The Lake Maspenock Weed Management & Control Advisory Group on Wednesday heard about the results of the lake’s recent extended drawdown as well as varying opinions about the use of herbicides to control invasive species.

Chair Joe Baldiga spoke about how the weather affected the extended drawdown of the lake. An extended drawdown regularly occurs every three years.

“We did have a couple of weeks where the water was very low, which is good,” he said. “On the negative side, we had a couple of weeks of cold weather. But we had a lot of warm weather before that. And after that we had the snow cover.”

Freezing temperatures cause weeds to become dormant, stunting their growth. But Baldiga explained that the snow protects the weeds, insulating them from more frigid temperatures.

Kerry Reed, the Department of Public Works director, said ice emerged before the full drawdown of the lake could be completed. She had hoped to remove about a foot more of water before the freeze.

“There were some safety and ecological concerns,” she explained. “So we didn’t get to the full extended drawdown.”

Baldiga noted that members of the Sustainable Green Committee (SGC) expressed concerns that the drawdown “seemed to end early.”

Reed said the drawdown did not end early. While the timeline is dictated by the order of conditions, “It’s all dependent on the weather.”

“Ice is definitely our enemy because all the water underneath the ice is too warm to kill anything,” said vice chair Eric Sonnett. “I’m not as optimistic on the drawdown working as I have been in the past.”

Herbicide use debated

Baldiga said the targeted use of two herbicides in the north basin — Tribune (diquat) and Aquathol-K (endothall) — was successful in strongly curtailing the growth of nonnative invasive weeds in 2024. But they returned last summer “in pretty strong presence and in need of some control.”

Donald Sutherland, a member of the Sustainable Green Committee (SGC) and the Water & Sewer Advisory Board (WSAB), has been a vocal opponent of chemical use in the lake. He reiterated his concerns throughout this meeting.

“I hear over and over again that your first choice is a nonchemical choice,” he said.

Replied Baldiga: “I’m glad to hear you acknowledge that.”

“In an ideal situation, both of our groups are sharing that first choice,” continued Sutherland. “Basically we want to know why the first choice hasn’t been more firmly adhered to. Our committee [SGC] is supporting a nontoxic, holistic plan.”

Baldiga said he received a “pretty comprehensive” list of questions from the SGC as part of an effort to “work collaboratively.”

Secretary Drew Logan said he would like a consultant’s input on the types of weeds that are prevalent. He noted that drawdowns can impact weed species differently. For example, he said there had been “great success” in managing longleaf pondweed with past drawdowns.

Resident Keith Bazinet was one of several residents who advocated for the weed treatment, noting it was “really effective” in stunting weed growth. The weeds came back last summer, impacting the use of his dock by his family.

Corey Macdonald, a 30-year resident at the lake, added that the weed treatment did “significantly help.” As someone who fishes there, he said, “The fishing has been great,” with no adverse effects.

He added: “And the wildlife has been as strong as ever.”

Harvester suggested

Don Keiser, who lives adjacent to Lake Maspenock, was against herbicide use. While he can swim in the weeds, he said he has limited use of some of his boats.

Kaiser suggested using mechanical weed harvesters to remove the invasives. He priced one at $69,000, noting that the trailer for it would cost $6,000. It pulls the weeds out by the roots, he said, making it “much more feasible.”

“I think we need to go there, because putting poisons in is dangerous,” said Kaiser. “I’m sorry people don’t want their kids swimming in weeds. Swimming in poison is not good either.”

Baldiga said that harvesters were considered as one tool in the proverbial toolbox. Harvesters present their own issues, such as finding an operator and a place to put the weeds. It would also be difficult to navigate in the north basin, which is rocky.

Kaiser suggested putting the harvested weeds on the small, rocky island in the center of the lake to dry out before transporting them. Baldiga noted that the seeds can still spread throughout the lake and grow back.

LMPA continues resident education

Sabine St. Pierre, president of the Lake Maspenock Preservation Association (LMPA), said this group does not prefer the use of herbicides, But it may be “a necessity in the meantime to help us reduce what we have.”

The LMPA is planning on doing a “harder campaign” with the Conservation Commission this year against the use of phosphorous fertilizers, which run into the lake, she added.

The LMPA also is working with waterfront property owners with boats to stress the importance of washing them. This will deter nonnative species from entering the water, she explained.

Further discussions planned

Baldiga said he hoped to meet with the SGC to address members’ concerns in the near future.

“I think we all share the same goal of keeping the lake healthy and as free of invasive weeds as reasonably possible,” he stressed.

He added that the committee is “trying to be very judicious” about herbicide use, skipping it last year to see what would happen. The committee also has resisted broader treatment of the lake that some residents wanted.

Sutherland clapped back as the meeting ended.

“Basically our committee is against a process that’s killing life, doesn’t do the job and, quite frankly, is fiscally and environmentally irresponsible when there’s alternatives,” he said.

Baldiga shut down his comments, saying his word choice was “just not consistent with what is true.”

Reed said she will be speaking about the herbicide plan in March at Select Board and Conservation Commission meetings. After the budget is approved at the May 2 Annual Town Meeting, the application process is expected to occur in June. There will be a pre-treatment survey with the selected company to target areas.

She stressed that both the Select Board and the Conservation Commission previously approved the vegetation management plan. There will be no more public hearings on the topic. She also said there are no abutter notification or public comment period requirements at this point in the process.