Pepperell Invasive Plant Committee Reports Success in First Phragmites Treatment Round

Invasive and Native Plant Advisory Committee · Meeting of July 9, 2026

Pepperell's Invasive and Native Plant Advisory Committee reports strong early results from its Wild and Scenic River grant phragmites removal project. At the July 9 meeting, a member identified as Deb said the town DPW's GIS coordinator flew a drone over the Nashua River treatment site and found the area "just looks dead, dead, dead," suggesting the first chemical application was largely successful; the committee will compare drone data to prior-year measurements and solicit a bid from contractor Ruby Environmental for a second treatment round. The committee also agreed to participate in two events organized by Pepperell Plus, a local civic group: a January skills showcase at the Fitz Memorial Center and a fall town-wide cleanup day to be coordinated with invasive removal work at the Rotary site.

A long-stalled effort to access a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service parcel at the former Millie's Dam site on the Nashua River may be moving forward after the federal agency, having declined committee requests for three years, reached out seeking volunteer help and is now being asked to host a formal site meeting. The committee set its next meeting for July 23 to focus on an overdue refresh of its town website page, last updated in the committee's first year of existence.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,071 words

Source: the Invasive and Native Plant Advisory Committee meeting of July 9, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.