Like many Vermont waterbodies, Dewey's Mills Pond has a milfoil problem.
The invasive plant Eurasian watermilfoil is widespread in the state and is nearly impossible to eradicate. At Dewey's Mills Pond, in Quechee village, the town of Hartford, state of Vermont and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have been working together for a dozen years to stay on top of the invasive water weed.
A big part of that effort is an annual effort to gather volunteers to hand-pull the plant out of the water. This year, the annual Volunteer Day is Sunday, August 23, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.
"The Town of Hartford was awarded an Aquatic Nuisance Species grant from Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation," an announcement from the town parks and recreation department stated. "In cooperation with the U.S. Corp of Engineers control efforts to keep the Eurasian watermilfoil are being made through hand pulling and suction harvesting the plant."
Volunteers are asked to bring a canoe of kayak if they have one. There will also be boats available onsite. Instruction on how to hand-pull milfoil will be provided.
"Please come to the pond, bring a friend or two or 12, pull some milfoil, and see where and hear why we need to pull the milfoil weed," the announcement stated.
