LYNN – Sluice Pond was chemically treated for the control of nuisance aquatic vegetation, such as algae, Tuesday.
This treatment happens annually and only happened recently at Sluice Pond. Water from the reservoir will not be affected. Following this treatment, the city is asking people not to use the water or waterbody for certain purposes until the specified dates listed.
The city is asking people to wait until July 9 to swim, boat, and fish, as well as participate in livestock and domestic animal consumption; to wait until July 11 to drink or cook as well as use Sluice Pond for irrigation to turf and landscape ornamentals; and to wait until July 13 for irrigation to food crops, production ornamentals and newly seeded turf.
James Lacasse – branch manager of Water and Wetland, which does lake, pond, and wetland management – said this chemical treatment is “extremely routine.” He added, “Every month we go up there (and) we conduct a survey just to kind of guide the program. Throughout the season, our survey results have concluded that an algaecide and herbicide was necessary to target filamentous algae species as well as invasive pond roots.”
Lacasse added that this treatment was only conducted in a handful of Sluice Pond’s 50 acres.
The herbicide treatment was conducted pursuant to a permit issued by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and an order of conditions issued by the Lynn Conservation Commission.
