Important Bird Area: Fresh Pond

Fresh Pond is surrounded by residential and commercial development. Major roads run near the north and eastern boundaries of the pond, with only a narrow woodland buffer between the roads and the water, except near the water treatment plant where there is little or no buffer. The trail that runs around the pond receives heavy use and is a popular area for dog owners. Dogs are rarely controlled, run off the trai,l and routinely swim in the smaller ponds. The smaller ponds are regularly frequented by dabbling ducks, and occasionally by diving ducks such as Hooded Mergansers. New grass plantings are torn up by dogs running off the trail, despite the efforts of the city to encourage people to keep their dogs on the trails. A chain-link fence runs the perimeter of the pond and keeps bathers and dogs out of the water, which protects water quality and provides some security for waterfowl on the larger pond. The adjacent golf course is a potential source of herbicide and fertilizer, which may run off and make its way into the pond. A Master Plan for Fresh Pond was recently completed by a committee of local citizens and city of Cambridge Water Department staff; implementation of this plan is now being completed. The plan calls for conversion of the construction staging area into a meadow with bird and butterfly habitat, although the small size of the planned meadow will probably limit its suitability as nesting habitat for grassland or shrubland birds.