The President’s Report — 2026
Healthy Water, Healthy Woods: Project Updates

Our Vision & Goals

The Stockbridge Bowl Association’s future vision is focused on restoring, protecting and preserving the ecological integrity and natural beauty of the Stockbridge Bowl and Bullard Woods while enhancing the recreational value for our community

Restore the Bowl to an ecologically balanced state.

Protect the Bowl and Bullard Woods against invasion.

Preserve the native flora & fauna of the Bowl & Bullard Woods.

Stockbridge Bowl

The Stockbridge Bowl (Lake Mahkeenac) is owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a public "Great Pond“.

Oversight is handled by the Town of Stockbridge (Selectboard and Town Administrator), advised by the Stockbridge Bowl Stewardship Commission and the  Conservation Commission. 

The Stockbridge Bowl Association (SBA) works in close partnership with the Town to carry out its core mission of restoring, protecting and preserving the Stockbridge Bowl 

Restoration & Dredging Project

Project Manager: Michael Canales, Town Administrator

  • Completed Milestones this Year – Bullard Woods

    • Isolated wetlands vegetation permitting

    • Geological survey in Bullard Woods to permit silt repository from planned dredging

    • Archeological survey did not find pre-contact era Native American artifacts that would have precluded using the Bullard Woods site

Restoration & Dredging | Next Phase

Project Manager: Michael Canales, Town Administrator
GZA Engineering

Environmental Review

  • Massachusetts Environmental Protection Act

  • Massachusetts Endangered Species Act

  • Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Act

State & Local Permitting

  • Notice of intent

  • Chapter 91 permit application

  • Water quality certification application

  • Stormwater pollution prevention plan

Engineering Design

  • Sediment dewatering site design

  • 70% complete

These tasks represent the final planning and permitting efforts before the town can move to regulatory approvals and ultimately the implementation of the dredging project. Target start date is 2028.

Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) for
Eurasian Watermilfoil

SBA Project 2026-2027

  • A mechanical method for removing invasive Eurasion Milfoil from designated areas of the Bowl

  • SBA has retained GEI for data collection and permitting

  • Permitting options will be based on plant density and distribution

  • Initial vegetative study completed in June

Pictured: Eurasian watermilfoil found during survey,

DASH | Survey Results & Next Steps

SBA Project 2026-2027

  • Overlay harvesting map with vegetative study map

  • Determine short- and long-term strategy for permitting

  • Submit Notice of Intent to Conservation Commission

  • Target for implementation is summer 2027

Water Chestnut Eradication Program

  • 5th year of joint effort between SBA and town of Stockbridge

  • Number of plants removed:

    • 2022 – 1350

    • 2023 – 477

    • 2024 – 187

    • 2025 – 30

    • 2026 – 33

Pictured: Left, Water chestnut (in yellow circle) hiding amongst dense white water lily growth. Right, underside of a water chestnut plant with immature nutlets.

Water Chestnut Eradication Program | Survey Results

Bullard Woods Update

  • SBA once again awarded a Community Preservation Act grant of $5000 to pull invasive plants

  • Ongoing trail maintenance

  • Installation of new dock

Boat Ramp Update

  • Mass Division of Wildlife and Recreation upgrades performed a renovation in May, 2027

  • The SBA partnered with the Town of Stockbridge on notifications

  • The SBA continues to support the Town in their diligent operation of the Zebra mussel monitoring station at the boat ramp 

Before Restoration

After Restoration

Library Kayak Lending Program Sponsorship

  • The SBA previously had donated kayak racks for the Town beach

  • This year the SBA purchased a kayak rack and two additional kayaks dedicated for the Kayak Loan Program