On behalf of the Bare Hill Pond Watershed Management Committee, thank you to all the volunteers who have devoted so much time to protecting and preserving Bare Hill Pond. We completed our first pump-assisted drawdown. Observations from many pond users indicate a significant reduction in milfoil and fanwort compared to prior years. The swimming area, areas between the beach and the town dam, the area behind Ministers Island, the great south bay area, and other areas previously infested with milfoil and fanwort (our target invasive species) appear to have significantly less biomass than in prior years. We are hopeful that we can continue this progress in years to come.
With the help of too many to name, we also conducted significant watershed monitoring activities. Our downstream wetlands appear healthy as compared to prior years, our reptile monitoring indicates an increase in the number of turtles as compared to last year, and our fish surveys from the fishing derbies indicate a significant and thriving fish population. Many of the responses to the fish survey indicated that Bare Hill Pond continues to be one of the favorite ponds for bass fishing for the fishing clubs. This year we substantially enhanced our amphibian monitoring, and our frog counts indicated a thriving frog population during breeding season. We focused the frog and turtle counts in areas that were significantly drawn down to help ensure that the drawdowns were being managed and timed so that animals were not put at risk.
In a few weeks, we will have professional biologists measure the invasive species density at fixed measurement points in the pond that were established and previously measured before initiating the drawdown program five years ago. This will provide additional data to support the observations of our volunteers.
Finally, we owe a special thanks to Rick Dickson, who has led the efforts over the past three years to contain the water chestnuts. Water chestnuts are seed-bearing plants and are not susceptible to drawdown control. Through his personal efforts and through the organized water chestnut pulls, the plants have been contained to the Clapps Brook area. With the assistance of the Department of Public Works, Rick has learned to operate the mechanical harvester and has focused it on removing significant amounts of growth in Clapps Brook as well, making a huge difference.
If you would like to learn more, please visit the Pond Committee page of the town website. A copy of our 2007 report to the Conservation Commission should be posted shortly.
Bruce A. Leicher, chairman
Bare Hill Pond Watershed Management Committee
