Harwich Water Quality Task Force Measuring the Quality of Harwich Ponds and Harbors Harwich

Pond Uses
Pond Characteristics
Shape-Peanut		Size-171 Acres	Max Depth-32 feet
Beaches 100 ft Private 100 ft Public		Inlets From Seymour and Long Pond	Outlets-Herring River Headwater
Public Access	Yes	% Developed-80%	% Conservation-1%
Shore Line Vegetation--Unknown at this time (Purple Loosetrife in several areas)
Docks-1 Permanent, 5 removable

Current Conditions
Pond Vegetation-Spreading infestation of Pipewort & Yellow Lily
Shellfish	Mussels	Algae	yes
Turtles, Snakes, Ducks, Geese, Swan and birds of Prey present on the pond
Run Off-3 roads runoff
Erosion-public beach

Conclusions

Present issues-at least runoff from 3 roads, increase {increase} increasing vegetation, dissolved sediment in water (brownish water). Reducing level for bog irrigation- see notes above}.

Future threats-additional spreading of vegetation, over population of water fowl, sediment build up.

Field Data Sheet Comments 2005

The available waterfront is largely developed. The only significant areas not developed are, the public beach, as short section of swampy shore (southwest side) and the 2 cranberry bogs.

I don't know the name of the vegetation but, in addition to the pipewort, there is a great deal of a plant which has short (3-6") stiff, pointed leaves (very fleshy) which grows in depths up to 7-8 feet. I brought samples to John Chatham, who was unable to identify it. Perhaps John Bitzer will know the name?? In any case it covers a good deal of the northeast part of the pond (I don't know about the rest).

There have been several algae blooms this year. this has resulted in many days of odors, a strong swampy smell, when the bloom fades. There was an algae scum on the surface which disappeared before the season was over.

I am concerned about the bogs. Do you know if the water from the bogs is pumped back into the pond after the bogs are flooded for wet harvest? If so, I am concerned about possible fertilizer contamination.

The water level has remained very high in Hinckley's this year (2005), and did not present any problems for the Bogs. It is currently very high, even though the boards in the dam were removed for most of the summer. This has contributed to added shore erosion.

I am not certain of the number of seasonal docks, but I am sure that there are more than 5, maybe as many as 15.

Pond Association
No	Number of Homes	approx. 54	IEP 1989 Study	Yes

Swimming	Yes	Public beach on east end of pond
Boating	Yes	Boat Launch-1 paved private, one dirt-public
Fishing	Yes	Bass, Perch, Bullhead, Ell, Pickerel and Alewife
Other	Air Strip, Bog Irrigation, Herring Run