The town announced this week that it will conduct herbicide treatments at Lake Maspenock to control “nuisance aquatic vegetation” on Tuesday.
During and following treatment, residents are advised not to use the lake for recreation or agricultural purposes for a short period of time. Boating, fishing, swimming and watering of livestock are not advised until Thursday. The town cautions against using the lake for irrigation until June 22.
The Conservation Commission in April approved a limited application of herbicides in the lake this year. SOLitude Lake Management will perform the application, focusing on about 50 acres in the north basin as well as the cove by the boat ramp and the area south of Sandy Beach.
Herbicides recommended for use include Tribune (diquat dibromide), ProcellaCor (florpyrauxifen-benzyl) and flumioxazin. The chemicals are intended to address invasive aquatic plants found in the lake such as Eurasian milfoil, variable milfoil, fanwort, bladderwort and pondweed.
In reviewing the DPW, Con Com approved, NOI planned aquatic herbicides for vegetation management in Lake Maspenock, I want to alert the town, under the Massachusetts definition of PFAS signed into law as a class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least 1 fully fluorinated carbon atom, the proposed herbicides ProcellaCOR EC: Florpyrauxifen-benzyl and Flumioxazin are PFAS.
Massachusetts and Minnesota share the same PFAS definition and recognize PFAS as a significant health threat.
https://www.mda.state.mn.us/environment-sustainability/pfas-pesticide-active-inert-ingredients
Donald Sutherland
Hopkinton Sustainable Green Committee
Water&Sewer Advisory Board
The word treatment is an interesting euphemism for dumping multiple toxic chemicals into a complex living aquatic ecosystem. These biocides are designed to kill life forms and don’t magically disappear after being dispersed in the water. The effects of these biocides on non target species seems to be of little concern to LMPA,Con Com or the Board of Health. Where is the outrage?