Residents who took some of their solitary outdoor breaks this winter to watch the sun set over Bare Hill Pond may have noticed the water level was higher than usual for this time of year. Last fall, the pond management committee planned to do its usual drawdown to control the growth of invasive plants such as water chestnut and milfoil. But, when the 6.5-foot drawdown was only partly finished, the pump failed. Without a working pump, nature has been slowly refilling the pond.
According to Bare Hill Pond Watershed Management Committee Chair Bruce Leicher, the pond is nearly back to its full level. In early December 2020, Leicher told the Press the pump’s problem had not yet been diagnosed, but he said the only effect might be a slightly greater growth of milfoil in 2021.
Early this month, Leicher said a service company had inspected the pump and found its motor was fine, which was good news. The problem was in the control panel, where some capacitors had worn out, as had also happened in 2008. Replacing those parts will likely be done in April or May, Leicher said, after the pond committee gives its authorization and the weather turns warmer. He expected the committee’s operating budget to cover the cost of repairs, in part because—with the pump out of operation—the committee has spent much less on electricity than usual this fiscal year.
