Silver Lake Sanctuary

Silver Lake Sanctuary, Barse's Ln, Kingston, MA 02364, USA

Kingston Conservation: 781 585-0537

https://sites.google.com/view/kingstonconservation/silver-lake-sanctuary

Owned By: Town of Kingston

• Directions
• Trail Map

Silver Lake Sanctuary is a 104-acre lakeside property in Kingston with more than a mile of trails through the woods and along the shore, including a section of the Bay Circuit Trail. Check with Kingston Town Hall for possible fishing permits.

Motorized vehicles are not allowed on this or any other Kingston Conservation property.

HUNTING: Hunting is allowed, in season, by licensed persons in compliance with Massachusetts law. Please be sure to understand state and local hunting guidelines before proceeding. Non-hunters, be mindful of hunting seasons, and wear bright orange if you’re entering the property during those times. Hunting is not permitted on Sundays.

FISHING ADVISORY: It’s important to know that some of our freshwater fisheries are contaminated with mercury, PFAS and/or other concerning substances. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health maintains an online database with up-to-date advisories regarding fish consumption, sorted by location. We recommend you consult this valuable resource when planning a fishing excursion.

Features

The Patuxet, members of the Wampanoag tribe, made their home in the area now known as Duxbury, Kingston and Plymouth. Numerous artifacts have been found throughout the region surrounding the Jones River. Historically, Silver Lake has been a significant fish run (herring, American eel) with abundant freshwater mussels. Its shores have been used by indigenous groups for nearly 15,000 years. To learn more about local Native American tribes, we encourage you to interact with their members. The Mashpee Wampanoag and the Herring Pond Wampanoag share information on their websites.

In the 1700s, Silver Lake (known as Jones River Pond at the time) was a source of iron ore. About 3,000 tons were removed from the lake bottom! During the 18th to 19th centuries, various industries were undertaken at Forge Pond, the spot where the Jones River exits the lake. These included a water-powered sawmill, a forge, and an anchor works, along with nail and tack factories. Silver Lake received its current name in the early 1800s as part of a promotion for selling ice harvested there. Ice harvesting extended from 1805-1870. Prior to 1898, it was also a destination for recreation, with visitors traveling by train from Boston to enjoy it.

In 1898, state legislation allowed the City of Brockton to adopt Silver Lake as its water supply. The Town of Kingston fought this ruling, but ultimately accepted a settlement of $17,000 for damages to its own water supply system. In recent years, Brockton’s reliance on Silver Lake as a water source has increased, which unfortunately has made a negative impact on the lake’s water quality and ecological health. See below for details.

The property also supported a 20th century cranberry growing operation, from as early as 1935 to the 1990’s. Some vestiges remain, including reservoirs, ditches and a small pump house. Residential development increased significantly since the 1970’s. Most of the land within Silver Lake Sanctuary was purchased by the Town of Kingston in 1997, with help from the state Self-Help Program and the City of Brockton, who purchased a Conservation Restriction on the original 91.4 acres of the property. Now with additional acreage, the sanctuary offers a half mile of lake frontage.

Trail Description

From the parking area, there are two trails that lead to different parts of the same loop. To the left, the trail leads up a steep incline, to a ridge that overlooks the lake. Continue along the ridge to the right, up and down some rolling hills, and you will soon arrive at a designated overlook area, with a bench. Just before this is one of two main paths down to the lake shore. If you continue past the overlook, you’ll come to another path to the lake shore. Or continue on the trail to the right, which leads past a pumping station and around a retired cranberry bog, eventually back to the parking area.

An additional trail loop begins at the red barn (in the parking area). Continue along the path immediately to the right of the barn. It leads past some wetlands and ponds once used for cranberry farming, and through woods and wetlands with additional views of Silver Lake, returning eventually to the parking area. Altogether the distance is about 1.3 miles.

The Bay Circuit Trail extends through this property, from Sheridan Drive to the parking area, and then by a dirt driveway to Route 27, heading toward Pembroke.

Habitats and Wildlife

The forest here is primarily pine, maple, white oak, red and oak and birch. Five species of freshwater mussels are found here, especially the Eastern Pond Mussel. Look for mussel shells in the lake bed and along the shores. They are considered a beneficial species because they actively filter water. If you find them stranded in the sand along the shore, it’s likely because the water in the lake was drawn down quickly. Endangered species often observed here include eastern box turtle, bald eagle, Mystic Valley amphipod, tidewater bucket, and pink tickseed.

Silver Lake is a 640-acre lake bordered by Pembroke, Kingston, Plympton and Halifax. Fed by groundwater, it is a headwater to the Jones River watershed. Its name was changed in the 1800’s, in a marketing effort to sell ice. In some spots, Silver Lake is 80 feet deep. It is a natural, glacial lake, and also a headwater to the Jones River. The Jones River flows from Silver Lake, through an impoundment known as Forge Pond (that is held in place by a dam), and continues for 7.5 miles through Kingston, draining into the Atlantic Ocean at Kingston Bay. 

Silver Lake is one of the Great Ponds of Massachusetts. Defined as a natural body of water larger than 10 acres, a Great Pond is held in trust by the state for public use. According to the Town of Kingston, it is a remnant of the Glacial Lake Taunton. It is the 12th largest natural lake in the Commonwealth. 

Silver Lake is currently the principal water supply for the City of Brockton. To get to Brockton, water is drawn from Silver Lake, treated at a treatment plant on the shore, and then transported 20 miles through two pipes. A diversion station brings in water from two adjacent watersheds – Furnace Pond in the North River watershed and Monponsett Pond in the Taunton River watershed. This can be especially problematic for fish that inhabit the pond, or enter along with the imported water. Low water levels in the lake prevent them from traveling out. Furnace and Monponsett Ponds both have serious eutrophication (excessive nutrient) problems, so unfortunately these diversions lead to polluted water entering the otherwise-clean Silver Lake.

We encourage you to follow and support the Jones River Watershed Association.