Long Pond (Lakeville, Massachusetts)

Infobox lake
lake_name = Long Pond aka Lake Apponequet
image_lake =
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Lakeville and Freetown, Massachusetts
coords = coord|41|48|00|N|70|56|58|W|type:waterbody_region:US-MA_source:gnis|display=inline,title
type =
inflow = Stream fed from marshes
outflow = Long Pond River, aka Snake River
catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length = convert|4|mi|km|abbr=on|lk=on
width = convert|1|mi|km|abbr=on|lk=on
area = convert|1721|acre|km2|abbr=on
depth = convert|9|ft|m|abbr=on
max-depth = convert|12|ft|m|abbr=on
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = convert|54|ft|m|abbr=on
islands = 3 (Lewis Island, Nelson Island, Goat Island) and Pankhurst canal island
cities =

Long Pond is a pond within the towns of Lakeville and Freetown, in southeastern Massachusetts. It shares its waters with Assawompset Pond. These ponds provide a source of drinking water to the city of New Bedford, the largest city in southeastern Massachusetts. Long Pond is roughly one mile wide by four miles long, and contains three islands within its boundaries. In 1894 Assawompset Pond was dammed, increasing the water depth of Long Pond (which is connected by a small river) by about five feet. This created Nelson Island and caused Sunken Island to disappear due to erosion. All that remains of Sunken Island are the rocks in a shallow area just to the north of Lewis Island. Lewis Island is the largest of the three remaining islands today, containing sixteen privately owned cottages, while the second largest island, Nelson Island, was purchased in 2005 and now is a year round private residence. The smallest island, Goat Island, was recently purchased from the Boy Scouts by a private citizen. Along the perimeter of the pond are many homes and private access points to the waterfront. Long Pond is well known for fishing and boating.

At the northeast corner of the pond is a canal that meanders through the Parkhurst development and is navigable by boat. There is a small bridge that allows foot and road traffic onto the artificial island. In the northwest corner of the pond is a river that feeds into Assawompset Pond, which winds through the marshland before passing under Route 18 and connecting with Assawompset. It is locally known as the "Snake River," but is also labeled as the Long Pond River on some maps.

The pond has several potentially hazardous areas for boaters. There is a sand bar that connects Nelson Island to the mainland that varies from about three feet to only inches deep, and is sometimes fully exposed in the mid to late summer. Because of the pond's shallow depth (on average around nine feet), many large rocks pose serious threats. Not all of these rocks are clearly marked, but most are. The largest of these rocks is known as Acre Rock because of its approximate size. It is flat on its top, lies close to the surface and sits midway between the east and west shores of the pond approximately 1/4 mile north of Hemlock Point at Long Pond's southern end. Acre Rock sits approximately at the town line separating Lakeville and Freetown.

For a boater unexperienced navigating Long Pond, it is always advisable to remain on the western side of the islands when traveling north or south to avoid the many rocks and sandbars that exist.

External links

*PDF| [http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/habitat/maps/ponds/pdf/dfwlongl.pdf MassWildlife - Pond Maps: Long Pond] |71.2 KiB
*gnis|613545|Long Pond