GENERAL

Peters Pond in the only "Great Pond" located entirely within the boundaries of Dracut. It's listed to be 77-acres in area, though it is now closer to 74-acres, given vegetative encroachment, particularly in the northeast section, which is known to old-time locals as "Bull Run".

The pond has a watershed area of approximately 1400 acres (see Area Maps dropdown), with much of this land located to the north and east (i.e., Scott Street/Spring Road/Salem Road area). To the northwest, the watershed area extends almost to Little Island Pond in Pelham, NH. All runnoff from properties within the watershed area, including fertilizers applied to lawns, discharges into Peters Pond - and contributes to the weed problem in the pond.

Peters Pond is relatively shallow, with an average depth of 10 to 15 feet in most of the central areas of the pond. Three small steams feed the pond, discharging into the northwest and east/southeasterly perimeter. There is also a significant contribution from groundwater discharge, which can be observed as discrete "cold springs" when swimming in the pond.

The outlet to the pond is at the southern point, where it flows into a wetland area and then through a culvert on Bailey Road. The un-named discharge stream crosses Salem Road and then Tyler Street (Methuen), and joins with Bartlett Brook just north of Route 113, with ultimate discharge into the Merrimack River in Methuen.

At one time there was a dam at the outlet of Peters Pond, which is still notated on some maps. Reportedly, this dam was at or near Bailey Road, and was used to control flow to downstream farms. It is not known when this dam structure was removed, but the water level in the pond has since the 1990s been controlled by a series of beaver dams at the pond's outlet, including at the Bailey Road culvert.

A remote, approximately 6.5-acre water body, Cedar Pond, is located 600 feet to the northwest of Peters Pond. Cedar Pond is surrounded by wetlands and is difficult to access except during the winter months, when it is possible to walk (or snowmobile) over the frozen ground. The land surrounding Cedar Pond is a conservation area owned by the Town of Dracut, and contains one of only seven stands of Atlantic White Cedar forests in Massachusetts.

FISH AND WILDLIFE

Beyond wide-mouth bass, other fish species found in Peters Pond include chain pickerel, yellow perch, bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill.

Occasionally spotted in the pond are turtles (including rather large snapping turtles), along with water snakes, most notably the non-venomous but not-particularly-friendly northern water snake. Also sharing the water are a number of beavers (with huts throughout the pond) and muskrats. Otters and minks have also been sighted.

Great blue herons, ducks, and geese have made their home on the pond for some time, with occasional sightings of cormarants, loons, swans, hawks, owls, and even bald eagles.

The large wetland and wooded areas north of the lake provide habitat for a number of four-footed creatures, including deer, coyotes, foxes and bobcats. Evidence of bears (including sightings) are occassionaly reported. There has yet to be a moose sighting though that possibility does exist.

RECREATION

Residents of Peters Pond swim, fish, boat and thoroughly enjoy the peaceful environment and spectacular sunsets.