HOPKINTON – The Hopkinton Conservation Commission has approved the limited use of herbicides to help control invasive plant growth in Lake Maspenock. A 2025 study identified five non-native plant species that threaten to disrupt the lake’s ecosystem by crowding out native vegetation.
According to the Hopkinton Independent, the Department of Public Works told officials it was time to use “all the tools in their toolbox,” including extended drawdowns, hand harvesting, and herbicide treatments as a last resort to protect the lake’s natural balance.
