ANDOVER -- Sometime between mid- and late-June a state-approved contractor will spray herbicides in the Harold Parker State Forest at Collins and Field ponds to kill a first step in a contentious treatment plan that will call for future herbicide uses, invasive plants.
Assistants of the herbicides' use would transform land to be swamped by them and said the ponds were choking; adversaries said the plants' preponderance was overblown and harsh means should be used for removing them.
"They approved it because (the herbicides) fulfill the standards," said Bob Douglas, director of the Andover Conservation Division. "It's a lawful use of herbicides."
Also, committee members said at least two other Andover ponds, Foster's and Haggetts, have been treated successfully by herbicides.
The commission's conclusion, which includes states of use, was guided by wetlands protection laws which allow the eradication of invasive aquatic plants — considered a threat to the bodies of water — with approved substances, if![image]()
implemented appropriately, said Ellen Townson, a Conservation Commission member.
Townson was also one of three members on a Conservation Commission subcommittee that studied the proposed use of the herbicides on the ponds in the Harold Parker State Forest before presenting their recommendation to the full commission on Wednesday. The other subcommittee members were Floyd Greenwood and Jon Honea.
Joshua Burgoyne of the ESS Group, a state contractor that evaluates engineers plans and aquatic plant coverage to command the plants, said the herbicides will be applied by the contractor Solitude Lake Management.
In August, ESS will evaluate the effectiveness of the herbicides by determining whether a supplemental program is needed this year and mapping the plants in the bodies of water, he said.
The Andover Conservation Commission set restrictions on the herbicides' application and required that abutters be notified when the treatments will take place, Townson said.
ESS proposed a five-year plan for eradicating invasive aquatic plants at Field and Collins ponds.
Each spring ESS will ascertain whether repeat herbicide applications are needed to treat the invasives.
Townson said that she would favor the town seek alternative means of removing invasives in the future if they're powerful and practical.
IN OTHER NEWS: 3 USES FOR DISH SOAP THAT'll SHOCK YOU
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"I'd love to work away from the substances and (toward) a more hands on approach," she said.
Vigorous debate was stirred up by the projected use of herbicides at Field Pond among residents at a May 17 Conservation Commission meeting.
“Field Pond is expiring, just like Fosters Pond was dying,” said Susan Tucker, a resident and former state senator who belongs to the Friends of Field Pond group. “ it'll be a marsh if we do’t treat it and It's turning into a marsh.”
Harold Parker State Park, more than 3,000 acres, sits in parts of four towns — Andover, North Andover, North Reading and Middleton — and includes campgrounds, of diversion from fishing and hunting to skiing and a host trails and biking.
What is Diquat?
What exactly is Fluridone (brand name comprises Sonar):
Fluridone is a slow-acting systemic herbicide used to control underwater plants, a 7-12 week process during which time a constant amount of concentration must be maintained in the waterbody.
Assistants of the herbicides' use would transform land to be swamped by them and said the ponds were choking; adversaries said the plants' preponderance was overblown and harsh means should be used for removing them.
"They approved it because (the herbicides) fulfill the standards," said Bob Douglas, director of the Andover Conservation Division. "It's a lawful use of herbicides."
Also, committee members said at least two other Andover ponds, Foster's and Haggetts, have been treated successfully by herbicides.
The commission's conclusion, which includes states of use, was guided by wetlands protection laws which allow the eradication of invasive aquatic plants — considered a threat to the bodies of water — with approved substances, if
implemented appropriately, said Ellen Townson, a Conservation Commission member.Townson was also one of three members on a Conservation Commission subcommittee that studied the proposed use of the herbicides on the ponds in the Harold Parker State Forest before presenting their recommendation to the full commission on Wednesday. The other subcommittee members were Floyd Greenwood and Jon Honea.
Joshua Burgoyne of the ESS Group, a state contractor that evaluates engineers plans and aquatic plant coverage to command the plants, said the herbicides will be applied by the contractor Solitude Lake Management.
In August, ESS will evaluate the effectiveness of the herbicides by determining whether a supplemental program is needed this year and mapping the plants in the bodies of water, he said.
The Andover Conservation Commission set restrictions on the herbicides' application and required that abutters be notified when the treatments will take place, Townson said.
ESS proposed a five-year plan for eradicating invasive aquatic plants at Field and Collins ponds.
Each spring ESS will ascertain whether repeat herbicide applications are needed to treat the invasives.
Townson said that she would favor the town seek alternative means of removing invasives in the future if they're powerful and practical.
IN OTHER NEWS: 3 USES FOR DISH SOAP THAT'll SHOCK YOU
Unmute
"I'd love to work away from the substances and (toward) a more hands on approach," she said.
Vigorous debate was stirred up by the projected use of herbicides at Field Pond among residents at a May 17 Conservation Commission meeting.
“Field Pond is expiring, just like Fosters Pond was dying,” said Susan Tucker, a resident and former state senator who belongs to the Friends of Field Pond group. “ it'll be a marsh if we do’t treat it and It's turning into a marsh.”
Harold Parker State Park, more than 3,000 acres, sits in parts of four towns — Andover, North Andover, North Reading and Middleton — and includes campgrounds, of diversion from fishing and hunting to skiing and a host trails and biking.
What is Diquat?
What exactly is Fluridone (brand name comprises Sonar):
Fluridone is a slow-acting systemic herbicide used to control underwater plants, a 7-12 week process during which time a constant amount of concentration must be maintained in the waterbody.