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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: — 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's Surface Water Quality Committee (SWQC) 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. The DPA is committed to contributing in support of the Town's effort, both financially and through volunteers. Read
more about this treatment program,
excerpted from the Notice of Intent filed with the Conservation Commission. The herbicide treatment continued after the initial application, consisting of 3 "booster" applications, with the goal to maintain a concentration of 12 parts per billion (ppb) over a period of 120 days. In late summer and fall, treatment continued with intensive hand-pulling of remaining milfoil root-crowns. Close to 6800 root-crowns were harvested through this effort. Read Mike Lowery's 2008 Milfoil Status Presentation, given to the DPA's 2008 Fall Membership Meeting. — In 2009, hand-pulling of milfoil was conducted throughout the warm months, resulting in the removal of 18,000 plants, requiring 358 hours of diver/snorkel time. A survey at the end of the season showed significant re-growth, especially in deeper areas of the Pond. More information about the 2009 treatment program can be found in the End of Season Report on milfoil management from the SWQC to the Conservation Committee. Read Mike Lowery's 2009 Milfoil Status Presentation, given to the DPA's 2009 Fall Membership Meeting.
— In 2010, the Town plans to continue aggressive hand-pulling in
addition to spot treatment using the herbicide Triclopyr (Renovate OTF ™).
On Wednesday morning, 5/19/10, roughly 16 acres of Dudley Pond was
spot treated with Triclopyr. This treatment was organized by the Wayland Surface Water Quality Committee under Order of
Conditions DEP 322-698 issued by the Wayland Conservation Commission.
Read Mike Lowery's 2010 Milfoil Status Presentation, given to the DPA's 2010 Spring Membership Meeting.
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.
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. |
