Excerpts from Ponderings Newletters
The following notes are taken from the Ponderings Newsletters from 1987- 2014 to provide a brief history of the work our White Pond Neighborhood has taken over the last 27 years to ensure the health and preservation of our shared natural resource. This newsletter was started in 1987 by a group of neighbors called Friends of White Pond.
When the town and various volunteer groups like Friends of White Pond (FoWP,) the White Pond Advisory Committee (WPAC), The Natural Resources Commission (NRC) and the Dover Street Property Owners Association (DPOA) worked together, they accomplished several vital project which contributed to the health and preservation of the pond.
These projects included:
1. Starting a septic system cleaning/maintenance program
2. Monitoring water quality
3. Naturalizing the dunes and Sachem's Cove
4. Purchasing Unisys land in 1992
5. Cleaning up conservation land
6. Cleaning up the bottom of the pond
7. Erosion control
8. Installing signs regarding conservation land regulations
9. Repairing and paving the streets in the White Pond neighborhood
10. Installing a catch basin at the boat ramp
1987
The Friends of White Pond was established in 1987 by concerned residents to preserve and improve the quality of the pond. Their objectives are to disseminate information regarding water quality, provide information about what can be done to maintain and improve water quality, encourage and help implement plans which would preserve and protect the pond as a unique natural resource. They begin a campaign to encourage residents to care for their septic systems by regular maintenance.
First recorded algae bloom- 1986
Dr. William Walker begins his testing of the pond water.
1988
On June 16, 1988, members of the WPAC, town manager (Alan Edmond), Chief of Police, (Carl Johnson) and Dan Monahan (Natural Resource Director) walked around the pond to introduce town officials to the pond and its problems. Mentioned were illegal parking, alcohol consumption, swimming, trespassing, after hour parties noise and trash. The town officials were responsive resulting in increased police patrols of the area.
1989
Erosion control on conservation land was discussed at the WPAC meetings.There is an area of severe erosion which, due to limited town finances, DNR was not able to fund. Hans Abraham local resident and architect, draws up plans for erosion repair and control. Hopes for implementation next year.
Four new signs for conservation land are installed by town via DNR.
1991
New England Aquarium diving club volunteers to clean up pond bottom.
Conservation land will get bank stabilization with burlap bags filled with soil, hemp mat and new plantings thanks to Dan M and volunteers.
Run-off control from the county access road next to the White Pond Associates beach mentioned. Steps are taken to remediate this problem and catch basins are installed.
1992
Budget cutbacks mean not hiring Dr. Walker for water quality testing. He suggests a volunteer group. Several people volunteer including Judith and George Sprott.
The Town of Concord buys Unisys land for $300,000. Citizens voice concerns over managing this property.
Badly eroded hillside on town conservation land stabilized thanks to volunteers, MM High School and Dan Monahan who provided materials, organized people and worked along side the volunteers.
Don Prentiss and other volunteers known as the “green people” remove wire fencing around reservation land and did some trail improvement.
BoS, NRC and WPAC put together a task force to produce a management plan. See page 14. They rename the Unisys land, White Pond Reservation. The town manages this land for passive recreation; swimming is not permitted.
In October WPAC presents their preliminary plan to BoS. The plan recommends that Reservation land be treated as conservation land. BoS approves the report and directed task force to continue its work.
1993
Dr. William Walker sets up a volunteer water testing program with help of Board of Health and the Mass. Water Watch Partnership. They will test 4 areas of the pond beginning in May and ending in September. The Board of Health with support from Michael Moore, director of the Board buys the equipment to test the water.
Septic system pumping continues thanks to FoWP .
Stabilization of the slop and open area at Sachem’s Cove (trees/shrubs, mulch) organized by Dan Monahan.
Dan Monahan. starts natural history walks
1994
Dan Monahan starts bird walks around the pond.
Town of Concord cleans up conservation land, removes dead wood, fills in washed out access road.
Shore clean up coordinated with Diver’s Environmental Survey, a dive team who will clean up the bottom of pond.
Police Enforcement Update:
There were 78 incidents in the White Pond area between Jan. 1- June 21 at conservation land, county access road and Varick St. parking area including parking violations, alcohol and drug possession.
Chief Wetherbee gave an overview of Police Department concerns. The conservation officer will be replaced by regular patrols because car break-ins, over parking and inappropriate use of White Pond Reservation has been a problem.
