Welcome to the Nantucket Conservation

Foundation’s Middle Moors holdings.

This unique area represents the largest expanse of

undeveloped conservation land on Nantucket.

The Foundation owns 32 separate properties in

this area, totaling over 3,233 acres of protected

open space. This remarkable achievement was made

possible by the following generous land donors, who

wanted to see the Middle Moors preserved

and protected for the benefit of future generations:

Additionally, thousands of individuals have contributed to theFoundation’s Land Fund since its inception in 1963, making itpossible for us to directly purchase additional important parcelsin this area.

Several other private conservation groups and public agenciesown properties abutting Foundation land in the Middle Moors,including the Massachusetts Audubon Society (382 acres), theNantucket Islands Land Bank Commission (344 acres), theNantucket Airport Commission (46 acres), and the Town ofNantucket (6 acres). Thus, the amount of protected open spacein this region of the island totals approximately 4,000 acres.

The purpose of this interpretive map is to provide a visual guidefor the vast expanse of protected conservation land in this partof the island, as well as to present a brief introduction to thenatural history, geology and land use history of our MiddleMoors properties. We would like to express our gratitude tothe Nantucket Garden Club for their generous grant, whichhas made this project possible.

6 Geologic HistoryThe last glacier to advance upon New England reached itssouthernmost terminus in this area of the island approximately15–18,000 years ago. It left behind the boulders, rocks and soilthat were pushed ahead of it, which became weathered overtime to form the rolling landscape now visible. Some of thelarger boulders, called glacial erratics, are still conspicuouslyscattered across the hillsides. In geologic terms, this area isknown as a terminal moraine, and the hills that make up the

Middle Moors and most of the northern half of the island areglacially deposited materials. In contrast, the southern portion ofNantucket is an outwash plain, a relatively flat area wheremeltwaters from the same glacier carried and deposited lighter,sandy soils.

d Vegetation CommunitiesSandplain grasslands, coastal heathlands, and scrub oakbarrens are the dominant plant communities that occur in theMiddle Moors. Sandplain grasslands are open, grassy habitatsinterspersed with small patches of low shrubs. Heathlandscontain many of the same plants, but have fewer grasses and ahigher density of shrubs such as huckleberry and bayberry.Scrub oak barrens are dominated by impenetrable thickets ofscrub oak and other tall shrubs that have shaded out most ofthe grasses and herbaceous plants in the understory.

All of these habitats represent early successional communitiesthat developed as a result of past disturbance. NativeAmericans were believed to have regularly set fires in theseareas to clear the land for agriculture and stimulate theproduction of native berries. The constant sheep grazing thatoccurred during the 1800’s removed shrubs and trees, allowinggrasses and low shrubs to become established without directcompetition for sunlight and nutrients. The constant salt-sprayand the sandy quality of Nantucket’s soils have slowed downthe regrowth of shrubs and trees. As a result, this area of theisland now supports unusually high concentrations of rare andendangered plants and animals that are uniquely adapted toliving in these habitats.

Y Habitat Restoration & Management

Early successional communities are largely the products ofpast human land use practices. Therefore, activemanagement is needed to prevent them from disappearing.Most of the rare plants found in these areas need fullsunlight and are easily shaded out by tall shrubs and trees.Management techniques aimed at reducing the cover ofwoody vegetation enable these plants to survive in areaswhere they would otherwise be out-competed.Furthermore, the meadow vole, the primary food source ofthe short-eared owl and northern harrier, preferentiallyinhabits grassy areas. Due to their dependence on meadowvoles as a food source, northern harriers and short-earedowls utilize open habitats for hunting. However, moreshrub-dominated habitats such as heathlands and scrub oakbarrens are known to provide protected nest sites fornorthern harriers. These areas also host numerous raremoth species, whose larvae depend on the leaves of scruboak, huckleberry, and blueberry as a food source. Therefore,habitat management efforts in this area of the island areaimed at maintaining a mosaic of early successionalcommunities to benefit the varied habitat requirements ofthe many rare species found here.

The Foundation has been and continues to be involved inhabitat management efforts aimed at developing methodsto prevent the island’s grassland, heathland, and scrub oakbarren habitats from becoming forested. Prescribed burning,

mechanical brush cutting, and sheep grazing are allbeing used as management techniques to achievethese goals on Nantucket. Within the Middle Moors,vast areas have already been treated with eitherprescribed fire or brushcutting in an attempt tomaintain or restore rarespecies habitat.

