SAUGUS — With warmer weather finally hitting Massachusetts, the Department of Conservation and Recreation is preparing to clean up Breakheart Reservation’s Pearce Lake and Upper Pond. Specifically, they’ll be eradicating the bladderwort plants in the pond.
The Conservation Commission unanimously voted to allow the maintenance to happen. A representative from DCR explained that they would be stepping in as the plants are still growing, with the plan being to use a specific type of herbicide.
Chair of the commission, Paul Petkewich, made the motion that the project is significant under the Mass Wetlands Protection Act to protect the following interests of the Act: public water supply, flood control, storm damage prevention, prevention of pollution, and fisheries under the Saugus bylaws, wildlife recreation, and erosion control.
He continued, “This project shall not cause an increase in runoff adjacent properties to streets. Either during construction or after completion, appropriate measures shall be taken to prevent the movement of silt or debris onto adjacent properties in the streets.”
The conditions also stated that the type of herbicides that can be used and the types of treatments will be addressed.
“This is general maintenance of Pearce Pond. It’s been done in all the ponds for this excessive aquatic growth. It comes up every few years. We approve these projects and let them keep going,” Petkewich said.
Mass.gov has in-depth research on bladderworts and how they impact the environment.
According to Mass.gov, one of the ways the environment is impacted or threatened is by bladderworts outcompeting native vegetation. This can lead to wildlife dependent on the native vegetation relocating or dying off.
These plants can also be dense, blocking sunlight from getting through to submerged plants.
The dense mats can also impede boaters, fishermen, water skiers, and swimmers. One of the concerns shown by DCR was that, as summer neared and swimmers returned to the pond, they might get tangled up in the roots and drown.
With the unanimous vote, maintenance of the pond will go forward.
