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Commission hears mixed results from pondweed pilot; staff to map density and consider control options
Summary
Staff reported the second-year pondweed pilot removed less material than last year and showed a species shift toward clasping pondweed; the commission plans plant mapping in August and discussed mechanical, biological and chemical control options while noting June phosphorus levels were the highest since 2022.
At the June 1 meeting, staff provided an update on the town's pondweed-removal pilot and related aquatic permitting.
Savannah said this year crews removed less material from the town beach than in the prior year and that the dominant species shifted to clasping pondweed; last year had more elodea. "It looks like they got more clasping pondweed this year," she said, and commissioners described dense patches in several coves.
Commissioners reported clearer water this year but also noted a concerning data point: Savannah said the town's June phosphorus level "were the highest since 2022." Members proposed a focused plant-mapping survey in August to better quantify density and distribution and said results would inform next steps.
The commission discussed a menu of control strategies — continued manual pulling, mechanical harvesting, introducing plant-eating fish, and herbicide application — and emphasized weighing pros and cons for each method. Jim Duran and other residents have submitted applications for permits; Savannah said the commission had received nine permit applications this year and will batch approvals when practical to reduce legal-ad costs.
The pondweed pilot remains temporary, commissioners said, and they expect regrowth. The commission asked the lake consultant to perform plant mapping in August and signaled that the topic will return to a future agenda with mapped findings and recommended options.
