Log Pond Cove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Log Pond Cove |
|
|---|---|
_from_Log_Pond_Cove,_Holyoke,_Massachusetts_(2017).jpg)
USFWS volunteers pull water chestnut from Log Pond Cove
|
|
 Log Pond Cove
Location in Holyoke
Log Pond Cove
Location in Massachusetts
Log Pond Cove
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Holyoke, Massachusetts |
| Coordinates | 42°12′58″N 72°36′45″W / 42.216001°N 72.612550°W |
| Type | cove |
| Primary inflows | Connecticut River |
| Primary outflows | Connecticut River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 18.5 acres (7.5 ha) |
| Surface elevation | 102 ft (31 m) |
Log Pond Cove is a special place on the Connecticut River. It is located near Holyoke, Massachusetts. This area used to be called Money Hole. It is about half a mile upstream from the Holyoke Dam.
This cove is about 18.5-acre (75,000 m2) big. Long ago, people used it for different things. They would cut ice from the pond. It was also a key spot for moving logs down the river.
Contents
What is Log Pond Cove?
Log Pond Cove is a quiet part of the Connecticut River. It is a cove, which means it's a small, sheltered bay. Today, it's a beautiful natural area. Many different kinds of birds and animals live here.
A Look Back: How Log Pond Cove Was Used
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Log Pond Cove was very busy. Logs were floated down the river from places up north. Workers would guide these logs into the cove. This was called a log drive.
A special fence, called a log boom, held the logs in place. These logs were then sent to paper mills in Holyoke. These mills used the wood to make paper. The last log drive happened in 1915.
Over time, the cove started to change. Silt, which is like fine mud, slowly filled it in. This changed a river island nearby into a peninsula. A peninsula is land almost surrounded by water.
Who Manages Log Pond Cove Today?
In the mid-1900s, the Holyoke Water Power Company owned the cove. Later, in 2001, Holyoke Gas & Electric took over. They manage the area as part of the dam and canal network.
Today, the US Fish and Wildlife Service helps manage the cove. Their staff and volunteers work hard. They help protect the area as part of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. This refuge helps protect wildlife and their homes.
Dealing with Invasive Plants
In 1998, a problem appeared in Log Pond Cove. An invasive plant called water chestnut was found there. This was the first time it was seen in the Connecticut River area.
An invasive species is a plant or animal that grows quickly. It can harm the local environment. Water chestnut can cover the water's surface. This makes it hard for other plants and animals to live. People from the government and local groups have worked to remove it. But the plant is still there.
Wildlife at the Cove
Log Pond Cove is now a safe place for many animals. It is surrounded by 62 acres of wetlands. Wetlands are areas where the land is covered by water. They are very important for wildlife.
Many bird species find a home here. You might see great blue herons. These are large, beautiful birds. Several types of ducks also live in the cove. It's a peaceful sanctuary for them.
