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Assessment of Potential Effects of Water-Supply Withdrawals on Groundwater Levels near the Hyannis Ponds Complex, Barnstable, Massachusetts Completed

By New England Water Science Center February 6, 2019

The USGS, in cooperation with the Town of Barnstable and MassWildlife, is assessing the potential effects of new water-supply withdrawals on groundwater levels in the Hyannis Ponds Wildlife Management Area on Cape Cod. A groundwater-flow model is being used to simulate the effects of several possible withdrawal and wastewater-return flow scenarios developed by the Town of Barnstable and MassWildlife on the groundwater-flow system.

Location of Hyannis ponds Wildlife Management Area and Town of Barnstable production wells, Cape Cod, MA
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
Location of Hyannis Ponds Wildlife Management Area and nearby Town of Barnstable production wells, Cape Cod, MA

The Hyannis Pond complex in Barnstable, Massachusetts, consists of several shallow kettle ponds that support unique and globally rare pond-shore plant communities adapted to the natural magnitude and timing of water-level fluctuations (the hydroperiod) that lead to periodic inundation and exposure of the shoreline. The pond complex lies within the Hyannis Ponds Wildlife Management Area managed by the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife). This area was acquired primarily to protect the rare pond-shore communities. The pond complex is also near existing production wells for the Towns of Barnstable and Yarmouth, and withdrawals from these wells currently affect groundwater levels in the area compared to historical, predevelopment levels (Walter and Whealan, 2005).

Shoreline of Mary Dunn Pond, Barnstable, MA
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
Shoreline of Mary Dunn Pond, Barnstable, MA

The Town of Barnstable is evaluating options for developing new groundwater supplies to meet current and future needs for potable drinking water for Hyannis village, which is served by the Water Supply Division of the Barnstable Department of Public Works. The area near the Hyannis Ponds complex is one of several areas in the Town that are under consideration for water-supply development because of perceived favorable hydrogeologic conditions and land-use patterns. The protected status of the land around the pond complex and lack of industrial development in potential contributing areas to production wells are favorable for developing clean water supplies, but concerns have been raised regarding potential effects of new pumping patterns on sensitive pond-shore habitat.  To evaluate potential effects of groundwater withdrawals on the Hyannis Ponds complex, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with MassWildlife and the Town of Barnstable, is conducting simulations of the groundwater flow system with a previously published, calibrated groundwater flow model for selected groundwater withdrawal and wastewater-return flow scenarios. 

    

To evaluate potential effects of groundwater withdrawals on the Hyannis Ponds complex, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with MassWildlife and the Town of Barnstable, conducted simulations of the groundwater flow system with a previously published, calibrated groundwater flow model for selected groundwater withdrawal and wastewater-return flow scenarios. 

The study was initiated in 2018 and completed in 2019 with the publication of a USGS Scientific Investigation Report (LeBlanc and others, 2019) describing the results of the groundwater flow simulations.

Shoreline of Mary Dunn Pond, Barnstable, MA
link

Below are publications associated with this project.

Simulated water-table and pond-level responses to proposed public water-supply withdrawals in the Hyannis Ponds Wildlife Management Area, Barnstable, Massachusetts

The glacial kettle ponds in the Hyannis Ponds Wildlife Management Area in Barnstable, Massachusetts, support a community of rare and endangered plants. The ponds are hydraulically connected to the unconfined aquifer that underlies Cape Cod. The plants are adapted to the rise and fall of water levels in the ponds as the water table fluctuates in response to seasonal and year-to-year natural changes
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

Simulated water sources and effects of pumping on surface and ground water, Sagamore and Monomoy flow lenses, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

The sandy sediments underlying Cape Cod, Massachusetts, compose an important aquifer that is the sole source of water for a region undergoing rapid development. Population increases and urbanization on Cape Cod lead to two primary environmental effects that relate directly to water supply: (1) adverse effects of land use on the quality of water in the aquifer and (2) increases in pumping that can
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

Below are partners associated with this project.

Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game (DFG)

Town of Barnstable, Massachusetts

  • Overview

    The USGS, in cooperation with the Town of Barnstable and MassWildlife, is assessing the potential effects of new water-supply withdrawals on groundwater levels in the Hyannis Ponds Wildlife Management Area on Cape Cod. A groundwater-flow model is being used to simulate the effects of several possible withdrawal and wastewater-return flow scenarios developed by the Town of Barnstable and MassWildlife on the groundwater-flow system.

    Location of Hyannis ponds Wildlife Management Area and Town of Barnstable production wells, Cape Cod, MA
    Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
    Location of Hyannis Ponds Wildlife Management Area and nearby Town of Barnstable production wells, Cape Cod, MA

    The Hyannis Pond complex in Barnstable, Massachusetts, consists of several shallow kettle ponds that support unique and globally rare pond-shore plant communities adapted to the natural magnitude and timing of water-level fluctuations (the hydroperiod) that lead to periodic inundation and exposure of the shoreline. The pond complex lies within the Hyannis Ponds Wildlife Management Area managed by the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife). This area was acquired primarily to protect the rare pond-shore communities. The pond complex is also near existing production wells for the Towns of Barnstable and Yarmouth, and withdrawals from these wells currently affect groundwater levels in the area compared to historical, predevelopment levels (Walter and Whealan, 2005).

    Shoreline of Mary Dunn Pond, Barnstable, MA
    Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
    Shoreline of Mary Dunn Pond, Barnstable, MA

    The Town of Barnstable is evaluating options for developing new groundwater supplies to meet current and future needs for potable drinking water for Hyannis village, which is served by the Water Supply Division of the Barnstable Department of Public Works. The area near the Hyannis Ponds complex is one of several areas in the Town that are under consideration for water-supply development because of perceived favorable hydrogeologic conditions and land-use patterns. The protected status of the land around the pond complex and lack of industrial development in potential contributing areas to production wells are favorable for developing clean water supplies, but concerns have been raised regarding potential effects of new pumping patterns on sensitive pond-shore habitat.  To evaluate potential effects of groundwater withdrawals on the Hyannis Ponds complex, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with MassWildlife and the Town of Barnstable, is conducting simulations of the groundwater flow system with a previously published, calibrated groundwater flow model for selected groundwater withdrawal and wastewater-return flow scenarios. 

        

    To evaluate potential effects of groundwater withdrawals on the Hyannis Ponds complex, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with MassWildlife and the Town of Barnstable, conducted simulations of the groundwater flow system with a previously published, calibrated groundwater flow model for selected groundwater withdrawal and wastewater-return flow scenarios. 

    The study was initiated in 2018 and completed in 2019 with the publication of a USGS Scientific Investigation Report (LeBlanc and others, 2019) describing the results of the groundwater flow simulations.

  • Multimedia
    Shoreline of Mary Dunn Pond, Barnstable, MA
    link
  • Publications

    Below are publications associated with this project.

    Simulated water-table and pond-level responses to proposed public water-supply withdrawals in the Hyannis Ponds Wildlife Management Area, Barnstable, Massachusetts

    The glacial kettle ponds in the Hyannis Ponds Wildlife Management Area in Barnstable, Massachusetts, support a community of rare and endangered plants. The ponds are hydraulically connected to the unconfined aquifer that underlies Cape Cod. The plants are adapted to the rise and fall of water levels in the ponds as the water table fluctuates in response to seasonal and year-to-year natural changes
    By
    Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center

    Simulated water sources and effects of pumping on surface and ground water, Sagamore and Monomoy flow lenses, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

    The sandy sediments underlying Cape Cod, Massachusetts, compose an important aquifer that is the sole source of water for a region undergoing rapid development. Population increases and urbanization on Cape Cod lead to two primary environmental effects that relate directly to water supply: (1) adverse effects of land use on the quality of water in the aquifer and (2) increases in pumping that can
    By
    Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center
  • Partners

    Below are partners associated with this project.

    Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game (DFG)

    Town of Barnstable, Massachusetts