MARLBOROUGH/HUDSON – Marlborough and Hudson will begin drawing down water from the Fort Meadow Reservoir on Monday, Nov. 1.
The drawdown will allow for weed control along the shore and in the lake. It will help control populations of the invasive Asian Clam while allowing for wall and beach repair, as well as sand removal around storm drains.
It will take between 15 to 20 days for the water to drop four feet from the normal high-water level. The water level will remain down throughout winter. The reservoir will begin to be refilled around March 1.
Additionally, docks will be required to be removed for the winter.
Marlborough and Hudson said, this year, the problem weeds are the Eurasian and variable water milfoil, Fanwort and Phragmites.
Other communities have had issues with Eurasian milfoil. Notably, officials in Shrewsbury met back in July to discuss excessive growth in a part of Lake Quinsigamond.
Hudson and Marlborough residents along the Fort Meadow Reservoir are invited to remove weeds from the drawdown area and will not need a permit.
A permit will be needed if residents make repairs to walls or add sand to beaches. Those permits can be obtained through the Hudson and Marlborough Conservation Commissions, respectively. The Marlborough commission can be reached at 508-460-3768, and the Hudson commission can be reached at 978-562-2948.
Hudson Conservation Commission ready for second effort at conservation bylaw – Community Advocate
Fort Meadow boaters asked to help fight spread of invasive weeds (communityadvocate.com)