Lake Saint Catherine Association Blog

LSCA's 2026 Annual Meeting & Dinner Recap

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 11:57:00 GMT

We'd like to take a moment to thank everyone who helped create a great evening at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club for the LSCA's 2026 Annual Meeting & Dinner last night!

We hope everyone who attended enjoyed our presentation, the dinner, and the time spent with your lake neighbors. It was great to see a full house - and we appreciate your interest and involvement!

Thank you to our members, our state and local officials, and our partners for your dedication in helping to preserve and protect the lake that we all love.

Also, a special thank you to the Lake St. Catherine Country Club staff for a wonderful dinner.

Attached below are a few photos from the evening, and a YouTube video of the presentation. If you have any questions or comments, please let us know at info@lakestcatehrine.org. Thank you!

Thank You - 2nd Cleanup Day At Wells Lakeside Park

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 17:03:41 GMT

Just a quick THANK YOU to everyone who came out this morning to the Wells Lakeside Park to help with the shoreline cleanup! We had a few less people than the first cleanup, but I think we ended up with more debris in the trailer this time. We seem to be getting better at it

Everyone put in some great work today

Also, a special thank you to Dom who volunteered his time today as part of working towards becoming an Eagle Scout.

Plans are to keep this up, and do it again next year.

Great job all!

- Laurel Gilman

You can see more images from the cleanup on our Facebook Page.

Close Call With A Speeding Boat and the DASH Team

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 11:50:37 GMT

We want to make you aware of a very close call involving the safety of the DASH team on the lake yesterday - and also to use this as an opportunity to remind folks of Vermont's 200 foot rule.

Despite the DASH team having multiple buoys in the water, the diver down flag deployed, and the topside team member yelling and waving his arms, a speeding boat came WAY TOO CLOSE to the diver. Thankfully, everyone was OK.

The 200 foot rule basically states that boats cannot travel at a speed greater than 5MPH within 200 feet of shore, the “Shoreline Safety Zone”, or closer than 200 feet from a person, another water vessel in the water, or a diver down flag (or maintaining a buffer of 500 feet if operating a wake boat in wake sport mode). You can read Vermont's Use of Public Water Rules here: https://dec.vermont.gov/.../Use_of_Public_Waters_Rules.pdf

Please look out for each other on the lake.

Thank you.

July is Lakes Appreciation Month

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:23:58 GMT

In recognition of Lakes Appreciation Month, board members of the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds submitted a commentary highlighting some of the amazing things happening under the surface of our lakes and ponds (including here at Lake St. Catherine!)

While we've all been appreciating this year's very visible eaglets and loon chicks, other interesting things are happening beneath the surface of the lake. This commentary focuses in on a few of those fascinating organisms that you may not be familiar with that are thriving and contributing to a healthy lake ecosystem, including: the fresh-water sponge, native bladderwort, and the eastern elliptio mussel.

You can read the commentary in the Rutland Herald here:

Experience the Magic of Vermont Lakes

Photo: Eastern Elliptio, Vermont Center for Ecostudies

2026 LoonCount on LSC This Saturday

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 16:15:07 GMT

On the third Saturday in July of every year, LoonCount volunteers take to the water to count loons. It’s the single most effective way for Vermont Center for EcoStudies (VCE) to document and track breeding loons across the state.

From VCE's webpage:

"Each year on a single day on the third Saturday of July, VCE and our volunteers cover more than 160 lakes and ponds statewide. It’s the single most effective way for VCE to document and track breeding loons across the state. Survey a lake — or if you’ve got time, a few — for one hour on that Saturday."

So, we're looking to coordinate volunteers around the lake to count all the loons we see on the lake between 8 AM - 9 AM on Saturday, July 18th.

If you'd like to participate, please observe your area, or head out onto the lake between 8 AM - 9 AM on July 18th, and note what you observe, where, and at what time. We'll create a post on our Facebook page that morning on which you can add your observations (or you can email us at info@lakestcatherine.org). We'll then gather all the reports and send that info over to Eric and Eloise at VCE through their new LoonWeb app.

Thanks!

Loon with chick on Lake St. Catherine, Vermont - Photo by Karen Velsor

Mid-July 2026 Membership Update

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 20:11:32 GMT

Hey there LSC, we'd like to give you an update on our 2026 Membership Drive.

After launching the 2026 Membership Drive in early January, we are currently at 355 memberships, getting closer to our goal of 400. Thank you to all renewing and new members for your support!

We have multiple membership levels available. These include memberships for Cottage Owners, Business Sponsors, and our Supporter Of LSC level for those of you who love LSC but are not a cottage owner (like family members of property owners, renters and those who use the lake for recreation).

Members will receive a membership package which includes the 2026 membership patch featuring a a Lake St. Catherine heron, designed by lake resident Andrew Gioulis, and you'll also be added to our email list to receive frequent updates on LSC news.

- Click here to become a member:

https://lakestcatherine.org/become-a-member

- Click here to renew your membership:

https://lakestcatherine.org/membership-renewal/

Your membership contributions & donations, along with allocations from the towns of Wells & Poultney, and grants earned from the state and the Lake Champlain Basin Program & NEIWPCC help us to fulfill our mission of the preservation, protection, and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine by helping to fund important lake programs and projects. Some of which include: water quality improvement programs like Lake Wise, the LSC Stormwater Master Plan, and the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan, and our aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention and control programs like our Greeter, Vermont Invasive Patroller (VIP), and Milfoil Control Programs.

We hope to earn your support in 2026!

You can check in on the membership stats at any time on our website here:

https://lakestcatherine.org/membership-statistics

LSCA's 2026 Annual Meeting & Dinner - RSVPs Open!

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 11:30:28 GMT

Hello LSC.

We'd like to invite you to the 2026 Lake St. Catherine Association's Annual Meeting & Dinner at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club on Saturday, August 8th, beginning at 6 PM.

The LSCA Trustees will update you on lake issues, give you reports from their committees, and discuss current and future initiatives for the lake. The meeting will conclude with an open question and answer session, then we'll have a nice dinner together with our lake neighbors.

We are looking forward to seeing you!

At approximately 7:30, dinner will be served. If you'd like to stay for dinner, the LSC CC has provided the menu below:

Dinner options:

$34 - Chicken Piccata w/Pasta
$34 - Baked Haddock w/Rice
$42 - Prime Rib w/Baked Potato

Dinners include veggie, salad, and rolls with butter. Cake and coffee will be served for dessert.

Dinner pricing includes tax & gratuity.

Please RSVP for the meeting by clicking here to register, or by clicking the grey 'Register' button on the left. You will be able to indicate the selection of dinner(s) you'd like to reserve. If you'd like to attend the meeting, but not stay for dinner, leave the dinner selection fields blank. You can pay online with a credit card or with cash at the door.

> You must RSVP for a dinner by Sunday, August 2nd so the Country Club can properly prepare. We'll not be able to take walk-ins for dinner.

Please plan on arriving before 6 PM so you can get checked in and be seated so we can begin the presentation at 6. The bar will be open, so please feel free to arrive at 5:30 to get a drink.

80 dinners are available. Dinners sold out last year, so please RSVP as soon as possible.

Thank you!

The Winners of the 14th Annual LSCA Boat Parade Are...

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 01:26:52 GMT

The results are in! After 450 votes, here are your winners:

Most Original:

Winner: Boat #12 - Barn in the USA - Catherine Petrozzini

Runner Up: Boat #1 - Gym and Tonic - Lori Winn, Melissa and Bill Tatko

Most Patriotic:

Winner: Boat #10 - Row, George, Row - Held/Mulcahy Family

Runner Up: Boat #15 - Patriotic Papa: Tribute to our Favorite Patriot - Donna Dreher

Funniest:

Winner: Boat #1 - Gym and Tonic - Lori Winn, Melissa and Bill Tatko

Runner Up: Boat #4 - Ship of Tools - Mike and Chris Gay

Best Overall:

Winner: Boat #2 - The Boston Tea Party - Jim & Melissa Bilotta

Runner Up: Boat #5 - Dog Days of Summer - Hunter-Riley-Bain Clan

Thank you to all the participants! You put on a great show!

Also, thank you to Ben Nicolson for his photos from the parade. You can also see many more photos of the parade in the Lake St. Catherine - Vermont Facebook Group.

We hope everyone enjoyed the parade, and we'll do it all again next year.

Thanks all!

Vote For Your Favorite Boats In The 14th Annual Boat Parade!

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 20:57:03 GMT

We hope you enjoyed the 14th Annual LSCA Boat Parade!

