Zebra mussels not showing their stripes in Wellesley

I guess this is a kinda non-news story. Having heard and read about the latest zebra mussel scare out in the Berkshires, I was wondering whether this invasive species has dared to take a dip in any of Wellesley’s watering holes or water ways. Janet Bowser, who heads up the Natural Resources Commission in town, says “Luckily, we’ve had no sign of the dreaded zebra mussel in Wellesley. Because Wellesley’s ponds are relatively small (Morses Pond is our largest at 105 acres), we don’t get many out-of-town boaters who could bring this nasty critter to Wellesley. Also, the NRC’s regulations prohibit motor boats on any ponds, so this cuts down on possible sources that could bring the mussel here.” The DPW’s regular weed harvesting of the town’s pond’s would also likely spot any of these miscreants (not that they’re entirely bad, having been credited with cleaning up some lakes and helping the local fish populations).

Bowser says that while Wellesley has been spared the zebra mussel it does have its share of invasive plant species, something the NRC has attempted to lessen through public education. “The aquatic invasive vegetation in our ponds is thriving due to residents heavy use of lawn fertilizers,” she says. The NRC is readying a Watershed and Water Quality Protection website, which it hopes to have up this fall.