By Meredith McCulloch
The Selectmen appointed six at-large members to the ad hoc Fawn Lake Committee at their March16 meeting. The original intent was to appoint four at-large members, but due to the number of well-qualified members who applied, they agreed to expand that number to six. Standing members are a representative each from the Selectmen, the Conservation Commission, and the Historic Preservation Commission. The appointees are Michael Barbehenn, Elizabeth Cowles, Linda Oustinow, Berman Schorr, Bill Simons, and John Zupkus. They will serve until June 30, 2016. The Selectmen urged those not appointed to stay involved, perhaps through the Friends of Fawn Lake organization.
Over the years, water lilies, algae and other vegetation has threatened to overrun the lake and turn it into a meadow. In 1998 funds were appropriated to do hydroraking and herbicide application in an attempt to keep the vegetation at bay. The problem has arisen again, and the town asked for an engineering study.
The committee’s task is to analyze that study by CEI Engineers, a consulting firm, and to make recommendations for future action. Fawn Lake, located off Springs Road, is a 12-acre shallow, man-made pond. It is surrounded by trails and is used for passive recreation such as hiking, fishing and ice-skating. It was built as part of Bedford Springs, a health resort developed in 1880, which claimed health benefits from the spring water. (For more history see https://www.bedfordma.gov/conservation-commission/pages/fawn-lake-brochure)
The committee is being formed upon the recommendation of Conservation Administrator Elizabeth Bagdonas and Public Works Engineer Adrienne St. John whose departments oversee the lake. They felt input from the community is needed for a long-range plan.
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