Pond drawdown begins Oct. 1

The annual drawdown of Bare Hill Pond is scheduled to begin next Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Abutters were notified Sept. 4. A notice was posted on the town website, though no longer visible, and subscribers to notices from the Bare Hill Pond Watershed Management Committee were informed at the same time.

According to the pond committee’s announcement, the goal, as in past years, is to achieve a drawdown depth of 6½ feet before late November. Typically, the announcement states, the water level declines 10 to 12 inches per week, but not more than approximately 3 feet in October. That rate allows for prolonged use of the pond, particularly by the Bromfield Acton-Boxborough rowing team.

With the arrival of cool weather, the presence of algae is expected to decline, although this week’s measurement showed that cyanobacteria concentration remains high. Water visibility, however, has improved. The current recommendation against swimming in the pond remains in effect.

At its most recent meeting Monday, Sept. 23, the pond committee agreed to postpone additional diver-assisted suction harvesting of weeds at the town beach and adjacent areas until May. The committee hopes to obtain a grant that will allow a larger area to be cleared.