Fresh Pond Reservation

Fresh Pond Reservation Fresh Pond Reservation: protecting the Cambridge water supply since 1889. Raw water from Fresh Pond is purified at the adjacent Walter J.

Owned and managed by the City of Cambridge

Fresh Pond Reservation consists of 162 acres of open space surrounding and protecting the 155 acre Fresh Pond Reservoir and contains a 2.25 mile loop trail. Fresh Pond Reservoir is a vital part of the drinking water supply system for the City of Cambridge. Fresh Pond is fed by the drinking water system's important upland reservoirs: Hobbs Brook Reservoir

in Lincoln, Lexington, and Waltham, and Stony Brook Reservoir in Weston and Waltham. Sullivan Water Treatment Facility and pumped to Payson Park Reservoir in Belmont. From there it flows back to the city by gravity, providing drinking water to the residents and businesses of Cambridge. Check out more here: https://spark.adobe.com/page/2M2tz/

We had our first bald eagle sighting of the season today, September 1st - election day! Don't forget to vote! It just so...
09/01/2026

We had our first bald eagle sighting of the season today, September 1st - election day! Don't forget to vote! It just so happens that the Water Treatment plant is a polling location for Cambridge residents in precinct 9-2.

Interested in restoring natural areas, gardening, and native plants at Fresh Pond Reservation? Join our volunteers every...
08/30/2026

Interested in restoring natural areas, gardening, and native plants at Fresh Pond Reservation?

Join our volunteers every Tuesday from 10am to 1pm - learn with expert naturalists and gardeners about how they turned a complete invasive monoculture into a wildlife refuge in just over a decade.

This program meets at the habitat restoration area just before Lusitania meadow at Fresh Pond Reservation. Stop by for a chat or stay the whole time! Meets until the weather turns, typically November. Heavy rain cancels.

Thank you to all our visitors for attending the 2026 Monarch Release event at Fresh Pond Reservation this past Monday! W...
08/26/2026

Thank you to all our visitors for attending the 2026 Monarch Release event at Fresh Pond Reservation this past Monday! While it was rescheduled due to rain, we still had a great turnout.

A huge thank you to our sponsor the Friends of Fresh Pond for making this event possible, and to Wildlife Arts for hosting crafting tables for multiple ages, as well as brilliant kamishibai storyteller Yumi Izuyama for her performance of "El Abrazo de Maria".

Unfortunately, due to at 30% chance of rain at 1pm today, we will be cancelling today and moving the event to tomorrow, ...
08/23/2026

Unfortunately, due to at 30% chance of rain at 1pm today, we will be cancelling today and moving the event to tomorrow, Monday 8/24 at 5:30-6:30pm. Rain is disadvantageous for little wings taking flight!

Where are all the birds?! Don't worry! They're still there. It's just that breeding season is over! In late summer, ther...
08/13/2026

Where are all the birds?! Don't worry! They're still there.

It's just that breeding season is over!

In late summer, there is a lull in birding as they have finished breeding and no longer are singing their territorial breeding songs, families break up as babies leave the nest, and birds are beginning to molt their colorful breeding feathers in favor of a thicker fall migratory coat.

Birds are very vulnerable to predation during this time - they are still there, but they just look a little scraggly and are keeping a low profile. The shorebirds will start migrating soon and birding will pick up in fall.

Find out more here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/bird-watching-tips-its-summer-where-did-the-birds-go

CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN: Unfortunately, due to at 30% chance of rain at 1pm today, 8/23, we will be moving the event to ou...
08/12/2026

CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN: Unfortunately, due to at 30% chance of rain at 1pm today, 8/23, we will be moving the event to our rain date tomorrow, Monday 8/24 at 5:30-6:30pm. Rain is not good for little wings taking off!
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This completely free event features storyteller Yumi Izuyama, crafts by Wildlife Arts, and face painting by FaceArt Face Painting & Events for the kids. Monarch related attire encouraged!

We will meet outside the water treatment plant at 250 Fresh Pond Parkway, along the perimeter road. We will head over to Kingsley bowl for the release.

Learn about how you can help these incredible threatened insects and witness them flying off! Sponsored by the Friends of Fresh Pond Reservation.

Join the Ranger at Fresh Pond Reservation's Weir Meadow for an invasive pulling event on Sunday, August 30th from 10:30a...
08/12/2026

Join the Ranger at Fresh Pond Reservation's Weir Meadow for an invasive pulling event on Sunday, August 30th from 10:30am-12:00 noon!

Join the Fresh Pond Rangers for this community invasive pulling event on Sunday, August 2nd from 3:00-4:30pm at 250 Fres...
07/22/2026

Join the Fresh Pond Rangers for this community invasive pulling event on Sunday, August 2nd from 3:00-4:30pm at 250 Fresh Pond Parkway in Cambridge, MA.

Help us pull invasive Black Swallowwort to protect endangered Monarchs and get ready for the annual Monarch release event at Fresh Pond Reservation!!

This vining plant is a close relative of Milkweed - the sole host plant of the Monarch Butterfly. Adults get confused into laying an egg on Black Swallowwort, which is then doomed to starve and die, because caterpillars can only eat Milkweed.

Wear closed toed shoes and dress for the weather. We will have gloves and bags available as well as tools for digging up the plant! This program meets at the ranger station under the clock tower.

What are those beans on the fenceline? Thanks for asking!We have some questions in return: Do you love the endangered Mo...
07/13/2026

What are those beans on the fenceline? Thanks for asking!

We have some questions in return: Do you love the endangered Monarch Butterfly? Do you regularly walk around Fresh Pond Reservation? Do you want to give back to Fresh Pond and help bolster Monarch populations in an easy, low-investment way?

Help us pull Black Swallowwort seed pods!!

This vining plant is a close relative of Milkweed - the sole host plant of the Monarch Butterfly. Adults get confused into laying an egg on Black Swallowwort, which is then doomed to starve and die, because caterpillars can only eat Milkweed.

If you’re visiting Fresh Pond, use a free dog waste baggie and fill it up on each walk! Become a member of the City’s guerilla “Pod Patrol” and encourage your neighbors to pick pods.

Each pod pulled keeps a dozen more of these plants from sprouting. There are no other plants to confuse it with at the Reservation that produce seed pods like this on our fenceline. Please pull them wherever you see them!

The sap from this plant can be mildly irritating to some folks. Make sure to wash your hands afterwards if not wearing gloves.

Address

250 Fresh Pond Pkwy
Cambridge, MA
02138

Telephone

+16173496489

Website

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