Hinsdale lake panel approves corrected minutes, weighs new herbicide, testing and wake-boat policy

The Hinsdale Lake Management Committee met April 7 in the Town Hall Community Room and approved corrected minutes from February before turning to lake management issues, including a vendor recommendation for phragmites treatment, expanded testing for invasive species and outreach to camps and lake associations. Monica Montferret opened the meeting at 4:03 p.m. and moved to accept the February minutes with one change; the motion passed unanimously.

The committee considered a recommendation relayed by Montferret from Solitude, the contractor that manages treatments. Montferret said Dominic of Solitude told her, "Solitude recommends a new chemical for treating phragmites. It is more expensive but also less hazardous than the chemical that has been used in the past." The recommendation prompted discussion of alternatives: committee members noted that phragmites can be hand-cut only with Conservation Commission authorization.

Montferret also reported that both lakes are now "ice-free" and that a dock at Plunkett was damaged by a large chunk of ice; no other melt-related problems were reported. She said water lilies at Ashmere are proliferating and, because they are a native species, "can only be treated with an herbicide or hand cut if they proliferate to the point where they create swimming and boating hazards."

The committee addressed logistics for notifying the public about Solitude's lake treatments. Montferret said the sign posts and boards used previously were thrown out when the garage behind Town Hall was cleaned and asked for volunteers to handle printing and laminating notices this season; she said she may not be available to do that work herself.

On testing, Montferret raised the possibility of the committee paying for basic zebra-mussel testing if the town's contact (Bob Graves) does not engage Solitude for more comprehensive testing. Andy Hagadorn pressed for the town to fund comprehensive water-quality testing for both lakes, noting it has been a long time since such testing occurred.

The committee discussed outreach to camp operators and lake associations. Montferret shared a draft letter she planned to send to Camp Taconic after noting it took effort to locate the owners' address. Brian D'Orio suggested adding a sentence inviting camps and associations to propose agenda topics. Andy Hagadorn said the draft letter was "too conciliatory" and proposed attaching "a strong policy statement about wake boats," but Montferret recommended waiting to see Taconic's response before shifting tone.

Montferret said she is preparing the committee newsletter and intends to include information about Solitude's treatment schedule and the new Massachusetts boat-operator safety course; she asked members for additional topic ideas.

There being no other business, Brian D'Orio moved at 5:54 p.m. to adjourn; Matt Goggin seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The meeting minutes were signed by Secretary Duane Bruce.