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Winchester Conservation Commission members and Friends of Wedge Pond volunteers recently worked together to remove a large pile of debris and garbage that had been clogging the entry where Horn Pond Brook flows into Wedge Pond.
The team removed hundreds of pounds of debris using ropes, grappling hooks and muscle power, pulling the materials onto shore for disposal in a container provided by Winchester Department of Public Works. The blockage had been impeding water flow, fish migration and causing heavy silt buildup at the entry point.
“This unsightly and unhealthy material impedes water flow, fish migration and generally leads to the entry being heavily silted up,” wrote Select Board member Paras Bhayani in an email.
The work represents the latest phase in ongoing restoration efforts at Wedge Pond that have gained significant momentum through volunteer participation and substantial financial backing.
Friends of Wedge Pond donated $9,000 to Winchester in February specifically to fund treatments addressing lake weeds and excessive lily pads, along with additional water quality testing recommended by the town’s pond management vendor.
State legislators secured even more substantial support in July when they announced $150,000 in the fiscal year 2026 budget for environmental remediation and improvements at Wedge Pond. State Rep. Michael Day filed the amendment with support from Rep. Michelle Ciccolo in the House and Sen. Jason Lewis in the Senate.
Field assessments conducted by Water & Wetland LLC in May documented both challenges and progress at the pond. The survey identified seven aquatic plant species, including curly-leaf pondweed, an invasive species found scattered throughout the pond in varying densities. Water quality measurements showed healthy dissolved oxygen levels at 8.70 mg/L and good water clarity with 6 feet 1 inch visibility.
The Conservation Commission has established a three-year objective to restore habitat at Wedge Pond, including plans to reopen the Borggaard Beach area to the public.
Matt Gordon, president of Friends of Wedge Pond, said the group’s goals include renovating the playground area at the beach and improving water quality through algae and lake weed control.
Previous volunteer efforts have focused on removing invasive plants and trash at multiple locations including Borggaard Beach, the Lake Street Bridge and Eliot Park areas. A May cleanup event brought together members from Friends of Wedge Pond, Winchester Tennis Association, Select Board, Sustainable Winchester, Winchester Cultural District, Boy Scout Troop 507 and many other residents, along with Winchester High School students working on biology class projects.
The ongoing volunteer work has produced noticeable improvements in the vista across the pond and general water health, according to organizers. Invasive species like buckthorn, which can grow up to 20 feet in dense thickets and block native plants, have been targeted for removal along Palmer Street and other pond areas.
Residents interested in joining future volunteer efforts can contact Friends of Wedge Pond president Matt Gordon at matthewjgordon@yahoo.com.
