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2002 testing program results
can be found here.
Historical data are found below. Click
the links below to download the the data for each sample area. Data
may be viewed using Adobe
Acrobat Reader.
2001 Water Quality Summary
Let us start by saying the good news is that our ponds are healthy and
clean...with some caveats. By looking at the data sets for each
of the ponds over recent years' tests and comparing the results to the
qualitative criteria for "healthy" water included below each
data set, one can get a rough idea of where each pond stands. It
should be noted that these data are only a few chemical measures for each
pond that are widely separated in time and space. There could be
(and most likely are) wide variations in these parameters that our spot
sampling does not resolve. More frequent sampling of these and other
chemical, biological, and ecological parameters would be required to get
a "complete" picture of the status of our ponds.
With that said, we can see some trends starting to appear in our data.
Combining these trends with general observation of the ponds over time
we can't escape that our ponds are basically strong and healthy. We
are lucky to be living amongst such beautiful waters! Turtles, frogs,
fish, birds, and native plants still thrive in and around the waters of
the Six Ponds. However, signs are beginning to appear that Nature
is starting to waver in its battle against the many anthropogenic insults
we hurl at these waters.
Little Long Pond is a good example of how the ponds may be starting to
show signs of injury. If you look at the data set for Little Long,
you can see several red highlighted numbers. These indicate where
the "healthy" criteria discussed have been violated. Little
Long seems to be teetering on the edge in dealing with nutrient and acid
inputs. It is also at the outlet to Little Long where it joins Long
Pond near the boat ramp that Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), an
exotic menace, has made an appearance. Purple Loosestrife is an
invasive, introduced European plant that outcompetes native wetland plants
and thus alters habitat for native flora and fauna.
We should continue to monitor for additional signs of stress in our area
and, if possible, address the areas of concern as they arise. The
Six Ponds Executive Committee has and will be discussing appropriate remedial
measures to tackle these and other problems in the future. Anyone
interested in helping by volunteering time, expertise or sharing knowledge
of particular problems you might be aware of will help preserve and enhance
the water quality of our ponds for the future.
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