by Leslie Spencer
My husband Larry and I and our two dogs relocated from Boston to our home on Fresh Pond in August of 2020. It seemed like the perfect spot for us to enjoy in retirement. Fresh Pond is a small tranquil pond of less than 8 acres with a mix of residential property owners, a town owned well and privately owned land that has been designated as conservation land. There is no public boat or beach access and no gas powered boats are allowed. In the short time we have lived here, we have enjoyed swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding (with our dogs on board) and fishing with our children and grandchildren as well as just relaxing at the shore enjoying the beautiful view and wildlife. We have loved watching many birds, ducks, rabbits, turtles, frogs and fish enjoy their habitat. I have even seen a playful mink hopping along the shore!
In June of 2021, less than a year after moving to our home on Fresh Pond, we learned through an article in The Falmouth Enterprise that Fresh Pond had tested positive for Cyanobacteria at a high level that could be harmful to humans, pets and wildlife. This was a shock and concerning not only from a health standpoint but also I wondered how this might affect our property value should it become an ongoing issue. I had noted during our home search that properties that were located on ponds with known long term water quality issues were on the real estate market longer and were selling for less.
After reading the article in The Falmouth Enterprise, individually concerned neighbors around Fresh Pond called various town officials and some reached out to APCC with concerns. This further led to the creation of a group email list of concerned property owners so that we could communicate with one another regarding the pond, any concerns about it’s health and how to best protect it. Some neighbors agreed to contribute towards the cost of a testing program for Cyanobacteria through the APCC throughout the rest of the summer. A big thank you is owed to Kevin Johnson, ecologist from the APCC for educating us about the testing program and waterfront property owner and neighbor Nancy Buckley for coordinating this effort! Thankfully, for the remainder of the summer there were no high levels of Cyanobacteria and we were able to enjoy full recreation on our pond!
In my short time as a pondfront property owner, my eyes have been opened to the importance of joining together in educating ourselves and one another as a community about how to best protect and preserve this natural treasure in our backyards!
Got a Pond Story you want to share? Email Kristin Andres at kandres@apcc.org
Pond Stories are a collection of writings from Cape Codders and visitors who love the 1000 local ponds that dot the Cape. We hope this collection of stories, that are as much endearing as they are environmentally aware, will awaken your inner environmentalist to think deeper about our human impacts to these unique bodies of water. Check out these valuable resources to learn more about the current challenges Cape Cod ponds are facing and how you can be a better pond steward in your town.
