FUNDRAISING
The next fundraising letter will be going out June 15.
GRANTS
We applied for a CT Federation of Lakes grant and did not receive one. At the annual meeting of the CT Federation of Lakes lake associations were urged to apply for State grants to treat invasive weeds.
LAKE MANAGEMENT
Pond and Lake Connection (PLC) said the first treatment of algaecide and herbicide will be done soon. This year we have contracted for 5-6 herbicide treatments over the summer. Algae treatments will be done as needed.
Of note, our President regularly talks with members of other lake associations in Ridgefield about lake management.
DAM IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
There was an onsite visit at the dam in early April attended by Dave Bautista of Haley Ward, Jessica Wilmot, Dean Williams and Barb Hartman. The area of the new dam was discussed. Six large trees and seven smaller ones were identified in the clear-cut area that needed to be removed before 4/5/24 (due to the habitat of an endangered bat.) We got an estimate of $8,000 for the work. The Board approved the amount via email. The job was completed before 4/5.
Dave Bautista also discussed the need for a drain within the new dam to collect water that seeps through the earthen dam. Down-to-Earth Consulting will design the drain for $1,450. A contract was signed for that amount.
We received a bill dated 4/18/24 for $9,290 from Haley Ward for Final Design of the dam (60% complete) and Permits (25% compete.) The Final Design is scheduled to be 100% complete by 5/31/24. At that point, permits will be applied for from CT DEEP and the Army Corps of Engineers. There will also be a Zoom presentation to the Ridgefield Inland Wetlands Board.
A Board member inquired as to what type of plants will be on the new dam, requesting native plants. It was pointed out that whatever is planted on the dam must be kept mowed, but will ask Dave Bautista if natives are an option.
Board members were requested to attend the Town’s Annual Town Meeting on 5/6/24, 7:30 pm at East Ridge Middle School where a portion of the town capital budget will be voted on. The proposed FY2025 Town budget includes both capital and operating funds for MLIF. It is important for MLIF to show support. The full Budget referendum is scheduled for 5/14/24.
ANNUAL MEETING – State-of-the-Lake
The MLIF Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, 6/6/24, 7 pm on the deck of Kitty Fischer and Harvey Fraser, 5 First Lane (the date and place of this meeting have been revised since this printing to Thursday 6/20, 7:00 p.m. at the home of Mimi Dalbey, 23 Christopher Road.) The Nominating Committee report was submitted. Most of the current officers and directors have agreed to return. Water Squire had agreed to be nominated to join the Board. The speaker will be Zach Davis from PLC. Dean is also trying to get Jeff Stahl (PLC President) to come.
MISCELLANEOUS
Goose Egg Addling: Three goose nests were addled this year, two on Rock Island and one at the cliffs. In spite of that, there is one family of geese with goslings.
Board Meetings: Board meetings are generally in person, except when weather necessitates an online meeting.
UConn and DEEP: UConn and DEEP are gathering a large data base of Connecticut lake conditions. They are looking for someone to go out on the lake weekly to measure clarity with a Sechi disc, the depth with the disc, water temperature and air temperature. DEEP is researching the idea of introducing native plants into lakes to compete with invasive plants.
