The Hopkinton Independent report “Select Board hears reasoning behind using herbicides to control Lake Maspenock weeds” fails to mention the Hopkinton Sustainable Green Committee’s representatives testimonies opposing the unsustainable, ecologically harmful use of chemical herbicides in Lake Maspenock as fiscally and environmentally irresponsible.

The committee supports a nontoxic, long-term, holistic plan incorporating limiting watershed nutrient loading, barrier plants, benthic barriers, drawdown, hand pulling, and mechanical plant management as detailed in the Lake Maspenock Aquatic Vegetation Control & Water Management Plan (June 2021).

Federal and state aquatic science studies show the use of toxic herbicides is a short-term method of vegetation control and results in a herbicide treadmill of future use of toxic chemicals that harm a lake’s web of life.

The planned June application of several hundred gallons of the herbicide diquat (a herbicide banned in Europe because it harms aquatic life and human health) and endothall, (the EPA says harms mammals) and the potential of PFAS in the herbicides’ inert formulations are clear reasons to ban the use of toxic aquatic herbicides.

— Donald Sutherland, chair of the Environmental Working Group, Hopkinton Sustainable Green Committee

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