Weeds Take Over Lake Beseck; Swim Season in Jeopardy

The weeds at Lake Beseck have gone from bad to worse.

An earlier than expected bloom of Potamogeton crispus — more commonly known as curly-leaf pondweed — has forced Middlefield's Parks and Recreation Department to consider keeping the lake's popular swim area closed this summer, officials said this week.

If that were to happen it's possible that swimmers wouldn't enter the swim area again until the summer of 2016 due to the prospect that September's planned drawdown of the lake to rebuild the Lake Beseck dam could extend through two summer seasons.

The Lake Beseck ad hoc committee met for the first time this week and is moving forward with hiring a limnologist to study the lake's water quality as well as an engineering firm to conduct a storm water study, according to selectman Ed Bailey, who is also a member of the committee.

"The lake is worse than ever," Bailey said.

As a result of the early and explosive growth of the weeds, park and rec officials have decided to withdraw their application with the town to apply an aquatic herbicide at the swim area in an effort to reduce the weeds.

The curly-leaf pondweed will die off around mid-June, officials said, but algae blooms that follow may still prevent the swim area from opening. The town typically opens the beach area on July 1 and charges residents a small fee.

The town is looking into cost-effective ways to reduce or remove the weeds, which could include volunteer efforts.

"It's not like picking out weeds in your garden. It's intense," Bailey said.

Bailey said the drawdown of the lake will have little or no effect on the weeds.