We support the pond committee in their recommendations to the Conservation Commission to continue drawdowns to control weeds in the town pond.
There’s a controversy because pond levels are low this year and some residents can’t use their docks as a result. There are also concerns about boating safely with more rocks exposed.
Common sense seems to say that if you don’t do the drawdown in the winter that the pond levels would be much higher in the summer. But water recharge is complicated and has to do with groundwater and the timing and quantity of rain. The pond committee has 25 years of data that shows that the drawdown didn’t cause the current low levels and also that it is effective at controlling weeds. Common sense isn’t always right.
Without a drawdown to control weeds, the town would need to apply herbicide. We don’t support using herbicides in the pond because of the impacts to any people who use the pond as well as to wildlife, such as the eagles who nest nearby and eat the fish from the pond.
We urge the Conservation Commission to approve the drawdown again this year.
Bill Scott and Kathy Dollard, Stow Road
