FAQs
Yes. But be aware that signage may, on rare occasions, be posted as notice that a pond is closed due to water quality issues.
Yes, but gasoline motors are not allowed.
There are risks to both your pet and to pond life when you bring your pet to the pond.
What goes in our ponds stays in our ponds, and that includes pet waste. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus from various sources (including pet wastes) promotes cyanobacteria blooms. Cyanobacteria produce neurotoxins and hepatotoxins, which can cause severe health problems and even death for pets that swim in the pond and then lick their fur. Recent studies have also documented that topical flea and tick medicines commonly used on dogs wash off in pond water, where they can cause harm to aquatic insects, including dragonflies and damselflies.
Yes, the ponds with public landings have parking, but a Wellfleet Sticker is required from the last Saturday in June through Labor Day from 9AM to 5PM.
FWP is a volunteer organization. Our mission is to “preserve the health, beauty and enjoyment of Wellfleet’s ponds for future generations.” We monitor the health of the ponds, advocate for the ponds, and educate the public about the ponds.
Rinse off paddles boards, inflatables, boats, and other equipment after swimming in other bodies of water.
Eliminate or minimize use of fertilizers on your property. Keep your septic system pumped out regularly and otherwise well maintained. Through runoff and groundwater flow, these are primary sources of nutrient pollution to our ponds which can act as triggers for cyanobacteria
Unlike ponds in many other places, there are no surface water inflows that feed into Wellfleet ponds, their sources being limited to precipitation and infiltration from underlying groundwater. As a result, the flushing or retention rate for water within the ponds is on the long side (as much as 15 years). A key takeway message from this (in terms of how we treat our ponds) is that “whatever goes into the pond stays in the pond”.
Follow the advice of the Pond Lover’s Guide, sign-up for our email list, and join the Friends of Wellfleet Ponds.
For more detailed/scientific questions & answers pertaining to our ponds, check out these FAQs from: Portnoyet. al. 2001 Kettle Pond Data Atlas