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Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

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Area
  
10.93 km²

Phone
  
+1 508-457-0495

Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Address
  
149 Waquoit Hwy, East Falmouth, MA 02536, USA

Hours
  
Open today · Open 24 hoursSundayOpen 24 hoursMondayOpen 24 hoursTuesdayOpen 24 hoursWednesdayOpen 24 hoursThursdayOpen 24 hoursFridayOpen 24 hoursSaturdayOpen 24 hoursSuggest an edit

Management
  
Department of Conservation and Recreation

Similar
  
South Cape Beach St, Mashpee National Wildlife R, Gardner Heritage State Park, C M Gardner State Park, Pearl Hill State Park

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Learn more about the waquoit bay national estuarine research reserve


Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (WBNERR) encompasses open waters, barrier beaches, marshlands and uplands on the south shore of Cape Cod in the towns of Falmouth and Mashpee. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Contents

The WBNERR is representative of the northern section (Cape Cod to Sandy Hook) of the Virginian biogeographic region. WBNERR is located within the transitional border between the Virginian and Acadian biogeographic regions.

Reserve areasEdit

The reserve comprises several individual sites:

  • Visitor Center/Headquarters Property 28-acre (11 ha) The Visitor's Center is open year round, Monday through Friday, 10 am – 4 pm. Has a short nature trail and runs numerous seasonal education programs.
  • South Cape Beach State Park, Sage Lot Pond and Flat Pond 432 acres (175 ha) This eastern section of the reserve serves has a swimming beach which is a noted surf casting site during the annual bluefish and striped bass migrations. It is also a nesting ground for protected species such as piping plover and least tern. Sage Lot and Flat Ponds are salt ponds to the east of Waquoit Bay.
  • Washburn Island
  • Quashnet River Property 361 acres (146 ha) The river is the largest source of fresh water to the Bay and is mostly surrounded by upland forests. There is a three-mile (5 km) loop trail along the river. Trout Unlimited that has converted a cranberry bog channel back to a river.
  • North Quashnet Woodlands 25 acres (10 ha) Pine woodlands and an abandoned cranberry bog.
  • Waquoit Bay 825 acres (334 ha) Fresh water enters the Bay from four principal sources: the Quashnet/Moonakis River, Red Brook, Childs River, and ground water flow.

    • The following are salt ponds to the east of Waquoit Bay which are best explored by kayak:

  • Hamblin Pond, 141 acres (57 ha)
  • Jehu Pond, 172 acres (70 ha)
  • Abigail's Brook

    • The following freshwater ponds drain to the Waquoit Bay at the northern side and offer kayaking and fishing:

  • Bog Pond, 2.8 acres (1.1 ha)
  • Bourne Pond, is just over 10 acres (4.0 ha) in surface area and consequently is considered a Great Pond under the laws of the Massachusetts. As such it is kept in trust for all citizens and is not privately owned.
  • Caleb Pond, 5.7 acres (2.3 ha).
  • Childs River: Abandoned cranberry bogs and pine woodlands.

    • HistoryEdit

    Artifacts dating back 450–1000 years, including hammer flakes and shell middens, have been found on the Washburn Island. As late as the early 19th century, some Wampanoags still lived around Bourne and Caleb ponds, at a spring supplying fresh water to both settlers and Native Americans.

    The administrative, research, and education buildings are located in the historic buildings of the Sargent Estate. Purchased in 1987 by the Commonwealth, great care was given in restoring the buildings. The Quashnet River Property was also purchased in 1987 and incorporated into the Reserve. The Reserve and the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife manage the river property.

    Activities and amenitiesEdit

    In addition to interpretive programs, the reserve offers opportunities for hiking, boating, camping, fishing, and restricted hunting.

    References

    Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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