Thank you to all who participated! It was awesome! You all did a fantastic job - thank you for your efforts!

...and now - let's hear from you.

Which boat did you think was:

Most Original
Most Patriotic
Funniest
Best Overall

Cast your ballot here: https://forms.gle/Zh41yN92BBvEv8bb9

> Thank you to Ben Nicolson ( https://www.facebook.com/BenNicolsonPhotography/ ) for all the photos taken with his drone that he allowed us to use for the poll.

> Also, thank you Karen Velsor who took close-up photos of all the paraders. You see can Ben's, Karen's and other photographer's photos on the Lake St. Catherine - Vermont Facebook Group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LakeSaintCatherine

Voting will close at 9:00 PM - the winners will be announced on our website and Facebook pages soon after.

Supporting the Lake St. Catherine Association:

Are you a member yet? Maintaining the lake costs approximately $125,000 annually. Grants, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and any contribution that you make is tax deductible. To become a member: https://lakestcatherine.org/become-a-member

Meeting of the Board of Trustees - 6/27/26

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:18:52 GMT

On Saturday, June 27th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their second meeting of the 2026 season.

Attendance: Jim Canders, Jeff Crandall, Jerremy Jones, Ed Laird, Mary Jo Teetor, Tim Mante, Mike Gay, Mark Shea, Sue Williams, Lisa Micich, Dan O’Connell, Steve Mattison. Absent: Nancy Liberatore, Kemi McShane, Bob Williams. Guests: none

Meeting called to order at 8:35 AM.

Opening Comment Period: None.

Recording Secretary’s Report: Minutes of the May 23, 2026 meeting accepted as presented. Approved.

Treasurer’s Report: Mary Jo presented her report. Discussion of the Greeter budget, 990 extension, and the facilities fee to the CC for our 4 meetings. There was also a longer discussion about separating our checking and savings accounts with 2 different banks so that all funds are FDIC insured. Suggestions were made to use Heritage Family Credit Union for checking (with Jim, Mary Jo, and Jerremy on the account), and Arrow Bank for savings (with Ed, Mary Jo, and Jerremy on the account). Mary Jo, Jerremy, and Ed will work on moving forward with this plan. Mary Jo also noted the policy that 2 signers are needed on checks over $1,500. Motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report, all in favor, so moved.

Membership Meeting: Jim presented a write up from John Belnavis who worked with the Country Club for dinner pricing. Pricing for the dinners will be $43 for prime rib, $34 for chicken, and $34 for haddock, and these prices include tax and gratuity. Jerremy will start promoting and taking reservations for the dinner after the 4th of July weekend. The Annual Membership Meeting will be August 8th, 2026 at the LSC Country Club.

Milfoil Control Program: Jeff reported Ready Scout performed the milfoil treatment on June 22nd. The DASH team has started hand-pulling, and will start full DASH operations after the 4th of July weekend.

Water Quality and Testing: Mary Jo has started taking samples for the Lay Monitoring Program. Jerremy mentioned that he and Mike Gay put in buoys and the in-lake logger water testing stations in the lake.

Publicity: Jerremy noted that FOVLAP had a recent 3 year planning meeting.

Lake Safety: Mike reported about some buoys that need some work.

Nominating Committee: There was a discussion of which Trustees would be returning for another 3 year term, and it was determined that we’ll have one opening for a 2027-2029 term.

Membership: Jerremy reported that there were currently at 347 members, and that a reminder postcard was sent to members who have not yet renewed their membership for 2026.

Grants: Jerremy spoke about receiving the CWSP contract for the Lochlea Lane stormwater project. He will forward it to Mary Jo and Ed for review.

New Business: We were alerted to a new harvesting permit application by the LSCCF from the Environmental Notice Bulletin website, and the contents of the permit were discussed. Jerremy will reach out to Olin to inquire about making a comment on statements included in the application that we disagree with. There was also a discussion about a draft of a proposed short term rental policy in the town of Poultney.

Jim called for the meeting adjournment, all in favor. Meeting adjourned at 10:35 AM.

Meeting minutes compiled by Jerremy Jones

Second Cleanup Day At Wells Lakeside Park - August 1st, 2026

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 23:24:54 GMT

The Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA), the Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund (LSCCF), and The Delaney Committee are organizing a followup volunteer event to continue the shoreline cleanup at the Wells Lakeside Park on Little Lake on Saturday, August 1st, beginning at 9 AM.

Building on the great work of the volunteers that participated during the June 20th event, we'd like to continue the cleanup of the shoreline between the dock and the beach.

We’ll be looking for volunteers to help with this effort, including equipment that could be borrowed to assist with the cleanup.

Helpful items to assist in the effort would be floating mats, ‘lake rakes’, large plastic tubs, and of course your help as a volunteer.

The Delaney Committee will be providing ice-cold bottled water, and will also dispose of all the milfoil and debris volunteers remove from the lake.

If you’d like to volunteer, or have items that you can loan to help with this cleanup, please let us know at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you!

In-Lake Loggers Placed in the Lake to Monitor Water Quality

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:14:55 GMT

Last year, we announced that we had earned a grant to purchase water testing equipment for the lake. Over the past few weeks, this equipment has been calibrated and placed in the lake. These in-lake loggers will take constant and continuous readings for Dissolved Oxygen, Conductivity (salt stress), and temperature.

The loggers have been placed in Lily Pond, the Big Lake, and the Little Lake:

Lily Pond buoy

Big Lake buoy

Little Lake buoy

Here is a map to show you the approximate locations of the buoys, indicated by the orange stars:

We'll periodically visit the loggers to retrieve the data, and the buoys will remain in place until the late fall.

Our limnologist Emily Porter-Goff from the Lamoille County NRCD will analyze the logger data, along with all the other collected data about LSC in the 2026 season, and will provide us a report of her findings. We'll share this report when it becomes available.

Thanks to Mike Gay for his expert buoy skills getting these buoys created and in place.

We'd appreciate it if members would keep an eye on these buoys, and please report if you see any issues. Thank you!

Wells Lakeside Park Cleanup Recap

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 13:47:18 GMT

We wanted to take a quick moment to thank everyone involved in the cleanup day at Wells Lakeside Park yesterday.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered, those who loaned equipment to aid in the cleanup, and everyone that contributed photos for the gallery. It was a great crew of folks working hard and working together.

We got a lot done, but there is certainly more to do. We discussed having another cleanup day in August to build upon the work that was done on Saturday. We'll let you know when that is scheduled.

Great job to all involved, and thank you for your efforts!

Here is a gallery of photos from the cleanup on Facebook:

Loon Chick Hatches!

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:26:02 GMT

A little before 9 AM this morning, after hearing some commotion and excited loon calls around the Island - inside OxBow Bay, Martha observed our loon pair swimming together, and then noticing the new loon chick.

PLEASE be sure to give the loon family the space it needs during this important time for the chick. We're unsure if the family will try to stay in Oxbow Bay, or start to make their way around the lake. But, please do not approach them - give them their space.

Thanks to Martha for reaching out right away with the news so we pass it along to the lake community. Let's all work to keep the family safe this summer as the chick matures.

What an exciting day!

The 14th Annual LSCA Boat Parade - Register Your Boat Now!

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:29:51 GMT

Hello LSC - We'd like to let you know that the 14th Annual LSCA Boat Parade has been scheduled and is open for registration!

The 14th Annual LSCA Boat Parade will be on Saturday, July 4th at 1 PM.

We all know how fun it is to watch the boat parade, but it's even more fun to be part of it!

As we did last year, we'll take photos of all participants, and we'll have a lake-wide online vote to decide the winner.

Our categories are:

Most Original
Most Patriotic
Funniest
Best Overall

If you'd like to register your boat, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org with your name, phone number, and boat name or theme. We'll get you signed up and will reply back with your boat number, and give you all the details on how to participate.

[ Boat Parade photos by Karen Velsor ]

So, start thinking about your theme, and mark your calendars for July 4th! Then, email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to register your boat.

Also, lake resident Kevin Mosmen has requested that we inform you of his Independence Day Fireworks display the evening of Saturday, July 4th. This will be Kevin's second year producing the show, and he has set up a GoFundMe for the show, which you can read about by clicking here.

Meeting of the Board of Trustees - 5/23/26

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 27 May 2026 18:39:46 GMT

On Saturday, May 23rd, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their first meeting of the 2026 season.

Attendance: Jim Canders, Jeff Crandall, Jerremy Jones, Ed Laird, Mary Jo Teetor, Tim Mante, Mike Gay, Mark Shea, Sue Williams, Lisa Micich, Nancy Liberatore, Kemi McShane, Dan O’Connell. Absent: Steve Mattison, Bob Williams. Guest: Missy Hardesty

Meeting called to order at 8:33 AM.

