Mill Pond Mired in a Sea of Algae

Thursday, September 3 2015 - 4:50pm

The summer season is coming to another end, and with it, the increasing evidence of an ominous threat to our historic landmark.

The summer season is coming to another end, and with it, the increasing evidence of an ominous threat to our historic landmark, as shown in this recent photo. The algae has increased, invasive vegetation is on its march, sludge and shallowness is omnipresent. The Mill Pond was a gift to the town of West Tisbury from Donald Campbell of Old County Road in 1948 and in return, the governing body of the town, then called the Grange, promised to maintain its shores, dam and cleanliness. It is vitally important that we respect and honor this oath today and save our treasured Mill Pond.

Margo McClellan
West Tisbury

Comments

The decline of the Mill Pond

Elise Hillman Green Middle Road

The decline of the Mill Pond is such a sad commentary. . . As stewards of this lovely gift to the town of West Tisbury - and to the Island as a whole - we must maintain it, at the very least in memory of Donald Campbell and his generosity and foresight. Clearly he thought it was worthy of preserving, as did the town. Any of us who are pond owners (we have ponds on both MA property and CT) realize that we must at times carefully dredge. It takes time and money, but it is a commitment we have as the stewards of these bodies of water. Similar to preserving Alleys, the Town Hall and the Grange, West Tisbury must come together behind this initiative!

We strongly believe that the

Paddy and Ben Moore Alley Way, West Tisbury

We strongly believe that the Selectmen should take action to dredge the Mill Pond this fall - 2015. The study being conducted on the whole brook and pond system is not due to be finished until well into 2016. If the report calls for future actions on the brooks as well as the pond, so be it. But right now we are losing our iconic and beautiful town landmark. As most people know, friends of the Mill Pond have raised significant pledges of funds to carry out necessary dredging. The three Selectmen should stand up, take action, and save our pond.

Each time I walk past the

Susan Feller Plum Bush Point Rd, West Tisbury

Each time I walk past the Mill Pond with my grandchildren on my way to the Library or Alley's, we stop and remark on each season's changes. Prominent in our observations this year has been the continuing increase in the algae and invasive vegetation ("Nana, is the pond getting smaller? What's that stuff floating in it?") We who love the pond have demonstrated our concern by raising money to help fund the needed work. It's time for the town government to take this situation in hand.

I was married on a property

Mark Parsells Wilmington, Delaware

I was married on a property which is adjacent to Mill Pond in 1994 and have been returning to West Tisbury nearly every year since then. It is alarming just how overgrown Mill Pond has become. Clearly, a careful and sensible dredging of the pond would preserve this important ecological and visual treasure. The Selectmen were "selected" for a reason, I trust they will take action to preserve Mill Pond before it is too late.