East Monponsett Pond Beach and Boat Ramp - North and South Rivers Watershed Association

40 Holmes St, Halifax, MA 02338, USA

Owned By: Town of Halifax

Directions

The East Monponsett Pond Beach and Boat Ramp in Halifax, provides water access for canoes and kayaks, as well as boats. The property features a small sandy beach area, a paved boat ramp, plus a single picnic table. It is located on Holmes Street (Route 36), with a parking area across the street. A Halifax Recycling sticker is required for parking. For public parking, consider the West Monponsett Boat Ramp, nearby (no sticker required).

Please do not feed the waterfowl.

It’s important to know that some of our freshwater fisheries are contaminated with mercury, PFAS and/or other concerning substances. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health maintains an online database with up-to-date advisories regarding fish consumption, sorted by location. We recommend you consult this valuable resource when planning a fishing excursion.

Features

Originally one lake, West and East Monponsett Ponds are sometimes known as the Twin Lakes or Monponsett Lake. The western portion is 282 acres and the eastern portion is 246 acres, both with an average depth of 7 feet (13 feet maximum). The are connected by a culvert. During water shortages, water from West Monponsett Pond is occasionally diverted into Silver Lake, which provides water to the City of Brockton.

This land is within the region of the Wampanoag. In the 1600s, White Island, which extends between the two ponds, was a fishing camp for Wamsutta, the eldest son of Massasoit, the leader of the Wampanoag tribe. Wamsutta was the brother of Chief Metacomet (aka King Philip).

Please bear in mind that Native American cultures often favor oral histories to written ones. Much of what’s recorded about the history of the South Shore is from the perspective of European settlers. It’s not the whole story. To learn more about local Native American tribes, we encourage you to interact with their members. The Mashpee Wampanoag and the Herring Pond Wampanoag share information on their websites.

Habitats and Wildlife

East and West Monponsett Ponds are both part of the Satucket River watershed. Stump Brook is the only natural outlet. It flows southwest to Robbins Pond in Halifax, the source of the Satucket River. The Satucket is a significant headwater tributary to the Taunton River.

There are some pine and oak trees on site, but the property is mostly water, sand and pavement. Please do not feed the waterfowl.

Some of the fish observed in the pond include: alewife, American eel, bluegill, brown bullhead, calico bass (black crappie), chain pickerel, golden shiner, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, white perch, and yellow perch.