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Clean Lakes Committee: Long Lake testing shows treatment effect; IMA, docks and ramp work advance
Summary
Committee members heard that Long Lake sampling is underway and fluoridone treatment is beginning to show plant damage; a TRC monitoring plan cost estimate prompted discussion about who will pay for well monitoring. The committee also reviewed progress on a five‑year intermunicipal agreement, pending select‑board discussion of docks, and engineering plans for boat‑ramp work.
The committee received updates on Long Lake monitoring, a proposed intermunicipal agreement (IMA) with Westford, dock and parcel questions, and planned boat‑ramp work.
Leon, reporting on the morning’s field work, said, “We did water quality testing this morning with Mike, Greg, and Lucas. It went well,” and described sampling at multiple depths and the team's observations. He added that the fluoridone herbicide application has begun to show bleaching on the tops of fanwort plants, indicating treatment response, but that additional follow‑up sampling is needed to assess whether any fluoridone is infiltrating toward a municipal well. TRC proposed an $11,000 sampling plan for that monitoring; Leon and others noted that cost exceeded the current budget allocation and suggested the water department might cover or perform the sampling at lower cost in the next fiscal year.
Separately, conservation staff said the RFP for a Long Lake management plan will be released and that a five‑year IMA with Westford is being drafted; when signed, that IMA will help coordinate multi‑year management tasks. The conservation commission has taken public input on dock and shoreline use and appears to be leaning toward maintaining the status quo for docks while requiring permits; the select board is expected to consider docks and a parcel issue at a July 13 meeting.
Committee members noted constraints on launching and storing small craft given changes in dock policy and discussed options for town‑owned versus private docks. Staff also reported a signed contract is in place for fall boat‑ramp work and that Mil Pond launch engineering could proceed this fall or winter, with Bob Hartzil’s firm (the CEI) involved in design work.
The committee set a tentative next meeting for Aug. 19 to follow up on budget preparations, treatment results and permitting outcomes.
