Main Pond Treated for Blue-Green Algae
The Main Pond - the largest basin of Foster's Pond - was treated September 3 after laboratory analysis of a water sample indicated levels of blue-green algae that could pose a health hazard. Blue-green algae can cause gastrointestinal problems in kids, and may prove fatal to pets. Even after treatment, residents and visitors are cautioned to keep an eye out for blue-green scum, which can appear anywhere - particularly along shorelines - this time of year. If you see blue-green scum, avoid contact, and keep kids and pets away. Click here for more details and a picture.
Annual Picnic Draws a Crowd
Under sunny skies, 75 people turned out for the FPC's annual summer picnic on August 10. Held each year in a different venue around Foster's Pond, the event aims to bring community members together in celebration of the treasured resource. The 2024 edition was the 19th since the Corporation revived a tradition that dates to 1927, when the community consisted almost entirely of summer "camps."
Most Extensive Treatment Since 2015 Subdues Fanwort
Forty-two of the Pond's 120 acres have been treated for invasive weeds, the most extensive such treatment in nearly a decade. The process began May 2 with the initial application of a slow-acting herbicide to infested areas, followed by two "booster" treatments at intervals of thirty days. The final treatment for most of the Pond was applied on July 2. However, one particularly stubborn area received one more treatment on August 7. Consistent with procedures approved by the Andover Conservation Commission, affected areas were closed for recreational uses on the day of each treatment. The treatments targeted fanwort, a persistent invasive which covered more than half the Pond before the Corporation initiated a control program. For more details, pictures and a map, click here.
Record Number of Shoreline Owners Participate in Hydro-Raking
Hydro-raking got off to its earliest-ever start (April 1) with its largest-ever number of participants (seventeen). A torrential rainstorm interrupted the work for a day, but the operator got right back on schedule, putting in full days on Saturday and Sunday. He finished up on April 8. For more details and a picture, click here.
After a Mild Winter, an Early Refill
As a mild winter - featuring little snow and almost no ice on the Pond - came to an end, refilling the Pond got a jump-start in early March. With the help of wetter-than-usual weather, the Dam's iconic waterfall was restored as of March 11. The final stoplog was inserted on May 13. 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.
Donate Now, and Make Sure Your Name Is on Our 2024 Honor Roll
We can't protect Foster's Pond and our historic dam without your help. We rely on your donation. Check out our Honor Roll of Foster's Pond supporters. If you haven't donated this year, give today, so that we can add your name. Earn the coveted 
, identifying you as an especially generous donor! 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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