Seth’s Pond could see an increase in traffic this summer as a result of a planned new trailhead at the Manaquayak Preserve, Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank foreman Matthew Dix told the West Tisbury selectmen this week.

Following the acquisition of 22 additional acres at Manaquayak last year, the land bank plans to relocate the main entrance to a site on Lambert’s Cove Road. The centerpiece of the preserve is Ice House Pond, a pristine glacial pond nestled deep in the woods. The land bank limits visitors at the pond in the summer months in order to protect the ecologically fragile area.

A new management plan for Manaquayak has been drafted; the land bank recently held a public hearing on the plan.

Speaking to the selectmen at their meeting Wednesday, Mr. Dix said relocating the entrance to Manaquayak could have an impact on Seth’s, the popular town-owned freshwater pond that also fronts Lambert’s Cove Road, not far from the new trailhead.

“Ice House is quite popular, I think this new plan will probably increase the use of Seth’s Pond again,” Mr. Dix explained. “People who want to swim in fresh water will realize they don’t have the time or inclination to walk up and down these hills to Ice House, and Seth’s Pond is right there, and currently, as far as I know, it’s open to everyone, not just town residents.”

Selectman Jeffrey (Skipper) Manter 3rd questioned why the new management plan calls for neighbors of the property to receive preferential treatment with walk-in passes. Mr. Dix said they want to reduce traffic on Wintergreen Lane, the original trailhead site which will now be only open to area residents and people who are elderly or handicapped. He said a pass is the only way to determine who walked from a nearby property and who parked illegally or was dropped off on the road.

As of now, he said he plans to issue passes to everyone on Manaquayak Road; after that passes will be issued on a case-by-case basis.

Keeping the use of Wintergreen Lane for residents would also lessen the number of cars at the Lambert’s Cove trailhead, Mr. Manter agreed.

Mr. Dix said the land bank wants to make sure people using either pond is parking in the correct location. Seth’s Pond swimmers will not be allowed to use the four-car parking lot at the new Manaquayak trailhead.

But Mr. Manter said the town does not want to limit the already-limited parking for Seth’s Pond by not allowing parking along the road.

He and selectman Richard Knabel predicted that the land bank could expect a certain amount of criticism for the new plan, and said attendants stationed at the Wintergreen Lane entrance will have their work cut out for them. Board chairman Cynthia Mitchell was absent.

Mr. Dix agreed that there may be some confusion until people become accustomed to the changes. “We’re taking a long-range approach to it and thinking over time . . . . people will be retrained,” he said.