Opening Comment Period: New Greeter Coordinator Missy Hardesty reported that she has Greeters 11 Greeters and Subs as needed. The program has started, and she will monitor and schedule shifts for the greeters. The plan is to have the launch staffed every day until Labor Day.

Recording Secretary’s Report: Minutes of August 23, 2025 meeting accepted as presented. Approved.

Treasurer’s Report: Mary Jo presented her report, mentioning some outstanding receipts for things to be paid. Other discussion included researching another bank account that will have a better return on the monies of the LSCA, wrapping up 2025 Lake Wise billing with PMNRCD, and Jeff spoke about upcoming bills for our milfoil control efforts. Motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report, all in favor, so moved.

Membership: Jerremy showed statistics, (330 members) and stated that 400 members is our goal. The was a discussion about members unknowingly joining another organization last year, but we have not seen that happen this year. A reminder post card will go out soon to folks who have not renewed their membership yet. The Annual Membership Meeting will be August 8th, 2026 at the LSC Country Club.

Milfoil Control Program: Jeff reported that the Spring survey was May 11, 2026. Beck will do a followup dive survey at the spot treatment areas the 2nd week of June. There will only be 9 acres to treat, with Atwater Bay being the largest area. Signs will go up 30 days in advance. The signs are larger as required, and the signs must remain up for 30 days after the treatment. Confirmation that DASH will start July 1, 2026, and hand pulling will begin as soon as the water temperature is comfortable. Discussions included current overall lake conditions, conditions in LL, the expired LL dredging permit, and the condition of the dam (which is currently owned by F&W

Water Quality and Testing: MJ stated that she will start taking samples soon. Discussion about the large amounts of filamentous algae seen in the bays so far this year.

Publicity: Jerremy spoke about working with the new website company Morweb. Andrew G. is designing our new logo. Once options are available, Jerremy will share for a vote. The logo will be designed to be versatile so it can be used horizontally and vertically. Andrew has worked for free and Jerremy is asking for a gift card to give to Andrew in appreciation of his work. A motion was made to provide a $100 gift card to Andrew. Other discussion included bills that FOVLAP was involved with, including the vetoed chloride reduction bill, and a bill that would have made the Greeter Program an authorized use of the F&W public access areas.

Lake Safety: Mike spoke about many of the markers and buoys needing repair. New buoys are very expensive and Mike needs supplies for repairs. Other discussion included the passage on Thursday, by LCAR, of the revised Use of Water Rules which updated rules governing wake boat use.

Nominating Committee: Jim mentioned that we are always looking for good candidates to join the board.

Grants: Jerremy spoke about the $50k earned in total from the State and the LCBP for the Greeter and Milfoil Control Programs, and $15k for assessments and $20k for project implementation for the Lake Wise Program. Hilary from PMNRCD also helped us with a grant to implement projects from the Stormwater Master Plan and the Watershed Action Plan on Lochlea Lane on Little Lake.

Old Business: Our limnologist Emily Porter-Goff will come to LSC to help us calibrate the in-lake loggers for water testing. One logger will be placed in each basin, and there was a discussion about placement and safety & security. Emily will bill us for her hours. There was also a discussion about the welcome sign, and finding an engraver, and looking for volunteers for East Poultney Day, August 8, 2026.

New Business: Jeff stated that there was the destruction of mailboxes on WLR (due to plowing) and Jerremy mentioned the same on Cones Point. Jerremy alerted the group to a Rusty Crayfish discovered in the lake. They were used as bait and now are established in the lake. They are very aggressive, mate with the natural crayfish, destroy native plants, and eat fish eggs. Jerremy also mentioned setting up a meet and greet brunch at the Tasteful Station for a lake community social.

Jim called for the meeting adjournment, all in favor. Meeting adjourned at 10:09 AM.

Respectfully submitted,
Kemi McShane
Recording Secretary

Nesting Loons On The Island

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 24 May 2026 17:22:46 GMT

Hello LSC, some interesting and exciting loon news on this rainy Sunday!

Last evening, we received a report of a nesting loon on the Oxbow Bay side of the Island - thanks to Bob M. for the tip!

We took a quick trip over to confirm, and you could quickly see the a patch of black and white among the greens and browns of the shoreline:

So, this morning, we picked up 2 of the 5 loon nesting buoys that had been put in place in the Channel and placed them around the new nest at the island:

Thank you to Dawn & Joel for allowing us to use their dock to retrieve the buoys this morning.

As you may have seen in recent postings with amazing photos by Karen Velsor, the loons in the Channel seemed to be trying to figure things out, but Dawn reports that they have not been sitting at that nesting location. 3 nesting buoys are still in place around this nesting location in case they try nesting again.

It's hard to tell if this is a new loon pair at the Island, or if it's the same pair from the Channel. Anyone who has been at the lake the past few weeks has probably heard the almost nightly loon activity, so we've had lots of loons visiting the lake this spring.

We are letting you know about the new nest to ask that you please give this nesting pair some room, and to also ask that you please observe the no wake zone in Oxbow Bay. Boat wakes can potentially swamp the nest and wash the eggs into the lake.

Let's keep our fingers crossed for another loon chick this season at LSC!

LSCA Announces 2026 Milfoil Control Plans

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 22 May 2026 15:33:23 GMT

Hello LSC, We are reaching out today to let you know about the 2026 plan for the LSCA's Milfoil Control Program.

As always, our focus is maximizing the work our diver assisted suction harvesting (DASH) team can do each season - and they have been doing a fantastic job at keeping milfoil at controllable levels. However, based on the fall plant survey, there are a few dense / problematic areas that need attention.

So, as you'll read below, pending final approval by the DEC, there will be a few very small ProcellaCOR spot treatments scheduled to take place on Monday, June 22nd at 9 AM for a total of just under 9 acres.

Over the past several seasons, we've been alternating between spot treatments and DASH, and only DASH for the control plan for that year. What is very encouraging is that the number of acres treated has decreased when looking at the past few treatments (and including 2026): 2022: 44 acres, 2024: 35 acres, 2026: 9 acres.

As always, if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

All the details about the 2026 plans are included below. Thanks.

LSCA's 2026 Milfoil Control Program Plan

On May 11th, the LSCA, Ready Scout, and Olin Reed from the Vermont Lakes and Ponds Program participated in, and conducted an aquatic plant survey to evaluate native plant and milfoil growth, with a follow up survey scheduled for the week of June 8th by our DASH team. Pending approval by the DEC after the follow up survey, the 2026 Milfoil Control Plan includes 26.59 acres of diver assisted suction harvesting (DASH), 8.68 acres to be spot treated, 5 areas designated for hand-pulling, and an additional volunteer hand-pulling event at Wells Lakeside Park.

Here is the map:

The Plan:

Our DASH team will begin swimming through low density milfoil areas to hand-pull in June when the water temp allows (areas marked in yellow), and will begin full DASH operations on July 1st (areas marked in green).

The milfoil hand-pulling and shoreline cleanup volunteer event will take place at Wells Lakeside Park on Little Lake on Saturday, June 20th beginning at 9 AM. Let us know if you’d like to help out and volunteer at this event!

Spot treatments of ProcellaCOR EC will take place on Monday, June 22nd beginning at 9 AM (areas marked in red). Please see the attached notice below for water use *recommendations* (not restrictions):

The LSCA’s Milfoil Control Program consists of five components:

1. 'Stop The Spread' education and outreach. Our 'Stop The Spread' campaign educates boaters and property owners on best practices to limit the spread of milfoil.

2. Volunteer milfoil cleanup. Throughout the season, we encourage lake users, boaters, and volunteers to collect detached floating milfoil and remove it from the lake, including working with property owners to remove detached milfoil, and hand-pulling any along their shoreline.

3. DASH - Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting. Our DASH crew suits up in scuba gear and hand-pulls 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.

4. Herbicide spot treatments with ProcellaCOR EC. In order to maximize our DASH crew's time, effectiveness, and number of acres covered, one of our control methods includes spot treatments with the herbicide ProcellaCOR EC.

5. Water quality improvement programs. Although not directly related to Milfoil Control, the LSCA's work on Lake Wise on LSC, the LSC Stormwater Master Plan, and the LSC Watershed Action Plan all help to limit phosphorus and other nutrients from entering the lake which can contribute to excessive plant growth, and improves overall water quality. You can read more about all these programs on our website: lakestcatherine.org.

