Long Pond Arial

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Long Pond is a 1,721-acre lake within the towns of Lakeville and Freetown, in southeastern Massachusetts. It shares its waters with Assawompset Pond.

These lakes provide a source of drinking water to the city of Taunton and New Bedford, the largest city in southeastern Massachusetts.

Length: 3.977 mi

Area: 2.687 mi²

Surface elevation: 54′

Width: 5,249′

Mean depth: 6′

Islands: Nelson Island, Goat Island, Pankhurst Canal Island, Lewis Island

Cities: Freetown, Lakeville

Our pond because of its shallow depth is currently  inhabited with invasive weeds. Ponds have a natural life-cycle, but the Long Pond life-cycle has been greatly altered by human activities. The pond also suffers from algae blooms and weeds which is a sign that something is wrong with the pond. We're interested in restoring the pond to the state it was a few decades ago, so it can continue to be a valuable resource for the community for many years to come.

Examples:

Milfoil - Eurasian water-milfoil is an extremely well adapted plant, able to thrive in a wide variety of environmental conditions. It grows well in still and flowing waters, tolerates mild salinity and can survive under ice. Eurasian water-milfoil grows rooted in water depths from 1 to 10 meters, generally reaching the surface in depths of 3 to 5 meters.

Asian Clams have been found in various locations on Long Pond. It can be found in boat engines. Very harmful to water environment. Ecologically, this species can alter benthic substrates and compete with native mussel species for food and space. Boaters entering Long Pond should be aware and clean there boats accordingly.  This species has been known to invade boat engine cooling systems and clog the system to the point of failure.

Long Pond welcomes all safe boaters. A public boat launch is located on the South end of the lake off Route 18. The Freetown Boat Ramp is the front line of defense for safety and access to the waters of Long Pond. 

 Please be mindful of the requests of the courteous boat inspectors and help them identify any occurrences of vegetation, specifically milfoil.  Milfoil, once admitted to our lake, grows quickly, affecting both fishing and swimming.

Due to the spread of aquatic invasive species throughout the state, DCR has developed the Boat Ramp Monitor Program. The goals of the program are to:  Prevent pristine water bodies from becoming infested. Reduce further spread of invasive species from infested areas. Educate boaters about invasive species and the steps they can take to protect our lakes and ponds

https://www.mass.gov/service-details/boat-ramp-monitor-program

Kindly clean your boat thoroughly before entering Long Pond via the Freetown Boat Ramp.

The Environmental and Lakeville/Freetown Police all monitor the lake regularly in the warmer months. Please be kind, respectful and courteous to other boaters and the residents of Long Pond who make this their home.

At the back of Tamarack Park you’ll find a small boat launch, where you can access the stunning salt marshes of Long Pond Conservation Area. Perched on a thin strip of land between Assawompsett Pond and Long Pond, this park and conservation area is easy to drive by without knowing what you’re missing. Beyond the vintage 1960s-style sign and the paved parking lot, you’ll find a surprising hotspot for native plants and birds. This park was formerly the site of Tamarack Restaurant. Over the two decades since the old building was removed, the care of a group of dedicated local volunteers has helped control invasive species and allow native plants to return. They also installed bird houses throughout the meadow to provide homes for several species, like bluebirds, tree swallows, and house wrens. As a result, Tamarack Park’s meadow is now a fantastic place to spread out a blanket or sit at one of the picnic tables and enjoy the best of a spring day. If you’re a paddler, you can easily carry your kayak from the parking lot to the small shoreline launch that leads into Long Pond Conservation Area. Paddle the narrow channels of the Long Pond marsh to seek out a variety of birds, and spot frogs and turtles hiding amongst the grasses. To extend your journey, paddle out of the marsh and into the shallow waters of Long Pond, one of the largest natural freshwater bodies in the state.