Lake Management Commission Proposed for Pittsfield By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:29PM / Tuesday, January 27, 2026 | |
 An ordinance proposal from the mayor's office would create a commission focusing on the management of the city's lakes. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mayor Peter Marchetti has proposed a Lake Management Commission to handle issues with Pittsfield's waterbodies.
There are two sizable lakes in the city: Onota, which spans 617 acres, and Pontoosuc, which is more than 500 acres. Pontoosuc is shared with the town of Lanesborough, and both communities have residential and commercial properties around the lakes.
"The Pittsfield Lake Management Commission's mission is to support the preservation and protection of lakes and ponds [from] environmental harm on behalf of present and future generations of Pittsfield residents, while understanding the interests of property owners and the public," the proposed ordinance reads.
"Its goals are to enhance the water quality of Onota and Pontoosuc lakes, while maintaining the natural beauty of lake surroundings."
This includes a focus on items such as water quality, the management of invasive weed species, the fall drawdown of water, zebra mussel control, Cyanobacteria monitoring, and the effects of climate change. The goal is to maintain consistently high-quality water levels that the community can enjoy.
Pittsfield struggled with zebra mussel detections in 2024, as eDNA was detected in both Onota and Pontoosuc lakes. Tuesday's City Council agenda also includes an $18,000 grant from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation to hire boat ramp monitors over the summer, which helps mitigate the spread of invasive species.
Also on the volunteer commission's charge is a five-year lake management and financial budget plan for all Pittsfield waterbodies.
The commission will seek grants, or local/state funding for periodic evaluations of water quality and the overall ecological health of the lakes. It will also review issues that could potentially negatively impact the lakes, and make recommendations to the mayor.
Five commissioners will be appointed by the mayor, three members serving three-year terms, and two members serving two-year terms. The remaining two members will be tapped from the Conservation Commission and the Parks Commission.
The Lake Management Commission could weigh in on issues like the plantings at Pontoosuc Lake that sparked pushback last year.
The lake's south shoreline was the first to see new elements that are part of a larger project to improve the entire park, including an accessible boardwalk and new stairs. Some residents argued that shrubbery planted along the shoreline impeded access for fishing and swimming, but the Conservation Commission was concerned about maintaining erosion controls so that no more of the bank is lost.
In late 2025, conversation was centered on how to use alternative erosion controls from the shrubbery that was planted to balance stabilization and access.
The full proposal can be found on page 95 of the Pitsfield City Council Meeting Packet for Jan. 27.
A new ordinance for the School Building Needs Commission has also been brought forward. It proposes that the volunteer commission have 19 members: seven appointed by the mayor and City Council, five appointed by the school superintendent, the mayor, superintendent, and five other city officials.
The Pittsfield Public Schools are studying the feasibility of rebuilding and consolidating the outdated John C. Crosby Elementary and Silvio O. Conte Community School on the Crosby property.
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