July 2026 cleanup nearing completion

Solitude Lake Solutions completed removal of algal mats and decaying lily pad leaves and stems in Fresh Pond today. Already, things look much better in many parts of the pond. We are watching regrowth and will be measuring and reporting any improvements in clarity.

As usual, we are regularly sampling and testing, but the cleanup this year will get special attention with before, during and after lab comparisons of water quality in the public access area and open areas of the pond center. We will keep you posted on any results.

The sediments and algal mats are heavily “stirred up” during the cleanup and harvest process, so we recommend leaving some time for settling and for regrowth to kick in. One area, distant from public access, was not cleaned up. Please avoid mats in the cove on the south side of the pond where the old icehouse ramp used to be. Keep pets and children away from this area.

Spotted this week: lots of fish, nesting egrets, and giant turtles. In the weeks to come we hope you will visit as well!