The water-choking, invasive, plant species milfoil or water milfoils (Myriophyllum) was recently found growing in four of Rochester’s ponds: Snipatuit; Snows; Leonard; and Hathaway. The Rochester Water Commission may have a unique solution to the problem by buying its own weed-harvesting equipment.
The Water Commission met on August 13 to discuss this and other concerns regarding the town’s 900-acre pond system. Chair Fred Underhill said the notice about the milfoil problem originally arrived in an email from the Conservation Commission. “It’s a problem we’ve been dealing with for a couple of months,” he said. Underhill also said commission member Rick Charon has been studying the problem and has more data on it. Charon was unable to attend the August 13 meeting.
Water Commission member David Hughes noted the Town of Acushnet has started a clean-up program on Lake Street in that town with rented weed-harvesting equipment. That’s when Underhill and Town Administrator Cameron Durant offered an alternative solution. Both men said they have reached out to State Representative Mark Sylvia for funding to buy a piece of milfoil weed-harvesting equipment for the town’s regular use.
Durant said renting such equipment would cost $5,000 a day. However, to buy this equipment outright, it would cost roughly $105,000. He is reaching out to Sylvia’s office to apply for an Environmental Bond Bill grant to fund all or part of that purchase. He noted what rented equipment will return again in the future. “In a couple of years, we’ll have to do it again,” he said. The town would have that equipment to use on a regular basis.
He cautioned, however, that the clean-up won’t happen until next summer, especially since Town Meeting action in May 2026 will probably be needed to fund part of the purchase. The Water Commission, nonetheless, signaled its full support of the plan.
In other action, the commission approved 19 County Road’s request to access Wareham municipal water to the level of 900 gallons per day. Commission members elaborated that the property owner is now subdividing this lot.
Commission consultant and former Town Planner Nancy Durfee initiated discussion of a report that the commission received regarding water flowing north (leaving in the wrong direction) from Snipatuit Brook and Snipatuit Pond and the Mattapoisett River watershed. The goal, the report states, is to “explore ways to keep more water in the Mattapoisett River System.” Durant elaborated, “Water is flowing in the wrong direction to benefit other communities.”
The report proposes several solutions such as adding or repairing stop logs or installing a bulkhead with a relief valve. Underhill determined that, because the report was only received on August 13, discussion should be deferred to the commission’s next meeting.
The Rochester Water Commission’s next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 10 at 4:00 pm at Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Water Commission
By Michael J. DeCicco