Management Study of Ayer Ponds

Water resources are a critical part of Ayer, with a network of small and large ponds dominating the town’s topography.  Portions of Ayer are located within two larger Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) designated by the State as priority sites for habitat conservation – the Petapawag and the Squannissit ACECs.  Approximately 829 acres (out of 6082 acres or 9.6 sq. miles) in Ayer are wetlands and open water – which becomes a much broader area if you take into account associated watersheds.  Three of Ayer’s ponds – Sandy, Long, and Spectacle – are designated by the State as “Great Ponds,” from laws dating back to the colonial era.  Sandy Pond is also of particular importance as the Town Beach is located at its western end.

Several of Ayer’s ponds are also connected in a long chain which bisects the town.  Long Pond flows by stream into Sandy Pond which in turn flows into Flannagan, then Balch, then Grove, and then Plow Shop ponds.  From Plow Shop, it’s a short trip via Nonacoicus Brook into the Nashua River and on.  Pine Meadow Pond also flows into Flannagan Pond. 

The protection of Ayer’s water resources is therefore a key part in preserving the town’s character and quality of life, but this has been challenged by major increases in residential development as the Town has grown.  The spread and growth of invasive aquatic vegetative species, increased stormwater flow and runoff pollutants, as well as the use of fertilizers and other lawn chemicals – all have had direct and measurable effects on the health of Ayer’s ponds, wetlands, and watersheds.  Proper management of these important resources is therefore of vital importance – and CPC funds have helped – twice!

In 2011, CPC funds were tapped to come to the aid of Flannagan Pond (aka Fletcher Pond) – technically a flooded wet meadow that expanded into a pond around 1900 when the East Main Street Spillway (Balch Dam) was created.  Flannagan Pond now abuts a large residential area.  The onslaught of aquatic invasive weeds, following several years of neglect, had put the pond into a terrible state.  Residents agreed at Fall Town Meeting that CPC funds could be used in an intervention to preserve this resource and bring it back to a state where regular maintenance could again be considered.  An additional sum from the same Warrant Article was set aside to conduct a study of the ponds.

It was recognized that the Town badly needed an informed management plan for care of its ponds.  To that end, in 2014 Town Meeting voted to support the use of additional CPC funds – in addition to the 2011 money – to help pay for a comprehensive survey of six of Ayer’s ponds (Sandy, Pine Meadow, Flannagan, Long, Balch, and Grove ponds) under the direction of the Conservation Commission.  Paid for by contributions from CPC, the DPW, and other sources, in 2016 Geosyntec Consultants completed its “Biological Survey, Assessment and Management Recommendations for Ayer’s Ponds” – available for viewing on the Commission’s Town website.  The report covered water quality and status assessments for the ponds, phosphorous ‘budgets’ (related to stormwater, septic, and other impacts), aquatic vegetation surveys, field watershed investigations with associated BMP (Best Management Practices) recommendations, and a recommended 5-year management plan.  Ayer’s DPW has already begun implementing some of the BMP recommendations as part of its State requirement for stormwater management.  In addition, the report also provided a “Human Health Recreational Risk Assessment” for Grove Pond.  This CPC-funded report is a great benefit to the Town in its efforts to preserve and maintain its water resources! Total CPA funds requested were $65,000.