Moeckel Pond - Environmental Impact
Everyday, more and more wetland areas are being destroyed. Construction,
drought, storms and rising sea levels are taking a toll on coastal and
inland habitats. The losses of these habitats have documented impacts on
migrating and non-migrating bird populations. Moeckel Pond has
historically been a stopover along the Atlantic Flyway for waterfowl and
woodland bird populations. Pond biodiversity also added an abundant food
source of small fish, insects, worms, small frogs, toads and mollusks.
Located on the edge of a large forested area, the pond was abundant with
vegetation and biologically diverse aquatic life. Since the pond has
been drained, migrating waterfowl no longer stop here.
As with migratory birds, Moeckel Pond supported forest wildlife that
visited daily for water, food and play. Since Moeckel Pond was drained,
reports of moose, deer, bobcats, fisher cats, coyote and fox in
surrounding residential neighborhoods have increased. It seems clear
that this shift in activity is due to the loss of habitat and food once
supplied by Moeckel Pond.
Moeckel Pond also improved water quality through nutrient uptake and
helped fight climate change by sequestering carbon. According to
Professor John Downing of Iowa State University, ponds bury carbon "as
much as 20-50 times the rate at which trees trap carbon. In addition,
ponds were found to take up carbon at a higher rate than larger lakes.”
Restoring Moeckel Pond will have a significant positive environmental
impact.
(Back to the overview of the project.)
Windham Endowment for Community Advancement
P.O. Box 4315, Windham NH 03087
Tel: 603.437.0686
Email: ContactWE@windhamendowment.org