These results are exactly what we want to see! LSC has over 30 native aquatic plants which are necessary to sustain a healthy lake ecology. Our efforts are focused on reducing the amount of milfoil in the lake so that these native aquatic plants can grow as they normally would.

What can you do to help?

As a general rule, get as much milfoil out of the lake as possible and dispose of it.
Don’t drive through milfoil patches with your boat which will create fragments.
If you have milfoil on your prop, don’t just reverse and drive away, please remove it from the lake.
If you have milfoil growing in your dock or swimming area, pull it out by the roots and remove it from the lake.
If you see milfoil floating anywhere in the lake, near your dock, or along your shoreline, remove it from the lake.

As you may be aware, there has been a lot of misinformation about milfoil, ProcellaCOR, the permitting process, and Lake St. Catherine in general. We encourage everyone to visit our Milfoil Control Program page: https://lakestcatherine.org/milfoil-control-program to read more about milfoil, our milfoil control methods, the permitting process, ProcellaCOR, plant data, results, and a milfoil FAQ.

The LSCA has always employed evidenced-based decision making when evaluating lake related issues, and we continue to do so with our Milfoil Control Program. Working with the State and lake scientists & experts, following the science and the data, and evaluating the results of our efforts show that we are doing the right things for the long-term health of LSC. To our members, and all who love LSC, if you ever have any questions or concerns, reach out to us, we’d be happy to answer them. You can always reach us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

The LSCA's 2026 Milfoil Control Program - and the LSCA's Greeter Program - are funded by grants from the State's Grant-In-Aid Program, an AIS Prevention & Control grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program and NEIWPCC, and contributions from the lake community through allocations from the towns and LSCA membership dues & donations.

Thank you.

LSCA's 2026 Spring Newsletter

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 22 May 2026 15:05:17 GMT

Hello there LSC.

It's finally here, Memorial Day Weekend, and the unofficial start to summer!

We hope that you'll have a fun and safe season at the Lake, and that you'll be kind and respectful of each other and our beautiful lake as you create new memories and enjoy your time here this season.

We also hope that you will take some time on Monday to remember and honor those who have died while serving our country for Memorial Day.

We'd also like to let you know that the LSCA's Spring 2026 newsletter is now available with lots of information on plans and events that have already been scheduled this season.

Printed copies are available at Wellsmere Farm in Wells, and the Cones Point General Store / Cluckin' Cafe in Poultney. If you'd like a printed copy, please stop in at these local establishments to pick one up - they are available now!

Thank you to Michelle and Nicole for having them available!

Also, your LSCA Trustee neighbors will have printed copies available around the lake over the weekend, so stop by to say hi and pick one up.

The digital version is now available online via our website through this link: Click here to view the Spring 2026 Newsletter, or click on the image below. When you click on the link for the newsletter, you will be able to view it on screen - and be able to zoom in or out using the controls in your browser window. Or, you can click the download button to save a copy to your computer to view with a PDF reader, and/or print a copy.

LSCA's 2026 Greeter Program

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 21 May 2026 16:33:18 GMT

Hey there LSC.

We are happy to report that the LSCA's Greeter Program will begin staffing the Lake St. Catherine Public Access area tomorrow.

Through grants earned from the State and the LCBP & NEIWPCC, allocations from the towns of Wells & Poultney, and contributions from members and the lake community, the launch will be staffed 7 days a week through Labor Day Weekend.

With the help of recently retired Trustee and previous Greeter Coordinator John Belnavis, our new Coordinator Missy has been doing an excellent job getting ready for the season, and we have a full staff of 12 greeters.

Greeters check vessels being launched and retrieved for aquatic invasive species (AIS), working to prevent new introductions of AIS into Lake St. Catherine.

AIS not currently in LSC are already in nearby lakes, so it is critically important that vessels, trailers, and equipment are inspected, and that we all Clean, Drain, Dry, and Decontaminate to prevent the transmission of AIS. You can read more about AIS spread prevention here: https://dec.vermont.gov/watershed/lakes-ponds/aquatic-invasives/spread-prevention

You can read more about the LSCA's Greeter Program here: https://www.lakestcatherine.org/boat-launch-monitoring-greeter-program

Please be sure to thank our Greeters for their good work for Lake St. Catherine when you interact with them at the launch.

Thank you!

Our Nesting Eagles Create An Exciting Weekend At LSC

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 18 May 2026 16:36:50 GMT

On the first really nice weekend of the spring at Lake St. Catherine, our nesting eagles decided they wanted all the attention!

After hearing some commotion at the eagle's nest, and using the max zoom on an iPhone, this image was captured, showing a curious eaglet head popping up from the nest.

Since this photo was taken on Saturday, other lake residents with much better camera equipment have confirmed at least 2 eaglets!

Then, late Sunday evening, this happened:

Yes, that's a swimming eagle.

Just before this, the eagle swooped down to the lake and grabbed on to a large bird (not a loon, but it was hard to tell what type of bird it was). It then tried to fly away with it, but could not take off, so, it swam to shore.

After struggling to get up onto the shoreline, it eventually did, but it could still not take off with its catch, so it decided to start eating.

It tried to fly away with it several more times, eating a bit in between each attempt. It finally gave a few calls, then flew away, at which time its mate flew in to have a bite.

What a weekend for the eagles!

Sign Up For Lake Wise 2026!

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 08 May 2026 16:46:13 GMT

Hello LSC.

Back in December, we let you know that in partnership with the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District (PMNRCD), we have earned a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) and NEIWPCC for $15,097 to perform Lake Wise assessments, and to install best management practices (BMPs) on Lake St. Catherine.

This grant also includes up to an additional $20,000 for supplies and materials to install BMPs around the lake!

Spring is here, so we want to get folks signed up for Lake Wise for the 2026 season.

Stormwater has a widespread environmental impact which makes it a growing concern in Vermont. In a statewide effort, towns and local organizations are working to implement large scale projects to help clean stormwater before it enters water bodies. Excess nutrients in the water contribute to problems which affect both human and wildlife health including; lower oxygen levels in the water, toxic algae blooms, and excessive plant growth, which is why limiting stormwater from carrying phosphorus, nitrogen, sediments, and other pollutants into the lake is so important.

Projects can include the creation of buffer areas, native plantings, water diversion and water infiltration, and shoreline stabilization.

Currently, Lake St. Catherine has 29 Lake Wise Award winning properties. You can learn more about Lake Wise on Lake St. Catherine, and can see where these properties are on the lake by viewing the interactive map on our Lake Wise page here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-wise-program.

This program is FREE to shoreline property owners, with funding earned through this LCBP grant. If you would like to have your property assessed, or if you would like a reassessment, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to sign up for Lake Wise 2026.

Spots are limited, so please sign up today!

Invasive Rusty Crayfish Found In LSC

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 08 May 2026 16:15:37 GMT

Hello LSC, we have some unfortunate news to report. A Rusty Crayfish (Faxonius rusticus) has been discovered in Lake St. Catherine:

The Rusty Crayfish has not previously been confirmed to be in the lake. You can see the DEC's "List of Vermont waterbodies with a confirmed presence of an aquatic invasive species and species of concern".

This crayfish was found on May 1st by a lake resident. We collected it, photographed it, and sent the photos to the DEC. Based on the crayfish's distinctive markings, including the red spot on its side, and the black coloring on the tips of its claws, the DEC has confirmed it is a Rusty Crayfish. They have asked us to save the specimen, which they will collect to make a formal confirmation. At that time, it will be added to the list of invasives confirmed to be in Lake St. Catherine.

It’s unclear how long this crayfish has been in LSC, but it was most likely introduced via bait bucket transfer.

This crayfish has a HUGE negative impact on a lake’s ecosystem. It is highly destructive of aquatic plants, they outcompete and displace our native crayfish, and they impact fish populations by both consuming the same insects as fish - and raiding their nests to eat their eggs.

Here is a Gemini summary of this destructive invasive:

The introduction of the Rusty Crayfish (Faxonius rusticus) is often described by ecologists as a "biological bulldozer" effect. Native to the Ohio River basin, these crustaceans are more aggressive, have larger appetites, and possess bigger claws than most native species, allowing them to fundamentally reshape lake environments.

Here is a breakdown of the specific impacts on a lake ecosystem:

1. Destruction of Aquatic Vegetation (Macrophytes)

Rusty crayfish are notorious for clear-cutting underwater forests. Unlike native species that eat sparingly, "rusties" often clip the stems of aquatic plants without even consuming the whole thing.

Loss of Habitat: These plants serve as nurseries for small fish and nesting grounds for invertebrates.
Water Quality: Without plants to anchor sediment and absorb nutrients, lakes can become more turbid (cloudy) and prone to algae blooms.

