This tent, which was located next to Lake Whitehall on the Winter Street side, is believed to have been used by transients, and possible drug paraphernalia was found in the vicinity. PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

A report to the Hopkinton Police Department on suspicious activity by people allegedly encamped near Lake Whitehall raised concerns about suspected drug activity, but the situation was addressed by both the HPD and the Massachusetts Environmental Police, according to the HPD’s lieutenant.

On Sept. 7 at 10:10 a.m., “[a] caller reported several transients living in tents and heavy drug activity on Winter Street,” the police log stated. “Officers Noah Buentello and Nicholas Walker responded, spoke with the reporting person and contacted the Environmental Police.”

“In reviewing the incident report, a tent was removed by the Environmental Police, and the area was cleaned of possible drug paraphernalia,” HPD Lt. Scott van Raalten stated in an email to the Independent. “Officers were not able to identify who was camping there.”

Added van Raalten: “There was certainly someone there for a few days, given the trash. However, we could not determine who, in order to offer them services.”

Several people contacted the Independent to report the tent, including Ed Harrow, chair of the Open Space Preservation Commission, which oversees the Whitehall Conservation Area. Although he personally didn’t observe any activity, he stated that it was reported to him by a resident of the area.

The subject was alluded to during the Sept. 12 OSPC meeting, which focused on taming the knotweed overgrowth there and the installation of a camera to monitor the area. While no one spoke directly about the alleged situation, Harrow and member Nancy Peters mentioned rumored activity in the area that was concerning.

“At the bottom of ‘Snake Hill,’ a twisty portion of Winter Street before Pond Street, (coming from Wood) is a small parking area with a trail that leads into the lake,” Harrow explained in a follow-up email to the Independent. “Someone was ‘camping’ there, and, allegedly, there were lots of used, drug-related paraphernalia, like needles.”

The Massachusetts Environmental Police did not immediately respond to a request for an update.

“The mission of the Massachusetts Environmental Police is to protect the environment and natural resources of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through enforcement, education and public outreach,” according to the organization’s website. The department also registers boats, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles and offers programs on boating and recreational vehicle safety.