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Hogan Pond Eyed for Battle Against Milfoil

October 05, 2007 - Residents in Oxford may have the fmal say in a proposed plan to combat invasive milfoil that is spreading in Hogan Pond. In a letter to the Oxford Board of Selectmen, Hogan-Whitney Pond Association milfoil committee chairperson Anne Parsons, suggested that the time is ripe to curb the spread of the destructive aquatic plant.

"As you may or may not know, there is a pervasive milfoil problem in Hogan Pond," Parsons wrote. "Milfoil is killing the waterways in this country. The Hogan-Whitney Pond Association has ban endeavoring to eradicate this problem with mats and hand-pulling for years."

Parsons then went on to outline what the association's next step may be. "It has been suggested to us, by Peter Lowell, of the Lakes Environmental Association, that part of the solution would be to lower the lake [water level] for the winter. This helps freeze and kill some of the milfoil," Parsons wrote. "Numerous association members are requesting that the [Welchville] dam be opened this autumn and kept open until spring. Not only will this help save our lake, but also save our road."

According to Parsons, the annual wet weather each spring takes a toll on the area roadways. "Hogan Pond Lane floods every year in the spring, washing out culverts and making it nearly impassable to year-round residents," Parsons wrote. "If keeping the pond down all winter is not feasible, we would like to bring it down for a few weeks this fall, in order to put more and larger [milfoil eradicating] mats down." The mats Parsons refers to is a technique commonly used to battle milfoil, by installing visual barriers, such as tarps or mats, to block out the sun, thereby curbing the plant's growth.

Also known as "Eurasian" or "variable-leaf milfoil, the aggressive aquatic weed was introduced to U.S. waters in the 1940s. The weed can grow rampant and have devastating environmetital impact on lakes and ponds, affecting water quality, wildlife, and flora. During a recent selectmen's meeting, the board voted to place the issue on the next town meeting warrant. Oxford Town Manager Mike Chammings said that a special town meeting will likely be called in December, where residents can vote not only on the Hogan Pond water level issue, but also on the new comprehensive plan, as well as a pair of tax increment financing (TIF) projects that are in the works.

Oxford selectmen meet at 6:30 pm., on the first and third Thursday of every month, in the meeting room at the town office. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

SOURCE: ADVERTISER-DEMOCRAT

DATE: 09-27-2007


Lakes: Hogan Pond
Regions: Sebago


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