O Points of Interest Pe Altar RockAltar Rock is one of the most dominant features inthe Middle Moors. At 100 feet above sea level, it isthe fourth highest elevation on the island (thehighest is at 111 feet above sea level, located justsouth of Sankaty Head Light). On a clear day, thishilltop affords wonderful views of Polpis Harbor,Pocomo Head, Coatue, Great Point Light, SankatyHead Light, ‘Sconset Village, and the surroundingheathlands. The building with the needle-like rooftopimmediately to the west of Altar Rock is anavigational aid used by planes making their finalapproach to Nantucket Memorial Airport, locatedapproximately 2 miles to the southeast.

The area immediately surrounding Altar Rock contains someof the best examples of coastal heathland habitat onNantucket. This association of plants is characterized by low-growing shrubs such as huckleberry and low bush blueberry,interspersed with patches of Pennsylvania sedge, bearberry,reindeer moss, and false heather. During the summer andfall, numerous species of goldenrods, asters, and other wildflowers dot the hillsides. The history of intensive sheepgrazing in this area resulted in the removal of taller shrubsand trees, allowing these heathland species to becomeestablished without competition for sunlight and nutrients.

Y The Pout PondsScattered acrossthe Middle Moorsare many smallwetlanddepressions werecreated during thelast glacial era.Large blocks ofice that were leftbehind after theice sheet retreatedto the northformed hollows inthe landscape asthey slowlymelted. Pondsand bogs formedin such a manner

are called kettleholes,and are characterized by having no inflowing or outflowingstreams. Instead, the water level in the depression that formsthe kettlehole is influenced by the ground water and theamount of rainfall. The Pout Ponds, located in the westernportion of the Middle Moors, are among the largestkettlehole ponds in this area. Their name is a NativeAmerican word meaning “foot,” and legend has it that theyare the depressions caused by the footprints of a giant thatlater filled with water.

Each of the three ponds hosts distinctive vegetationcommunities that are influenced by their depth andfluctuating water levels. The northernmost pond, known asthe Donut Pond, provides an excellent example of thetransformation from pond to bog. The open water is limited

Middle MoorsProperties Map

Nantucket Conservation FoundationNantucket, Massachusetts

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to a donut-shaped moat around its perimeter, while thecenter contains Sphagnum moss and other characteristic bogplants. The moat is maintained by rainwater running downthe adjacent hillside and collecting at the edge of the bog.The middle pond is very shallow and probably does notintersect the water table. Therefore, the vegetation growingalong its shoreline is adapted to being seasonally flooded orexposed, depending on the amount of rainfall received.Conversely, the water level of the southernmost pond isdeeper and does not fluctuate as dramatically, probablybecause it is more influenced by the water table than bysurface runoff from rainfall.

6 The SerengetiThe Partnership for Harrier Habitat Preservation, Inc. (PHHP)has been conducting extensive efforts to restore grasslandand heathland habitat on approximately 1,000 acres of

Foundation-ownedproperty and 110acres owned bythe MassachusettsAudubon Society.“The Serengeti,” alocal nickname forthe area betweenthe MilestoneRoad and theBarnard ValleyRoad, is a sitewhere annualbrushcutting hasbeen taking placesince 1998 as partof this restorationwork. PHHP is an

innovative project that was initiated in 1996 as a cooperativeeffort between the Nantucket Golf Club, the MassachusettsAudubon Society, and the Foundation to perpetuate breedingand hunting habitat for the northern harrier. Intensivebrushcutting and prescribed burning are undertaken annuallyin an effort to restore and maintain these heathland habitats.It is expected that re-establishment of grasses and otherherbaceous plants will take place slowly; therefore, this long-term restoration project is funded by the Nantucket Golf Clubfor a period of 50 years.

Abby A. Ayers

H. Jerome Ayers

Richard A. Beckwith

Walter Beinecke Jr.

Juliet W. Bischoff

The Conatum Trust

Arthur Dean

Brenda K. Giegerich

Mr. & Mrs. Lester R. Giegerich

Alicia Heller

Mr. & Mrs J. Seward Johnson Jr.

Mr. & Mrs. Timothy King

Louis C. Krauthoff II

Tabitha T. Krauthoff

Margaret Z. Larsen

Roy E. Larsen

The Larsen Fund

Scott Maclain

The Maria Mitchell Association

Mrs. Alfred S. Mills

Leeds Mitchell Jr.

The Nantucket OrnithologicalAssociation

Norwood Farm Trust

The Open Land Fund

Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Page

Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Richardson Jr.