1995
During an April-Meeting with Chief Leonard Wetherbee and residents of the White Pond neighborhood at Willard School, he reports the following police statistics from 1994:
64 parking issues
29 suspicious motor vehicles
28 disturbances
8 requests for service
5 car break-ins
2 larcenies
8 arrests
17 criminal summons
26 citation and or bylaws violations
93 parking tickets and or cars towed.
June- most calls logged- 60; July 38; May; 15.
He plans to do mountain bike patrols.
Other actions include:
Dover St. will be a part of a traffic study with traffic counter. Yellow speed advisory signs will be installed on Plainfield and Dover. Crosswalk around school and on Plainfield will be painted. Alden Rd. will be observed to see if permit parking signs are warranted.
The “dunes” (the sandy slope at the cove) have been naturalized with help of Macone Brothers, Boy Scouts, Green People neighbors, Friends of White Pond. The area has been planted with 50 lbs. tall fescue grass seed, 200 lbs. rye grass seed, 750 bushes and saplings and some white pine trees.
April 1985- Divers are back to clean up the bottom of the pond.
1996
Friends of White Pond has been responsible for water quality testing (bi-weekly transparency Secchi disk) for the last ten years.
Purple loosestrife seen at White Pond. Judith and George Sprott have pulled up many of these invaders.
Establishment of a computer database of water quality testing results from 1988 to present.
Town of Concord Annual Meeting adopts Article 18 authorizing DPW to make road repairs on most private ways in the White Pond neighborhood.
1997
Public Works Commission received two petitions for road repairs and is requesting authority from the town to borrow $300,000 for road repairs in the White Pond neighborhood. Residents would then be assessed a betterment to pay for these repairs.
1999
Friends of White Pond sponsors another clean up day including divers from New England Aquarium, NRC and fire and police departments.
2000
Outbreak of giardia recorded at the pond.
Increase in fecal coliforms at White Pond. 43% of measurements taken exceed safe level at Sachem’s Cove.
White Pond Reservation land being considered by the town as a possible site for wastewater treatment plan.
2002
Frost Farm and Northwood, two senior housing projects in Sudbury within walking distance to White Pond near completion. An easement agreement signed by Concord in 1992 gives Sudbury residents free access to the trail system but no right to swim.
Concern for increased foot traffic will cause greater erosion on trails.
Friends of White Pond suggests that town move forward and designate members for a task force to develop comprehensive land use plan for reservation and conservation land.
2003
The town manager asked WPAC Chair Ken Miller to head up a task force to design and recommend a management plan for the Concord Reservation land a 40 acre plot (previously Unisys land) with 1200 feet of shoreline. This land is managed by the NRC and therefore subject to the rules and regulations governing Concord conservation land.
In April 2003, NRC administrator Markus Pinney convened a meeting with Task Force members to consider use of the land and to formulate a plan to deal with abuse of land and enforcement of regulations (especially concerning swimming, fires and alcohol use) and also erosion of the banks, parking, trash, signage and stewardship.
2006
Water quality concerns- new form of algae in the pond and the dissolved oxygen in the lower waters of the pond continues to approach zero- not good news.
Proposed Bruce Freeman Rail Trail raises serious concern for the water quality of the pond. Humans swimming in the pond can be a direct source of phosphorous. A US geological survey report states that in 2001 as much as 50% of the phosphorous at Walden Pond is from swimmer’s urine despite public restrooms.
New management plan proposed by the WPAC.
2007
Dr. Walker proposes an aquatic vegetation survey.
In Oct. 2006, FoWP and WPAC met with Chris Whelan to talk about water quality management. He proposed that the town do a profession study of threats to the pond.
Delia Kaye, Natural Resources Administrator hosts “Big Night” to look for salamanders and wood frogs.
New technology available: airplane that scans pond to identify septic plumes.
New website created for White Pond: whitepond.org
2006 Ranger program report:
From early June- to early September the town employed two rangers to monitor town owned land and ensure compliance with Concord Land Use regulations. They also collected trash, maintained daily logs and issued parking tickets. They made 5 trips daily and were there about 2.5 hours each day which represents 30% of their time. Most of their time was spent educating people that swimming from town owned land governed my conservation regulations is not allowed. 50% of the swimmers left voluntarily while others refused or threatened to get back in the water once the rangers left.
2008
Town votes to pave the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in the White Pond area with asphalt.
