Markert's Pond off Pondview Drive South Amherst
One of the really neat things about Markert's Pond is its central location in the heart of Orchard Valley one of the original middle class working folk neighborhoods built in the 1960s.
For many, many years it was a year round recreational resource from skating in the winter to playing with frog and turtles -- not not so much snakes -- in the other three seasons of the year.
The pond is centrally located in the heart of the neighborhood
But these days it is pretty much an eyesore.
Assistant Town Manager Dave Ziomek confirmed the town has not forgotten Merkert's Pond and will reinstall the outflow thingy in the spring.
Residents (and all the critters) will be thrilled.
Looking North March, 2016
Looking North December, 2016
It also looks pretty overgrown with vegetation. Too bad that all our watercourses are meeting this fate and disappearing from view. Used to be you could see across meadows to ponds and streams but not so much anymore. In our busy society few have time or skills to clear land, even if the wetlands laws allowed them to do it. For all the talk about open space there's less every year as it gives way to scrub and forest. And so our society sinks back into the antediluvian mists...
ReplyDeleteIn addition, shallow ponds rapidly evolve into swamps if they aren't dredged.
ReplyDeleteAll Ponds Matter
ReplyDeleteDrain the swamp!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Orchard Valley was built (originally as K-V development) in the early/mid-1960s, not the early 70s.
ReplyDeleteThings change. Climate changes. You change. Ponds change. Minds change.
ReplyDeleteIt's really sad that they purposely lowered the water level even more than it had been. Years of neglect led to serious decline in wildlife in and out of the water. Draining it further, and leaving it like that for winter, just plain kills off more. Not much can survive in a few inches of water.
ReplyDeleteI hope the town does bring back the Markert pond. It was named after a family which brought so much to the town of Amherst in so many ways.
ReplyDeleteYou all realize this is 4th dealine they have come up with? The pond should have been sestored years ago. This pond used to be half the size of puffers pond you fools!
ReplyDelete