Notes from the Stockbridge Bowl Association (SBA) Annual Report, July 2021

"It's Back! Milfoil Reappears in the Bowl...

On July 16. 2021, one of the lead biologists from SOLitude Lake Management toured the perimeter of the Bowl by boat to inspect for the presence of milfoil...last summer it was almost absent...This year the Milfoil has returned."

The report goes on to state the conditions established by the Commonwealth that would allow fluridone treatment. Year one: Identify and count stems Year two: treat those areas with fluridone Year three: Identify and count stems of all plants in test and control areas. DEP will authorize proceeding with full lake treatment with fluridone in year four if the year three count confirms that fluridone has controlled milfoil and allowed other native plants to survive."

Editor's Questions:

1. Can the identification of milfoil and counting of stems required in year one be done from a boat, or would it require being in (and under) the water?
2. May SOLitude be the official determiner of whether milfoil is present, or does DEP require a government representative, such as someone hired by the Town, or a representative from the Commonwealth, to officially establish if the year-one criterium is met?

Photo: Jay Rhind