Harbors & Ponds
Harbors
Nantucket Harbor
Nantucket Harbor has an approximate area of 5,254 acres with a drainage basin of approximately 5,340 acres. Water quality has been monitored in Nantucket Harbor since 1990.
Madaket Harbor
Madaket Harbor and Long Pond make up a unique ecosystem encompassing approximately 9 square miles. These two systems are hydrologically connected via Hither Creek and the Madaket Ditch. Long Pond is somewhat isolated from the whole system, and may be evaluated as having separate water quality issues. It is relatively narrow and winding with depths of 4-6 feet with no deep basins.
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Tara Riley
Shellfish and Aquatic Resources Manager
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Natural Resources
Physical Address
131 Pleasant Street
2nd Floor
Nantucket, MA 02554
Phone: 508-228-7230
Office Hours
Monday through Friday: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Send us an email to set up an appointment.
Island-Wide Reports
- Island-Wide Water Quality Report 2021 (PDF)
- Island-Wide Water Quality Report Executive Summary 2021 (PDF)
- Island-Wide Water Quality Report 2020 (PDF)
- Island-Wide Water Quality Report Executive Summary 2020 (PDF)
- Island-wide Water Quality Report 2019 (PDF)
- Island-wide Water Quality Report Executive Summary 2019 (PDF)
Ponds
Hummock Pond
Hummock Pond is a eutrophic coastal pond located on the southwest side of Nantucket Island. Hummock is approximately 2.3 miles long, running north to south with an average depth of 6 feet. The watershed to pond ratio, at an average is 15 to 1. The pond is approximately 142 acres in size with a surface drainage basin of approximately 2,227 acres and a groundwater drainage basin of approximately 2,000 acres. Hummock Pond is opened 2 times a year to enhance marine fisheries.
Long Pond
Madaket Harbor and Long Pond make up a unique ecosystem encompassing approximately 9 square miles. These 2 systems are hydrologically connected via Hither Creek and the Madaket Ditch. Long Pond is somewhat isolated from the whole system, and may be evaluated as having separate water quality issues. It is relatively narrow and winding with depths of 4 to 6 feet with no deep basins.
Miacomet Pond
Miacomet Pond is located on the south side of the island of Nantucket. Miacomet Pond has a surface area of 46 acres. There is a maximum depth of 11 feet near its southern end and the mean depth of the pond is 4.8 feet. The pond has a large surface water drainage area of approximately 1,284 acres based on the topography of the surrounding landscape. The probable area of groundwater drainage to Miacomet Pond is 1,047 acres.
Sesachacha Pond
Sesachacha Pond is a coastal eutrophic salt pond located on the northeast portion of Nantucket Island. It is a kettle pond with 2 deep basins of 15 to 18 feet on the northern and southern end. The surface area of the pond is approximately 266 acres with a drainage basin of 800 acres. Sesachacha Pond is opened 2 times a year to enhance marine fisheries.
Reports & Studies
Reports & Studies
- Hummock and Miacomet 604b Final Report 3/03/17 (PDF)
- Hummock Pond Estuary Plan (PDF)
- Long Pond & Madaket Harbor 2019 MEP Scenarios Report (PDF)
- Long Pond & Madaket Harbor 2019 MEP Scenarios Study (PDF)
- Long Pond Technical Memorandum 2017 (PDF)
- Madaket Harbor and Long Pond Estuary Plan (PDF)
- Miacomet Pond Watershed Study 2014 (PDF)
- Pond Management Principles (PDF)
- Sesachacha Pond Estuary Plan (PDF)
To access to Ponds & Harbors past reports, visit the Town of Nantucket Digital Archives.