Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Encyclopedia
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
.
The WBNERR is representative of the northern section (Cape Cod to Sandy Hook
) of the Virginia
n biogeographic
region. WBNERR is located within the transitional border between the Virginian and Acadia
n biogeographic regions.
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.
The following are salt ponds to the east of Waquoit Bay which are best explored by kayak:
The following freshwater ponds drain to the Waquoit Bay at the northern side and offer kayaking and fishing:
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.
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
in the towns of Falmouth
Falmouth, Massachusetts
Falmouth is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States; Barnstable County is coextensive with Cape Cod. The population was 31,531 at the 2010 census....
and Mashpee
Mashpee, Massachusetts
Mashpee is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 14,006 as of 2010.For geographic and demographic information on specific parts of the town of Mashpee, please see the articles on Mashpee Neck, Monomoscoy Island, New Seabury, Popponesset, Popponesset Island,...
. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation
Department of Conservation and Recreation (Massachusetts)
The Department of Conservation and Recreation is a state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, situated in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It is best known for its parks and parkways. As of May 24, 2011 the Commissioner of the DCR is Edward M. Lambert, Jr...
(DCR) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
.
The WBNERR is representative of the northern section (Cape Cod to Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook
Sandy Hook is a barrier spit along the Atlantic coast of New JerseySandy Hook may also refer to:-Places:United States* Sandy Hook , a village in the town of Newtown, Connecticut* Sandy Hook, Kentucky, a city in Elliott County...
) of the Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
n biogeographic
Biogeography
Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species , organisms, and ecosystems in space and through geological time. Organisms and biological communities vary in a highly regular fashion along geographic gradients of latitude, elevation, isolation and habitat area...
region. WBNERR is located within the transitional border between the Virginian and Acadia
Acadia
Acadia was the name given to lands in a portion of the French colonial empire of New France, in northeastern North America that included parts of eastern Quebec, the Maritime provinces, and modern-day Maine. At the end of the 16th century, France claimed territory stretching as far south as...
n biogeographic regions.
Reserve areas
- Visitor Center/Headquarters Property 28 acres (113,312.1 m²)
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 ParkSouth Cape Beach State ParkSouth Cape Beach State Park is a Massachusetts state park located in Mashpee. It is part of the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve...
, Sage Lot Pond and Flat Pond 432 acres (1.7 km²) This eastern section of the Reserve serves has a swimming beach which is a noted surf casting site during the annual bluefishBluefishThe bluefish , called tailor in Australia, is a species of popular marine gamefish found in all climates. It is the sole species of the Pomatomidae family....
and striped bassStriped bassThe striped bass is the state fish of Maryland, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and the state saltwater fish of New York, Virginia, and New Hampshire...
migrations. It is also a nesting ground for protected species such as piping ploverPiping PloverThe Piping Plover is a small sand-colored, sparrow-sized shorebird that nests and feeds along coastal sand and gravel beaches in North America. The adult has yellow-orange legs, a black band across the forehead from eye to eye, and a black ring around the neck...
and least tern. Sage Lot and Flat Ponds are salt ponds to the east of Waquoit Bay. a swimming beach which is also a noted surf casting site during the annual bluefish and striped bass migrations.
- Washburn IslandWashburn Island, MassachusettsWashburn Island is a island off the coast of East Falmouth, Massachusetts. It is home to some primitive campsites and is part of the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.During World War II, the island was home to Camp Washburn.-History:...
- Quashnet RiverQuashnet RiverThe Quashnet River, also known as Quoshnet River or Moonakis River, is a estuary in Falmouth, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. Its area is about ....
Property 361 acres (1.5 km²) 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 UnlimitedTrout UnlimitedTrout Unlimited is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of freshwater streams, rivers, and associated upland habitats for trout, salmon, other aquatic species, and people. Often contracted as "TU," the organization began in 1959 in Michigan...
that has converted a cranberry bog channel back to a river.
- North Quashnet Woodlands 25 acres (101,171.5 m²) Pine woodlands and an abandoned cranberry bog.
- Waquoit BayWaquoit BayWaquoit Bay is a small landlocked tidal bay on the south shore of Cape Cod in the US state of Massachusetts. The bay is connected with Nantucket Sound and separates the towns of Mashpee and Falmouth.In the early 1960s Norwegian researcher Johannes Kr...
825 acres (3.3 km²) 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 acre (0.57060726 km²)
- Jehu Pond, 172 acre (0.69605992 km²)
- 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 (11,331.2 m²)
- Bourne Pond, is just over 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) 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 (23,067.1 m²).
- Childs RiverChilds RiverThe Childs River, also known as Child's River, is a river near Falmouth, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. Its drainage area is about . It has been heavily impacted by the development of cranberry bogs in its upper reaches....
: Abandoned cranberry bogs and pine woodlands.
History
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.
Recreational opportunities
- Interpretive programs
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Power boating
- Fishing
- Bird watching
- Walking trails