Marsha G. Torkelson

Mrs. Burr P. Wilson

4 Gibbs Pond & the Milestone Cranberry Bog

For the past 150 years, commercial cranberry growing hasbeen an important element of Nantucket’s agriculturalheritage. This began in the mid–1860’s with the cultivation ofthe Milestone Cranberry Bog, which has changed ownersmany times during its long history. In 1968, this bog and over700 acres of surrounding undeveloped land were purchasedby Roy Larsen, Walter Beinecke, Jr., and Arthur Dean. Theythen donated it to the Nantucket Conservation Foundationwith the intent that it be used as an income-producing assetfor the Foundation’s land acquisition efforts. Milestone Bog,and the nearby Windswept Bog are currently operated by

How you can helpAs the Foundation does not receive any

governmental assistance, the success of ourefforts depend entirely upon voluntarycontributions from conservation-minded

individuals who share our concern for the island’s natural beauty.

Please join us!All contributions to the Nantucket

Conservation Foundation are tax deductible. For more information about the Nantucket

Conservation Foundation visit us at 118 Cliff Road or contact to us at:

Nantucket Conservation FoundationPost Office Box 13Nantucket, MA 02554–0013(508) 228–2884

or visit our web site:www.nantucketconservation.org

Thanks to Daniel Sutherland Photos.com for the use of his images.

The map was produced through a generousgrant from the Nantucket Garden Club.

the Foundation. The surrounding upland is maintained asprotected open space.

Gibbs Pond, located southeast of Altar Rock, is an example ofa particularly large and deep kettlehole pond that is used asan important source of water for the Milestone CranberryBog. During the cranberry harvest, which takes place inSeptember and October, the bogs are flooded with waterfrom the pond. A specially constructed machine with a front-mounted paddle wheel gently beats the cranberry vines,dislodging the naturally buoyant berries. The berries are thencorralled into a corner of the bog and lifted out, via aconveyor belt, into a large dump truck. The water from GibbsPond and the wells scattered around the bog is recycled bybeing pumped from one section of bog to the next as theharvest season progresses.

0 Stump Pond & the Windswept Cranberry Bog

The Windswept Cranberry Bog was constructed in the 1900’sand purchased by the Foundation in 1980. This property,which can be accessed from Polpis Road, contains over 241acres of protected land, including approximately 37 acres oforganically- certified cranberry bogs.

Hidden in the southern portion of this property is a largewetland system that includes Stump Pond, which wascreated during the construction of the cranberry bog. Once ared maple swamp, a dike built at the turn of the century

flooded the area so that it could be used as a water sourcefor the cranberry growing operation. When water is needed,it is released through flumes and travels through a networkof ditches to the cranberry bogs, where it irrigates thecranberry vines or floods the bogs. The bogs are flooded atdifferent times of the year to facilitate the harvest of berriesin the fall, protect the plants from harsh winter weather, andoccasionally to reduce pest populations.

Also located in this area are a number of the island’s “hiddenforests.” These forested wetlands lie in pockets created bythe surrounding hills. The tops of the 30 to 40 foot-hightrees located in these habitats have been shaped by thestrong winds that characterize Nantucket, making themsomewhat “hidden” when viewed from a distance. Theytypically contain tupelo or black gum, sassafras, and swampred maple trees, along with a number of ferns, wild flowersand mosses that grow in the understory.

Although the unique plants, animals, and geologic featuresfound in the Middle Moors are relatively abundant here,many of them are rare to this region of the country, and eventhe world. Under the Foundation’s ownership andmanagement, this area will continue to be protected ashabitat for rare species, as well as provide opportunities forscientific research, environmental education, and nature-based diversions for the public to learn from and enjoy.

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Middle Moors Properties Map

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Please Respect Our Open Lands• Protect the fragile plants on our dunes, grasslands, and heathlands• Keep vehicles and bikes on well-established roads• Leave wildflowers for all to enjoy

Nantucket Is Fragile, Enjoy It, Don't Destroy It

• Prevent your dog from disturbing wildlife• Take litter home• Respect private property

Roads & TrailsFoot trail (Pedestrians only)

Single-Lane Dirt Road (4WD recommended, please stay in the roads)

Paved Roads

20 Foot Contour Lines

Ponds & Bogs

Cranberry Bog

Properties of the Nantucket Conservation Foundation

Properties Protected by Partner Conservation Organizations

Federal, State or Local Government-Owned Property

Private Property (please respect the privacy of our neighbors)

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