There is a concern for an increasing number of dogs being “walked" around the pond. The Sudbury Valley Trustees have a policy of no dogs in streams and ponds because it causes damage to fragile habitats and increases erosion. Dog waste can pollute the pond.
Wastewater Management plan is still on hold.
WPAC submits recommendations to the BoS and the BFRT Advisory Committee regarding issues around White Pond to minimize environmental impact and to promote proper use of land given the increase of visitors to the area.
2009
WPAC working with town to add wooden “no swimming” signs to the existing signposts at the entrances to the town land and pursuing funds for a management plan.
A Trails Committee, as sub-committee of the NRC was created in Oct. 2007 to monitor the condition of existing public woodland trails and identify areas needing improvement.
2010
High water at the pond causes many problems: Killing trees, shrubs, vegetation and shoreline vegetation, bringing additional organic debris and soils into the pond water- including phosphorous which supports the algae and aquatic vegetation that degrade the water quality. Swimmers use steep banks to sit on causing further erosion.
2011
Thanks to Jim Lyon for getting town support for funding through the Community Preservation Coalition to create a management plan for the pond.
Town of Concord Solar Siting Committee drafts a report indicating that White Pond Reservation as a possible site for utility scale solar generation.
2012
White Pond Management Plan update RFP completed and CPC funds obtained.
BFRT update. Friends of Bruce Freeman Rail Trail donate $50,000 to pay for preliminary design of half mile portion to the rail trail from Concord-Sudbury town line in the woods adjacent to White Pond.
2014
Dr. William Walker has submitted a water quality report.
Degradation of water quality has leveled off. Dissolved oxygen levels continue to be very low which could trigger release of phosphorous if it reaches zero for several years.
The watershed management plan, known as the ESS report is completed and is now being reviewed by the WPAC. The WPAC and community members raise some concerns about the accuracy of the water quality measurements. This plan does not address people management.The highest levels of phosphorous and erosion are found on town owned land.
BFRT update: A sub-committee has been set up between the WPAC and the BFRT Advisory Committee. They are working on signage to direct traffic and educate users of trail about sensitive nature around the pond.
A 6 foot high wrought iron fence will be installed on pond side running the length of the pond. Entrance has been moved 84 feet further south.
The Town of Concord has made no concrete plans regarding maintenance of rail trail. It is waiting for final results of the ESS Report.
Sudbury has voted to proceed with their section of the rail trail.
When the town and various volunteer groups like Friends of White Pond (FoWP,) the White Pond Advisory Committee (WPAC), The Natural Resources Commission (NRC) and the Dover Street Property Owners Association (DPOA) worked together, they accomplished several vital project which contributed to the health and preservation of the pond.
These projects included:
1. Starting a septic system cleaning/maintenance program
2. Monitoring water quality
3. Naturalizing the dunes and Sachem's Cove
4. Purchasing Unisys land in 1992
5. Cleaning up conservation land
6. Cleaning up the bottom of the pond
7. Erosion control
8. Installing signs regarding conservation land regulations
9. Repairing and paving the streets in the White Pond neighborhood
10. Installing a catch basin at the boat ramp
1987
The Friends of White Pond was established in 1987 by concerned residents to preserve and improve the quality of the pond. Their objectives are to disseminate information regarding water quality, provide information about what can be done to maintain and improve water quality, encourage and help implement plans which would preserve and protect the pond as a unique natural resource. They begin a campaign to encourage residents to care for their septic systems by regular maintenance.
First recorded algae bloom- 1986
Dr. William Walker begins his testing of the pond water.
1988
On June 16, 1988, members of the WPAC, town manager (Alan Edmond), Chief of Police, (Carl Johnson) and Dan Monahan (Natural Resource Director) walked around the pond to introduce town officials to the pond and its problems. Mentioned were illegal parking, alcohol consumption, swimming, trespassing, after hour parties noise and trash. The town officials were responsive resulting in increased police patrols of the area.
1989
Erosion control on conservation land was discussed at the WPAC meetings.There is an area of severe erosion which, due to limited town finances, DNR was not able to fund. Hans Abraham local resident and architect, draws up plans for erosion repair and control. Hopes for implementation next year.
Four new signs for conservation land are installed by town via DNR.
1991
New England Aquarium diving club volunteers to clean up pond bottom.
Conservation land will get bank stabilization with burlap bags filled with soil, hemp mat and new plantings thanks to Dan M and volunteers.
