Alex Elvin
All the saltwater ponds on the Vineyard are impaired to some degree, and each one faces a unique set of conditions. Public interest has reached a tipping point.
Coastal ponds
Noah Asimow
A three-year study by the Martha's Vineyard Commission revealed both continued high levels of nitrogen in some ponds, while others showed improvement.
Martha's Vineyard Commission
Coastal ponds

2018

Torrents of rain from recent storms have caused Vineyard Great Ponds to rise to historic levels, threatening shellfish and surrounding homes.

Regular removal of phragmites is an effective and efficient way to improve the health of coastal ponds, a study has found.

The overall health of the Edgartown Great Pond has shown significant improvement over the past decade, according to a report released Tuesday from the nonprofit Great Pond Foundation.

2017

With funding approved to pilot a new type of septic system in the Lagoon Pond and Lake Tashmoo watersheds, Tisbury may soon find itself a step ahead in a race to preserve coastal ponds.

Voters in Oak Bluffs and Tisbury this year will be asked to move forward on ambitious plans to expand each town’s sewer district, with a common goal of benefitting both local business and coastal ponds.

The Martha’s Vineyard Commission is revising its 2007 water quality policy, with an eye toward stricter rules for developments that contribute nitrogen to saltwater ponds from wastewater.

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