Carving a Path From Pond to Sea
Digging a cut through the barrier beach that separates Edgartown Great Pond from the ocean.
Digging a cut through the barrier beach that separates Edgartown Great Pond from the ocean.
Backhoe operator Steve Handy gets assistance from his grandson.
Backhoe operator Steve Handy gets assistance from his grandson.
Openings each year help to maintain salinity for shellfish and eelgrass in the pond.
Openings each year help to maintain salinity for shellfish and eelgrass in the pond.
Throughout the day, Mr. Handy continued widening the channel.
Throughout the day, Mr. Handy continued widening the channel.
Pond cuttings attract people to witness the flow of water.
Pond cuttings attract people to witness the flow of water.
Great Pond Foundation has worked to decrease amount of nitrogen in pond.
Great Pond Foundation has worked to decrease amount of nitrogen in pond.
Surface of pond must be high enough for force of water to overcome waves and tides.
Surface of pond must be high enough for force of water to overcome waves and tides.
Mr. Handy inspects the protective berm.
Mr. Handy inspects the protective berm.
Removing the last of the berm.
Removing the last of the berm.
Open to the sea.
Open to the sea.
Bob Woodruff from the Great Pond Foundation documents the breach.
Bob Woodruff from the Great Pond Foundation documents the breach.
Sophia Hart and Terry Cassel brought their Icelandic ponies, Sifri and Sjarmi, from Slough Farm to watch.
Sophia Hart and Terry Cassel brought their Icelandic ponies, Sifri and Sjarmi, from Slough Farm to watch.
Saturday morning, Steve Handy revved up his backhoe and began digging a five-foot channel through the barrier beach that separates Edgartown Great Pond from the ocean. By the afternoon, the channel was open and water began rushing out through the incoming surf.
Opening the pond each year helps to maintain salinity for shellfish and eelgrass. It also flushes out the nitrogen that accumulates mostly from septic tanks and runoff in the 4,500-acre watershed.