COMMITTEE REPORTS
Fundraising
With matching funds, our yearly fundraising total is expected to be a little over last year’s. The third fundraising letter went out at the end of November and was delivered by the postal service in a timely manner.
Just a reminder to use Amazon SMILE for MLIF when purchasing on Amazon.
A new fundraising database/program will be initiated.
Grants
The MLIF request for the FY2023 Town of Ridgefield Community Grant was submitted in December.
The Grants Team met in December, and will meet several times in January-February to plan and prepare for three upcoming grant submissions.
A grant application will be submitted to the Ridgefield Thrift Shop for Phragmites removal.
CT DEEP Control of Aquatic Invasive Species Grant – This grant application is due February 1. We will apply for funding to treat the lake with a systemic herbicidal product that gets into the roots of Curly-Leaf Pondweed (CLP) to be applied in mid-March 2022. This product is more expensive and much more effective than the contact herbicide we previously used. Pond and Lake Connection (PLC) will do mapping of the CLP before and after treatment. The grant requires the grantee to fund at least 25% of the total amount requested.
Anne S. Richardson Grant – This grant application must be submitted by 2/28. MLIF plans to apply again for a Richardson Grant.
LAKE MANAGEMENT
The PLC contract proposal for 2022 was signed and submitted.
The Phragmites treatment plan that was approved by the Board last fall will begin in April. PLC already has DEEP approval to use the herbicide. If we stop the phragmites growth in the spring, the plants will be very small and won’t add to the lake’s biomass. MLIF needs to get the approval of the seven property owners with the phragmites to go on their shoreline in order to use the herbicide. We have an approval form to be used for this project. The goal is to obtain these agreements by the end of February.
MISCELLANEOUS
Concern has continued to be expressed about actions of some lakeside property owners who may not understand (or choose not to follow) the Inland/Wetlands regulations and best management practices to keep the lake healthy. Such things as building around the lake without permits, leaves being deposited in the lake or in its contributing streams, clearing of plants near the shoreline, mulching right to shoreline, etc. are against best management practices. Homeowners should direct their questions to Dean.
Next Meeting: Our next meeting will be Thursday, February 3, 2022 at 7:30 via conference call or Zoom.
