East Hampton commission declines Army Corps experiment, keeps original hydrilla plan

The Town of East Hampton Conservation-Lake Commission voted 6-0 to continue its existing hydrilla treatment plan and not to join a proposed Army Corps of Engineers spot‑treatment experiment.

John Tucci of EverBlue Lakes told the commission the aeration system is operating, EverBlue has taken two water samples so far, and the company replaced the main air pipe on the beach system to restore performance. Tucci described routine sampling for phosphorus, nitrogen and algal species counts, and said the firm will provide data to the commission faster to inform decisions. He also discussed sediment-sampling at the start and end of the year and potential in-lake treatments, including biological controls and plant‑specific measures.

The commission discussed a separate Army Corps proposal to test three or four chemicals with targeted spot treatments in important areas of the lake; Corps spot treatments were scheduled for June 22–26 and July 13–17. Commissioners debated public outreach, boat‑launch cleaning and hours, and other watershed measures. After discussing options that included introducing carp and pursuing geese‑reduction strategies, the commission moved to continue the town’s current treatment plan rather than join the Corps experiment; the motion passed unanimously.

Tucci noted tradeoffs among approaches. Commissioners asked staff to continue researching watershed mitigation and other ways to reduce nutrient and invasive‑plant pressures on the lake. The commission also discussed educating residents about the experiment and recommended that the Town Manager serve as the communication point with the Army Corps and the public.

Next steps: EverBlue will deliver monitoring results to the commission, and commissioners said they will continue to evaluate in‑lake treatments and watershed interventions while carrying out the current plan.