Resident petition on Reservoir Pond herbicide use met with staff rebuttal and no immediate action

The Canton Conservation Commission on May 27 received continued correspondence from a resident, identified in the record as Mr. Winter, alleging that herbicide treatments by the Reservoir Pond Association have harmed cattails and other aquatic vegetation.

A conservation staff member summarized the petition and treatment history, saying the association has used licensed applicators and that some aquatic plants not targeted by the treatment (for example, water lilies) remain. "I continue to feel that his assessment of the impact of the cattails is not due to former wetlands treatment of the pond," the staff member said, arguing the petition did not present evidence that treatments were the cause of the observed vegetation loss.

Chair of the commission said the correspondence had been received and read and that, based on materials staff have reviewed, he had no concern treatments were unlawful or dangerous. He noted the treatments had been performed by licensed applicators and emphasized the commission would consider formal evidence at a public hearing if and when the association files an application.

Commissioners declined to take immediate regulatory action, noting there was no Department of Environmental Protection or independent ecological report in the record demonstrating the petition's claim. The chair and staff encouraged the petitioner to present his findings at a future public hearing on an application or to provide scientific evidence that would warrant an appeal or further enforcement steps.

The commission recorded the petition in the meeting minutes and said the standard permitting, notice and public‑hearing procedures apply when the association next submits applications for work in the pond.