Old Lyme — The treatment of herbicides on Rogers Lake could take place next year, or possibly in select areas later this summer.

First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder updated the selectmen Monday that the timeline for the use of an herbicide to manage weeds on the 260-acre lake between Lyme and Old Lyme depends on the approval process.

If approval is reached this summer, there could be targeted use of the herbicide in some sections of the lake later this summer, for example in the boat launch area, she said.

If not, the plan would be to prepare for next spring.

About six weeks ago, the consulting firm for the project started the process for preparing the application to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

The use of herbicides on a lake requires DEEP approval, Reemsnyder said.

Consultants have received comments from the Natural Diversity Database, a step required before they submit an application for a permit to the DEEP, she said on Tuesday.

Once the application is submitted to the DEEP, both Old Lyme's Inland Wetlands Commission and Lyme's Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commission will receive copies, Reemsnyder said.

Consultants from New England Environmental Inc. of Amherst, Mass., had presented at a public information meeting in April the results of a study on the lake's weeds.

The study recommends using the herbicide Flumioxazin on 43 acres of the lake to control variable-leaf milfoil and fanwort.

k.drelich@theday.com

Twitter: @KimberlyDrelich