For the preservation, protection, and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine
A project three plus years in the making, the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan (LWAP) draft is complete - and we can’t wait to share it with you!
Please join us on Wednesday, June 4th at the Wells Town Hall at 6:30 PM for a presentation of the plan, a look at the designs for the projects that were selected at the previous LWAP meeting in February, and we’ll gather your feedback before we submit the final draft to the State and our funders, the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP).
An LWAP is designed to identify and communicate the problems and fixes within a lake watershed to best protect water quality, wildlife habitat, and the lake’s ecosystem health. These plans answer the questions 'what issues threaten the health of our lake the most?' and 'what can we do about them?'
The goal of an LWAP is to evaluate water quality conditions and related stressors in a lake and its watershed to identify the greatest threats to the lake ecosystem, including sources of increased stormwater runoff and associated sediment and nutrients as well as other important stressors such as invasive species, habitat loss, erosion, and other threats that may lead to loss or degradation of defined uses under the Vermont Water Quality Standards.
Specifically for Lake St. Catherine, the findings from the creation of the LWAP will guide our long-term efforts to increase water quality by the prevention and control of aquatic invasive species (AIS), reducing erosion, and by reducing the amount of phosphorus, nitrogen, sediments, and other pollutants from entering the Lake.
The Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan was developed over the course of 2021 - 2024 through extensive fieldwork, interaction with multiple stakeholders from the Towns of Poultney and Wells, LSCA, PMNRCD, and Castleton University, to identify and prioritize projects, and follow-up analysis & design work.
The LSCA hired Fitzgerald Environmental Associates (FEA) in April 2022 to assist with the development of the watershed assessment and accompanying project prioritization and concept designs. LSCA later added limnologist Emily Porter-Goff and Professor Andrew Vermilyea of Castleton University to the project team. Fieldwork and data analysis was reviewed by VT DEC officials.
This was a massive undertaking, and we’d like to thank all who contributed to this project. We’d also like to note that the good work of PMNRCD has made our LWAP unique in VT by including assessments of our wetlands and forest blocks.
You can read more about the LSC Watershed Action Plan here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lsc-watershed-action-plan
Please join us at the meeting on June 4th!
Hey there LSC. Check out the just released 2025 Poultney Community Guidebook featuring articles about LSC and the LSCA which also includes fantastic photos from lake photographers Karen Velsor and Andrew Gioulis.
The Guidebook was just mailed to Poultney residents, and the digital version can be read here: https://www.nyvtmedia.com/sections/nyvt-media-lifestyle/articles/2025-poultney-community-guidebook?
Check it out.
Thanks to NYVT Media for the articles!
Hello LSC. We'd like to let you know about the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds (FOVLAP) Annual Lake Seminar, coming up on Friday, June 6th from 9 AM - 4 PM at the South Burlington Library Conference Room and via Zoom.
> About the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds
The Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds is a volunteer coalition of lake associations and individuals. From its inception in 1972 as an organization of lake associations in northern Vermont to its evolution into a statewide organization in 2001, the Federation remains dedicated to fostering water quality standards and preserving Vermont lakes, ponds, watersheds, and aquatic ecosystems for this and future generations.
The Lake St. Catherine Association is one of the 45+ member lake associations of FOVLAP, and 2 LSCA Trustees participate with FOVLAP as a Board Member and an Auxiliary Board Member.
> About FOVLAP's Annual Lake Seminar
The theme for this year's Lake Seminar is "Protecting and Restoring Lake Tributaries".
Water from the tributaries draining the surrounding watershed flows to our lakes. Depending on the land use within the watershed and particularly near these streams, the tributaries may carry pollution into the lake, in the form of excess nutrients, sediment, and other contaminants. This seminar will highlight stream science as well as practices aimed at reducing this pollution. These same practices help to improve flood resilience in the face of climate change.
This seminar will be jam-packed with interesting topics and speakers, including:
Registration is required to attend the Seminar in-person or via Zoom. To RSVP and to see the full agenda, please click here: https://vermontlakes.org/event/2025-fovlap-lake-seminar/
We hope to see you there!
Good evening LSC, and Happy Mother's Day!
Our loon pair have been very active in their nesting area (see Dawn's photo from this morning), so the loon nesting signs have been put in place.
