Brooks Pond (Massachusetts)

Infobox_lake
lake_name = Brooks Pond
image_lake = BrooksPond-air.jpg
caption_lake = from the air
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
coords = coord|42|18|06|N|72|02|31|W|type:waterbody_region:US-MA|display=inline,title
location = Massachusetts
type = Pond
inflow =
outflow = 5.5 ft³/s (0.156 m³/s)
catchment = convert|190|acre|lk=on|abbr=on
basin_countries = United States
length = ≈2.2 mi (3.54 km)
width = ≈1.6 mi (2.57 km)
area = ≈3.5 mi² (9.06 km²)
depth = 12 ft (3.66 m)
max-depth = 20 ft (6.09 m)
volume =
shore = ≈4 mi (6.44 km)
elevation = convert|665|ft|abbr=on
islands =
cities = North Brookfield Oakham Spencer

Brooks Pond is a Massachusetts water body bordered by the towns of North Brookfield, Oakham, and Spencer. It forms the headwaters of the Five Mile River, which is part of the Chicopee River Watershed.

Information

Brooks Pond is a mostly shallow pond enhanced in size by an earthen dam, although some parts range to 26 feet (8 m) in depth. The water is often brown in color from leaf tannin and gets quite warm in the summertime. Brooks Pond is near a watershed boundary where waters to its north and west are part of the Ware River watershed and waters to its south and east are part of the Quaboag River watershed. Situated in a heavily forested area, there are many summerhouses and some full time residences on its shores.

Fishing

Brooks Pond offers good fishing for many warm water fish. A survey conducted in 1994 showed thirteen species including Large and Small-mouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Yellow Perch, White Perch, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Brown and Yellow Bullhead, Golden Shiner, and Sucker. The large shallow expanses extending beyond the original pond are too shallow, warm and de-oxygenated to support larger fish for much of the year. Less experienced and skillful anglers thus catch mostly small fish and recite the old saw that the pond is over-fished. Despite that popular mantra, Brooks gives up a few hefty largemouth bass to those with the skills to locate and catch them.

References

* [http://iaspub.epa.gov/tmdl/enviro_v2.wcontrol?p_id305b=MA36023 Environmental report]
* [http://www.earthsearch.net/usSearch.php Location and specifications]
*PDF| [http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/wri994006/wrir99-4006.pdf Stream flow measurements] |1.82 MiB
*PDF| [http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/resources/2006il3.pdf Waterbody specifications] |1.40 MiB