Weed Prevention and Control
During the 1990s, to control the yearly onslaught of bladderwort, we harvested aquatic weeds each summer. By using special harvesting boats designed and built by resident Paul Lucas, the Taunton Lake community was able to control the weeds without relying on herbicides.
Unfortunately, that is no longer possible. In 1999 and 2000, the pattern of weed growth changed dramatically. That has necessitated a return to the use of a herbicide starting with the 2001 summer season. (Complete details on the reason behind this change are contained in Paul's 2001 Aquatic Weed Report, presented at the Annual Meeting in May, 2001.)
The new approach has been very successful. During the summer of 2004, conditions were such that the application of herbicide was not necessary. Although it is possible, it seems unlikely that this will be the case two years in a row.
Regardless of the method, the goal of our weed control efforts is to prevent the weeds from taking over the lake (as they did in the late 1980's). We don't eliminate the weeds, since that's virtually impossible. So in addition to the Colony Club's efforts, lakefront residents need to pitch in and remove bladderwort from their own lakefronts whenever they see it. It is a community and individual effort; there are no "magic bullets".