Grafton Conservation Continues Fisherville Pond Herbicide Hearing, Cites Missing DEP Number

Conservation · Meeting of May 26, 2026

Grafton Conservation Commission continued four wetland cases to June 9 and issued one compliance certificate at its May 26 remote meeting. The most substantive discussion centered on a proposed herbicide and hand-harvesting program for Fisherville Pond, where consultant Joe Bertherman of GEI Consultants described roughly 60 acres of water chestnut, fanwort, and Eurasian water milfoil infestation; the hearing was held pending a DEP file number. During public comment, Bill Nelson of 88 George Hill Road warned that water chestnut seeds remain viable for "12 to 16 years," meaning effective control requires sustained annual treatment over more than a decade, while Linda Hutchins of 3 Spanish River Road raised concerns about odor and the safety of the herbicides for a nesting pair of bald eagles.

The commission also continued the 21 Meadowbrook Road single-family house proposal after staff flagged an expired wetland delineation and questions about whether a proposed 8-foot concrete box culvert is adequately sized given a 14-to-16-foot replacement culvert going in upstream on Merriam Road. A unanimous positive determination was issued for the Grafton and Upton Railroad's five-year vegetation management plan, and a certificate of compliance was issued for 61 Leland Street after a site review confirmed all conditions were met despite a minor pipe-size discrepancy.

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Source: the Conservation meeting of May 26, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.