Georgica Pond facts for kids

Georgica Pond is a large, beautiful coastal lagoon (which is like a shallow lake connected to the ocean) located in East Hampton Village and Wainscott, New York. It's about 290 acres (1.17 square kilometers) in size. This special pond was even a "Summer White House" for President Bill Clinton in 1998 and 1999, meaning he stayed there for his summer vacations.

What is Georgica Pond?

Georgica Pond is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a narrow strip of sand, about 50 feet (15 meters) wide. Local officials called the East Hampton Trustees carefully manage the pond. They have a system where they sometimes open the sandbar to let fresh water out and ocean water in. This helps keep the pond healthy.

The pond has a unique shape, with six finger-like sections reaching out from the main body of water. These areas are called Georgica Cove, Eel Creek, Goose Creek, Talmage Creek, Seabury Creek, and Jones Creek.

Famous Neighbors

Many well-known people have homes along the shores of Georgica Pond. Some famous residents include director Steven Spielberg and businessman Ronald Perelman. Former residents include TV personality Martha Stewart and fashion designer Calvin Klein.

President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary Clinton, stayed at Steven Spielberg's home during their summer visits in 1998 and 1999. There were some interesting stories that went around, like a rumor that the Secret Service (who protect the president) checked the pond for submarines after it drained shortly after one of Clinton's visits.

The Pond and the Beach

Sometimes, structures built into the water, called groynes or jetties, near Georgica Pond have been thought to cause problems for nearby beaches. These jetties are believed to stop the natural flow of sand along the coastline, which can lead to beaches shrinking in places like Southampton.

The Tradition of "Letting"

In the past, especially in the 1960s and 1970s, local Native American tribes had a tradition called "letting." This involved opening the sandbar to let fresh water from the pond flow into the ocean.

At first, people worried that "letting" might harm the pond's natural environment and lower the amount of underground water. They thought that adding saltwater and certain fish species from the ocean might be bad for the pond's plants and animals.

However, studies done in the late 1980s and 1990s showed that "letting" actually helped Georgica Pond. It reduced flooding in the area and made the pond more ecologically sound, meaning it was healthier for the living things in it. It was found that "letting" generally benefited the pond's ecosystem and made floods less frequent and less severe.

Other Interesting Facts

Georgica Pond is also famous for being the location of the historic Grey Gardens estate, a well-known property with a unique history.

A sandy area near the pond is an important nesting spot for a special bird called the piping plover. These birds are protected, and their nesting grounds are carefully watched over.