2. Displacement of Native Crayfish

Through a combination of "bully" tactics and biological advantages, they quickly outcompete local species.

Direct Aggression: They are more likely to win fights for prime hiding spots under rocks, leaving native crayfish exposed to predators like bass and walleye.
Hybridization: In some cases, they mate with native species, effectively "breeding out" the local genetics over several generations.

3. Impact on Fish Populations

The presence of rusty crayfish creates a "double-whammy" for local fish species:

Competition for Food: They consume the same aquatic insects and snails that young fish rely on.
Egg Predation: They are highly effective at raiding the nests of fish like smallmouth bass and bluegill, consuming the eggs and significantly reducing the "recruitment" (survival) of new fish.

4. Altered Food Web Dynamics

Because they have thick shells and aggressive temperaments, many predators find them harder to eat than native crayfish.

Energy Flow: By consuming massive amounts of energy (plants and invertebrates) but being difficult for fish to prey upon, they act as a "sink" where energy gets trapped instead of moving up the food chain.
Invertebrate Declines: Their high metabolism leads to a drastic reduction in the population of snails, leeches, and mayflies, which are vital components of the ecosystem's biodiversity.

You can read more about the Rusty Crayfish in this article from Northern Woodlands: "Big, Bold and Rusty: Invasive Crayfish has Claws".

2026 Green Up Vermont Day Recap

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 03 May 2026 20:41:30 GMT

A huge THANK YOU to all the volunteers who participated in Green Up Vermont Day! If you were out and about yesterday in Wells or Poultney, you could see all the green bags on the sides of the roads. GREAT JOB ALL.

Thank you to the 60+ volunteers that let us know where you were working around the lake and in Wells & Poultney, We hope you had a fun day.

Finally, thank you to the Town of Wells, the Delaney Committee, and the The Wells Country Store for the volunteer meetup at the Wells Lakeside Park, and for our local Wells & Poultney crews who will pick up all the green bags of trash that the volunteers collected.

Great work all! You can see more photos here on our Facebook page here.

FOVLAP's 2026 Lake Seminar: Hidden Worlds: Life Under the Surface

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:40:15 GMT

Hidden Worlds: Life Under the Surface

An event co-sponsored by The Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)

Friday, June 5th, 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Do you know what’s going on in your lake? You might be surprised!

We enjoy a walk in the woods because of the richness of this ecosystem with its variety of flora and fauna. A healthy lake is also rich in its diversity but not nearly so familiar, because it is not often seen by those of us who enjoy these waters. In this seminar, experts will highlight some of the many interesting parts of this hidden ecosystem.

Topics include:

Turning Stones: Discovering the Life of Water - Declan McCabe - Professor of Biology, St. Michael's College, Author of Turning Stones
Mighty Mysis - How a Shrimp No Bigger than your Thumbnail is Key to the Lake Champlain Food Web - Jason Stockwell - Professor of Aquatic Ecology and Director of UVM's Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory
Native Aquatic Plants - Izzy Anderson- Environmental Scientist - VTDEC Lakes and Ponds Program
Bio-criteria Development Process for Vermont's Lakes and Ponds - Kellie Merrell - Aquatic Ecologist - VTDEC Lakes and Ponds Program
Underwater Surprises - Jeri Bergdahl - FOVLAP Director
Foam - Kris Stepenuck, PhD, UVM Extension Associate Professor, Rubenstein School Associate Director and Extension Program Leader, Lake Champlain Sea Grant and Dr. Lindsey Cookson, Water and Science Program Coordinator for the Lake Champlain Committee, LCC.
Native Mussels in Vermont - Mark Ferguson - VTFW Zoologist, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department
FOVLAP Videos - Pat Suozzi - FOVLAP President
Lake Health - Julie Moore - Secretary, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources

Registration is required.

This is a hybrid event, taking place in-person at the South Burlington Library Community Room and online via Zoom. In-person seats are limited to 60.

Click here to register

Little Lake - Wells Lakeside Park Shoreline Cleanup

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:01:07 GMT

The Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA), the Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund (LSCCF), and The Delaney Committee are organizing a volunteer event to clean up the shoreline at the Wells Lakeside Park on Little Lake on Saturday, June 20th, beginning at 9 AM.

The plan will be to hand-pull milfoil in the dock and beach area, and to also clean up the debris on the lake bottom in this location to make a nice swimming area:

We’ll be looking for volunteers to help with this effort, including equipment that could be borrowed to assist with the cleanup.

Helpful items to assist in the effort would be floating mats, ‘lake rakes’, large plastic tubs, and of course the elbow grease of lots of volunteers.

The Delaney Committee will be providing ice-cold bottled water, and will also dispose of all the milfoil and debris volunteers remove from the lake.

If you’d like to volunteer, or have items that you can loan to help with this cleanup, please let us know at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Please mark your calendar, and we’ll have more information as we get closer to the event. Thank you!

Lake Champlain Basin Program Releases "Summit to Shore" Website

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:39:47 GMT

Hey there LSC, we'd like to share with you a Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) project called "Summit to Shore - Celebrating and Protecting the Waters of the Lake Champlain Basin.

You can view the project website here: Summit To Shore

The LCBP describes the project this way:

"Lake Champlain, abundant with magnificent natural beauty and a rich history, is fed with waters delivered by a large network of rivers and streams that collect rain and snowfall from the surrounding landscape. This expansive watershed is known as the Lake Champlain Basin.

Organizations in communities throughout the Basin—from headwaters far from the lake to the lake's shoreline—are helping to protect and restore water quality and habitat. These organizations are invaluable sources of knowledge and information. They provide many opportunities for individuals to get involved as stewards of the natural and cultural heritage in their own backyard.

The Summit to Shore videos share stories of community stewardship of the Lake Champlain Basin. The collection is organized by major rivers within the Basin, and includes unique aerial and on-the-ground perspectives of these waterways."

As part of the project, a Lake St. Catherine camp owner (great job Kim!), and members of the LSCA and the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) were interviewed about the Lake Wise Program on LSC as one of the many programs and projects occurring in the Poultney-Mettowee Watershed. LBCP and NEIWPCC have helped to fund Lake Wise on LSC through grants since 2019.

The video piece features some great info about the Lake Wise Program on LSC, and some beautiful images and drone footage of the lake. Lake St. Catherine is featured in the first part of the video entitled "One Lake, Many Stewards".

You'll also see PMNRCD rockstars Hilary and Sadie talking about other great projects they have worked on, including restoring fish passage on the Mettowee River, a tour of the Champlain Valley Native Plant Restoration Nursery - right here in Poultney - which provides the native plants for the Lake Wise and LEAP Programs on the lake, and native plantings on local farms.

We encourage you to take a look at this massive project to see all the conservation work being done in the Lake Champlain Watershed.

Here is the video with highlights from the Poultney-Mettowee Watershed which includes the great work of PMNRCD in our area, including Lake Wise on LSC. Check it out:

Lake Wise is a *FREE* program for lakeshore property owners. The 2026 Lake Wise Program on LSC is funded through a Education and Outreach Property Assessment Program grant earned by the LSCA from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) and NEIWPCC. You can read all about this great program here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-wise-program

If you would like to participate in Lake Wise this season, spots are limited, so please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to get signed up! If you have previously participated in Lake Wise and would like a follow-up assessment, please let us know.

Thank you to LCBP for highlighting all the great conservation work occurring in the Lake Champlain Basin!

LSCA's Facebook Page Reaches 2,500 Followers

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:57:49 GMT

Good morning LSC.

Just a quick note to mark a Facebook milestone. Earlier this week, we've hit over 2,500 followers on our Facebook page.

It's great to have such an involved and engaged lake community that we can keep informed with Lake St. Catherine news & information.

If you haven't hit the 'Follow' button on our page yet, please do!

We often post lots of videos & photos and quick updates there.

We appreciate your support!

Ice Out 2026

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:50:32 GMT

Not an April Fools... There she is.

For the Ice Out Contest: At last check late last evening, there was still a lot of ice visible, which was gone this morning.

We had 6 people guess today, April 1st, so we had to go to the tiebreaker, and the winner is:

John Burchett

Congrats John!

Looking forward to another great season on Lake St. Catherine.

Thanks to all who participated in the Ice Out contest.

LSCA Earns Grant-In-Aid Funding for 2026 Greeter & DASH Programs

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:02:03 GMT

Good afternoon LSC, we have some great news to share.

Back in early January, we let you know that we had earned the 2026 Healthy Ecosystems - Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Prevention and Management Grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) and NEIWPCC for $25k to help fund our Greeter and DASH programs.

