Sunday, January 5, 2014

Governor Francis Farms Rose Pond Shows Signs of Pollution Narragansett Bay - Saint George Court, Linda Maintanis

It's a well-known fact that Rose Pond is located at the back of, or south side of Saint George Court.
Many locals tell stories of skating on it when they were grade school age. Now it is located outside my living room window, facing east, the old water tower still stands in a tangle of wild rose vines.
The pond is spring fed; I think that's a good thing to know, that in a pinch you could get your own water...

rose pond, saint george court, warwick, ri, governor francis farms, brownLast week, Thursday before the storm, I happened to glance over and around the pond, possibly trying to spy a deer or beaver. Instead something jumped out at me. A large mass of slightly flourescent green sludge that appeared to have traveled down the bank  of the pond. Now collected below;
it's sheen was compelling. What could it be?

The pond is a part of a chain of waterways that feed into Narragansett Bay. Located only 1500 feet from the shoreline of the bay, it's fresh water is a tiny tributary that allows wildlife a drinking fountain along it's path. From here the stream winds through Brown's Farm, still owned by a member of the founding families, Henry Brown. At the shore an estuary is formed.

 The Rhode Island DEM was called and are looking into the matter.  Hopefully there will be no long term damage to the delicate system.

rose pond, saint george court, warwick, ri, governor francis farms, brown