Continuing increase in clarity and freshness

Citizen scientist, James Eklund just completed our fifth round of water sampling and depth clarity measurements on Sunday August 11th, in time for our joyful annual meeting and info session. Visibility now reaches an incredible 2.9 meters — almost 10 feet deep! Prior to the recent clean-up, that reading was just over 1 meter. At this time last year we measured only 1.5 meters.

For the first time in decades, fresh water in our deep lake is noticably clearer and cleaner than the surrounding estuaries and salt water bays!

This powerful response and rapid return to the crystal clear summer conditions that many of us remember from our youth is most likely due to clean up efforts on July 16th and 17th. The absence of decay and the subsequent rapid burst of regrowth as light once again strikes the shoreline bottom, appears to be siphoning phosphorus and nitrogen from the surrounding sediment and water.

We will continue to make and report our observations, studying this process closely each year.

We know we will have to repeat this year’s well-timed removal of 2.7 tons of misplace nutrients — now being turned into mulch and topsoil at the recycling center — until we have a permanent solution for Fresh Pond in place.

But for now, enjoy, Shelter Island!

And thank you to our supporters and pond lovers Island-wide.