Mayor: Herbicide treatment scheduled for Greenwood Lake; five‑year drawdown planned for 2026–27

Mayor (speaker 2) told the board the village will conduct another herbicide treatment on Greenwood Lake this Friday to target growth in the North Arm and the west arm near DeFeo’s. "We are going to do another treatment this Friday," the mayor said, and added that the work is intended as a targeted follow‑up to recent treatments and shoreline surveys.

The mayor said an EPA‑certified sample taken at the kayak launch returned negative, that there have been no algae blooms at the public beach and that the Department of Health protocols would be followed if conditions change. "There has been 0 algae blooms present at the beach," he said. He also warned residents not to use treated lake water on vegetation because the herbicide will kill plant growth. The board discussed using a harvester after the herbicide takes effect and said staff will survey areas for any potential harmful‑algae bloom (HAB) activity. The mayor added the village has applied to a New York State DEC nonpoint‑source grant to support longer‑term work such as dredging and hydro‑raking and noted $70,000 in support from an Orange County legislator to fund grant preparation and studies.

The board reiterated that the planned 5‑year drawdown is scheduled for winter 2026–27 and urged lakefront property owners to begin permitting and planning now because municipal, town and DEC approvals will be required. No formal vote was recorded for treatment; the mayor framed the herbicide application and follow‑up harvesting as operational actions by village staff and contracted biologists.