Mill Pond Preserve

3640 Falmouth Road, Marstons Mills

Background/Opportunity:

Barnstable Land Trust has a rare and exciting opportunity to permanently protect 13 acres of ecologically significant pond-front land on Mill Pond in Marstons Mills. The Mill Pond Preserve parcel borders more than 400 acres of existing conservation land and offers the potential for expanded public access, while safeguarding critical wildlife habitat both on land and in the water. Mill Pond—one of Cape Cod’s most photographed landscapes—traces its history to the 17th century, when a section of the Marstons Mills River was dammed to power a gristmill. Situated near the intersection of Routes 28 and 149, the property boasts over 750 feet of pond frontage, serving as a wildlife refuge and a vital herring run for fish migrating upstream to spawn in Middle Pond. 

Conservation Values & Community Impact:

The Mill Pond Preserve is more than just beautiful—it’s ecologically and environmentally significant. Protecting this land helps preserve a wide range of conservation values: 

  • Water Quality Protection: With 750 feet of vegetated shoreline, this land acts as a natural buffer, reducing pollution and protecting the health of Mill Pond, the Marstons Mills River, and ultimately the Three Bays estuary, which is currently at risk from excess nitrogen and runoff. 

  • Wildlife Habitat: The property includes areas designated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as: Priority Habitat of Rare Species, and  Aquatic Core Habitat and Buffer.

  • Climate Resilience: These designations mark the land as a key refuge for species impacted by climate change, helping protect some of the most intact freshwater ecosystems in Massachusetts. 

  • Drinking Water Protection: Nearly half the property falls within a MassDEP Zone II Wellhead Protection Area, directly supporting clean drinking water for the community. 

  • Recreation & Connectivity: The parcel borders 400 acres of existing conservation land, including BLT and Town-owned properties, with potential to expand and enhance trail networks for public use and enjoyment.

Vision:

The Mill Pond Preserve will become a lasting sanctuary for wildlife and a source of inspiration and recreation for the public. BLT will: 

  • Steward the land to protect vulnerable natural habitats and safeguard clean water sources 

  • Aim to create new opportunities to extend and expand the existing trail network on the adjacent conservation lands.

Timeline & Budget:

The purchase price is $1.2 million. Barnstable Land Trust will work with the Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts to acquire the land in a short window, with BLT purchasing the property and recording a conservation restriction in Summer of 2026.