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Ponds and Beaches
Eastham is home to many beautiful kettle ponds and beaches. The protection of these is of great importance. The Health Department helps to monitor the health of the ponds and beaches as well as manages any recovery programs. An update on the water quality and conditions of the pond was given in 2022. A video of the presentation can be found here or a print out of the information can be found at the followign link: 2022 Pond update.
Pond Ecosystem Degradation
The health of ponds can be damaged by the build-up of excessive nutrients in the water. Stormwater creates run-off of nutrients from fertilizers, road and parking lots, nutrients from individual septic systems in the watershed, and bird droppings. The nutrients feed aquatic plants causing more algae, duckweed, cattails, and other aquatic plants than the pond would naturally sustain. The extra plant life depletes the oxygen levels in the pond. Decomposition of algae and sub-surface plants increases the number of bacteria (which decompose the dead plants) further limiting oxygen levels. When the oxygen levels fall, other life - such as fish- can not be sustained and the ecosystem of the pond is destroyed.
Wastewater Management Plan
The Town of Eastham has taken steps to protect our pond ecosystems. Testing of the ponds' water quality is done on a regular basis. The town has developed a water quality protection plan and is working on a wastewater management plan. In addition, the town has spearheaded the clean-up efforts in Schoolhouse Ministers Pond (click here for more info). For more information, please call the Eastham Health Department at 508-240-5900, ext. 3230 or go to the Wastewater Information page.
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Health Department
Physical Address
2500 State Highway
Eastham, MA 02642
Phone: 508-240-5900, ext. 3230Fax: 508-240-5918
Hours of Operation
Monday through Thursday
8 am to 4 pm
Friday
8 am to 12 pm
- 2022 Pond Update
- Schoolhouse Ministers Pond Remediation
- Beach Testing Results
- Public Beach Testing Data Prior to 8-15-2018 (PDF)
- 2011 Pond Action Plan (PDF)
- 2009 Pond Water Quality Report (PDF)
- 2017 Pond Sampling Training
- 105 CMR 445.000 Minimum Standards for Bathing Beaches (PDF)
- 2018 Shellfish Feasibility Study (PDF)
- Eastham Pond Fact Sheets (PDF)
- 2014 Pond Water Quality Protection Plan (PDF)
- 2014 Great Pond Alum Report (PDF)
- 2014 Herring Pond Alum Report (PDF)
- Blue-Green Algae
- Directions to Eastham Beaches (PDF)
- Video of "State of the Ponds" Presentation (January 2019)
- Eastham Inland Kettle Pond Updates - December 2018 (PDF)
- 2020 Pondering Clean Water Presentation