Aquatic weed treatment Oct. 24 at Cranston’s Meshanticut Pond, local leaders meet

Photo: Meshanticut Lake, RIDEM

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is advising the public that Meshanticut Pond in Meshanticut State Park, Cranston and Silver Spring Lake, North Kingstown will receive treatments to control infestations of invasive aquatic plants, including sacred lotus, variable water milfoil, and fanwort on Oct. 24.

The aquatic weed control treatments are specifically targeted for the invasive nuisance plants and does not harm fish or other aquatic species. These waterbodies are popular with anglers and boaters and are stocked with trout several times during trout season.

Anglers and boaters are advised to avoid using these waterbodies on Oct. 24 when the treatments will be applied. Signs will be posted with information about temporary water use restrictions. During treatment, users should avoid impeding the applicator staff. Neighbors and other users of the pond should not allow domestic pets to drink from the water for at least three days.

Cranston Meeting

A community meeting was held the day before mitigation was to take place, at the Cranston Public Library on Oct. 23, with representatives of the RI Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM), Sen. Hanna Gallo and Rep. Barbara Fenton-Fung. Fenton-Fung to “tackle the significant problems at Meshanticut Lake”. Stay tuned, here, for an update from that meeting. We have asked Rep. Fenton-Fung to provide us with that.

In 2021, Fenton-Fung noted several issues with the pond beyond the lotus blooms and invasive vegetation, including dead, unhealthy and fallen trees and branches, and concern over infrastructure on the walking loop such as cracked pavement and damaged steps and walkways, and its difficult accessibility for those with physical issues such as wheelchairs.

Fenton-Fung hoped at that time that the park would be a priority for work, but RI DEM noted the limitations due to staffing and funds, and that local elected leaders say they’ve been told by the state about limited resources and staffing. At that time, RI DEM said they were “looking forward to working with Gov. McKee to push for more resources in the next session of the legislature”.

The park has long been intended for transference to the city for ownership, but as Mayor Ken Hopkins has noted, before that happens, addressing the park’s condition would need to come from the state, with significant investments made in its repair. In 2021 he said, “There’s been back-and-forth bantering about us taking it back … I’d love to do it, but not under the conditions right now,” the mayor said.

Michael Healey, head of RI DEM said the state estimated $50M back in 2021 would be needed to repair the state’s parks and areas. Based on the work needed at Meshanticut Pond, repairing roads, erosion control, tree work, repairing and installing benches – RI DEM estimated the needed investment at the park would total between $2 million and $2.5 million.

While ADA accessibility has been a priority of Fenton-Fung, the basic infrastructure and dealing with the invasive plants are even a greater priority. Chris Paplauskas, the city councilor from the area, also noted that repairs need to be made prior to the city taking over its ownership, recognizing the financial drain, particularly to remove invasive plants permanently, that could be brought on the city, if this were not done.

The meeting last night was held simultaneously with the Cranston City Council meeting. No agenda was listed for that meeting. Staff from DEM’s Director’s Office, Office of Water Resources, and Division of Parks and Recreation were set to be in attendance. 

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On Oct. 2, DEM and students from the University of Rhode Island removed 96 bags of the three-acre sacred lotus population at Meshanticut Pond as part of a collaborative research project studying the most effective methods to treat and manage the invasive aquatic plant. Sacred lotus is a highly aggressive, invasive species that threatens a healthy balance of native plants and impedes fishing and boating opportunities.

The plant was illegally transplanted into the pond in 2014 and has grown considerably each year, covering approximately one-quarter of the 12-acre pond in ten years. In 2019, DEM held several community harvesting events to remove the plant from the pond. Despite these efforts and DEM treating the plant with permitted herbicides in 2020 and 2021 to manage its growth, the stubborn and aggressive plant has continued to persist and spread over the pond.

The lotus seeds were put into the water, innocently, by a local resident, in memory of a woman who had passed away, seeing the lotus as representative of spiritual significance.

Aquatic weed infestation is a nuisance to anglers, boaters, and swimmers and can affect proper management of freshwater ponds for wildlife. To help control the spread of invasive species, the use of external felt-soled or any natural or synthetic porous material capable of absorbing water in any freshwaters in Rhode Island is strictly prohibited. This includes any waters shared with adjacent states in which Rhode Island fishing regulations apply. 

The transport of any plant or plant part into or out of any Rhode Island waterbody on boats, vessels, other water conveyances, vehicles, trailers, fishing supplies, or any other equipment is also prohibited. It is recommended that all boaters thoroughly clean their vessels and equipment of attached weeds before and after using the freshwaters of the state. For more information on preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species, click here.