Photo: Dawn Smith-Pliner
The signs needed some refurb because they had exposed foam board for floatation, and the State's recent Act 121 bans the sale or use of expanded polystyrene foam (aka Styrofoam) that is not wholly encapsulated or encased within a more durable material the waters of the State. Per loon biologist Eric Hanson's recommendation, all the foam was replaced with cedar.
Eric also passed along his thoughts on what to expect from the loons this year: "It can take a 'new' pair several years to really establish themselves and the nesting cycle, and they won't nest every year, even for an established pair."
So, while they appear to have started the process of building a nest, we'll need to wait and see how they do!
Please be sure to give them their space, and PLEASE travel at no wake speed in the Channel.
Thanks, and keep your fingers crossed!
Finally, thank you to Dawn & Joel for storing the signs, and for keeping us up to date on the loon's activity.
Hello LSC. A few months ago we shared the sad news that long-time LSCA Trustee Frank Callahan passed away at his home on the lake on January 26th.
We have been informed by Frank Callahan's son that there will be a Celebration of Life gathering for Frank at their camp on Little Lake - 198 Clayton Tract - on Saturday, June 7th from 1 PM - 5 PM. Everyone is invited to stop in to share memories and remember Frank.
For many years, Frank also taught the boating safety education course so folks of all ages (12 and above) could earn their boater education card to be able to operate a motorized vessel. As a former teacher, he looked forward to administering these classes each year, and interacting with everyone in the lake community to help them pass the class. Over the years, he helped hundreds of people earn their boating card. Others may know Frank from his numerous years of working to maintain and deploy the lake's safety markers and buoys, and working with his 'Buoy Buddies' around the lake.
As a Trustee, a neighbor, and a friend, Frank was always willing to help out in any way he could, and always with a smile. He will be missed.
You also can read Frank's obituary, and post a memory here: https://www.robertsaubinfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Frank-L-Callahan?obId=35635440
Thank you.
Photo of Frank teaching a boating safety class in Poultney.
Please join us in thanking EVERYONE that came out for Green Up Vermont on Lake St. Catherine and in Wells & Poultney.
This was the biggest year yet with 70+ volunteers between the 2 towns that let us or the towns know where they were working, and you'll see filled Green Up bags are lined up along the roads ready to be picked up.
Some folks could not Green Up today, but will be working tomorrow, or earlier next week.
* Thank you all for your efforts! *
Here are some of the photos we have so far from today. If you have some, send them along and we'll add them to the gallery.
Also, a thank you to the Towns of Wells & Poultney, the The Wells Country Store, Noble Ace Hardware- Poultney VT, and the Poultney Rotary Club for helping out with the volunteer meetups in both towns.
Great job all!
Check out photos from the day on our Facebook page:
Wells Village Library and the Lake St. Catherine Association are hosting a reception Saturday, May 31st at 2:00 PM at the library to reveal their newly created Lake St. Catherine Watershed Model conceived and designed through a Libraries Love Lakes collaboration.
Libraries Love Lakes is an outreach project pairing schools and public libraries with lake scientists to promote collaborative and educational programming emphasizing the importance of lakes to our everyday lives. WVL and the LSCA sought and received funding for the project through a Lake Champlain Basin Program Education and Outreach Grant with support from NEIWPCC.
Constructed according to suggested specifications, digital designer Nic Stark (nicstark.com) skillfully brought to life the LLL vision for the 3’ x 6’ model. The educational goal is to effectively demonstrate impacts to lake health from several variables including stormwater runoff, shore erosion, and other environmental perturbations. It will also be an effective tool to show locations of prime habitat for eagles and other species. Finally, it will serve as visual representation of possible outcomes for planning and restoration purposes.
Please direct questions to Gina Ellis, Librarian, at wellslibraryvt@gmail.com or by phoning 802.645.0611. You may also email Jerremy Jones, Trustee, Lake St. Catherine Association at jerremy.jones@lakestcatherine.org.
Good morning LSC, we have some exciting news to share.
We are happy to report that we've just been informed by the State that we have earned a grant through the Aquatic Nuisance Control Grant-in-Aid Program for $25,000 to support our AIS (aquatic invasive species) prevention and control programs which include our Boat Launch Greeter Program, and our Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) Program.
