Before the Board Meeting:
Zach Davis from Pond and Lake Connection (PLC) spoke to the Board by phone about 2023 results and plans for 2024. PLC’s goal is prevention and early detection of weeds and algae in the lake. We need to have some plants to take up nutrients and keep the algae down. In 2017, algae was a big problem in the lake. The planktonic algae has decreased over the years. Curly-leaf Pondweed became a problem. In early 2023, PLC did a treatment with Galleon, a systemic herbicide which will hopefully eradicate the Curly-leaf Pondweed forever. It worked well, but Coontail, a native plant, grew rapidly in its place and made much of the lake unusable in 2023. Algae treatments were every two weeks in 2023 to very good effect.
For 2024, PLC recommends treating the Coontail with Diquat (a contact herbicide) along the entire shoreline starting in late April or beginning of May, with additional treatments every month in mid-June, July, and August. Water restrictions for Diquat are one day for swimming and five days for irrigation. Algae treatments would remain every 2 weeks. The 2 different treatments can be done on the same day.
Zach answered questions:
1) Do herbicides build up over time? – Answer: No.
2) Can Coontail be harvested? – Answer: Yes, but it is expensive and PLC does not do this. It can be used for
compost, but should be broken up.
3) Would a draw down kill Coontail? – Answer: Seeds need to be frozen for 7-10 days to kill them. It was noted, we have not done drawdowns in a number of years. There are no longer siphon pipes in the lake due to insurance issues. Also, the water coming into the lake to refill it has higher nutrient loads than the lake; this is not good.
4) What would be done if there was still some Curly-leaf Pondweed in Spring 2024? – Answer: Treat with Diquat.
Dean thanked Zach for joining the Board by phone, and said we are looking forward to getting the 2023 report and the 2024 proposal from PLC.
Regular Board Meeting Began:
FUNDRAISING
The final fundraising letter and newsletter are in the mail. Contributions can now be made by check, Paypal, or Venmo. QR code links for Paypal and Venmo are on the fundraising letter.
DAM IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
Status update – The wetlands have been flagged and a report is due soon. Four holes were bored on October 23 to find bedrock and assess soil quality; that report is forthcoming. Surveying of the dam and 3 properties (17 Craigmoor S, 37 Craigmoor S and 303 Mamanasco Rd.) where the elevation above sea level is low will be done on November 6. After all this information is compiled, the engineering firm LEI will draw up plans for construction and start the permitting process with CT and the Federal government. It is doubtful that this can be done before December 1, 2023.
A website has been created to use for fundraising for the dam: Protect our dam.com. Board members are asked to look at the website and make suggestions. It is not on-line yet.
