2026 Annual Newsletter + Report
President’s Letter
Pat Kennelly, SBA President
Although summertime is the most outwardly busy time for the SBA, behind the scenes activities occur all year long. This past winter two major hurdles were passed on the restoration and dredging project. The first was the completion of a geological survey in Bullard Woods that shows that the site is an appropriate repository for the silt that will be dredged from the Bowl. The second was the completion of an archeological survey commissioned by the Stockbridge Munsee Tribe. No pre-contact era Native American artifacts were recovered during the excavations, clearing the way for Bullard Woods to be used in the dredging project.
The engineering and permitting for the project being done by GZA continues under the direction of Town Administrator Michael Canales. The goal is to begin dredging during 2028.
In the meantime, the SBA is pursuing a permit to implement Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) which is a mechanical means of removing invasive Eurasian Milfoil from the Bowl. An aquatic vegetative study will be conducted in June by GEI, our permitting contractor on this project. The survey will determine the density and distribution of milfoil in the Bowl that will enable us to target it for removal.
While GEI is doing the survey, they will also be looking for invasive water chestnuts and removing any plants that they encounter. This continues the successful program that has been conducted by the Town and the SBA since 2022. Although we had hoped to implement DASH this season, it is likely that the permitting won’t be completed until early 2027.
During the late spring, the SBA sent out an electronic survey to our members to find out your biggest concerns. Not surprisingly, the restoration/dredging project and the health of the lake were at the top of the list. You also requested more frequent communications and to that end, the SBA is creating an electronic newsletter to keep you up to date on the latest events and issues. And once again the SBA has been awarded a Community Preservation Act grant to continue the removal of invasive species from Bullard Woods. We thank the Community Preservation Committee for recommending it and the Town for voting for it!
And lastly, we are delighted to be sponsoring the Stockbridge Town Library kayak lending program! A few years back, the SBA donated the kayak racks found at the Town Beach. This year we have donated a rack dedicated to the Library Kayak Lending Program as well as two additional kayaks to add to the fleet.
“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”— Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows.
— Pat Kennelley, SBA President
