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Town staff says DEP-authorized copper treatment planned for Winchester Club Pond; DEP to set public-notice requirements
Summary
Commissioners were informed of a Department of Environmental Protection permit allowing a three‑year copper treatment at the Winchester Fish and Game Club pond; staff said DEP will determine any required public notices and that the town’s fire department uses the water body.
Commission staff informed the commission that the Winchester Fish and Game Club pond (referred to as Winchester Club Pond) will receive a copper‑based pesticide treatment under a Department of Environmental Protection permit and that DEP will determine public‑notification requirements.
The commission was notified as an information item. A staff member said the treatment is “a copper treatment that they're doing to control some invasive species” and that the permit runs for three years; the speaker added that DEP—not the local commission—issues those permits and will dictate what public notification is required.
Commissioners discussed whether the treatment would require lake closures for swimming; the staff member said that typically such applications require restricting public use while chemicals are present. Commissioners also noted the fire department uses the pond for water supply and that, historically, the town’s budget has covered treatment costs when the pond serves an emergency-operations function.
No action was required by the commission; the item was listed as a communication. Commissioners requested that staff forward the formal DEP notification and to circulate information about any public‑notice signs and timing when DEP provides them.
