Lakes & Ponds Committee

Overview

The Lakes and Ponds Committee was re-established at the request of the Board of Selectmen (BOS) at a kick-off meeting held on October 4, 2012. The Lakes and Ponds Committee (LPC) officially re-organized on November 8, 2012. In accordance with the open meeting law, all committee meetings are posted and open to the public.

Mission Statement

The Lakes and Ponds Committee will adopt a global approach and utilize best practices for the health, betterment, and appropriate use of all waterways in Charlton, including but not limited to:

  1. Moorings/Docks on Town Owned Land
  2. Stormwater Management
  3. Weed Control and Drawdown
  4. Public and Boat Access
  5. Safety and Education

Moorings/Docks on Town Owned Land

The Docks, Piers, Berths, Moorings By-Law was passed at the May 19, 2014 Annual Town Meeting. The By-Law applies to:

  • Lakes/ponds with land owned by the Town of Charlton:
    • Glen Echo
    • Little Nugget
    • Pierpont Meadow Pond
    • Prindle Pond
    • South Charlton Reservoir
  • Great Ponds: Defined by Mass Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) as a pond having a water surface area of 10 acres or more in its natural (historic) state. Activities in, on, over, or under the entire area of any Great Pond, whether larger or smaller today than historically, require Chapter 91 authorization. Blood Pond and Baker Pond are Great Ponds.

Stormwater Management

  • MA has introduced Stormwater Management regulations that Charlton is required to follow to mitigate stormwater run-off.
  • Water run-off from storms collects pollutants, contaminants, and sediments that are ultimately deposited in the lakes, ponds, and rivers, affecting the health and quality of our waters.
  • Charlton is a member of the Central Massachusetts Regional Stormwater Coalition (CMRSWC).
  • The committee will work with Charlton’s Conservation Agent to address stormwater issues that affect Charlton’s lakes and ponds.

Weed Control & Drawdown

  • Weed Control: Several lakes contract for weed control services. The LPC is investigating the advantages/disadvantages of a group contract to reduce costs.
  • Drawdown: The committee has discussed developing a written plan for draw down practices to improve water flow, water level regulation, address new stormwater management requirements, and maximize the success of weed control programs. The plan would be generic enough to apply to all Charlton lakes and ponds which use drawdown techniques to manage weed control.

Public & Boat Access

Increase public and boat access on waterways in Charlton, when and where appropriate, while remaining sensitive to lakefront property owners.

Safety & Education

  • Create maps of each lake showing known hazards, moorings, flood elevations and such to improve safety.
  • Offer safety courses for boating and water recreation.
  • Educate the public and offer courses on MA rules and regulations regarding recreating and boating on the water.