As Rochester’s Conservation Commission Tuesday further reviewed the Town of Rochester’s Notice of Intent application for proposed work with a harvester to cut and remove invasive aquatic weeds in Snipatuit Pond, the commission mulled over a variety of alternative ideas for eradicating the water-choking plants.
Conservation Agent Merilee Kelly began the discussion by reporting on her own recent research. She said she contacted one underwater maintenance firm that goes as deep as cutting the weed roots. The company told her the charge would be $5,000 a day for 10 days the first year, eight days the second year, and lesser days per year until it is just a simple maintenance problem. She added that the company did not tell her how many acres per day the work would cover.
Snipatuit is the town’s largest pond, and in 2025 the invasive weeds milfoil and fanwort were so thick in the pond that boat propellers could not operate and fish and shellfish below them were in danger of dying from lack of oxygen. The town commissioned a vegetation study that led to a suggestion that a harvester be purchased or rented to physically remove the weeds that would then be hauled off to be composted at a local landfill.
The commission Tuesday clearly was not satisfied with settling on one eradication method. Members discussed using a diver-assisted removal, weed-eating carp (sterile so they don’t reproduce), boat washers at the boat ramp to eliminate spreading the weeds, aquatic herbicides, an eco-harvester with barriers that will control weed debris that could grow back, dredging, and lowering the pond to make it easier to access the killer weeds.
Member Matthew Bache instructed Kelly to research these ideas, but the commission seemed most interested in member Jennelle Jesse’s suggestion that a consultant be hired to advise the ConCom on the best plan, and not someone with a vested interest in selling a particular method. Michelle Kirby of nearby Snows Pond suggested the commission use the consultant her Snows Pond Association has used.
Chair Christopher Gerrior said the town needs a short-term and long-term plan. The plan has to happen in the right season, and money must be budgeted for whatever plan or plans are chosen.
The commission continued the hearing for future discussion. Gerrior said that might be the next meeting or a future meeting after that date.
In other action, the commission continued to June 2 its two Notices of Intent hearings for High Street Solar 1 and 2 at 0 High Street, which proposes work within the 100-foot wetlands buffer zone for a ground-mounted solar array.
The commission continued to its next meeting the Notice of Intent to construct a four-bedroom, single-family home with septic system on Robinson Road across from Lloyd’s Market. This would be a residence on land that is positioned between a 200-foot riverfront area and a 100-foot wetlands buffer zone, with the driveway and some grading extending into the latter.
Project representative Chris Gilbert said in his presentation on Zoom that a large square footage of the wetlands will be replicated elsewhere on the property. “The restoration will improve the site,” he said. But the commissioners disagreed, asserting the site is still wet and the restoration would not be an improvement. They motioned to initiate a peer-engineering review of the plan.
The next Rochester Conservation Commission meeting will be held on May 19 at 7:00 pm, in Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way.
Rochester Conservation Commission
By Michael J. DeCicco