Secluded shoreline

Pond's health benefits from park

By Taryn Plumb
Turley Publications Correspondent

Out of Sturbridge's five great ponds, this long, narrow water body is undoubtedly the most protected.
That's due in large part to the 1,400-acre Wells State Park, which takes up a significant portion of Walker Pond's shoreline - but it's also the benefit of an established buffer between the pond and the neighborhood on its east side.
As a result, only about a half-dozen houses are directly on the waterfront, according to Walker Pond Association President John O'Brien. Therefore, from the vantage point of the water, the shoreline is mostly unspoiled and populated largely by trees.
That, coupled with the fact that the pond is out of sightline of the town's major roadways makes it "somewhat secluded," said O'Brien. "It's pretty."
Agreed David Mitchell of the Sturbridge Conservation Commission, "It's a beautiful picture in the fall, abloom with colors."
The second smallest of Sturbridge's five great ponds - with an area of 171 acres - Walker is situated at the center of hilly terrain, appearing almost like a bowl. Getting its name from early settler Nathaniel Walker, it has a steep drop-off but is naturally shallow; no deeper than about 15 feet.
Also, because it has a significant amount of surrounding wetlands - and roughly 70 percent overall plant cover - its water is noticeably browner, more acidic and less transparent than the other five great ponds, according to Mitchell. All three of those characteristics are the result of leaching vegetation decay from the wetlands, Mitchell said.
"It reduces the amount of light and absorbs a little more heat," he explained. It also depresses dissolved oxygen levels and results in a loose bottom that tends to be easily stirred.
But humans could do nothing to offset this, he explained; it's naturally-occurring. "You could have no houses on the pond and it would still be that way," he said.
Yet although Walker is abundant with natural plant life - at least 13 varieties, making it a good home for many species of fish - it has so far had minimal problems with invasive weeds. Southbridge-based Lycott Environmental, Inc. has spot-treated variable milfoil periodically with herbicides; the company has also recommended that the lake association take action in the near future to reduce phragmites, another invasive that has taken root.
As is the case with many other ponds, Walker's association tries to teach incoming boaters about cleaning off their vessels to prevent the spread of such detrimental plants. "Simply cleaning off your boats goes a long way to preserving the natural beauty and natural state of our lakes," said O'Brien.
But alerting people to this becomes increasingly difficult with the noticeable jump in boat traffic on Walker - it's at least doubled in the past five years, O'Brien estimated. In addition to introducing invasives, this has led to some safety regulation issues, as well as an increase in erosion due to more frequent wakes. However, O'Brien added that he's happy to also see an increase in non-motorized boats, including kayaks and canoes.
Still, not all pressures are from man.
An overpopulation of Canada Geese - and their ensuing fecal matter - has increased bacteria levels in the pond. "We try to shoo them away as much as possible," said O'Brien. Other efforts have included coyote decoys and fences to hinder the geese from beaching.
Likewise, beavers have been busy munching away at trees. In total, they've taken down about 15, and have set up at least two dams in Walker's wetland areas. "They like it there," said O'Brien.
Indeed, given the pond's bucolic characteristics, that's understandable. All told, only about 40 percent of its 2,507 acre watershed is developed, Mitchell estimated. Because of that, Walker also attracts deer, moose, coyotes, red-tailed hawks and even bears.
The only future impacts could be from development along Route 49, O'Brien noted. There is a new transfer station just before the intersection of Route 9 and Route 49, but there haven't yet been any discernible effects of that, he said.
Paved roads surrounding the pond further minimize repercussions of existing development, according to Mitchell, minimizing both run-off and erosion. (As opposed to dirt roads.) Still, the abundance of septic systems along the pond could always pose a problem with leaching, and run-off from the Massachusetts Turnpike should also be closely monitored, he said. "There's more saline in the lake than what you'd expect just from the geography," he said.
The latter has been mitigated to some extent. Several years ago, grants helped pay for three cascading silt ponds, which collect salt, dirt and other sediments before they can seep into the lake, O'Brien explained.
In the end, the association hopes to strike a balance in the future by retaining its relatively pristine state but also attracting more visitors through eco-tourism. "The more people we can bring in to enjoy the natural beauty of the lakes," said O'Brien, "the more it helps everybody."