Nagog Pond is a kettle hole lake situated on the border between Acton and Littleton. Water flows out of Nagog Pond into Nagog Brook, which flows into Nashoba Brook, and then into the Assabet River.
The town of Concord has been using Nagog Pond as a drinking water source, and in 2015, they applied for permits to greatly expand their water withdrawal and treatment capacity. This application has been controversial.
Environmental issues that have been raised include the impact of increased water withdrawals on Nagog Pond, on the Cold Water Fishery Resource in Nagog Brook, and on wildlife in the open spaces around the Pond. Water supply issues include the possibility that increased withdrawals will adversely effect water availability in Acton’s Conant wells, and the possibility that it will be more difficult or more expensive for Acton to exercise its own water rights to Nagog Pond if Concord establishes a history of higher water withdrawals.
Green Acton website coverage (newest on top):
- (Mar. 12, 2022): Nagog Brook had a warm year in 2021
- (Nov. 18, 2021): Nagog Brook streamflow: Torrent in winter, trickle in summer–But not this year
- (Aug. 20, 2021): Nagog Brook Temperature Archive
- (May 5, 2021): What is happening in the NE corner of Nagog Pond?
- (April 18, 2021): Nagog Brook temperature: Cooler than air in Summer, warmer than air in Winter
- (Apr. 16, 2021): Stream monitoring at Nagog Brook
- (Nov. 13, 2020): SJC to hear oral arguments over Nagog Pond water rights on Dec. 2
- (Nov. 4, 2019): Land Court decision on Nagog Pond
- (December 15, 2018): Green Acton position on extending Nagog Pond Order of Conditions
- (April 17, 2018): What would a good outcome to the Nagog Pond controversy look like?
- (April 13,2018): Green Acton Position for April 2018 Nagog Pond Hearing.
- (March 30, 2018): Green Acton position on Town Meeting Article 26: Great Road Water Supply.
- (March 23, 2018): New version of Nagog Pond Draft Modified Special Permit Decision
- (March 18, 2018): Select Boards schedule Nagog discussions
- (March 5, 2018): Regional water sharing discussed in Concord
- (January 11, 2018): Nagog Brook resisting the cold
- (November 28, 2017): How does Acton say “No” to Concord’s expansion of the Nagog Pond water treatment plant?
- (November 28, 2017): Q&A on BoS Nagog Pond hearing.
- (November 16, 2017): Background for Nov. 20, 2017 hearing on Nagog Pond.
- (May 16, 2017): Water articles at the Acton 2017 Town Meeting.
Relevant links outside the Green Acton site:
- Ron Beck, 2016, Water Wars Pop Up Unexpectedly — in Massachusetts!
- Ron Beck 2017, Water Wars in Massachusetts: Take 2!... Two adjoining towns reach an impasse.
- Robert Sekuler: Water, water, but not everywhere: A tale of three towns and two ponds.