New Island Ponds Page Take a Virtual Tour of a Pond!

Coastal Ponds

Martha’s Vineyard is ringed by 27 saltwater and brackish ponds that are vital to the Island’s health and beauty. They are essential to our shell-fishing and fishing industries and are avidly explored on shore and on water.

An estuary is an enclosed body of water that has an open connection to the sea and is measurably diluted by fresh water from the surrounding land, creating specialized habitat for many species.

To learn more about our 15 main coastal pond systems, click the "New Island Pond Page" link above. This includes information on each pond's watershed and water quality, along with the Massachusetts Estuaries Project (MEP) reports and other documents. 

Freshwater Ponds

There are 61 freshwater ponds on the Island, totaling about 615 acres. These ponds are fed by groundwater and rise and fall in concert with the water table.

• Pond Summary: An inventory of what we know about our many freshwater and coastal ponds.
• Crystal Lake
• Seth's Pond

Annual Islandwide Pond Reports

• Pond and Water Quality Data Reports

General Info and Links

• Massachusetts Estuaries Project (MEP)
• Map of MEPs on the Cape and Islands
• Cape Cod Water Quality Plan
• Vineyard Gazette series Coastal Ponds Under Pressure (2015)

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