Good morning, Hopkinton! Welcome to the daily update we call Hopkinton Today — a quick recap of yesterday’s news, highlights of what’s on tap, and a photo of the day.

Volunteers, DCR coordinate on boat ramp monitoring program

During a visit to Lake Maspenock last year, Wendy Gendron from Aquatic Restoration Consulting examined a weed sample with Sabine St. Pierre of the Lake Maspenock Preservation Association. PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

The Lake Maspenock Preservation Association wants to be more proactive about the lake’s invasive weed problem.

“We’ve been working for a couple years now on reactive measures around the lake,” explained Don Doucette, an LMPA board member. “We decided: Why don’t we try to go preventative instead of reactive?”

To change the approach, LMPA members are training today with representatives from the Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) on monitoring boats going in and out of the lake. DCR’s boat ramp monitor program is designed to educate boaters about invasive species, reduce their spread from infested areas and keep non-infested water bodies intact.

Doucette said the hope of training LMPA members to run this program is to provide “a line of defense” before boats enter and exit the waterway. The goal is to both stop unwanted weeds and other invasive species from coming into Lake Maspenock and prevent them from spreading to other places as well.

“We believe it’s really important to prevent what we can,” he said.

An initial batch of six or so volunteers will undergo the training and coordinate a schedule at the boat ramp through the summer. Doucette said that given the limited number of trained participants, the group will focus on high traffic times — particularly the weekends. He added that the LMPA hopes more people will step up to volunteer and get trained on the program as time goes on.

Acting as “lake ambassadors,” Doucette noted, the volunteers will ask boaters to look at their boat and trailer before and after entering the water. Following a visual inspection, they then will ask the boaters to remove any debris identified. Doucette clarified that the program is optional, but cooperation is appreciated.

Along with the inspections, boaters will be asked to use a survey app created by DCR. The LMPA will have access to data from the app to look at the spread of invasive species to other waterways and whether Lake Maspenock is more at risk of having these species brought in or spreading them out to other places.

“You’d be surprised how small a piece of weed can actually wreak havoc on the lake,” said Doucette.

“Once weeds are in there, it has a negative impact on the different ways we use it for recreation,” he added.

Boat ramp monitoring will be another tool the LMPA and the town has to combat invasive species in the lake. In April, the Conservation Commission approved the limited use of herbicides in Lake Maspenock by the Department of Public Works. This approach has drawn heavy criticism from residents who have raised concerns about the ecological side effects of the chemicals and the possibility of fueling toxic algae blooms.

— NICK SCHOFIELD

Latest News

The Select Board on Tuesday reviewed aspects of the town’s proposed common victualer license policy, including what information legally can be obtained and limits on the board’s authority.

Shahidul Mannan and Matt Kizner were voted in as chair and vice chair of the Select Board at its meeting Tuesday night.

This week’s Police Log features three arrests, along with reports of an unleashed dog going after a pedestrian, someone riding an e-bike on private property and a person tossing debris out of their vehicle.

The latest Sports Roundup highlights the final tournament brackets announced for Hopkinton High School softball, baseball and boys lacrosse.

The annual St. John’s Rummage Sale will take place June 12-13 and June 15-16. Donations can be dropped off until June 10 at St. John’s Parish Center.

Town meetings tonight include the Parks & Recreation Commission (6) and School Committee (7).

Photo of the Day

Work is underway to rebuild the playing field behind Hopkins School now that most of the construction equipment has been removed.

PHOTO/JERRY SPAR