About the Greeter Program:
Our Greeter Program is very important to the health of Lake St. Catherine. Our Greeters have been trained to identify aquatic invasive species (AIS) - like spiny waterflea, golden clams, water chestnut, starry stonewort and zebra mussels (and many others) - to stop them from entering LSC at the boat launch in Wells. They also educate boaters about the importance of looking for these invasives on their boat or trailer so they are not spread to LSC or another lake. Each year, they do a fantastic job checking vessels and educating the lake community on the dangers of invasive species for Lake St. Catherine. They are on duty from Memorial Day through Labor Day - working on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They also cover holidays and fishing tournaments. We are looking for Greeters for 2025, email us at info@lakestcatherine.org if you are interested.
Read more here: https://lakestcatherine.org/boat-launch-monitoring
About our DASH Program:
Our DASH crew provides milfoil control by suiting up in scuba gear and hand-pulling milfoil by the roots from the lakebed. In sections of lower milfoil density, they will swim the area and hand-pull with mesh bags. In higher density areas, they will set up the DASH equipment which allows them to suction the hand-pulled milfoil up through a tube to a catch table on a boat. Milfoil is then placed in 17.5 gallon buckets for transport off the lake.
Read more here: https://lakestcatherine.org/milfoil-control-program
While this funding is great news, it only partially funds these programs for the year. The remaining funding for these programs comes from our lake community through membership dues, additional contributions, and donations.
If you'd like to contribute to these important programs, please consider renewing your membership or becoming a member of the Lake St. Catherine Association, which you can learn more about on our website here: https://lakestcatherine.org/become-a-member
We have multiple membership levels, and you can also make a donation: https://lakestcatherine.org/donation
Thank you for your support of the LSCA and these important lake programs for Lake St. Catherine!
Good afternoon LSC. We wanted to pass along a quick membership update, and also see what you've been doing with your LSCA Membership Patches.
As of yesterday, we've reached 300 members for the 2025 season. Thanks to all who have renewed, joined, and contributed. We are working our way towards our goal of 400 members for 2025.
We have membership levels for camp owners, unimproved lot owners, business sponsors, and a Supporter of LSC level for anyone who loves LSC and would like to contribute.
> You can learn more about joining or renewing on our website here: https://lakestcatherine.org/become-a-member
> You can always check out the current membership stats on our website here: https://lakestcatherine.org/membership-statistics
Working to earn grants, membership dues and contributions from the lake community, and allocations from our Towns make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to support our mission of the preservation, protection, and maintenance of beautiful Lake St. Catherine, please consider becoming a member or making a donation for 2025. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.
We are also happy to hear that folks have been enjoying the memberhsip patches, wonderfully designed by Andrew Gioulis over the past 3 years - thank you Andrew!
We've heard that they have been placed on shirts, hats, bags, and made into creative gifts for family and friends.
In the photo attached, we found wood coasters which framed the patches perfectly, and we've hung them on the trim of the door out to the lake:
What have you been doing with them? Let us know, and share some photos!
Thanks for your support of the LSCA!
Good afternoon LSC,
With the recent sighting of the 'Loon Ranger' back at the lake, and lake photographer extraordinaire Karen Velsor's wonderful short story about him on Facebook, we wanted to share some recent conversations we've had with Eric Hanson from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) about what to expect this season, and some other loon related news.
Quick note: a single loon that has been visiting the lake the past few years has been dubbed the 'Loon Ranger' on Facebook, and that name has stuck. Karen's short story imagine's his thoughts as he arrives back at the lake.
As they did last year, Eric expects our nesting pair to come back to the lake and attempt to nest again. However, Eric cautioned that: "It can take a 'new' pair several years to really establish themselves and the nesting cycle, and they won't nest every year, even for an established pair." He also said that based on our nesting pair's success last season, he has suggested that we not put up the nesting raft at this time.
I'm sure everyone is looking forward to seeing how they'll do this year!
We were also recently invited to participate in a beta testing of new web-based software that VCE has developed to support their loon work in Vermont. This new app will show historical data back to 2003, data from the yearly LoonWatch day count (July 19, 2025), in-depth Loon Monitoring surveys, and coming in 2026, projects to assist with deploying loon nesting rafts and warning signage, and coordinating rescues for loons in distress. After launching, the app will be available for folks to checkout - we'll let you know when that is.
Thanks to Eric and VCE (and Dawn & Joel for storing them for the winter), we have loon nesting signage ready to go if our pair nests again this year. So, keep your fingers crossed!
Let us know of any more signs of loons arriving. Thx!
Photo: Karen Velsor
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