The Ripple Effect: Islands, Watersheds, and Change
The Ripple Effect: Islands, Watersheds, and Change
Island ponds are globally rare ecosystems that are highly sensitive to climate change and development pressures. Join Emily Reddington, Executive Director of the Great Pond Foundation, for a conversation about why these waters matter so deeply to island health and resilience. Often described as “canaries in the coal mine,” our ponds reflect the impacts of what we do on land, revealing the far-reaching consequences of everyday choices.
This talk will explore ponds and their watersheds as a framework for understanding island-wide efforts to update bylaws that reduce erosion, runoff, and clearcutting while strengthening protections for intact, native habitats. Together, we’ll look at what is already being done, what is at stake, and how interconnected systems mean that local decisions can ripple outward in powerful, sometimes unexpected ways.
BIO: Emily Reddington, Executive Director of Great Pond Foundation, is a field and laboratory biologist, has spent her career studying coastal waters, conservation genetics, and deep-sea hydrothermal vents. As Executive Director of Great Pond Foundation, Emily advocates for the data-driven and scientifically informed management of Martha’s Vineyard coastal ponds. Emily and her team have been monitoring the ecosystem health of Edgartown Great Pond year-round since 2016. Prior to Great Pond Foundation, Emily worked at the Marine Biological Laboratory, in Woods Hole, MA, the Moore Laboratory of Zoology, in Los Angeles, CA and onboard the R/V Vantuna.
Arrive early—join us at 4pm in the First Light Café for drinks & light bites.
MVM Members: $15; Non-Members: $25
DETAILS
| Date | May 20, 2026 |
|---|---|
| From | 5:00 pm |
| To | 6:00 pm |
| Type | Talk |
| Venue | Martha’s Vineyard Museum |