EASTHAMPTON — Use of Nashawannuck Pond will be restricted until Saturday after its annual chemical treatment to control the growth of nuisance vegetation.

The city of Easthampton contracted Solitude Lake Management to treat the pond with herbicides over a two-hour period on Wednesday. Permits for the work were approved by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

“It’s a weed treatment just to haul it back a little bit to make the pond more aesthetically pleasing and make it so that when you’re fishing you don’t throw your line into a carpet,” said Paul Nowak, chair of the Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee.

Nowak said the herbicides do not treat toxic cyanobacteria blooms, but rather cut back invasive and unwelcome plants.

The pond reopens for boating, fishing and swimming on Thursday, but use of pond water for drinking, cooking, and irrigation are prohibited until Saturday.

Maddie Fabian can be reached at mfabian@gazettenet.com or on Twitter @MaddieFabian.]]>