Good afternoon LSC.

Thanks to our volunteers & participants today for the Vermont Invasive Patroller (VIP) paddle at the boat launch area of the Lake St. Catherine State Park this morning. This was the 2nd VIP paddle this season.

We patrolled the launch area looking for potential introductions of aquatic invasive species (AIS), and to learn about our native plants that are in that area.

Among others, we found illinois pondweed, robbins pondweed, ribbonleaf pondweed, big-leaved pondweed, eelgrass, and the very interesting seven-angled pipewort (and a few sparse milfoil plants). Check out the attached underwater photos of these plants, what appear to be some heron footprints in the sand, and some photos of our participants.

Alice took some great underwater photos with the GoPro, had lots of great questions, and we looked up plants in the book Aquatic Flora of Northern New England by Donald J. Padgett.

This weekend, we'll file a VIP report about the paddle with the DEC via their online reporting form.

Thanks to Heather and Alice for participating - we hope you had fun!

If anyone is interested in participating in a VIP paddle in early October at the Wells Lakeside Park, please get in touch here on Facebook or at info@lakestcatherine.org. If we have enough interest, we'll schedule one final paddle for the season.

You can learn more about VIP Paddles here on our website: https://lakestcatherine.org/vermont-invasive-patrollers

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