The Oyster Pond Environmental Trust Newsletter, Winter 1997
OPET, P.O. Box 496, Woods Hole, MA 02543-0496
The Nov 8/9 storm was not a big one but potent enough to fill in the Trunk River mouth. A narrow channel, easily shoveled, quickly grew by itself once the water started flowing. Dark with alewife fingerlings ready to head out into the ocean world, the water came alive as the schools of little fish made their way to the Sound, silvery undersides flashing as they got tumbled in the shallow water rippling across the final stretch of pebbles. Oyster Pond must have been a good nursery for this year's spawn.
In anticipation of the expected construction of the weir at the pond outlet, OPET has been collecting "baseline" data on fecal coliform bacteria counts in the pond. With these data, we will be able to assess whether the restriction of mixing with the ocean and consequent freshening of the pond will have any negative impacts on water purity in regard to bacteria. The accompanying figure compares the data from the past 18 months with historical monthly averages for the 1984-1994 period. With the exception of the high 1996 summer values, and the one high value from the upper pond in June of this year, the pond appears to be substantially cleaner than normal. If is noteworthy that the peak of the spring waterfowl migration, this year from about mid-April to mid-May, did not cause any elevation of the coliform counts (a duck census during this period ranged from 150-200 birds'; geese were present as well, but they excrete only 10 percent as many bacteria as do ducks). At present we are unsure as to why the pond has been cleaner this year than in years past. Insofar as the present salinity of the pond is close to the target range to be established following weir installation, we are hopeful that low coliform bacteria counts will be the new standard for the pond. We will continue to monitor this issue throughout the coming year. -- Stanley Hart
Fecal coliform bacteria counts taken from Oyster Pond during the 1996/1997 time period. Squares with arrows are readings quoted only as "greater than 50"; open squares are samples taken from the head of the pond, at the Ransom Road dock; tilled squares are samples taken from various locations on the lower pond (Onawa Lane, Quonset Road, Surf Drive outlet). Data are courtesy of S.R. Hart and John Mendes (Mass. Dept. of Marine Fisheries). The solid-line histogram gives the average monthly coliform counts for the 10 year period 1984-1994, as reported in the epilogue from the recently reprinted edition of k.O Emery's book. The May and June averages are 160 and 140, respectively (off-scale in this figure).
Well, it looks like it is going to happen Town Meeting, on Nov 11/18/97 approved $35,000.00 for construction of a weir at the outlet of Oyster Pond. Invitations to Bid are out, and bid opening will be 12/28/97. It is George Calise's (Town Engineer) intention that the weir will be in and operating by 3/18/98, in time for the herring run.
It is Brian Howes' plan that the Pond Watchers will continue to monitor the pond to help set the proper elevation for the outlet at the weir and to assess wafer qualify. As we collect information on the pond as time goes on, we will report it here We wish to fhank all OPET members and others who put in effort and "good words" for this. -- Barry Norris
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