MLIF Board President, Dean Williams, welcomed guests and introduced the Officers and Board Members. He then introduced Zach Davis from Pond and Lake Connection (PLC) who gave a recap of the 2022 lake management and the plans for 2023.
2022 RECAP:
PLC treated the lake for excessive algae every two weeks to keep the lake usable.
The native plant Coontail continues to be a nuisance and PLC treats it with an effort to balance its prevalence with the need for native aquatic plants.
Phragmites was treated in the summer and fall and Zach is seeing very few new sprouts. He will keep checking throughout the summer.
2023 Plans:
With the help of a CT DEEP Grant, PLC was able to treat the non-native invasive aquatic plant Curley Leaf Pondweed with a systemic herbicide with the hopes of eradicating the weed. Zach thinks the treatment was very effective. He will do a survey next spring to determine if any of the plant remains.
Algae treatments every two weeks will continue.
Working on a balanced approach regarding plants and algae, and the need to keep the lake usable for recreation.
Question and Answer period with the audience:
Question: Can we compost algae and aquatic?
Response: These are compostable.
Question: When can we use treated water for irrigation?
Response: After 24 hours although, technically, one could use it for irrigation right away.
Question: What are other options for managing out lake?
Response: Phosphorus mitigation systems (Phoslock) which would bind the phosphorus making it unusable by the aquatic plants. Also aeration systems.
Question: What aquatic plants would be good for the lake?
Response: Spatterdock, yellow lily – (although overgrowth would need to be contained), and shoreline plants such as cattails, arrowhead, pickerelweed and blue flag.
Zach finished his report and left the meeting and our Annual Business Meeting followed.
BUINESS MEETING
Special Projects:
– The MLIF Grant Writing Team applied and received a Richardson Fund 2022 grant to remove items on the bottom of the lake near the Richardson Park cliffs. Three bids were solicited and the contract was awarded. The work has begun.
– In 2022 the Team applied for and received a Thrift Shop grant to fund the removal of Phragmites. This work has been done.
– In 2023 the team applied for a grant from the Thrift Shop and received a partial grant for the Hydrologic and Hydraulic analyses related to the planning of the spillway/dam project.
– In 2022 the Team applied for and received a CT DEEP grant (with 25% funding from MLIF) to reduce/eradicate the invasive aquatic plant Curley Leaf Pondweed from the lake. This work has taken place.
– Educating newcomers to lake issues, to the work of MLIF, and lake-safe practices when living in a watershed.
– Spillway and Dam Project – The State dam inspection requires that the dam be raised by 3 inches of dirt on top to handle the 100-year flood or 4-5 inches more for a 500-year flood. MLIF is investigating how to move forward.
FINANCIALS:
Year-end 2022 financials were reviewed, as well as the 2023 annual budget.
ELECTION of OFFICERS and DIRECTORS:
Officers:
President Dean Williams
Vice President Barbara Hartman
Secretary Kitty Fischer
Treasurer Rosemary Hawkins Sposito
Directors:
Barbra Cmiel
Margie Collora
Ellen Conlan
Mimi Dalbey
Nancy Jacobowitz
Amy Roy
Liz Ryan
