Town(s):
Barnstable MA
County:
Barnstable
Local Name:
Stewards Pond
Size:
24
acres
Average Depth:
10
feet
Maximum Depth:
28
feet
Boating Allowed:
Kayaks, Canoes, Sail Boats, Electric Motor Boats, Gas Engines Prohibited
Swimming:
Unknown
Garretts Pond, also known as Stewards Pond and in earlier times as Annables Pond, is a 24 acre natural kettlehole pond with an average depth of 10 feet and a maximum depth of 28 feet. According to Green et al. 2006 The Names of Cape Cod, it was named for Andrew Garrett, a Revolutionary War officer who lived next to the pond. The pond is fed by groundwater and cranberry bogs and drains into Brickyard Creek which then flows into the Barnstable Marshes and Cape Cod Bay. The 0.93 miles of shoreline are lightly developed with houses. The pond is on the acidic side with a pH of 5.24 and little or no alkalinity noted in 1988 sampling by the Acid Rain Monitoring Project. The pond is noted for its clear water with a transparency reading of 24 feet! Aquatic vegetation is scant. Due to its location on a terminal moraine ridge of Cape Cod, the pond bottom has extensive boulder and rubble areas interspersed with sand.
Water Quality:
No Known Issues
Vegetation Growth:
Minimal
Non-native Species:
Unknown
Fishing Comments:
Between 1917 and 1941, Garretts Pond was stocked with white perch, smallmouth bass and yellow perch. An August 7, 1952 survey found yellow perch, banded killifish, chain pickerel, American eel, brown bullhead, tesselated darters and smallmouth bass. It was reclaimed by the Barnstable Sportsmen Club in September 1956 and restocked with smallmouth bass. Fish production was low and estimated at 50 pounds per acre. It was later also stocked with alewives and white perch. The pond was reclaimed again in September 1965 and American eels composed 237 pounds of the 239 pounds of fish recovered with a few smallmouth bass and pumpkinseed also noted. The pond was then restocked with chain pickerel and alewives. The most recent survey was done in August of 1973 and yellow perch, brown bullhead and American eels were reported. Angler reports indicate that largemouth bass are present. Angler reports indicate that largemouth bass fishing is good in Garretts Pond. Based on the water quality data which indicates an acidic, low fertility pond, the amount of fish in the pond would be expected to be limited. Although the rubble areas would indicate good smallmouth bass habitat, past reports indicate reproduction was limited in this pond. Wequaquet Lake and Hathaway Pond are some other nearby ponds.
Fish Species:
Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Brown Bullhead, Bluegill
Boat Access:
Primarily Car-top boats & Canoes
Parking Spaces:
None
Directions:
Garretts Pond is located in West Barnstable just west of Route 132 and between Routes 6 and 6A. It can be reached by taking exit 6 off the Mid-Cape Highway (route 6) and heading north on Route 132. Just before reaching Route 6A, take a left onto Oak Street. Public access to Garretts Pond is at the southeast corner of the pond through a town landing (Latitude: 41.69085 N, Longitude: 70.34907 W) located off Oak Street and reached by a steep dirt road between Moco Road and Bancroft Circle.
Shoreline Development:
25-50%