Run-off control from the county access road next to the White Pond Associates beach mentioned. Steps are taken to remediate this problem and catch basins are installed.
1992
Budget cutbacks mean not hiring Dr. Walker for water quality testing. He suggests a volunteer group. Several people volunteer including Judith and George Sprott.
The Town of Concord buys Unisys land for $300,000. Citizens voice concerns over managing this property.
Badly eroded hillside on town conservation land stabilized thanks to volunteers, MM High School and Dan Monahan who provided materials, organized people and worked along side the volunteers.
Don Prentiss and other volunteers known as the “green people” remove wire fencing around reservation land and did some trail improvement.
BoS, NRC and WPAC put together a task force to produce a management plan. See page 14. They rename the Unisys land, White Pond Reservation. The town manages this land for passive recreation; swimming is not permitted.
In October WPAC presents their preliminary plan to BoS. The plan recommends that Reservation land be treated as conservation land. BoS approves the report and directed task force to continue its work.
1993
Dr. William Walker sets up a volunteer water testing program with help of Board of Health and the Mass. Water Watch Partnership. They will test 4 areas of the pond beginning in May and ending in September. The Board of Health with support from Michael Moore, director of the Board buys the equipment to test the water.
Septic system pumping continues thanks to FoWP .
Stabilization of the slop and open area at Sachem’s Cove (trees/shrubs, mulch) organized by Dan Monahan.
Dan Monahan. starts natural history walks
1994
Dan Monahan starts bird walks around the pond.
Town of Concord cleans up conservation land, removes dead wood, fills in washed out access road.
Shore clean up coordinated with Diver’s Environmental Survey, a dive team who will clean up the bottom of pond.
Police Enforcement Update:
There were 78 incidents in the White Pond area between Jan. 1- June 21 at conservation land, county access road and Varick St. parking area including parking violations, alcohol and drug possession.
Chief Wetherbee gave an overview of Police Department concerns. The conservation officer will be replaced by regular patrols because car break-ins, over parking and inappropriate use of White Pond Reservation has been a problem.
1995
During an April-Meeting with Chief Leonard Wetherbee and residents of the White Pond neighborhood at Willard School, he reports the following police statistics from 1994:
64 parking issues
29 suspicious motor vehicles
28 disturbances
8 requests for service
5 car break-ins
2 larcenies
8 arrests
17 criminal summons
26 citation and or bylaws violations
93 parking tickets and or cars towed.
June- most calls logged- 60; July 38; May; 15.
He plans to do mountain bike patrols.
Other actions include:
Dover St. will be a part of a traffic study with traffic counter. Yellow speed advisory signs will be installed on Plainfield and Dover. Crosswalk around school and on Plainfield will be painted. Alden Rd. will be observed to see if permit parking signs are warranted.
The “dunes” (the sandy slope at the cove) have been naturalized with help of Macone Brothers, Boy Scouts, Green People neighbors, Friends of White Pond. The area has been planted with 50 lbs. tall fescue grass seed, 200 lbs. rye grass seed, 750 bushes and saplings and some white pine trees.
April 1985- Divers are back to clean up the bottom of the pond.
1996
Friends of White Pond has been responsible for water quality testing (bi-weekly transparency Secchi disk) for the last ten years.
Purple loosestrife seen at White Pond. Judith and George Sprott have pulled up many of these invaders.
Establishment of a computer database of water quality testing results from 1988 to present.
Town of Concord Annual Meeting adopts Article 18 authorizing DPW to make road repairs on most private ways in the White Pond neighborhood.
1997
Public Works Commission received two petitions for road repairs and is requesting authority from the town to borrow $300,000 for road repairs in the White Pond neighborhood. Residents would then be assessed a betterment to pay for these repairs.
1999
Friends of White Pond sponsors another clean up day including divers from New England Aquarium, NRC and fire and police departments.
2000
Outbreak of giardia recorded at the pond.
Increase in fecal coliforms at White Pond. 43% of measurements taken exceed safe level at Sachem’s Cove.
White Pond Reservation land being considered by the town as a possible site for wastewater treatment plan.
2002
Frost Farm and Northwood, two senior housing projects in Sudbury within walking distance to White Pond near completion. An easement agreement signed by Concord in 1992 gives Sudbury residents free access to the trail system but no right to swim.
Concern for increased foot traffic will cause greater erosion on trails.
