Closed in 2021, 2020 and 2019, warned in 2018, for excess cyanobacteria
A danger to people pets and wildlife
Swimming was banned
​Dog owners told: don't let your dogs swim
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Studies of Barnstable Ponds:
Barnstable Ponds: Current Status, Available Data, and Recommendations for Future Activities FINAL REPORT July 2008

 Long Pond is a 55 acre kettle pond, and is owned by the State of Massachusetts. 

It is approximately 3500 feet long and 700 feet wide.  Its depth extends up to 18-20 feet in two areas (holes) in the middle area.

The pond's watershed (area from which above and below ground water drains into the pond) is approximately 430 acres and extends to the northwest of the pond.

Long Pond's problem of excess nutrients leading to cyanobacteria overgrowth has been growing over many years.  Details may be found in the 2008 Barnstable Ponds study link on the left.

 Since 2018, Long Pond  has been closed for an increasing number of weeks due to dangerously high levels of cyanobacteria:  two weeks during the summer of 2018,  5 weeks in 2019, 6 weeks in 2010, and 14 weeks in 2021. 

Town of Barnstable Pond Improvement Plan for Long Pond:
​
Fall 2020 (Fiscal year 2021) - Stormwater improvements  in 5 locations
Spring/Summer 2021 (FY 2022) - Comprehensive Pond Study by SMAST
Fall 2021 (FY 2023) - Management Plan Capital Improvement Budget Request
July 2022 (FY 2023) - Money allocated for Pond Managment Implementation
Spring 2023 (FY 2023) - Long Pond Management Plan Implemented

Source:  Barnstable Department of Public Works, 9/11/2020

Click thumbnails to expand slides

The autumn pond (above) up close looking northward from south shore.
​Below, July pond, closed, showing shoreline algae scum.

​Long Pond Development:

​Two graphs below show the status of the pond phosphorous and chlorophyll from 2008. Note the horizontal orange line indicating how Long Pond Marstons Mills exceeded the threshold for healthy ponds:

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