The Bare Hill Pond Watershed Management Committee is pleased to report completing phase 1 of the invasive plant removal project this past week at the beach. Special thanks to Joe Pettirossi (our manager of this project) who engaged contractors and solved many challenges to make this possible.
Thanks to Anne McWaters, our town recreation director, who collaborated with Joe to ensure access and safe implementation. Phase 1 was a success in using diver assisted suction harvesting (DASH)removal to cover about half of the swimming area as planned. Phase 2 is planned for after the swimming season to capture this year’s growth and the remainder of invasive species at the beach.
We also want to thank Peter von Loesecke who has been working with our electrical contractor to purchase and repair the electrical controls and drive for the pump house motor to enable us to resume winter drawdowns this coming fall. The drawdown two years ago was aborted before the freeze due to mechanical issues, rendering it ineffective against the milfoil and fanwort, and was not conducted last winter due to failure of the electrical controls. The expected life for the controls was 10 years, and it had worked effectively with maintenance for 15 years. Sadly, without the drawdowns, we can expect to see more invasive plant growth around the pond this summer. Like last year, this shows what it would be like without the benefit of winter drawdowns in the pond.
Lastly, we have applied for a state grant to continue the DASH work next year to allow further invasive removal in the marina and boat ramp areas at the town beach, and if funding permits, at other public access areas on the pond. In addition, the committee will make available its Notice of Intent filing and Order of Conditions on its website so residents would not have to start from scratch to hire a DASH contractor to remove invasives from their shorelines.
Please contact a member of the committee for more information.
Bruce Leicher, chair
Bare Hill Pond Watershed Management Committee