We are happy to report that we have also earned an Aquatic Nuisance Control Grant-In-Aid Program Grant from the State for $25,489 also in support of these important programs.

LSCA trustees have been working very hard over the winter on these grants, and we are extremely happy to have secured this grant funding for Lake St. Catherine!

In total, that's $50,489 in grant funding earned for the Greeter and DASH programs! These funds will go a long way, but will only partially fund the total costs of both of these programs for the 2026 season. Membership dues and contributions from the lake community, and allocations from the towns make up the rest of the funding for these programs.

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 - 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. Traditionally, through State Grant funding and contributions from our members, we were ale to staff the boat launch on the busiest days: Friday through Sunday, holidays, and during fishing tournaments. Earning this grant last year allowed us, for the first time, to be able to staff every day between Memorial and Labor day, and we will be able to do this again this year.

About the DASH Program:

Our DASH crew suits up in scuba gear and hand-pulls milfoil by the roots from the lakebed. In sections of lower milfoil density, they will swim the area and hand-pull milfoil 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. Using plant data collected from the fall survey, and the survey that will be conducted in the spring, a map will be created to show where the DASH team will focus on this season.

Thanks to everyone who has become a member, or renewed their membership for 2026 - we appreciate your support. If you have yet to renew for the 2026, we hope to earn your support. We have membership levels for everyone who loves LSC - and you can renew or become a member here: https://www.lakestcatherine.org/become-a-member

Thank you!

Green Up Vermont Day 2026 on LSC, Wells & Poultney

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 16:32:56 GMT

Hello LSC, and residents of Wells & Poultney,

Saturday, May 2nd is Green Up Vermont Day.

Green Up Vermont is a state-wide volunteer cleanup day of Vermont's roads and waterways.

As Green Up Vermont's website says:

"We know it isn’t your litter but Vermont needs our help to be beautiful!"

We've had FANTASTIC turnouts over the past several years, with volunteers signing up to cover every road around the lake, and additional roads in Wells & Poultney - and we're looking to do it again this year. You can check out a quick recap, and see lots of photos from our volunteers of our 2025 Green UP Vermont Day here.

Would you like to volunteer for Green Up Vermont Day?

If so, email us at info@lakestcatherine.org, or contact us on Facebook, and let us know the roads (or sections of roads) you'd like to work on, and we'll add you to our volunteer map (see below). You can also visit the Wells or Poultney Town Halls to pick up bags, and let them know where you'll work.

Roads highlighted in blue on the map indicate that the road (or section of road) is being covered by a volunteer. We'll do our best to coordinate the efforts so we all know what areas are covered, and which areas need volunteers.

2026 Map (click here to view full-screen):

Wells:

As we did last year, in coordination with the Town of Wells, we will be hosting a brief kickoff to the day at the Wells Lakeside Park on Little Lake at 8 AM that morning. Please stop in to pick up Green Up bags, fuel up on coffee and muffins from the Wells Country Store to get energized for the day, and meet your fellow volunteers, or stop in to see us to talk about the lake! Green Up Bags are available now at the Town Hall, and will be available at the Park that morning. Also, the Wells Village Library will have high-visibility vests and grabber reacher tools to borrow.

Poultney:

Green Up Day bags are currently available at the Town Hall. If Poultney plans a meetup or event, we'll let you know.

So, let us know if you'd like to participate and where you'll do your clean up, and we'll add your area to the map. We'll keep the map up-to-date here, and on our website Calendar, on the May 2nd Green Up Vermont Day event. You can view that here: 2026 Green Up Vermont Day Event.

Let's all pitch in to get Lake St. Catherine, and Wells & Poultney ready for a great Summer!

Thank you!

Wells & Poultney Vote To Provide Funds To The LSCA On Town Meeting Day 2026

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:11:59 GMT

On Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026, the residents of Wells and Poultney voted to provide $12,000 and $15,000, respectively, in support of the Lake St. Catherine Association's mission of the preservation, protection and maintenance of beautiful Lake St. Catherine.

We'd like to thank the good folks of both towns for their continued support!

These allocations from the towns, grants earned from the state & environmental organizations, and contributions from the lake community in the form of donations & membership dues make up our funding for the season.

You can read about work of the LSCA for the benefit of Lake St. Catherine in our full 2025 Year in Review by clicking here:

https://lakestcatherine.org/2025-year-in-review

If you'd like to contribute, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. We have multiple membership levels available. These include memberships for cottage owners, business sponsors, and our Supporter Of LSC level for those of you who love LSC but are not a cottage owner (like family members of property owners, renters and those who use the lake for recreation).

The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.

Thanks again to the residents of Wells and Poultney!

Predict Ice Out Day 2026

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 17:25:42 GMT

Hello LSC - are you ready for Spring - and getting excited for another fantastic season at Lake St. Catherine this year?

We made it to March, and with temperatures predicted to hit the 60s soon, it's time for our yearly fun contest to predict when the ice will go out.

Last year, the ice went out on March 23rd, and you can see a list of the past winners below.

Please fill out the form below to make your guess:

https://forms.gle/GagmpjqTWnMzXoeX6

Note: Since the ice is good at hanging around in some of the bays for quite a while, we'll use open water in the middle of the Big Lake to make the call on the date & time for ice out. Let's say if you could drive a boat from the western shore to to the eastern shore of Cones Point.

The winner will be crowned "LSC 2026 Ice Out Champion" and will have bragging rights all year!

Will your name be added to this list of previous Ice Out Champions?

In 2025, with her guess of March 23rd at 2:30 PM, the 2024 Champ was Nancy Williams.
In 2024, with his guess of March 7th at 12:00 PM, the 2024 Champ was John Sargent.
In 2023, with his guess of April 9th at 12:43 PM, the 2023 Champ was Tim Olivieri.
In 2022, with her guess of April 4th at 11:03 AM, the 2022 Champ was Mary-Sue Reed.
In 2021, with his guess of April 2nd at 2:30 AM, the 2021 Champ was Walter Huss.
In 2020, with his guess of March 23rd at 3 PM, the 2020 Champ was Melvin Ohl.
In 2019, with her guess of April 15th at 6 AM, the 2019 Champ was Judy Cummings.

Make your guess - and good luck!

Junior Warden Weekend 2026

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 17:00:20 GMT

We'd like to let you know about this great Vermont Fish and Wildlife program called Junior Warden Weekend, taking place at the Edward F. Kehoe Green Mountain Conservation Camp on Lake Bomoseen, August 1st & 2nd - and the Lake St. Catherine Association would like to sponsor a teen from Wells or Poultney to participate!

Teens ages 15-17 are invited to come learn up close how F&W Game Wardens contribute to conservation in Vermont. Participants will spend the weekend fishing, hiking, exploring mock crime scenes, and seeing K-9 units in action, and teens will stay in the cabins and enjoy campfires, s’mores, swimming, and other camp activities during their stay.

More details about Junior Warden Weekend are included below, and here is the direct link to learn more and apply:

https://vtfishandwildlife.com/learn-more/conservation-education/junior-warden-weekend

The LSCA would like to sponsor a teen from Wells or Poultney and cover the participation fee for them to attend this fun and educational weekend. If your teen from Wells or Poultney applies, please let us know at info@lakestcatherine.org, and we'll work with the program coordinator to make a donation to cover their fee. Spots are limited to 25 teens, so be sure to get your application in soon before the program is full. We'll sponsor the first applicant from Wells or Poultney that the program receives.

Early February 2026 Membership Update

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 15:12:13 GMT

A good snowy morning to you LSC.

We wanted to provide a quick update on our 2026 Membership Drive. After a stop to the PO Box this morning, we are now at 214 members - more than halfway to our goal of 400 members.

Thank you to everyone who has joined or renewed for the 2026 season! We are working as quickly as we can to get your membership packages out to you.

Here's how you can join or renew:

• To join or renew on our website, please visit this page: https://www.lakestcatherine.org/become-a-member

• To pay by check, you can download our 2026 membership form here: https://www.lakestcatherine.org/resources/Documents/2026_LSCA_Membership_Form.pdf

We hope to earn your support for the 2026 season!

You can always see up-to-date membership stats on our website here: https://www.lakestcatherine.org/membership-statistics

Your LCSA Trustees are hard at work planning for the 2026 season, including applying for grants, and creating workplans for grants that we have already earned for 2026.

Thanks for your support of the LSCA!

LSCA Earns $25K Grant From LCBP & NEIWPCC For DASH & Greeter Programs

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 13:53:59 GMT

Good morning LSC. We have some exciting news to share!

