June News from NCF

In a Drought, Conservation Matters

How NCF's work across 9,000 acres protects Nantucket

Pout Pond in 2003 (left) vs Pout Pond in 2026 (right). The water level has receded significantly and vegetation has grown in. What was once a pond with depth now more closely resembles a vernal pool.

Nantucket is in a Level 2 significant drought. The island received just 20.7 inches of rain in 2025, roughly half of what it historically gets, and 2026 has continued that trend. Everyone on this island, whether on town water or a private well, is drawing from the same source. Nantucket's sole source aquifer, which supplies the entire island, is under significant stress.

NCF responds to drought on multiple fronts. Protecting nearly one third of Nantucket as open conservation land ensures that when it does rain, the island makes the most of every drop. And active stewardship, like the firebreak maintenance our land management team completes each late winter, directly reduces wildfire risk for the entire island.

"Conservation land acts as a natural sponge," said Danielle O'Dell, NCF Director of Research. "When it rains, open land absorbs and stores water, slowly recharging the groundwater that supplies the island's aquifer. Impervious surfaces like pavement, rooftops, and compacted soils prevent infiltration. Open land allows precipitation to percolate into the aquifer rather than run off."

"Aquatic species living in very isolated kettle ponds in the Middle Moors are being disproportionately affected by drought conditions because their only source of water for miles is completely dried up," O'Dell added. Drought touches the entire island ecosystem, and NCF is responding on multiple fronts.

"Fire risk is real right now," said Nick Larrabee, NCF Director of Land Management. "Each late winter we mow and maintain a network of firebreaks across our land. These cleared corridors are designed to slow the spread of wildfire and protect the homes and neighborhoods that surround us. We ask everyone enjoying our properties this summer to be mindful. No fireworks, no unattended fires, and please be careful with anything that could spark in dry conditions."

Nantucket's 2.5 hour ferry travel time significantly limits the ability of off-island firefighters and equipment to arrive in time to assist in the event of a wildfire. NCF's firebreaks are one of the most direct ways our work protects this island and the people who call it home.

Aerial image of the firebreak at Shawkemo Hills.

Aerial image of the firebreak in the Eastern Moors.

Satellite image of the firebreak around Tom Nevers.

Plant Native this Summer

How your yard can support Nantucket through drought

Five years after converting to native plantings, our NCF Cliff Road office garden is thriving.

Native plants are built for Nantucket. They evolved here, adapted to the sandy soils, salt spray, and dry conditions that define this island. They do not need irrigation or heavy watering. They do not need fertilizers. And in a drought, those qualities matter more than ever.

"Native plants are the smart choice for Nantucket gardens in any year," said Stacey Cooper, NCF Native Plant Propagation Manager. "But in a drought, they become essential. They have deeper root systems that draw moisture from further in the soil, they support local insects and wildlife without any chemical inputs, and they give back to the landscape rather than taking from it."

There are simple changes every Nantucket homeowner can make this season:

• Mow less frequently. Longer grass blades mean deeper, more developed root systems. That makes your lawn significantly more drought tolerant and reduces reliance on irrigation, even for non-native species.
• Convert a section of your lawn to native grasses. Native grasses require no fertilizer and no irrigation. They hold sandy soil in place, support pollinators, and look beautiful through every season.
• Add native shrubs and trees. Their deep root systems draw water from further below the surface and their canopy provides shade, reducing evaporation from the soil beneath them. More shade means plants beneath them can thrive during dry spells.

NCF has been growing native plants since 2006, and our new facilities at the Milestone Center will allow us to expand that work significantly. Join us for a Native Plant Open House to tour our greenhouse, meet our team of botanists, and learn more about what plants will work best in your yard!

Native Plant Open House & Plant Sale

Saturday, June 20th - 8-10am

220 Milestone Road

The Work Behind the Walk

With Gerry Holmes, NCF Land Use Manager

“The Monument Running Group, with over one hundred runners, uses NCF trails year-round. We explore the island on weekly runs through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country, all made possible by the work of NCF's land management team.

The trail system is extensive and well maintained, and we feel lucky to experience it every week of the year. We're excited that the Milestone Center will support the team that makes all of this possible- better facilities for the people who care for these trails year-round."

 Jim Meehan, NCF Trustee & Nantucket Athletic Association Board Member 

Join us for a Milestone Center Site Tour on Tuesday, June 30 from 9:00-10:00am

From the Field

A look at what's happening across our 9,000 acres this month

Beach Grass Takes Root on Coatue

Earlier this year, our restoration ecology team planted hundreds of beach grass shoots on Coatue. Every single one took root. 

The plantings are stabilizing the sandy soil at the site of the original Ranger Shack location and building the dune structure that protects this stretch of coastline from erosion.

On a barrier beach as dynamic and vulnerable as Coatue, coastal resilience work like this is not optional. It is how we protect one of Nantucket's most iconic landscapes for the long term.

Piping Plover Hatchling Season

Meet one of Nantucket's newest residents. This Piping Plover hatchling is just days old, one of the most vulnerable shorebirds on the Atlantic coast.

Eel Point and Coatue are two of the most important nesting sites on Nantucket, and keeping them open to the public while protecting these federally protected birds is a careful balance. NCF's shorebird team is in the field all season making sure both are possible.

If you are enjoying either beach this summer, please respect the signs and fencing and share the shore with these remarkable birds.

Northern Blue Flag Irises in Bloom

Each spring, violet-blue blooms emerge across the wetlands at Windswept, adding flashes of color to pond edges, marshes, and wet meadows.

While they're easy to admire, these native irises are quietly doing important work. Beneath the surface, their roots help hold soil in place, reducing erosion and slowing runoff before it reaches the waters that flow into Nantucket Harbor.

Their flowers also provide nectar and pollen for native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators throughout the growing season.

Frost Pockets in the Middle Moors

Ever notice patches of brown or dead-looking scrub oak in the Middle Moors and wonder what happened?

It is not herbicide. It is a natural phenomenon called a frost pocket. Cold air settles into low-lying areas on still nights, dropping temperatures enough to damage newly emerged leaves during late spring frosts. The result looks dramatic, but it is actually nature doing something important — knocking back scrub oak growth and creating space for grasses, wildflowers, and rare plants to thrive.

Sometimes what looks like damage is actually the landscape taking care of itself.

New Faces at NCF

Meet the people protecting Nantucket's open spaces this season

Oliver Watson and Charlie Polanco, Seasonal Botany Field Assistants

Oliver (left) joins NCF this season to deepen their knowledge of native plants and East Coast ecosystems. Holding a B.S. in Environmental Science and Horticulture from Ohio State University, Oliver brings a passion for native plant cultivation to the team. In their free time, you will find them reading, knitting, or exploring the outdoors.

Charlie (right) brings a specialized background in pollination ecology to NCF this season, with a degree in Ecology and Natural History from Sterling College and experience in bumblebee research and invasive species management. He sits at the intersection of plants and insects, and on Nantucket is excited to photograph the island's native flowers and bees this summer.

25 Years of Running for Nantucket

Join us for the Race for Open Space on June 27th!

This June, NCF is celebrating a major milestone: our 25th annual Race for Open Space! The race is for everyone- runners, walkers, families, first-timers, and longtime island friends. Join us on Saturday, June 27 for a 5K, 10K, or 2-mile walk through the Middle Moors and celebrate the open spaces that make this island so special.

Thank you to our generous sponsors!

Join us for an excursion this summer! All NCF programs are free and open to the public, made possible by the generous support of our community. Registration is required—sign up today!