TURNER — Selectmen heard from Pleasant Pond Conservancy members Stephanie Pratt and Rick Schrebber about their desire to pursue a rinse station at the town boat launch to allow boaters to wash away possible invasive species, like milfoil, before their boat enters the pond.
The pond has seen a small increase in boating activity, some of which is from nonresidents, Pratt said.
Milfoil is not found in the pond, according to Pratt. It is an effort to be proactive about helping keep it out of the pond, though the rinse system’s use would be on an honor system because there would be no one at the boat launch to make sure boaters are using it. Crushed stone would be the best way to capture the exotic invasive species around the rinse station, Pratt said.
The most practical rinse system would be a booster pump station, Schrebber said. The pump would also require a structure. There is a fire hydrant and telephone pole in the area where it could draw water and get power. He is unsure how much it all would cost but the conservancy would need permission from the town to do the project before it could start fundraising.
The group is considering seeking grant funding for the project but since the town owns the boat launch there could be a shared expense, Pratt said.
Select Board member Angelo Terreri suggested that the organization put a “game plan” together and then come back to selectmen so they have more information when they are considering the idea, he said.
Select Board Chair Kurt Youland said he would like to know where it could be built, how it will operate and other such information.
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