The Dudley Pond Association has expended considerable time and resources attempting to control the invasive Eurasian Milfoil plant present in the pond.  The DPA has employed hand-pulling of weeds and chemical treatments, and researched many other alternatives such as harvesters, weevils, and other procedures. Recent work in this area includes: 
2002
2003
2005
2006
2007
2008

— During 2003, a draw down feasibility study was conducted by a Certified Lake Manager and Ph.D. in Natural Resource Management.

The pond was treated with the herbicide Sonar in the Spring of that year. This herbicide has been used on the pond several times: Spring '92, Spring '96, October '97 and Spring '03.  Each time the Milfoil has been reduced, but proceeded to grow back within a few years.

— In 2005, the DPA received an S.319 Grant, for pollution control and mitigation of pollutant-caused problems such as milfoil. One of the items funded by the grant is the introduction of milfoil weevils into the Pond. The weevils were introduced in the Spring of 2006. As of the Summer of 2007, results of this approach have not been promising, as no significant evidence of weevil presence or activity has been found. Read more about grants and funding.

— During the Summer of 2006, hand-pulling continued, and 140,000 milfoil plants were removed from the Pond. Read the 2006 Report to the Conservation Commission.

— In FY2007, the DPA received an earmark grant from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation for removal of milfoil from the Pond. This money was used during the Summer of 2007 for mechanical harvesting. Read more about the 2007 harvesting.

Also in 2007, the Town of Wayland, using CPA funds, purchased 3 SunGo water circulators for evaluation as to their effectiveness of keeping the milfoil under control. This multi-year evaluation program includes measuring milfoil growth and testing water chemistry, in areas near the circulators and also in control areas located away from them. This evaluation is on-going.

— In 2008, the Town received approval from the Conservation Commission for a multi-year treatment program that is expected to span the next 3-5 years. It consists of herbicide treatment in 2008, followed by diligent plant monitoring and aggressive follow-up hand-pulling in subsequent years to prevent milfoil re-growth.

Read more about this treatment program,  excerpted from the Notice of Intent filed with the Conservation Commission.

See photos and video of the Sonar application on May 9, 2008

2002 Weed Committee Study:

In mid-2002 a Weed Committee was formed to review and analyze various alternatives to control the growth and re-growth of Eurasian Milfoil. The last such review occurred in 1996. After many meetings to review documentation and elicit expert input this 9-member committee arrived at 18 different methods to reduce weeds, based on priorities such as Cost, Effectiveness, Sustainability and Environmental impact.  Approaches that were looked into included Suction Harvesters, Hydro-tilling, and Grass Carp.

Using all ranking factors and the most current 10 Year treatment plan, the highest scores were given to:

Entered into this equation was the fact, that Dudley Pond had reached such a critical stage of weed growth that hand-pulling only (for 2003) was no longer feasible, until at least one full herbicide application had been applied.   Unfortunately, some alternative options could not be studied, at this time, due to lack of pilot data and/or state approval of such alternatives such as weed-eating carp, as used by some other states.  In 2003 the pond was treated with the herbicide, Sonar, as used in the past, combined with hand-pullling.  Hand-pulling of milfoil, using paid SCUBA divers, has been conducted during 2003, 2004 and 2005. If you would like to know more about these various alternatives or assist your association with our efforts, please contact the Dudley Pond Association or any board member at your convenience.

Draw Down Feasibility Assessment:

This option was also considered by the above mentioned Weed Committee; however, it could not receive adequate attention, due to the lack of available and reliable data at that time.   Therefore, in April 2003 and through the efforts of  the Dudley Pond Association and the Surface Water Quality (SWQ) committee, a detailed study was commissioned in order to consider the feasibility of this option.   This findings were presented to the Weed Committee and other interested residents at an open meeting.  This presentation, conducted by Mr. Ken Wagner, was not intended to necessarily rule out or proceed with this option, but rather to enlighten the audience using a combination of extensive studies of similar ponds and supplement this with specific data and research of Dudley Pond.   This presentation detailed many issues including the need for favorable weather conditions, methods for disposal of the current water level, water replenishment options and the financial layout required now and in the future.

Grants and Funding for Dudley Pond:

Your Association has been hard at work reviewing and obtaining various funds from State and Federal sources that have or will be used to combat invasive weeds and ensure the long-term viability of Dudley Pond.  

In 2001, with the help of our state representative and the efforts of the then DPA President, a state grant in the amount of $40,000 was obtained.  This money was used to fund milfoil control efforts through 2005, by which time the grant money was fully allocated. 

In 2004, the Association filed a grant request and in March 2005, we received a Federal S-319 Grant.  The grant amount is  approximately $70,000, with the stipulation that approximately 40% of this amount will be a matched amount to be met through the efforts of the DPA membership and the Town of Wayland.  This will include activities such as locating and marking catch basins around Dudley Pond, the cleaning of these catch basins, monitoring weed growth, stocking weevils, hand-pulling weeds, education and outreach activities, pond festivals and clean-up events, steering and study committees and overall administration. 

In 2006, again with the help of our state representative, a state grant in the amount of $25,000 was obtained.  This money was used to fund mechanical harvesting of milfoil in the Summer of 2007.

The Dudley Pond Association is very pleased to be a recipient of these important grants and the positive effect they will have for our entire membership and the health of Dudley Pond.

In addition, the DPA has established an Endowment Fund, for the purpose of providing funds for milfoil control in the future. The interest gained from the Fund will be available to be used for milfoil control once the Fund has reached a total of $100,000.