Friends of White Pond suggests that town move forward and designate members for a task force to develop comprehensive land use plan for reservation and conservation land.
2003
The town manager asked WPAC Chair Ken Miller to head up a task force to design and recommend a management plan for the Concord Reservation land a 40 acre plot (previously Unisys land) with 1200 feet of shoreline. This land is managed by the NRC and therefore subject to the rules and regulations governing Concord conservation land.
In April 2003, NRC administrator Markus Pinney convened a meeting with Task Force members to consider use of the land and to formulate a plan to deal with abuse of land and enforcement of regulations (especially concerning swimming, fires and alcohol use) and also erosion of the banks, parking, trash, signage and stewardship.
2006
Water quality concerns- new form of algae in the pond and the dissolved oxygen in the lower waters of the pond continues to approach zero- not good news.
Proposed Bruce Freeman Rail Trail raises serious concern for the water quality of the pond. Humans swimming in the pond can be a direct source of phosphorous. A US geological survey report states that in 2001 as much as 50% of the phosphorous at Walden Pond is from swimmer’s urine despite public restrooms.
New management plan proposed by the WPAC.
2007
Dr. Walker proposes an aquatic vegetation survey.
In Oct. 2006, FoWP and WPAC met with Chris Whelan to talk about water quality management. He proposed that the town do a profession study of threats to the pond.
Delia Kaye, Natural Resources Administrator hosts “Big Night” to look for salamanders and wood frogs.
New technology available: airplane that scans pond to identify septic plumes.
New website created for White Pond: whitepond.org
2006 Ranger program report:
From early June- to early September the town employed two rangers to monitor town owned land and ensure compliance with Concord Land Use regulations. They also collected trash, maintained daily logs and issued parking tickets. They made 5 trips daily and were there about 2.5 hours each day which represents 30% of their time. Most of their time was spent educating people that swimming from town owned land governed my conservation regulations is not allowed. 50% of the swimmers left voluntarily while others refused or threatened to get back in the water once the rangers left.
2008
Town votes to pave the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in the White Pond area with asphalt.
There is a concern for an increasing number of dogs being “walked" around the pond. The Sudbury Valley Trustees have a policy of no dogs in streams and ponds because it causes damage to fragile habitats and increases erosion. Dog waste can pollute the pond.
Wastewater Management plan is still on hold.
WPAC submits recommendations to the BoS and the BFRT Advisory Committee regarding issues around White Pond to minimize environmental impact and to promote proper use of land given the increase of visitors to the area.
2009
WPAC working with town to add wooden “no swimming” signs to the existing signposts at the entrances to the town land and pursuing funds for a management plan.
A Trails Committee, as sub-committee of the NRC was created in Oct. 2007 to monitor the condition of existing public woodland trails and identify areas needing improvement.
2010
High water at the pond causes many problems: Killing trees, shrubs, vegetation and shoreline vegetation, bringing additional organic debris and soils into the pond water- including phosphorous which supports the algae and aquatic vegetation that degrade the water quality. Swimmers use steep banks to sit on causing further erosion.
2011
Thanks to Jim Lyon for getting town support for funding through the Community Preservation Coalition to create a management plan for the pond.
Town of Concord Solar Siting Committee drafts a report indicating that White Pond Reservation as a possible site for utility scale solar generation.
2012
White Pond Management Plan update RFP completed and CPC funds obtained.
BFRT update. Friends of Bruce Freeman Rail Trail donate $50,000 to pay for preliminary design of half mile portion to the rail trail from Concord-Sudbury town line in the woods adjacent to White Pond.
2014
Dr. William Walker has submitted a water quality report.
Degradation of water quality has leveled off. Dissolved oxygen levels continue to be very low which could trigger release of phosphorous if it reaches zero for several years.
The watershed management plan, known as the ESS report is completed and is now being reviewed by the WPAC. The WPAC and community members raise some concerns about the accuracy of the water quality measurements. This plan does not address people management.The highest levels of phosphorous and erosion are found on town owned land.
BFRT update: A sub-committee has been set up between the WPAC and the BFRT Advisory Committee. They are working on signage to direct traffic and educate users of trail about sensitive nature around the pond.
A 6 foot high wrought iron fence will be installed on pond side running the length of the pond. Entrance has been moved 84 feet further south.
The Town of Concord has made no concrete plans regarding maintenance of rail trail. It is waiting for final results of the ESS Report.
Sudbury has voted to proceed with their section of the rail trail.