Final season testing shows 2 meters of clarity

As we pass the equinox, Shelter Island pond lovers have been pleasantly surprised by continued fall water clarity.

Fresh Pond’s most recent and final testing round under the Citizen’s Lake Assessment Project of the NYS Federation of Lakes and NYS Department of Environmental conservation once again turned into solid numbers, with only minor concerns. We finish the season with two meters of measured clarity.

With the current dredging of downstream Dickerson, West Neck, and Menantic creeks and continued shellfish restoration efforts in the Menantic estuary we should plan to study possible signs of a possible virtuous cycle of increase ecosystem activity and natural renewal in the overall watershed in late fall and early spring.

Anectodally, fish in Fresh Pond have been plentiful, encouraging growing local osprey, swift and heron populations. The geese have been happy and noisy geuests too, mercifully not as overwhelming in numbers as in past years.