Bare Hill Pond

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Bare Hill Pond

Town(s): Harvard MA
County: Worcester

Size: 316 acres
Average Depth: 8 feet
Maximum Depth: 22 feet

Boating Allowed: Kayaks, Canoes, Sail Boats, Electric Motor Boats, Power Boats, State & Local Rules & Regulations Apply, Horsepower or Speed Restrictions, Other Restrictions, See Comments
Boating Comments: 35 mph speed limit, counterclockwise traffic pattern, jet-ski's prohibited.
Swimming: Swimming Allowed, Some Restrictions

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Bare Hill Pond is located at the end of Pond Road. The Pond is used for recreation during all seasons, with peak activity during the summer from Memorial Day until Labor Day. The Parks and Recreation Department offer organize summer activities at the Town Beach. The Girl Scout Camp, Green Eyrie also makes extensive use of the pond from its waterfront location. Supervised swimming is confined to the Beach and the Girl Scout camp, but many residents also enjoy swimming from numerous private beaches and docks. Boating activity can be high on summer weekends. Crafts include everything from canoes, crew boats, kayaks, sailboards, sail boats, paddleboats, small outboards to water ski boats. Upwards of 15 small boats are moored in the shallow cove near the Town Beach and more are launched at the town ramp. Motorboats are also widely used for touring, transportation to the islands, fishing, and water skiing. The use of jet skis is prohibited.  In the winter the Pond is used by skaters, ice fishermen, cross-country skiers, snow mobiles and an occasional ice boater. Ice fishing remains popular throughout the winter. Other activities on and around the pond include bird watching by canoe, kayak and on foot, hiking on the Scorgie-Tufts Conservation land, gathering fiddleheads, cattails, blueberries, and other wild comestibles, and the study of aquatic ecosystems by high school biology classes.

 

Town Beach –  At present, the Town Beach Land includes more than eighteen acres of land on both sides of Pond Road and extends from Warren Avenue to the end of Pond Road. A large amount of this land is wooded or wetland. There is a bicycle path that connects the School Fields to the Town Beach. The facilities at the beach include parking areas for cars and boat trailers, a boat launching ramp, canoe racks, boat moorings, picnic tables, a recreational area, a roped-off swimming area with three rafts, and a bathhouse with rest rooms, equipment storage, and office space.

Water Quality: No Known Issues
Vegetation Growth: Moderate
Non-native Species: Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum Spicatum), Fanwort (Cabomba Caroliniana)

Fishing Comments: A large population of Largemouth Bass and Pickerel are present. Several tournaments are held each year. The white perch population has been decreasing and is almost non-existent.
Fish Species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, White Perch, Brown Bullhead, Sunfish, Bluegill

Boat Access: Access for Power and Non-power Boats
Ramp Comments: The town controls the paved ramp at the beach on the north shore. Harvard residents only during beach use dates. Use rules are posted at the beach. $25 parking fee.
Parking Spaces: Less than 10

Directions: Route 495 to Route 111, left on Pond Road to Beach and Boat Ramp.
Shoreline Development: 75-100%