Weed Watcher Program

The Big Pond Association has been a charter member of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Weed Watcher program since 2002 link.. Several times during the summer trained members check various strategic areas of the lake for any non-native invasive plants. The great news is that we still have not detected the presence of Eurasian Milfoil or any other non-native invasive in the lake. However two invasive wetland plant species have been found along the shoreline.

For a complete list of invasive and non-invasive aquatic plants scroll to the bottom of this page.

Phragmites

was detected on the East Shore of the Creek near the entrance from the lake (just below the power lines). This is a critical area due to the potential of the plant spreading unchecked along the Creek. Aquatic Control Technology treated it in the fall of 2005, thanks to a grant from DCR.

During the summer of 2004 a small group of twenty or so plants was reported to the Big Pond Association by one of our observant members. This pioneer stand, located in the North Shore Beach area abutting the Girl Scouts’ Enchanted Forest was hand pulled. No regrowth has been observed in this location.

The Weed Watcher program has also found Purple Loosestrife along the shoreline in front of several cottages. We have been hand pulling this plant and each year there is less. However due to its prolific seed production plants occasionally do appear in new areas around the lake. Continued dedicated efforts should eliminate it from Big Pond completely.

Zebra Mussels

The Big Pond Association has recently teamed with the Department of Recreation and Conservation Lakes and Ponds Program on another new initiative, the early detection of the highly invasive zebra mussels.

Weed Watcher Program -- Weeds to look for at and around Big Pond:

Note - Individual Weed Pages require Adobe Acrobat Reader

Aquatic Plant List