The Consideration of Riparian Environments in Ashland State Park

A former portion of the aqueduct system that provides the city of Boston with fresh water, the Ashland Reservoir was built in 1895. It has since been decommissioned as a potable water source and is now managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. The body of water has been maintained for swimming, boating, and fishing, and creates a beautiful, if artificial, lake-like environment. A trail traverses the entire perimeter of the reservoir, and additional trails meander through the woods to the west of the water.

The local ecology of reservoirs often differ in character from their natural lake, river, and stream counterparts, and Ashland Reservoir appeared to be an example of this phenomenon to us despite its relatively old age. There was very little greenery in the understory under the trees, in stark contrast to the extremely wet, green environment of the stream that runs through the entrance of the park on State Park Road.

There wasn’t too much visible difference between the trees found on the shoreline and those you might find at higher elevations; the species mostly consisted of white pines, red maple, and oak varieties, with mostly pine needles suffocating the ground. Both white pines and red maples can thrive in a variety of environments, and because of their adaptability were likely able to survive the new, wetter conditions in the uplands. True riparian limited species, such as the hemlock, appear to have not been able to capitalize on the environmental changes. We didn’t spot a single hemlock near the reservoir, though there were a few closer to the park entrance. It is very curious to think of how these forests may have looked before the reservoir was formed. It’s possible that there will be some late bloomer understory varieties later in the year, though when you see a ton of pine needles it doesn’t inspire much confidence that that is the case. One unique quality you may notice on trees near the water is their shape that slopes outward over the flooded area, a feature of plant phototropism that allows them to capitalize on greater light availability over the water. This characteristic of riparian trees can allow for greater biodiversity within the water itself by providing temperature variation via shading.

Walk to the north side of the park and you will be able to see the engineering marvel that is the reservoir dam. Both this dam and the spillway on the east side are on the register of historic places as they were built over a century ago. The dam itself, constructed of concrete and earth, is massive and plays an important protective role in flood prevention for the nearby neighborhoods below the reservoir. The spillway was designed to look as close as possible to a meandering stream, though it still looks pretty uniform compared to the messy streams that run through the rocky Massachusetts environment!

The park is open year round for hiking, but the main water access is only staffed with lifeguards in the summer months. There were no swimming signs when we were there due to a bacterial outbreak, but some online sources note that swimming is otherwise allowed at any time. The park was virtually devoid of visitors when we went, there were a few dog walkers and a couple sitting on a bench but fairly empty overall in early May, though it was a cold rainy day. The official website notes that parking fills up quickly during the summer months, after which the park closes to further visitors, so I imagine it becomes much more busy for its coveted water access. Before peak season the main parking lots are not open, but you can park at the nearby Ashland Community Center for free in the off season assuming no events are filling up the parking there. During peak season, there is a fee for the main parking area, which varies depending on your residency status. I have not been during peak season so don’t know if it’s still possible to park at the Community Center during that time, but may try to see if it’s possible in the future! However, definitely recommend this park in the off season for some easy fairly flat hikes, especially if you are looking for a dog friendly park.