The body of water known as Kingsbury Pond existed long before Norfolk did, but in the last 60 years it has been shrinking substantially. And residents are raising the alarm.

“The pond needs a plan because it’s dying,” said John Griffin, who has lived near Kingsbury Pond since 2002. He and other residents say they have seen the pond change dramatically, with receding water levels affecting wildlife habitat and recreational use. They are urging local and state officials to move beyond discussion and commit to actionable steps to stabilize and restore the pond.

A pond in decline

If this all sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve been here before. Since at least the 1990s, Norfolk residents and abutters have formed groups to urge action and lobby officials to assess what interventions, if any, could help halt or reverse the pond’s deterioration. Historical accounts and local records indicate that the pond was once significantly larger—commonly cited at roughly 26 acres—and has since shrunk to 9 acres.

Formed thousands of years ago, Kingsbury Pond is a glacial kettle pond, meaning retreating, melting glaciers created a depression that filled with groundwater. But unlike ponds fed by major streams, Kingsbury is primarily tied to the surrounding aquifer and precipitation. And therein lies the problem.

A significant decline in water levels was documented beginning in the mid-1960s, coinciding with the start of nearby municipal groundwater pumping in Franklin and regional drought conditions. The USGS, hydrologists and water resource agencies broadly agree that groundwater pumping can affect groundwater-fed ponds if they are connected to the same glacial aquifer. 

In an interview, Franklin Town Administrator Jamie Hellen said the pond’s decline cannot be viewed through that lens alone. He pointed to recurring drought conditions, climate pressures and the geological nature of kettle ponds. Hellen’s academic background is in geography and early in his career he worked for the state’s Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, where he helped support development of Massachusetts’ drought management plan in the late 1990s.

Officials in Franklin have long maintained that the town meets state requirements for managing its water supply, including mitigation measures that return treated wastewater to the ground. However, critics argue that while large volumes may be recharged overall, only a small portion appears to return to the specific aquifer that feeds Kingsbury Pond, raising questions about whether those efforts meaningfully benefit the pond itself.

What the science shows

What has renewed residents’ attention is a 2023 U.S. Geological Survey study examining Kingsbury Pond and nearby groundwater withdrawals, offering the clearest scientific assessment to date of the factors affecting the pond.

The study found that Kingsbury Pond is hydraulically connected to the same aquifer tapped by Franklin’s municipal wells, meaning groundwater pumping can directly influence pond levels. Researchers concluded that Franklin’s FR-04 well, which began operating in 1964, is the largest single contributor to lowered water levels at Kingsbury, with FR-05 also having an impact.

USGS modeling estimated that under conditions without pumping from the nearby wells, Kingsbury Pond’s average water elevation would be about four feet higher than it is under recent pumping conditions. The report also found that while pumping is a significant factor, it is not the only one; precipitation, drought conditions, septic recharge and broader hydrologic patterns also affect the pond.

Hellen emphasized that point, noting Massachusetts is already in a Level 2 drought and warning that continued dry conditions could worsen underwater stress and that drought and broader climate change trends are affecting water bodies nationwide.

Questions about mitigation

A separate technical review prepared for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection examined Franklin’s mitigation efforts—primarily the return of treated wastewater to the ground to offset water withdrawals. While Franklin cites more than 300,000 gallons per day of mitigation recharge, that review found only a fraction—about 14,000 gallons per day—appears to reach the specific aquifer area that feeds Kingsbury Pond.

For residents pushing for action, that distinction is critical.

The issue also remains under state permitting review. On May 13, 2025, MassDEP requested additional information from Franklin, including justification for its requested water withdrawal capacity and an evaluation of whether pumping from Wells 4 and 5 near Kingsbury Pond could be reduced. Franklin responded on Oct. 6, 2025, seeking to retain its full 3.44 million gallons per day authorization and arguing that current operations are already optimized as much as practical. 

According to Hellen, Franklin has invested heavily in water infrastructure improvements over the past two decades, including leak reduction and water main upgrades, and noted the town relies entirely on groundwater. “We are doing everything we can to protect every drop of water,” he said.

For Griffin and other residents, the key issue is whether Franklin will be required to formally address the state’s concerns. “We want to see an actionable plan,” he said. “The science is there.”

State and local officials respond

The findings have renewed questions about whether current mitigation efforts are sufficient, and whether state regulators or lawmakers will pursue measures to protect the pond moving forward. When reached for comment, State Senator Becca Rausch said “Everybody needs clean, accessible water. I remain committed to environmental protection and sustainability. My team and I are reviewing the matter and continuing to have conversations with stakeholders.”

State Representative Marcus Vaughn, whose House Bill 1061 would require a state study of Kingsbury Pond and the impact of nearby public wells, said in an email that residents’ concerns warrant serious attention. Vaughn said the issue deserves continued state oversight, updated hydrological review and transparent environmental analysis, and that if science shows groundwater pumping is materially contributing to the pond’s decline, mitigation measures or permit adjustments should be considered. He also pointed to broader regional growth pressures, particularly in Franklin, and said communities should have meaningful recourse when neighboring water withdrawals affect shared environmental resources.

Norfolk officials are also preparing a local response. In an email, Town Administrator Rob Garrity said the Select Board is discussing formation of a Kingsbury Pond working group. The proposed group would include concerned residents, board members and others with relevant scientific or public policy expertise to advise town leadership, gather information about the impacts of declining water levels, increase public awareness, and help coordinate future action.

“Ideally we will be able to chart a path forward with Franklin and the State that ensures clean and safe drinking water for Franklin, while restoring and protecting the important natural resource that is Kingsbury Pond,” Garrity said.

Franklin Town Administrator Jamie Hellen said he and Garrity have also discussed a possible public information session later this year.

In the meantime, residents have turned to the Facebook group, Save Kingsbury Pond, to share updates, organize advocacy efforts, and keep public attention focused on the issue.