Lenox Select Board Votes to Continue Stockbridge Bowl Harvesting Despite State Permit Dispute

Select Board · Meeting of July 2, 2026

Lenox Select Board votes to continue Stockbridge Bowl harvesting and escalate a state permit dispute. The board voted unanimously Wednesday to keep its mechanical reed harvester operating on Stockbridge Bowl while Town Manager Michael Canales pushes a permit interpretation question up the chain of command at the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. The dispute turns on whether "one pass" in the town's harvesting permit means one cut per trip — the town's longtime practice, occurring roughly 10 to 12 times per season — or one cut per season, as a Natural Heritage staffer recently suggested.

Legal counsel confirmed no stop order has been issued. The board also agreed to place on the August agenda the formal adoption of the bowl's $55,000 lake management plan, completed by GZA around 2021-2022 and presented to the board twice since December 2022 without a vote. Seven residents — Dan Farrell, Jeannie Bernard, Chris Furiel, Gal Budane, Ingrid Rapp, Nancy Mills, and Jeremy Spatz — were appointed to the Cultural Council, and a one-day alcohol license was approved for Chesterwood on August 1.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,995 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of July 2, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.