Orleans Pond Coalition

Orleans, Massachusetts

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  • Home
  • About
    • Overview
    • Mission/Vision
    • Board of Directors
    • Business and Community Members
  • Our Waters
    • Orleans’ Watersheds
    • Freshwater Ponds
      • Baker’s Pond
      • Boland Pond
      • Cedar Pond
      • Crystal Lake
      • Deep Pond
      • Gould Pond
      • Icehouse Pond
      • Meadow Bog
      • Pilgrim Lake
      • Reubens Pond
      • Sarah’s Pond
      • Shoal Pond
      • Twinings Pond
      • Uncle Harvey’s Pond
      • Uncle Israel’s
      • Uncle Seth’s
    • Estuaries
      • Cape Cod Bay
      • Nauset
      • Pleasant Bay
        • Lonnie’s (aka Kescayogansett) Pond
    • Drinking Water
    • Wastewater Challenges
    • The Orleans Blue Pages — A Guide to Protecting Cape Cod Waters
  • Programs
    • Overview
    • Oxygenation Demonstration Project
    • Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program
    • The Orleans Blue Pages
    • Fertilizer
    • Mutt Mitts
    • Oysters
    • Our Upweller
    • Plastics
    • Water Sampling
    • Member Photo Submissions
  • Celebrate Our Waters
    • 2022 Celebrate Our Waters – A Look Back
    • 2022 Celebrate Our Waters Event Activities
    • 2022 Celebrate Our Waters Event Schedule
    • 2022 Celebrate Our Waters Event Locations
  • Get Involved
    • 2022 OPC Annual Meeting Recap and Thank You
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Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake is a beloved swimming pond of 36 acres, accessible from Monument Road (the second largest pond in Orleans.) With a maximum depth of 44 feet, Crystal Lake offers a deep, cool place to swim in the summer, popular despite its small public beach and limited parking. The Cape Cod Times wrote “even fish like to swim at Crystal Lake,” which captures this gem beautifully. As a Great Pond over ten acres, Crystal Lake is owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.crystal-lake-gif

Landings

There is a paved boat ramp on the northwest side of Crystal Lake off Route 28, and a small public beach off Monument Road on the southeast shore. Parking is limited by the Monument Road beach landing; access for kayaks or paddleboards is possible only with great caution due to the popularity of the area for young children. The north shore landing is a better place for boat access.

Cranberries

Crystal Lake supplies the fresh water for a Monument Road cranberry bog that ultimately discharges into Kescayogansett Pond. The cranberry bog has been toured as part of the Orleans Pond Coalition Celebrate Our Waters Weekend for many years, through the graciousness of its owners and the bog manager.

Water Sports

In addition to swimming, Crystal Lake offers opportunities for non-motorized boating. With the state stocking Crystal Lake with trout twice a year, fishing is a favorite activity. Species surveys of Crystal Lake over the years have shown a variety of fish from bass, pumpkinseed and eel. The beach faces west, and late afternoons are a favorite time to experience the magic of Crystal Lake.

Conditions

With a watershed approaching 225.5 acres, and several storm drains from route 28 and adjacent roads leading into the waters, Crystal Lake also has some distress, with anoxic conditions in late summer. Hence, divers and water scientists will be collecting samples during the summer of 2018. Phosphorus has been migrating into Crystal Lake for years, and the data collection underway this year will help the town determine the best ways to mitigate. See link here Water Water Everywhere – Crystal Lake for a lovely essay on Crystal Lake by author Wendy Shreve, who wrote “If Cape Cod is my home, Crystal Lake is my picture window.”

About Orleans Pond Coalition

Orleans Pond Coalition, Inc. is a volunteer organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the saltwater estuaries and freshwater ponds and lakes of Orleans. Our work includes offering educational programs to encourage mindful land use practices, sponsoring water quality research, working with community, regional and state organizations to formulate constructive policies to protect our … Learn More

Our Mission

Orleans Pond Coalition is dedicated to the protection and health of our shared watersheds, estuaries, ponds and lakes.

Orleans   Pond   Coalition

PO  Box  2485

Orleans,   MA   02653

OrleansPondCoalition@gmail.com

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