Marlborough's Fort Meadow Reservoir To Get Herbicide Treatment

MARLBOROUGH, MA — Fort Meadow Reservoir, located in Marlborough and Hudson, will be treated with herbicide on June 12 to control invasive non-native species including Eurasian watermilfoil and variable watermilfoil. If not controlled, the species will spread rapidly, making boating, swimming and fishing difficult.

Affected areas of the lake will be spot-treated with an herbicide called Reward (active ingredient
diquat) to control the watermilfoil. This treatment will not hurt native plants that are important to a healthy lake. The lake is monitored and spot-treated annually or as needed to help keep these weeds under control.

The lake water use will be restricted within three basin areas beginning on the day of treatment:

1. The city is requiring all residents stay out of the water on the day of application for the best results. You won't get hurt or sick if you come in contact with the water but it could skew the results. Residents can head back into the water the next day.
2. No watering of livestock (includes pets) until Saturday, June 15.
3. No drinking or cooking with lake water until Saturday, June 15.
4. No irrigation with lake water until Monday, June 17 as the herbicide may harm your
lawn and plants.

Once treatment is completed lake users should do their part by checking boats and trailers for weeds when taking boats in and out of the water. This will ensure that people are not reintroducing the weeds from other lakes into Fort Meadow Reservoir and vice-versa. Please check boats and boat trailers for hitchhiker weeds and remove them.

If you need any additional information, please feel free to contact the Marlborough Conservation Commission at (508) 460-3768.