We are very happy to report that the LSCA has earned the 2026 Healthy Ecosystems - Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Prevention and Management Grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) & NEIWPCC for $25,000 to be used for our Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting Program (DASH), and our Greeter Program at the public access boat launch in Wells.

These funds will help to partially fund these two very important programs for Lake St. Catherine in 2026.

About the Greeter Program:

About the DASH Program:

Thank you to the LCBP & NEWIPCC for their continued support of Lake St. Catherine!

The LSCA will also be applying soon for State funds through the State's 2026 Aquatic Nuisance Control Grant-in-Aid program to earn additional funds that will also help to partially fund both of these programs. Contributions from both Wells and Poultney, and membership contributions make up the funding for the important programs.

Finally, our 2026 Membership Drive just launched in the New Year, and we hope to earn your support. You can learn more about becoming a member of the Lake St. Catherine Association on our website here: https://www.lakestcatherine.org/become-a-member

Thank you!

Happy New Year 2026!

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 15:06:02 GMT

Happy New Year LSC!

This photo was taken this morning after talking a VERY SHORT walk onto the Big Lake. We have not checked the ice thickness - so PLEASE be careful.

Thanks to all in the lake community for your support of the Lake St. Catherine Association as we work to fulfill our mission of the preservation, protection, and maintenance of beautiful Lake St. Catherine! We are looking forward to 2026!

Finally, our 2026 Membership Drive is underway. We hope to earn your support for the 2026 season. You can read all about the membership drive, and how you can support the LSCA here: https://lakestcatherine.org/2026-membership-drive

Thanks again for your support & best wishes for 2026!

LSCA Launches 2026 Membership Drive

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 13:12:23 GMT

Hello LSC.

It's that time of year again... As the Lake St. Catherine Association heads into its 73rd year, we are asking for your support for the 2026 season.

You can also check out our recently published 2025 Year In Review which outlines all the work the LSCA and our partners performed on behalf of our members and the lake community in 2025. You can read that here:

LSCA's 2025 Year In Review

We have multiple membership levels available. These include memberships for cottage owners, business sponsors, and our Supporter Of LSC level for those of you who love LSC but are not a cottage owner (like family members of property owners, renters and those who use the lake for recreation).

There are two easy ways to renew or become a member of the LSCA.

Soon, you will be receiving a mailing from us that contains the 2026 Membership Form. You can also download a copy by clicking here: 2026 Membership Form - just print and fill out the form, then mail it in with your check to:

Lake St. Catherine Association
PO Box 631
Wells, VT 05774

Our mailing looks like this:

Or, you can renew or become a member on our website. If you were a member in 2025, click here to renew: https://lakestcatherine.org/membership-renewal, or click here to become a new member: https://lakestcatherine.org/become-a-member - and you can pay your dues online with your credit card.

If you were a member last year (whether you paid by check or online by credit card), the website has an account ready for you. If you don't remember your password, or have never logged in, please click here: https://lakestcatherine.org/Sys/ResetPasswordRequest to set or reset your password.

We'd also like to encourage you to check with your employer to see if they have an Employer Matching Gift Program for charitable donations. Many generous businesses will match donations made by their employees through these programs. So, take a look - you may be able to double your contribution!

Upon receiving your membership contribution, we’ll send you the 2026 membership package, which will include: your receipt, a '2026 Member' sticker for your LSCA window card (or a card & sticker for new members - let us know if you need a new window card), a hand-written thank you note, and a new, beautifully designed 3" x 3" iron-on patch depicting a great blue heron from Lake St. Catherine.

We'd like to thank LSC camp owner Andrew Gioulis (VT Lake House) for again providing a fantastic design for the 2026 patch, which you can see below:

We are happy to report that in 2025, we had 383 paid members, which includes 16 Business Sponsors. The average contribution of our members was over $200 - THANK YOU!

Your membership dues and additional contributions over and above our base $100 membership level are crucial to funding our important lake programs. As always, we ask you to help us to spread the word by discussing the LSCA with your neighbors. We are hoping to get our membership to over 400 this year.

We will continue to work hard for Lake St. Catherine to earn your support.

Thank you for your support of the LSCA!

- The Trustees of the Lake St. Catherine Association

If you ever have any questions about your membership or Lake St. Catherine, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

LSCA & PMNRCD Earn Grant For 2026 Lake Wise On Lake St. Catherine

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 12:40:15 GMT

Hello LSC, we have some great news to share.

In partnership with the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD), we have earned a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) and NEIWPCC for $15,097 to perform Lake Wise assessments, and to install best management practices (BMPs) on Lake St. Catherine. This grant also includes up to an additional $20,000 for supplies and materials to install BMPs around the lake!

Projects can include the creation of buffer areas, native plantings, water diversion and water infiltration, and shoreline stabilization.

The LSCA & PMNRCD would like to help other Lake St. Catherine property owners implement best practices to mitigate stormwater on their properties, and help them to earn the Lake Wise award. To date, over 110 properties have participated in the Lake Wise Program, and have at least received an initial assessment. This program is FREE to shoreline property owners, with funding earned through grants. If you would like to have your property assessed, or if you would like a reassessment, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to sign up for Lake Wise 2026.

2024 Lake Wise Award Winners Kimberly Thomas & Dave Williams

The LSCA's 2025 Year In Review

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 20 Dec 2025 12:45:32 GMT

Hello LSC.

At the end of each season, we like to take some time to recap the efforts of the Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) and our partners during the year. This work is performed on behalf of the lake community and our membership as we endeavor to fulfill our mission of the preservation, protection, and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine.

What you’ll read below are short summaries of some of the projects and activities from 2025, but we encourage you to visit our website and click on our Blog to read more detailed accounts for all these efforts.

We hope you can get comfy, and spend a few minutes reading on for our 2025 Year In Review.

A Thank You To Our Partners

The LSCA would like to thank the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) and their excellent staff, Fitzgerald Environmental Associates (FEA), Limnologist Emily Porter-Goff, the Towns of Wells & Poultney, the Wells Village Library, the LSC State Park, the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) & NEIWPCC, all the departments under the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, our State Representatives & Senators, and the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds (FOVLAP) for their efforts in support of Lake St. Catherine in 2025. We greatly appreciate your support!

Membership & Donations

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the LSCA this year through memberships and donations - we have a great community of lake stewards who are invested in preserving, protecting, and maintaining beautiful Lake St. Catherine! Your contributions are critically important to help fund our numerous lake management programs which you’ll read more about below.

As of this writing, we have 383 members who contributed a total of $77,816, giving us an average contribution of over $200. While we didn’t hit our goal of 400 members, we had another great fundraising year.

Can we crack the 400 member mark next year? This will again be our goal as we continue to reach out to LSC property owners, and hope to expand our reach with membership levels for family members of property owners, renters, and those who use the lake for recreation.

We’d also like to thank camp owner Andrew Gioulis for his fantastic design of our 2025 Membership gift, this beautiful 3" x 3" iron-on patch depicting a LSC brown trout. We are so happy that our members are enjoying the patches! Andrew has also designed the 2026 patch which looks fantastic! Get a sneak peek of the patch, as part of the 2026 Membership Package, pictured at the end of the post.

Thank you for your support!

Grants - Working To Bring Funds To Lake St. Catherine

The LSCA has been working hard throughout 2025 to bring grant funds to Lake St. Catherine for 2025.

This year, we were able to use grants earned through the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) & NEIWPCC, to help partially fund the Greeter Program and the Milfoil Control Program’s DASH team ($25,000), and to purchase water testing equipment for the lake ($13,000). We also earned a grant through the State’s Grant-In-Aid Program for $25,000 to also help partially fund the Greeter Program and the Milfoil Control Program’s DASH team.

In partnership with PMNRCD, previously earned grant funding from the LCBP was also used in 2025 to help fund the Lake Wise Program, the LSC Stormwater Master Plan, and the LSC Watershed Action Plan. Additional information about these initiatives are included below.

We also plan on applying for grants through our region’s Clean Water Service Provider to fund final designs for multiple stormwater projects that were developed through the LSC Stormwater Masterplan and the Watershed Action Plan. Once final designs are developed, we will be able to apply for additional funding for implementation of the projects.

We’ll let you know how we do!

Greeter Program

Traditionally, our Greeters have been on duty from Memorial Day through Labor Day - working on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, while also covering holidays and fishing tournaments. In 2025, using grant funds earned from the LCBP, and the State’s Grant-In-Aid Program, and membership contributions, for the first time ever, we were able to staff almost all days between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

In total, our Greeters greeted 1,335 vessels throughout the 2025 season.

