Warners Pond Committee targets October consultant hire, June 11 stakeholder session

CARLISLE — May 7, 2026 — Warners Pond Management Committee sets June 11 stakeholder session and begins drafting consultant RFP. The committee, a subcommittee of Carlisle's Natural Resources Commission, reviewed a preliminary ecological assessment identifying high nutrient loads, low dissolved oxygen in deeper water, invasive water chestnut, and ongoing sediment loading from upstream Acton sources as the pond's four priority issues. A project timeline presented by member Bill projects a request for proposals completed by the end of June, a contract awarded no earlier than October, and no in-pond mitigation until summer 2027. The committee's current available balance is approximately $197,000, with members flagging an August deadline for additional Community Preservation Act applications and estimating consultant costs at roughly $50,000 to $60,000 per year over a three-year engagement. Members Carleen and Phil reported a stakeholder listening session is booked for June 11 at Fowler Library from 4 to 5:30 p.m., targeting identified groups including the Friends of Warners Pond, local scouts, the Recreation Commission, and the Wild and Scenic River Stewardship Council.