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.

2026 Annual Agenda

  • Restoration/Dredging

  • Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting

  • Water Chestnut Eradication Program

  • Bullard Woods

  • Boat Ramp/Zebra Mussels

  • Library Kayak Lending Program

Restoration & Dredging | Completed

  • Isolated wetlands vegetation permitting

  • Archeological assessment

  • Test pit investigation

Restoration & Dredging | Next Phase

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 for
Eurasian Watermilfoil

  • Retained GEI for permitting and data collection

  • Determine permitting options based on plant density and distribution

  • Initial vegetative study completed in June

Pictured: Eurasian watermilfoil found during survey,

DASH | Survey Results

DASH | Next Steps

  • 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.

Eradication Program | Survey Results

Bullard Woods

  • Awarded Community Preservation Act grant of $5000 to pull invasive plants

  • Ongoing trail maintenance

  • Installation of new dock

  • Zebra mussel monitoring station

  • Division of Wildlife and Recreation upgrades

  • Partnering with town of Stockbridge on notifications

Boat Ramp

Before Restoration

After Restoration

Library Kayak Lending Program

  • SBA purchase of kayak rack for program

  • SBA purchase of 2 additional kayaks for program