Conservation Commission Approves Hydro-Raking and a Little Treatment, If Needed
The Andover Conservation Commission unanimously approved the Corporation's lake management recommendations for 2025, signing off on a list of ten hydro-raking participants as well as contingency plans to treat for blue-green algae and spiny naiad, if necessary. The vote came at the Commission's May 20 meeting. Click here for more details.
Save the Date: Summer Picnic Is Saturday, August 9
The FPC's annual Summer Picnic will be held 1-5 p.m., Saturday, August 9, and everyone is invited. This is a roving event, held at a different shoreline location each year. This year, our hosts will be Sal and Roberta Dell'Anno, 18 Foster's Pond Road.
The Summer Meeting is a festive occasion to meet neighbors and enjoy the Pond. It's like a giant Pond-side, pot-luck block party. We supply the burgers and hot dogs, the grill (if you wish to cook something else), and soft drinks. Bring the kids (and their life vests), a dish to share (or food for your own "pod"), a chair or two, and a stronger beverage (if you prefer).
Annual Meeting Hears the Tragic Story of Salem Witch Trials
The Annual Meeting of the Foster's Pond Corporation May 14 offered a moving glimpse into the 1692 witchcraft hysteria that erupted in Salem but swept up more victims in Andover than anywhere else. About 50 people attended the meeting, including three residents of the Foster's Pond community with ancestral ties to an accused witch, an accuser, or a judge.
Ann Foster, the aging widow of Andover's 22d resident Andrew Foster (who gave Foster's Pond its name), died in prison, having confessed to being a witch. According to featured speaker Emerson Baker, Ann was likely buried within sight of Foster's Pond, which has since doubled in size and may well have engulfed her unmarked grave. To view slides of Baker's presentation, click here.
Officers and directors were elected, and FPC President Steve Cotton reported on last year's accomplishments and plans for 2025. To view his report, click here.
Pond Refills, But Drought Lingers
After a night of light rain (mixed with a little spring snow, this being New England), water began cascading over the Dam's 12-foot-wide spillway April 12, ending the the 2024-25 annual winter drawdown. Light rains have not been enough, however, to wash away a "moderate drought." For more details and a picture, click here.
The Wandering Bear Who Visited Foster's Pond: An Obituary
A young black bear ambled through a half dozen nearby communities over the course of two months in the summer of 2022, eventually turning up in Andover. The first bear in living memory to be seen here, he spent four days around Foster's Pond. He then headed to Middleton, where he was shot and killed. For more, including pictures and a short video, click here.
Make Your 2025 Donation Today!
We can't protect Foster's Pond and our historic dam without your help. We rely on your donation. Check out our 2025 Honor Roll of Foster's Pond supporters. Make a donation today, so that we can place your name on our 2025 Honor Roll,. Make a donation of $100 to $249 and earn the coveted 
after your name. Make a donation of $250 to $499, and a pair of flying ducks () will swoop in to honor you. And if you give $500 or more, an entire flock () will fly in formation by your name. Go to our donation page right now and give on-line or by mail. Your contribution is tax-deductible. Thank you!
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Get the latest news about Foster's Pond. Want to be alerted when the Pond will be closed for a weed treatment? Or that an algae bloom has been detected? Or if there's an upcoming event? Then sign up to get Foster's Pond e-mail Updates. Updates are sent out about once a month. They will keep you informed without cluttering your in-box. And we don't share your e-mail address with anyone. Click here to subscribe.
In an Emergency . . .
It's hard to imagine that the 165-year-old Foster's Pond Dam could ever fail, but that's not a matter to be left to the imagination. The Foster's Pond Corporation has developed an Emergency Action Plan, just in case. The plan, approved by State regulators in 2019 and distributed to Andover's emergency response officials, identifies the worst-case scenario for downstream flooding and specifies who needs to be notified and what steps need to be taken. While no homes would be inundated, some roads could be under a couple of feet of water, temporarily cutting access to two cul-de-sacs off Woburn Street and four off River Street until the water subsides. For more details and a map showing what areas would be inundated and what roads might be flooded, click here.
Wilmington Community TV Program on Foster's Pond
WCTV, Wilmington's non-profit community television station, has produced a 22-minute program devoted to Foster's Pond and the FPC. The "Where's Wilmington" show, hosted by Lisa Kapala, includes a tour of the Goldsmith Woodlands by long-time Pond resident Joan Ellis, interviews with FPC President Steve Cotton and Board Member David Adilman, and footage of the Pond, the Dam, and Goldsmith. To view the program, click here.
Watershed Study Looks to Control Algae By Curbing Nutrients Flowing Into the Pond
We routinely treat Foster's Pond for toxic algae. Can anything be done to prevent algae blooms? To find out, we commissioned a state-of-the-art study of the Foster's Pond watershed, using the latest computer modeling, on-line databases, and newly-assembled information. Our consultants delivered a Watershed-Based Plan for reducing the primary "limiting nutrient" that triggers algae growth. The first step is to give citizens of the watershed the information you need on how to protect the Pond. Start here.
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