IMPORTANT ISSUES:
Welcome to our new board members KRISTIN BUCK, TIM HALL AND ANDREA MIANO!!!!
Nobnocket inn kind traveler program
Lagoon Pond Association is privileged to have been chosen by Nobnocket Inn out of all the non-profits out there! See the article published in Blue Dot Living!
Down Island Speaker Series
The third Down Island Speaker event was held on October 24th at the Edgartown Library. Bryan Horsley from MASSTC joined us to talk about strategies for wastewater nutrient pollution management. Bryan discussed three categories of wastewater management including centralized sewers/municipal treatment plants, onsite I/A septic systems, and onsite eco-sanitation systems. He shared considerable detail on existing systems and those in development - many being researched at MASSTC - especially in the latter two categories; and for all three was able to provide insight into comparative costs, energy usage, regulatory challenges, pros and cons. Generously, Bryan shared his slides, which are included here. As for the two previous talks, the audience was sizable and engaged. The fourth and final talk will be held virtually in January with more information coming later this year.
Be Sure to attend our next talk on January 30 – see calendar on the right.
second annual biodiversity survey
The Lagoon Pond Association held its second annual biodiversity survey at Douglas Cove on October 15th! Click here to see our seaweed chart and learn how you can help the pond!
Led by Maria Abate, PhD, our science committee chair, samples were collected in the North Basin of Lagoon Pond from the shore between Douglas Cove and Brush Pond. Using a 6 ft x 50 ft foot ¼ inch mesh seine with 4 x 4 x 4 ft bag, two separate samples were taken. The organisms were gathered, sorted, counted. measured, and promptly returned to the water. It is important to note that due to high temperatures and algal blooms in August and September, the biodiversity survey was postponed until October. With the cooler temps, we saw a much lower amount of algae than last August.
Members of the Lagoon Pond Association board along with Tisbury Shellfish participated in the sampling. The first seine was taken at 3pm on a -0.1 ft tide. Seine 2 was taken on the incoming tide at 4pm. The water quality was good with the following parameters taken 1ft below the surface: 15.4 degrees C, 60 F, pH 7.87, salinity 47.9 ms/cm, 100.9% sat, 8.28 mg/l, chlorophyll 7.85 ug/l. Seventeen species of macro-fauna were found including: 8 species of fish with the total length of 72 fish measured, 3 crustacean species, 1 mollusc, and 5 species of seaweed/algae. Juveniles from several fish species were represented in these 2 short-distance traversed seines including one striped bass, 2 winter flounder, 1 cunner and 12 tautog. Seaweed was not excessive and tunicates were not found. Still, eelgrass blades were notably absent, but pipefish and young bay scallops were present. Total mobile fauna was circa 83 with the most abundant fish being the Atlantic silverside.
Photos of each species were taken to help with identification.
We hope to begin a program of more frequent surveys and to include interested supporters of the Lagoon, beginning Spring of 2025!
Earth Day 2024
The LPA recently participated in the Earth Day beach clean up and Earth Day Conservation Festival at the museum! Pictured above is Dani Ewart, Doug Reece, Amy Russo, Lani Goldthorpe, and Rick Karney cleaning up trash and managing our booth!
Happening on Lagoon Pond:
Safe Harbors Marina: LPA is collaborating with Safe Harbors Marina on water quality and boating safety issues on Lagoon Pond
Read MV Times article re Nitrogen Pollution Remediation
UPDATE: The MV Shellfish Group succeeded in planting eelgrass in the
Lagoon. With assistance from LPA members in collecting shoots and
participating in the weaving, Alley McConnell (Restoration Coordinator) and
two scuba certified volunteers placed the shoots in a marked area near the
bridge. Fingers crossed for success !
Relevant Happenings and events:
September 10: Thank you to all who attended and donated items to our Silent Auction! And a SPECIAL THANKS to Ann Smith at Featherstone Center for the Arts for providing the lovely venue. What a wonderful evening was had by all!!
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Get Involved
We welcome new members, both individual and business, to the Lagoon Pond Association (LPA). The LPA is a public interest group dedicated to improving the quality of the environment around Lagoon Pond on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. LPA members have the opportunity keep up to date on critical issues influencing the water quality in the Lagoon through both our own programs and more generally by affecting the policies and actions of several governmental entities that have influence on the environment around the pond.
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Volunteer opportunities
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Our Impact:
573+
acres impacted
The Lagoon Pond estuarine system is a simple estuary with a single armored inlet through the barrier beach. Its 3,889 acre watershed is situated along the eastern edge of Martha’s Vineyard and is bounded by the Sengekontacket Pond watershed to the east. Lagoon Pond itself is 573 acres and lies in a north/south orientation with one small tributary cove referred to as the West Arm, and the main tidal reach consisting of a lower , middle and upper basin based upon geomorphologic features.
30+
Years Serving communities
The LPA was formed 1n 1989 by the merging of two similar organizations: the Oklahoma Association in Tisbury and the Eastville-Lagoon Association in Oak Bluffs. Both had the same essential mission—to protect and preserve Lagoon Pond. In 1989 they “came to their senses” and merged to become a single, stronger voice.