Good news came out at the Conservation Commission meeting last week. The Bare Hill Pond Watershed Management Committee reported that levels of both phosphorous and invasive plants has decreased significantly in the past few years.

Committee Chairman Bruce Leicher called the results "pretty remarkable." Leicher is right. Invasive species like the water chestnut can choke out native flora and fauna, seriously upsetting the biodiversity of an ecosystem. Bare Hill Pond is a key natural feature of Harvard and the town and its residents have clearly taken their role seriously as stewards of the pond.

High phosphorous levels can lead to out-of-control plant growth. By yearly drawdowns, which flush out contaminated water and replace it with cleaner water, the town has been able to keep phosphorous levels in check.

And, as the report points out, thanks to the hard work of volunteer Rick Dickson, who contributes countless hours pulling water chestnuts from the pond, by hand or with a mechanical harvester, the amount of water chestnuts in the pond has fallen from 167 loads in 2007 to just four in 2010.

Dickson, the Conservation Commission, and the Bare Hill Pond Watershed Management Committee are all to be commended for their excellent work. Keeping the pond clean and pristine serves not only those who use the pond recreationally, but those plants and animals who call it home.