North Adams Looking at 5-Year Weed Plan For Windsor Lake
 Phragmites, a tall perennial invasive grass, has been proliferating along the shore of Windsor Lake. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A five-year program to eradicate phragmites from Windsor Lake is expected to begin this summer.
The tall, invasive weeds have been proliferating around the edges of the pond, nearly obliterating the views of the campground beach from the main public area.
ESS Group of Boston and Aquatic Control Technology of Sutton jointly bid on the project at $28,500. The bid includes progressive removal of the tenacious perennial grass and five years of maintenance.
The project still has to go before the Conservation Commission for review; abuttors will be informed of the procedures, which will include herbicide.
The Windsor Lake Recreation Commission has been pressing the city to deal with the weed problem that has become increasingly noticeable in recent years. The phragmites, a grass, can grow to 16 feet high and have roots up to 50 feet long.
"We'll have to keep on the city to make sure this is still going," Chairman George Forgea said at Monday's meeting.
In other business, the commission reviewed some of the updates that have occurred at the bathhouse in the public swimming area.
Both bathrooms have been painted, new windows installed, the sinks and toilets replaced, and handicapped facilities installed to bring the building into compliance with the American With Disabilities Act, as ordered by the U.S. Department of Justice. The women's side is complete but the handicapped bathroom on the men's side is still being completed.
"It's the first time in 50 years that that building has been light inside," said Forgea.
Unfortunately, vandalism has already occurred in the men's room. The commission is hoping a security system being installed will help to prevent further vandalism, and that lakegoers will "take ownership" and report incidents.
"It's an issue, we know it's an issue but we have to find a way to deal with it," Forgea said. "There's no easy answer."
While the bathhouse will be done and the new playground is complete, there will be no concession this year. The contractor doing the bathrooms has been using the kitchen as a work area. The kitchen also needs much more work to make it suitable for use. Administrative Officer Michael Canales, who attended the meeting, said the funds aren't available at this point to upgrade the kitchen.
"It would probably take a separate funding source," he said, adding he had talked to BFAIR about possibly taking it over. The front could be cleaned up enough to sell prepackaged food. Berkshire Family and Individual Resources is currently supplying the staff for cleaning.
Forgea noted that the kitchen are wouldn't be clear for another two weeks. "I think it was a wise decision not to open it this year," he said.
Commissioner Nancy Bullett expressed her frustration in trying to get a volleyball pit installed. Students at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts had donated around $2,000 raised through the annual Sam Gomez Race nearly three years ago for the project.
"They voiced their frustration as well," she said of the student group. "I understand that we have other things that take precedence - like getting water to people's houses — but I would like to see it get through."
Canales said the Gomez funds would probably cover the equipment and most of the sand; the biggest cost is the excavation. The pit would have to be dug out, have stone and drainage pipe installed, and be covered. The Department of Public Works has been in line to do the job but it's not a priority and keeps falling off the schedule during the busy summer construction season.
"If we can at least get the sub part in, we can get volunteers to get the sand in, the poles in," Canales said, suggesting that perhaps a construction company could donate some time.
"It seems it's not an important project but it is," said Bullett. "A lot of people have expressed a desire to see a volleyball court there."
The commission agreed to a write a letter to the Traffic Commission expressing its concern over a fence surrounding a home at the corner of Bradley Street and Kemp Avenue. The fence is permitted and on private property but both commissions are worried about the limited line of sight for vehicles, especially campers, turning into Windsor Lake or rounding the corner at the intersection.
Tags: invasive species, Windsor Lake,
