State to limit Walden Pond access due to spring deluges

The pond is a glacial, kettle-hole pond with no surface water flowing in or out, Sullivan said. Water levels are determined by precipitation and surrounding groundwater levels so the only way the water will go down is through evaporation or if the water table goes down, he said.

"Anything that goes in there, stays in there," Sullivan said. "It's going to be a very slow process."

Sullivan said it could be a year before the water levels return to normal.

The beaches, which are typically covered this time of year with coolers, towels and children building sand castles, are now submerged under two feet of water. In addition, flooded trails, including the popular Pond Path that circles the pond, will be closed to protect natural resources and public safety. To control the number of people visiting the reservation, parking will be limited to 169 visitors, compared to the usual 300.

"We have concerns, given how high it is, in protecting public safety and the natural resources," Sullivan said. "It's an iconic park, an international destination – people come for the Walden Pond, Thoreau experience."

Visitors will still be able to swim in marked areas of the pond, but there is no beach. They will be able to sit on a slope above the pond, but officials admitted that it’s not ideal. Coolers could tip over and beach blankets will be at an angle.

The beach will have a lifeguard on weekends starting this weekend through Father’s Day and then every day the rest of the summer season. DCR had divers remove hazardous materials and structures such as benches, fences and wooden platforms that had been submerged in the beach area.

Visitors, who have already been swarming to Walden Pond this week as temperatures spiked close to 90 degrees, were shocked to see the flooding.

"I've never seen it like this," said Marina Rodriguez, who kept her two children out of school Wednesday to cool off at the pond.

Her children, Sabrina, 8, and Michael, 6, love to run around and play in the sand, she said. But with no beach, she’s not sure she’ll return this year.

"It's not really what I want for them," she said.

Pauline Curtiss of Concord purchased a season pass for the pond Wednesday and was disappointed as she walked down and saw no sand for her 19-month-old daughter, Ellery.

"It was a little surprising to not have any beach," Curtiss said. "We're used to a beautiful, luxurious beach."

But as Ellery ventured into the water, Curtiss said she found the soft sand underwater perfect for playing and splashing. Still, Curtiss said she’ll take the opportunity to explore other beaches this summer.

Park staff will suggest other nearby outdoor recreational areas including Cochituate State Park in Wayland, Great Brook Farm State Park in Carlisle, Hopkinton State Park in Hopkinton and Lowell Heritage State Park in Lowell.

"There will be some frustrations and we understand that," Sullivan said. "We're doing it to better protect this resource so it will be available for generations to come."

Park staff members will also direct walkers and hikers to marked trails in the reservation other than Pond Path because there are 11 spots along the path that are under water.

Sullivan said not only is it a public safety concern but officials are also worried about erosion and run-off that could impact the water quality. He said the water quality is checked weekly and so far there have been no problems.

"We're asking people to understand the situation," he said. "It's a natural phenomenon."

Sullivan said it is unusual for the water levels to be so high but it is characteristic of a kettle pond. He said Thoreau’s study of the pond noted the water level changes. In his book, Walden, Thoreau wrote that “The pond rises and falls, but whether regularly or not, and within what period, nobody knows, though, as usual many pretend to know…I can remember when it was a foot or two lower, and also when it was at least five feet higher, than when I lived by it…the water… though it makes it difficult to walk round it…’’

The pond is the deepest in the commonwealth, measuring nearly 90 feet at its deepest.
Ken Bassett of Lincoln, the chairman of an advisory committee for Walden Pond, said he's disappointed that visitors will have to be limited but thinks it's a good compromise. He said the committee discussed restricting swimming altogether.

"I've come to agree with the agency that cutting the amount of people you let into the reservation is the most practical solution," he said. "It's not a very desirable situation."