The Lakeville Conservation Commission closed a notice‑of‑intent hearing on Sept. 23 and issued an order of conditions authorizing an ecological restoration limited project at Crystal Waters Pond (29–31 Pond St.) that will use state‑approved herbicides and algaecides to reduce invasive aquatic vegetation.

Wetland scientist Chris Frattaroli of Goddard Consulting and Keith Gazelle of Solitude Lake Management told the commission the pond, owned and used by the Crystal Waters Anglers Club, suffers recurring nuisance growth including coontail, bladderwort, filamentous algae, lily pads and duckweed. The applicants proposed a program of targeted herbicide and algaecide use performed by certified applicators, combined with monitoring and selective mechanical controls as needed.

The commission adopted conditions requested during the hearing: a copy of the applicator’s state license, samples of the notification signs that will be posted, pre‑ and post‑treatment mapping and an annual summary of monitoring and treatments, and a water‑quality test at the pond outlet within 24 hours after the first application. Commissioners said the downstream test is intended to confirm the chemical concentrations and to determine whether further testing or constraints are needed before additional treatments.

The application listed several chemical tools by trade and active ingredient names that the applicant may use as appropriate for the target species, including diquat (trade name cited in the record), endothall (Aquathol K), glyphosate (AquaNeat), imazamox (ClearCast) and a copper algaecide (captan listed by the applicant). Frattaroli and Gazelle said the products are EPA‑ and Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources‑approved for in‑water use when applied by licensed applicators.

Commissioner Nancy Gates requested that the commission receive the year‑end summary and treatment maps; the applicants agreed to provide those materials and to report additional treatment plans to the commission before subsequent applications. The commission voted to close the hearing and issue an order of conditions with the stated conditions.

Why this matters: Crystal Waters Pond is a privately managed recreational pond whose invasive aquatic vegetation has reached levels that interfere with recreational use and the ecological balance of the pond. The commission’s conditions aim to allow targeted treatment while monitoring downstream impacts.

Next steps: The applicants will provide the commission with applicator credentials and sign samples, perform the planned monitoring and return annual reports and maps documenting treatment areas and products used.