COMMITTEE REPORTS
Fundraising
The Fundraising letter will go out at the end of May or early June. Information about MLIF’s 50th Anniversary Celebration on August 7 will be included.
Grants
– The Ridgefield Thrift Shop grant application – We received $1,000 toward herbicide treatments and phosphorus mitigation at incoming streams.
– Anne S. Richardson Grant – Notification of application approval is expected by mid-late July.
– CT DEEP Control of Aquatic Invasive Species Grant – We heard in April that our grant was not funded. Pond and Lake Connection (PLC) suggested we apply again next year. They think the grant cycle will be earlier for 2022 applications. If submitted earlier and approved, it would be received in time for the mid-March Curly-Leaf Pondweed treatment. We need to find out how many points we received and in what areas we received less than the full point value in order to guide our next application.
LAKE MANAGEMENT
2021 Treatment Schedule
It was reported that as of the end of April the DEEP had not approved, nor even looked at, our application for lake treatments. This approval usually comes by March. Our State Representative, Aimee Berger-Giralvo, as well as our State Senator, Will Haskell, were contacted. They got instant action. PLC received a request to amend the application, which they did immediately, and the permit was received in a couple of days. The first treatment will be May 11. PLC has worked hard for us and had requested that the application for Lake Mamanasco be a priority when applications were submitted.
Zebra Mussels
As Zebra Mussels need calcium to grow, we are having PLC test our water for calcium and other minerals to see if our water quality could be problematic for these invasive mussels.
Boat Launch Sign
The signs were ordered and are ready to install. The signs note that donations are needed by MLIF.
Goose Egg Addling
Four nests were found and addled, two on rock island and two on the cliffs. Board members have spotted at least two pair of geese with 2-4 babies each. Board members were asked to keep an eye out for possible nest sites.
Earth Day Poster Contest
We have three winners and the designs are posted on our Facebook page. The Ridgefield Public Schools highlighted the contest, and the winning posters are on display at Sedona Art.
NEW BUSINESS
Annual Meeting
Annual Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 17, 7:00 p.m. on the deck at Kitty Fischer’s home. Nick McMahon of Pond and Lake will be our speaker. Rain location TBD.
MLIF 50th Anniversary Celebration
The celebration will be on August 7, 2021. Dean volunteered to host a BBQ. Board members suggested fun activities. A committee was formed consisting of Nancy Jacobowitz, Margie Collora, Barb Hartman, Dean and Kitty.
Mamanasco Beach Club
Mamanasco Beach Club – Several Mamanasco Road neighbors are working to revive the Beach Club.
Best Management Practices
Concern was expressed about actions of some lakeside property owners who may not understand the importance of following best management practices to keep the lake healthy. Kitty volunteered to gather information on town Inland Wetlands regulations regarding the Mamanasco watershed to include in packets of information to new property owners.
