Fort Meadow Reservoir to undergo herbicide treatment

Marlborough/Hudson - Fort Meadow Reservoir, located in Marlborough and Hudson, will be treated Tuesday July 15 by Aquatic Control Technology Inc. to control Eurasian watermilfoil and variable watermilfoil. These species are invasive, non-native weeds that, if not controlled, will spread rapidly and choke the lake, making boating, swimming and fishing difficult.

The entire lake will be treated with an herbicide called Reward (active ingredient Diquat) to specifi cally control the milfoil. This treatment will not adversely affect many of the native plants that are important to a healthy lake.

Use of the lake will be restricted as follows beginning on the day of treatment:

1. No boating or swimming should take place Tuesday July 15, the day of application, to allow maximum contact of the herbicide with the weeds. (There is no harm in swimming or fishing the day of application, but to maximize effectiveness, no swimming or boating will be allowed).

2. No drinking of lake water for 72 hours (three days) or until Saturday July 19.

3. No irrigation with lake water for five days or until Monday July 21, as the herbicide may harm lawns and plants.

Once the lake is treated, lake users should do their part by checking boats and trailers for weeds when taking boats in and out of the water, and removing any hitchhiker weeds. This will ensure that we are not reintroducing the weeds from other lakes into Fort Meadow Reservoir and vice versa.

For more information, contact the Marlborough Conservation Commission at 508-460-3768 or Aquatic Control Technology Inc. at 508-865-1000.