In July, the Stockbridge Bowl Association (SBA) Annual Report said: “It’s Back! Milfoil Reappears in the Bowl — On July 16. 2021, one of the lead biologists from SOLitude Lake Management toured the perimeter of the Bowl by boat to inspect for the presence of milfoil…last summer it was almost absent…This year the Milfoil has returned.”

On August 4, on behalf of the Town, Dr. Thomas Coote, Director of the Berkshire Environmental Research Center based at Simon’s Rock, went into Stockbridge Bowl to search for Eurasian Milfoil, the invasive. (It is not possible to differentiate Native and Eurasian Milfoil from a boat.) Coote reported that he did not find Eurasian Milfoil or the requisite 50% in the three areas originally designated as the test areas.

On behalf of SBA, Pat Kennelly attended Stockbridge Bowl Stewardship Commission (SBSC) and the Conversation Commission (ConCom) to let them know SBA asked the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for permission to change two of the test areas.

As a quick reminder, there is an Order of Conditions that must be met before fluridone can be used in The Bowl. Step One is counting the stems of Eurasians Milfoil in designated test areas where 50% or more is milfoil.

DEP did not grant permission to change the test area until SBA meets with the Conservation Commission and Select Board. Sadly, this may slow the harvesting in The Bowl. (For more, see Notes from SBSC below)

Full Order: Year one: Identify and count stems

Year two: if enough, treat those areas with fluridone

Year three: Identify and count stems of all plants in test areas treated.

Year four: DEP will authorize proceeding with full lake treatment if the count in year three confirms that fluridone controlled invasive milfoil and allowed native plants to survive.”