In summary, the OOC requires four stages, each dependent upon successful completion of the stage before. Each stage occurs in one season creating a four-year process. Note that the SBA and DEP negotiated the terms of the OOC. The town recently adopted the OOC to settle the Town Wetland Bylaw lawsuit brought by the SBA in Superior Court.

Stage 1: Identify two test plots and a control plot, each with at least 50% Eurasian Milfoil. Count the stems using an independent diving team from UMass to determine the plant community in each of the plots.

Stage 2: Apply the herbicide Fluridone to the two test plots.

Stage 3: Determine the effectiveness of the Fluridone treatment by recounting the stems of the plant community in the two treated plots. The success of the test will be evaluated based on the effectiveness of Fluridone at killing the milfoil and the propensity of native plants to grow in its stead.

Stage 4: Should the test demonstrate the eradication of invasive milfoil and the regrowth of native vegetation then a permit will be granted for whole lake treatment with Fluridone.

This year there was no Eurasian Milfoil so Stage 1 could not be completed. The DEP agreed to delay Stage 1 until 2021. Therefore, the four stages can now be completed no earlier than 2024. Should the amount of milfoil not meet the required threshold of 50% of plants in 2021, then the process cannot begin until 2022.

Click here to read the Order of Conditions in its entirety.