Weed-fighting herbicide to be applied in Northeast Pond today

An airboat throws up a lot of spray as it leaves Everetts Cove Marina at high speed toward an area of Northeast Pond today where it applied herbicide to fight the European Naiad.(Rochester Voice photo)

LEBANON - A 41-acre portion of Northeast Pond will be treated today with herbicide to control the growth of European naiad, an aggressive nuisance plant, Maine DEP announced on Tuesday.
The area in which the herbicide will be used stretches along the east side of Northeast Pond toward the Salmon Falls River.
John McPhedran of Maine DEP said the area, which is all in Lebanon, has the "highest density Naiad growth that we have seen."
The herbicide, with a brand name of Reward®, has the active ingredient diquat dibromide, which will be applied "via subsurface injection through perforated hose from a surface watercraft into a 41-acre area of Northeast Pond," which comprises 685 acres all together.
The certified applicator is SOLitude Lake Management of Shrewsbury, Mass.
The following water use restrictions on the Reward® label apply to the treatment area:
- drinking water restriction for 3 days post application
- livestock/domestic animal consumption restriction for 1 day post application
- irrigation to turf and landscape ornamentals restriction for 3 days post application
- irrigation to food crops and production ornamentals restriction for 5 days post application

McPhedran said the herbicide has no restrictions on swimming, but he would advise the public not to swim today. Boating should be OK, but he would again simply advise against any possible contact with the treatment or treatment area.
"There is no restriction on swimming on the day of treatment," he stressed. "But we advise that as an added safety measure, just to eliminate any potential for accident with the (application) boat."
McPhedran said after the chemical treatment, Maine DES will monitor the herbicide levels in the area until it can no longer be detected.
Meanwhile, divers from New England Milfoil, a plant removal company out of Brownfield, Maine, will begin manually pulling European Naiad plants on Monday.