Todd’s Pond Update

June 30, 2023

Here's a brief summary/update on the Committee's activities and Pond status:

Most of the water was permitted to drain from the Pond in November 2022 for 2 reasons: (1) the Town's wetlands consultant advised that exposing the plant growth in the Pond to colder temperatures during the winter might kill or retard some of the existing plant growth in the Pond; and (2) it would provide the opportunity to visually inspect the Pond bottoms to better understand the sediment accumulation in the Pond. Unfortunately, the 2022-23 winter was very mild and it is unclear if the plant growth was negatively impacted. However, we do have a better understanding of the sediment accumulation within the Pond.

After the Pond was drained, a lake management consultant provided advice regarding possibly relocating some sediment to other areas of the Pond to improve its depth and aesthetics. Such relocation can only be done after the necessary state and federal permits are obtained.

On the advice of the Town's wetlands consultant, the Pond was permitted to refill in March 2023 to minimize additional plant growth in the drained portions of the Pond in the Spring.

The Committee currently is in the process of scheduling meetings with several lake management consultants to obtain estimates for relocating sediment to other areas of the Pond. Once this information is obtained the Committee will submit this information to the Board together with a funding request. However, the work will be contingent with obtaining the necessary state and federal permits, which may take 6 to 9 months. The expectation is that the Pond will again be permitted to drain in the Fall of 2023 and the sediment relocation work will take place in early 2024 if all goes according to plan.

In the interim, the Town Recreations and Parks Department is working with the Committee to determine if there are interim steps that may be taken to improve the appearance of the Pond.