Funding Source: Department of the Interior/US Geological Survey Award #G20AP00064 – New England and adjacent areas have experienced damaging earthquakes in the historic past, yet the recurrence intervals of these events remain largely unknown. Instrumental and historic data are not long enough to adequately assess the seismic hazard; thus, geologic records have to be investigated to understand source areas and occurrence of strong earthquakes. One of the most suitable geologic archives are lakes, which can provide continuous, undisturbed, and easily datable sediment records that often span multiple millennia. In this project we will study the sediments of two lakes in eastern Massachusetts, Sluice Pond in Lynn, MA, and Walden Pond in Concord, MA, to identify sedimentary deformation features associated with known historic earthquakes as well as prehistoric events. This is collaborative research with Wellesley College, Salem State University and Boston College.