TREASURER’s REPORT
The proposed 2023 Operating Budget was presented and approved. Proposed income included secured and projected grant income, and individual donations. Projected expenses included administrative costs, lake management, and spillway project expenses. The Mamanasco Cliffs Clean-up Project will be funded by the 2022 Richardson Grant.
FUNDRAISING
All 2022 fundraising donations have been entered into the MLIF program, and acknowledgement letters for tax purposes have been sent.
GRANTS
Richardson Grant 2023
After discussion, the Board voted to write the Richardson Grant application to fund the Alternatives Assessment and the Preliminary Cost Opinion for the dam/spillway project.
CT DEEP
Our grant application was approved from CT DEEP for permanent treatment of Curley Leaf Pondweed in the lake with the hope of eradicating it forever. Our registration with the Secretary of the State’s office has been reactivated. We are now awaiting approval from the CT Attorney General’s office, then the DEEP can cut the check. Treatment of the Curley Leaf will be in the early Spring as the weed begins to grow.
The Thrift Shop
The Thrift Shop grant application was submitted at the end of January to conduct the Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analyses needed to move forward with the spillway project.
Richardson Grant 2022
As previously discussed, we received a Richardson Fund grant in 2022 to get large items/debris out of the lake in the area of the cliffs. Four companies have been contacted to obtain quotes for this work. One company did not respond and three submitted bids and details of what they would do. After discussion, the Board voted to contract with Lake Underwater Cleaning & Salvage. All items will either be taken by them to the dump or to recycle. They have liability insurance.
LAKE MANAGEMENT
The Board discussed the Pond & Lake Connection (PLC) contract proposal for 2023. The proposal includes the removal of Curly Leaf Pondweed, 75% of which is funded through the successful DEEP grant. The proposal also includes the follow-up spot treatment of Phragmites as previously planned. The Board voted and approved the 2023 PLC contract.
Treatment of the Curley Leaf Pondweed will be in the early Spring as the weed begins to grow.
MECHANICAL SPILLWAY UPDATE
Progress on the project was discussed, including the technical regulations needed to be met. In the Alternatives Assessment phase, Haley Ward (HW) will work with other project consultants to develop concept plans for up to three dam improvement alternatives that also consider wetland and watercourse impacts.
Preliminary Cost Opinion will prepare a conceptual opinion of construction cost for each alternative. HW notes that dam construction is typically very difficult to estimate due to lack of comparable projects. As the project progresses, we may need to retain a general contractor to prepare a more detailed construction cost estimate.
NEW BUSINESS
Dam Siphon Pipes
Dean Williams is having trees removed that are growing at the dam. The equipment used for that purpose could also remove the siphon pipes that are no longer in use. They do need to be removed but now is a good time to do it while the equipment is on site. Discussion ensued as to any possible effects on the dam. The Board was assured that the couple of inches of dirt on top of the pipes were for aesthetics, and removal of the pipes would not damage the dam. The Board voted and approved removal of the pipes.
Lake Conference
Barb Hartman participated in a lake conference via Zoom recently. She noted that in 2022 Candlewood Lake had zero aquatic plants in the lake. That is a major problem for Candlewood Lake. It could have been caused by their hefty drawdowns coupled with the thousands of voracious carp in their lake that have now grown to be 20 pounds. Although Candlewood is a much different lake than Mamanasco, the Board noted that their findings align with previous studies of what could happen if carp were put into our lake.
