Exclusive | Girl Scout discovers beloved NYC pond has lost nearly 94% of depth, threatening wildlife

Golden Pond, a cherished feature of a park in Queens, has experienced a drastic reduction in water depth, losing nearly 94% in certain areas, which may lead to a “mass aquatic die-off” affecting fish, turtles, and birds, according to a Girl Scout who uncovered this alarming condition.

Emilia McKinney, a 17-year-old senior at Bronx Science High School, made the troubling observation that the remnants of Golden Pond in Crocheron Park, Bayside, are contaminated with waste, harmful algae, and various pollutants.

Emilia highlighted the deteriorating condition of the pond, stating that each flash flood and heavy rainfall exacerbates the situation by triggering mudslides, shrinking the pond’s depth and causing it to become a “breeding ground for algae blooms.”

The teenager made her shocking discovery over the summer while she monitored the water quality of this urban haven for her Gold Award, initiated after witnessing green sludge proliferating on the pond’s surface.

Known locally as “Turtle Pond,” Golden Pond is encircled by slopes, creating a “bowl” effect that collects sewage overflow, excessive rainfall, and mudslides, particularly from the steep hill where houses on Corbett Road are located.

The issue of mudslides intensified after Hurricane Ida struck in 2021, displacing sediment and debris into the pond when it flooded nearby backyards and compromised a major retaining wall.

With no repairs made to the retaining wall since, community advocates believe conditions have worsened with each subsequent flash flood, including the severe storm that impacted the city in July. However, the extent was unknown until Emilia took action.

“It was recognized that there were various issues, but nobody really investigated, and no one acted. I figured, ‘That’s something I could do,’” expressed Emilia, who logged an eight-hour day paddling a kayak to measure the entire 1.5-acre pond.

In the most shallow section, she found Golden Pond measuring a mere 6 inches deep.

In 1969, the same location was measured at 7-feet, 3-inches deep — revealing a loss of 93.55% of its depth over the last sixty years.

The mid-section of the pond averages around 2 feet, while the deepest areas reach approximately 6 feet, indicating a 48% reduction in depth even there since 1969.

“With the reduced depth, the water warms, fostering more substantial algae growth, which leads to a cycle where algae depletes oxygen and nutrients in the pond,” explained Emilia.

“This could result in a mass aquatic die-off, affecting not only fish that are enjoyed by recreational anglers but also local geese populations.”

During her project, Emilia tested the water for nine parameters, including pH, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity, every Wednesday for seven weeks.

Although limited in resources without laboratory access, she assessed that Golden Pond’s quality ranged from “medium” to “very bad.”

The disappearing pond could also exacerbate flooding issues for the adjacent Cross Island Parkway, which already suffers from pooling during storms.

“To summarize, the situation is bleak,” asserted the Girl Scout.

However, the city’s Parks Department does not fully align with Emilia’s assessment. They stated to The Post that their ecologists have deemed the pond sufficiently healthy, and dredging is not being considered at this time.

“Recent evaluations confirm that Golden Pond in Crocheron Park supports a variety of wildlife, including fish and waterfowl,” commented Judd Faulkner, a spokesperson for the department.

Nevertheless, Faulkner acknowledged Emilia’s enthusiasm for the project.

“NYC Parks is always eager to find ways to enhance our lakes and ponds through the promotion of native vegetation, erosion stabilization, and revegetating bare areas. We appreciate input from students and community members passionate about preserving their natural environments,” Faulkner stated.

Emilia, however, believes the Parks Department might lack sufficient resources to adequately address Golden Pond’s needs and is advocating for a thorough investigation into the pond’s future.

Additionally, the deteriorating retaining wall is solely the responsibility of the homeowner along Corbett Road. The resident was unavailable for comment when The Post sought to reach out.

“I think the primary focus should be on halting the ongoing degradation,” Emilia emphasized.