project approved for inclusion in TOB capital budget - $275K

• Promoted by campaign of letters and e-mails and IPA presentations to Town Manager and Council

Design and Permitting Phase

• Performed by ENSR (now AECOM)• ENSR performed on-site sampling and testing

in summer, 2007– sampled substrate, vegetation, mussels– mapped mussel habitat by video and GPS

• Recommended alum treatment to inactivate P in the sediments

• Prepared a report making the case for permitting

Natural Heritage (NHESP)• Administers the Massachusetts Endangered

Species Act (MESA)

• Receives ~3,000 Notices of Intent (NOI) per year

• Approves 28-30

• Mystic Lake alum treatment NOI was presented by ENSR

NHESP Denied Approval

• Notice of Intent (NOI) for Nutrient Inactivation of Mystic Lake presented to NHESP October, 2008

• NHESP, in November, 2008, declined to issue an approval

• Reasons:– Harm to threatened mussels from alum– Harm to pond’s primary productivity; mussel nutrition– No scientific evidence provided

• IPA and Town formed an Alum Working Group to address the permitting challenge.

First Meeting: NHESP’s Position

• Questioned validity of CCC Pond Study• Pond was in better condition than we said it was and

would be fine for many more years• Even if pond were dying, there was nothing they

could do• Evidence presented wasn’t good enough to

convince them that using alum would benefit the mussels

• Presence of so many mussels was evidence that pond was OK

Second Meeting with NHESP

• IPA and Town returned to NHESP in June, 2009, with a proposal for a reduced dose of alum and monitoring of mussels before, during and after treatment.

• NHESP said they would consider it.

Catastrophe

• On August 16, 2009, Mystic Lake turned green

•Tens of thousands of mussels died

IPA Activities During Algae Bloom

• Tested transparency, DO, and temperature every 2 days

• Searched for live mussels; found very few

• Made video recording of mussel carnage underwater

NHESP Turnaround

• On August 30, NHESP sent a draft letter approving an alum treatment with conditions attached– reduced dosage (25 g/m2)– professional surveys of mussels before, during,

after treatment– caged mussel observations– fall application

New Bathymetric Chart of Mystic Lake, 2009

Third Meeting with NHESP

• March, 2010• NHESP agreed to include northern basins in

treatment footprint • NHESP agreed to variable alum dosages depending

on amount of P found in sediment sample, up to 50 mg/m2

Success Factors

• Strong pond organization– scientists, engineers on Board– communication with members via Newsletter.

website, e-mails– communication with people in government

Success Factors

• Science based approach– quantitative– based on peer-reviewed research

• Pond testing – at least once each summer; more is better– record results systematically; keep in a safe place– build a historic data base– train volunteers for backup

Success Factors

• Building a network– with key people in government– with scientists– with other pond organizations– with our local constituency

• Building a strong organization– ongoing recruitment– sharing of responsibility– communication

• Persistence

Never

lose hope!

For More Information

• To obtain: – A copy of this presentation– A Resident’s Guide to the Indian Ponds– IPA Newsletter subscription

• E-mail: info@indianponds.org

• Website: www.indianponds.org