Assawompset Pond

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Assawompset Pond
Assawompset Pond (lower center) and environs
Location Lakeville, Massachusetts
Coordinates 41°50′25″N 70°55′10″W / 41.84028°N 70.91944°W / 41.84028; -70.91944Coordinates: 41°50′25″N 70°55′10″W / 41.84028°N 70.91944°W / 41.84028; -70.91944
Primary inflows Long Pond, Pocksha Pond
Primary outflows Nemasket River
Basin countries United States
Surface area 2,404 acres (973 ha)

Assawompset Pond is a reservoir/pond within the towns of Lakeville and Middleboro, in southeastern Massachusetts. It shares its waters with Long Pond and openly-connected with Pocksha Pond. These lakes provides a source of drinking water to the city of New Bedford, the largest city in southeastern Massachusetts. At almost four square miles, it is the largest natural lake in Massachusetts.

It is known in Wampanoag as Place of the White Stones and is host for the largest Alewife (Herring) run in the eastern seaboard. In the early spring the Nemasket River runs black with fish heading for the spawning grounds. The area known as Betty's Neck was one of the Indian summer encampments, who would traverse the Taunton River and Nemasket River to enter the pond. The Nemasket being known as Where the fish are, explains the significance as a food source.

The origins of the King Philip's War started with the discovery of John Sassamon's body and the subsequent trial of his suspected murderers. His body was slipped under the ice on the pond and found the following spring. The outcome of the trial sparked the beginning of hostilities.

The pond was dammed in 1894 at the Nemasket River, which raised the existing water level about five feet.


Flag of Massachusetts Taunton River Watershed
Main river

Taunton River

Tributaries

Assonet River · Canoe River · Cedar Swamp River · Cocasset River · Cotley River · Forge River · Hockomock River · Matfield River · Mill River · Nemasket River · Rumford River · Salisbury Plain River · Satucket River · Segreganset River · Snake River · Taunton River · Three Mile River · Town River · Wading River · Winnetuxet River

Lakes/Ponds

Assawompset Pond · Great Quittacas Pond · Little Quittacas Pond · Lake Nippenicket · Norton Reservoir · Lake Mirimichi · Lake Rico · Lake Sabbatia · Leach Pond · Long Pond · Pocksha Pond · Somerset Reservoir · Turnpike Lake · Watson Pond · Winnecunnet Pond

Miscellaneous

Assonet Bay · Hockomock Swamp