Trustom Pond

Trustom Pond
Location South Kingstown Washington County, Rhode Island
Lake type saline
Primary inflows precipitation, groundwater
Catchment area 794 acres (321 ha)[1]
Basin countries United States
Surface area 180 acres (73 ha)[1]
Average depth 1.3 ft (0.40 m)[1]
Surface elevation 0 ft [2]
References [1][2]

Trustom Pond is a closed lagoon in South Kingstown, Washington County, Rhode Island, United States.[3] It is one of nine coastal lagoons (referred to as "salt ponds" by locals) in southern Rhode Island.[4][5] It has a surface area of 800 acres (320 ha), and is the only undeveloped salt pond in the state.[6][7] The pond averages 1.3 feet (0.40 m) deep, and has a salinity level of 5 parts per thousand. It is non-tidal, except when breached by storms.[1] The water directly receives about 219,844,022 US gallons (832,200,150 L) of precipitation per year, with an estimated 796,215 US gallons (3,014,000 L) in daily groundwater flow.[8] No streams flow into the pond, though a nearby stream "captures water that otherwise would have flowed to Trustom Pond".[9]

Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge, inhabited by over 300 species of birds, 40 species of mammals, and 20 species of reptiles and amphibians.[7] As such, it is a popular bird-watching destination.[10] In 1987, 365 acres (148 ha) of land were donated to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; subsequent donations and purchases raised the protected area to 800 acres (320 ha), with current plans for expansion. The wildlife refuge receives approximately 50,000 visitors annually.[7] The Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge includes 3 miles (4.8 km) of foot trails, surrounded by fields, shrublands, woodlands and small freshwater ponds.[11] Wildlife managers create breachways to the Block Island Sound, lowering water levels and creating mudflats which become feeding areas for waders.[12]

See also

Trustom Pond is a closed lagoon in South Kingstown, Washington County, Rhode Island, United States.[3] It is one of nine coastal lagoons ( in southern Rhode Island.[4][5] It has a surface area of 800 acres (3.2 km2), and is the only undeveloped fresh-water pond in the state.[6][7] The pond averages 1.3 feet (0.40 m) deep. It is non-tidal, except when breached by storms.[1] The water directly receives about 219,844,022 US gallons (832,200,150 L) of precipitation per year, with an estimated 796,215 US gallons (3,014,000 L) in daily groundwater flow.[8] No streams flow into the pond, though a nearby stream "captures water that otherwise would have flowed to Trustom Pond".[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Trustom Pond General Features Data". Rhode Island South Shore Sea Grant. http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/coasts/trustom/trustomGFD.html. Retrieved 2009-05-25.  , quoting RIGIS 2001 (area) and Lee 1980 (salinity)
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Trustom Pond
  3. ^ "Salt Ponds of Rhode Island". Rhode Island Sea Grant. http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/bookstore/saltpond.pdf. Retrieved 2009-05-25. 
  4. ^ Donald Wyatt (1995). "Rhode Island's last execution". FAQs.org. http://www.faqs.org/abstracts/General-interest/The-salt-ponds-of-Rhode-Island-They-go-back-a-long-way.html. Retrieved 2009-05-25. 
  5. ^ S.W. Nixon and B. A. Buckley (2007). "Nitrogen Inputs to Rhode Island Coastal Salt – Too Much of a Good Thing". Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/benviron/water/permits/isds/pdfs/spnload.pdf. Retrieved 2009-05-25. 
  6. ^ "Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge". VisitRhodeIsland.com. http://www.visitrhodeisland.com/what-to-do/bird-watching-and-nature-walks/1538/trustom-pond-national-wildlife-refuge/. Retrieved 2009-05-25. 
  7. ^ a b c "Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=53545. Retrieved 2009-05-25. 
  8. ^ "Trustom Pond Freshwater Input Data". Rhode Island South Shore Sea Grant. http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/coasts/trustom/trustomFID.html. Retrieved 2009-05-25. 
  9. ^ USGS. Hydrogeology and simulated groundwater flow in the Salt Pond region of southern Rhode Island. DIANE Publishing. p. 30. ISBN 142232575X. http://books.google.com/?id=RBxviGp_6yQC&pg=PA30&dq=trustom+pond+rhode+island#PPA30,M1. 
  10. ^ "Bird Watching & Wildlife Refuges". South County Tourism Council. http://www.southcountyri.com/ViewListings.aspx?SectionID=1&SubNavID=27&ContentID=110. Retrieved 2009-05-25. 
  11. ^ "Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuges". GORP. http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-trustom-pond-national-wildlife-refuge-rhode-island-sidwcmdev_068711.html. Retrieved 2009-05-25. 
  12. ^ Mark Damian Duda and Robert Field (1995). Watching Wildlife. Globe Pequot. p. 80. ISBN 1560443154. http://books.google.com/?id=7NFIz-ENq5kC&pg=PA80&dq=trustom+pond+rhode+island. 

External links

Rhode Island's salt ponds
Point Judith Pond • Potter Pond • Trustom Pond • Cards Pond • Ninigret Pond • Green Hill Pond • Quonochontaug Pond • Winnapaug Pond • Maschaug Pond