Overview:
Swollen bladderwort, an invasive aquatic plant, has closed Pottapaug and O'Loughlin ponds to recreational boating and fishing. The plant, which is not native to Massachusetts, spreads through fragmentation and can form dense mats on the surface of water, potentially reducing biodiversity and water quality. The state Department of Conservation and Recreation has restricted boat access to prevent the plant from spreading and has removed over 1,500 gallons of plant material since 2023. Officials are considering whether to restore recreational boat fishing access, but some residents and lawmakers have raised concerns about prolonged closures leading to permanent loss of access.
BELCHERTOWN – State environmental officials met with anglers, residents and local lawmakers as debate continued over swollen bladderwort, an invasive aquatic plant that has closed Pottapaug and O’Loughlin ponds to recreational boating and fishing.
Swollen bladderwort was first identified at Pottapaug Pond in 2023. Since then, boat access at both ponds has been restricted while removal efforts continue. Officials have cited the need to prevent the plant from spreading to nearby water bodies, including the Quabbin Reservoir.
According to the state Department of Conservation and Recreation [DCR], swollen bladderwort is a rootless, carnivorous, bushy submerged plant that can form dense mats on the surface of water. Bladderwort is a competitive plant that has the potential to displace native species, reduce biodiversity, hamper recreational uses, reduce real estate value, diminish aesthetic values, and decrease water quality.
A public meeting was held on Feb. 2 by the DCR to outline current management efforts, review recommendations from a private consultant, and gather public input before deciding whether to restore recreational boat fishing access.
“Pottapaug Pond and O’Loughlin pond need to be open on opening day for fishing – full stop.”
State Rep. Aaron Saunders
DCR Aquatic Biologist Shasten Sherwell presented an overview of the free-floating plant, noting that it is native to the southern United States but not to Massachusetts and spreads through fragmentation.
“A small fragment of the stem or branch can create a new plant,” she said.
She explained that management recommendations were developed by TRC, a consulting firm hired to study the plant’s spread. The firm advised restricting boat access to reduce fragmentation and that herbicides not be used.
More than 1,500 gallons of plant material have been removed since 2023, Sherwell said, adding that fewer visible flowers made detection more difficult in 2025.
An official from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority said the agency spent nearly $117,000 on removal efforts in 2024 and has budgeted $200,000 for 2027, along with additional funding for fragment barriers.
State Rep. Aaron Saunders, whose district includes Belchertown, said the ponds should reopen in time for fishing season.
“Pottapaug Pond and O’Loughlin pond need to be open on opening day for fishing – full stop,” Saunders said, adding that the MWRA has not been able to say that swollen bladderwort poses a threat to the drinking water supply.
Rep. Todd Smola warned that prolonged closures could lead to permanent loss of access.
“Two years turns into five years, turns into 10 years,” Smola said. “And pretty soon nobody is able to access these ponds, and eventually we’re talking about the big water body.”
State Sen. Jake Oliveira said that restrictions should be based on demonstrated impacts, rather than potential risk.
“I think it’s premature for us to begin the process of limiting access to these water bodies before we understand what the actual impact is going to be on the water quality,” Oliveira said.
During public comment, anglers and residents raised similar objections.
“Swollen bladderwort is not a threat to the Quabbin Reservoir,” said Clayton “Syd” Sydla, president of the Quabbin Fishermen’s Association, who argued the plant’s shallow-water growth limits its impact. He also called the current management strategy “financially reckless.”
Some residents proposed alternatives that would allow limited access while preventing spread.
“If you go on the pond, you basically dedicate your boat to the pond,” said Jim Marco, a member of the Quabbin Fishermen’s Association.
He suggested marking boats used on Pottapaug or O’Loughlin ponds and requiring decontamination before they could enter the main reservoir.
Others questioned why seasonal water drawdowns were not being considered. John Scannell, director of the DCR Division of Water Supply Protection, said regulatory constraints limit intentional drawdowns unless water levels are already low.
Scannell said written public comments will be accepted through Feb. 20 and that the agency hopes to have an answer on access in early March.