Bare Hill Pond Committee looking for weed harvest volunteers
In a continuing effort to protect Bare Hill Pond from invasive weeds, residents are invited to help in the yearly water chestnut weed harvest Saturday, June 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Water chestnut is a nonnative species of plant that threatens swimming, boating, and fishing by crowding the shorelines with a mass of underwater vegetation. This is the first of three weed pulls sponsored by the Bare Hill Pond Management Committee and is designed to curb the weed growth by removing as much as possible from shallow areas of the pond. Last year efforts of volunteers were highly successful in clearing several invaded areas, but continued work is needed to keep the pond free of the invasive species.
The weeds can easily be eradicated by volunteers and water enthusiasts willing to help out for a couple of hours. The water chestnut plants can be removed by pulling them out of the water from a canoe or small boat. Weed-pull volunteers should bring their canoe, boat, or kayak to the town beach, and the Pond Committee will provide buckets and instructions on how to help remove the weeds. Some town canoes are typically available on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional weed pulls are scheduled for July 17 and August 7. State law requires all boaters to have mandatory safety gear, which includes life jackets and a whistle or other auditory warning device.