Thank you to our Greeter team! They work hard each season to keep AIS out of Lake St. Catherine.

Sediment Testing

In August of 2024, working with our limnologist and the DEC, we collected a sediment sample from the deepest part of the lake to analyze the diatoms contained in the sediment. Diatoms are algae with silica cell walls, they produce 20-30% of the air we breathe, and they produce long-chain fatty acids (these molecules are food for the entire food web, from zooplankton to aquatic insects to fish).

By analyzing the diatoms in the different layers of the sediment, we can infer what water quality conditions may have been like prior to colonization.

After reviewing the results we received from two testing laboratories in early 2025, our limnologist concluded:

The oldest layer of the sediment sample collected was dated to 1850
The Lake received a rapid influx of additional sediment between the years of 1875 and 1920, possibly due to clearcutting around the lake, reported forest fires during this timeframe, and the emergence of the quarrying industry
Diatom inferred phosphorus levels in the bottom layer was 6 µg/l, and 12 µg/l in the top layer. This means that in the past 175 years, LSC has doubled its concentration of phosphorus, and pre-colonial concentrations would likely be even lower.
Unfortunately, an invasive diatom (Lindavia comensis from northern Europe) was discovered during the testing. This diatom is now the dominant diatom in the lake which makes LSC’s rating on the Lake Diatom Condition Index as ‘Poor’.

Based on these results, we have seen that LSC’s phosphorus levels have doubled since 1850. This is why the multiple stormwater mitigation programs the LSCA and our partners are working on are so important for the lake. We need to work to “turn off the spigot” so that stormwater is not carrying phosphorus into the lake.

The invasive diatom that was discovered is problematic because of the impact it can have on the food chain. Healthy ecosystems have high diversity, and this invasive diatom has significantly impacted that diversity. Since diatoms are a primary producer (the beginning of the food chain), there are likely to be primary consumers (herbivores, the critters who eat nothing but algae) who won't be able to eat this invasive species, so they can die out. Then, there will likely be secondary consumers (scavengers or predators, those that eat herbivores) who won't be able to find food they can eat, and so on up the food chain, which can cause loss of diversity all the way up. The LSCA will start macroinvertebrate monitoring in 2026 as part of the water testing grant we earned this year.

Lay Monitoring & Water Testing

The water is tested for phosphorus, clarity (secchi depth), chlorophyll-a (algae), and as of 2023, caffeine. You can review the data from the Big Lake (since 1979) and Little Lake (since 2009) by visiting the Lay Monitoring Lake Water Quality Data website. When on this page, select 'Wells' from the 'Select Town' dropdown, and Big Lake and Little Lake data will be available to view.

Based on this data, the DEC recently provided us with some trend charts showing that these values since 2000 have been stable, and noting that our summer phosphorus levels were significantly improving.

In 2026, we’ll be increasing our water quality data collection using a grant earned from the LCBP. This grant has allowed us to purchase 3 in-lake loggers, one for each basin of the lake, which will collect continuous conductivity (salt stress), temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity data. We were also able to purchase a hand-held testing device which will allow us to take readings at multiple locations around the lake, and situationally, like after a large storm. Our limnologist will analyze our collected data, and we’ll create a webpage with the raw data and her analysis.

LSC Watershed Action Plan & Stormwater Master Plan

The LSCA and our partners held multiple public meetings to discuss the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan (LWAP), and the Lake St. Catherine Stormwater Masterplan (SWMP).

In May of 2021, the LSCA earned a grant from the LCBP to help fund the creation of a Lake Watershed Action Plan (LWAP) for Lake St. Catherine. 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?”

Field work began in May 2023, and has included assessments of current conditions in the LSC watershed, including: in-lake, shoreline, roads & culverts, tributaries, wetlands, and forested land. The LWAP team also evaluated and considered the unique characteristics and special needs of areas of the Lake like in our bays and channels - and everything in-between, from the Lily Pond, through the Big Lake & Little Lake, to Lake's End.

The first LWAP meeting took place in February, with an initial presentation of the LWAP findings, and to gather feedback from the public. The second meeting took place in June, and we presented the final draft of the LWAP report. Then on June 30th, we submitted the completed LWAP to the DEC.

This project was a MASSIVE, multi-year undertaking, and the Lake St. Catherine Association would like to thank our partners and everyone who contributed, including:

Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District
Vermont State University at Castleton
Fitzgerald Environmental Associates
Limnologist Emily Porter-Goff
Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
The Towns of Wells & Poultney
The Lake St. Catherine Community

You can view the June LWAP meeting here, and view the completed report and supporting documents here.

In 2018 and 2019, extensive field work by the PMNRCD and FEA took place in the LSC watershed. The goal was to identify sources of increased stormwater runoff and associated sediments and nutrients flowing into the lake. The work involved identifying sources of stormwater, and designing projects to mitigate those sources. This resulted in the creation of the Lake St. Catherine Stormwater Master Plan. 50 potential sites were identified, and as of today, 6 projects have been implemented.

As part of a $50k grant earned from the LCBP, 12 projects from the SWMP were selected by the lake community at a meeting in September 2023, and FEA completed initial designs for these projects. Projects areas include: Clayton Tract, RT 30 (near Cluckin’ Chicken), the end of Cones Point Road, Lochlea Lane, West Lake Road, (south of the Lighthouse), West Lake Road (near Idylwild), Channel Drive, and a grouping of issues on Ferncliff Road. At a meeting in June, these initial designs were presented.

You can view the June SWMP meeting here, and view the SWMP report and the newly designed projects presented at the meeting here.

We now have a collection of initial designs for stormwater mitigation projects from all around the lake. We’ll be working to get landowner approval for these projects, and then writing grants to our region’s Clean Water Service Provider for funding for final designs and implementation. Implementing these projects, along with other initiatives will further our efforts to limit phosphorus entering the lake.

Libraries Love Lakes

In May, the Wells Village Library (WVL) and the Lake St. Catherine Association hosted a reception at the library to debut the 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. This project was made possible by a grant from the LCBP & NEIWPCC.

Poultney artist Nic Stark kicked off the event by discussing how the model was made, chronicling the creation of the model with photos and video he took during the building process.

Next, we used the model to talk about our lake wildlife, like our loons & eagles, and we also demonstrated erosion and stormwater runoff and discussed how these events can be prevented.

Thank you to former Wells Librarian Gina Ellis for all her work on this great partnership!

Also, in the fall of 2024, a Libraries Love Lakes event was held at the Wells Lakeside Park on Little Lake with a focus on art and nature. Attendees were encouraged to interpret the beauty of Little Lake through art. During the event, local artist Peter Huntoon created a painting of a scene of Little Lake, which you can see below. Peter made prints of his Little Lake painting available on his website in March.

Volunteering Around The Lake

We’d like to thank all of the volunteers that participated in the various lake related activities this season! Here is a quick summary of a few of the volunteer opportunities around Lake St. Catherine this year.

On the morning of Green Up Day, volunteers met at the Wells Lakeside Park to kickoff the day with coffee and muffins from the Wells Country Store, thanks to the Town of Wells. Volunteers picked up Green Up Day trash bags, fueled up, and headed out to get to work. By the end of the day, the roads around the lake were cleaned up, and lined with filled Green Up Vermont trash bags. Thank you to the town crews from Wells and Poultney for picking up the bags. We’ll do it again in May!

Lakes End Milfoil Cleanup: In late July, we were contacted by neighbors at Lakes End about a significant increase of dense milfoil near the dam. So, we worked with the neighbors to organize a clean up day, along with inviting other volunteers from around the lake to help out. That morning, we had 12 volunteers hand-pulling milfoil which had taken over the shoreline, crowding out the natives that had grown there previously. Working from the morning to early afternoon, milfoil was removed from the lake to the shore to dewater and dry out so it could be taken to the transfer station to dispose of it like yard waste.

Other volunteer efforts included a Vermont Invasive Patroller (VIP) paddle, lake residents removing milfoil from the lake and along their shoreline, residents participating in Lake Wise, and support for our loons, including the 2025 LoonCount - more on these later on. Thanks to all the good folks working hard to make Lake St. Catherine such a wonderful place!

Eagles & Loons

Wow! It was another exciting year for LSC’s favorite feathered friends!

Our nesting eagles were very active in the late winter and early spring, working on their nest. Then, around May 1st, chirps were heard, and eaglet heads were seen when the parents came back to the nest with food. In total, the parents had three eaglets. During the summer, it was fun to watch them grow, take their first flights, and see their parents teach them how to hunt.

Photo: Friend of Michelle Bates, photo posted on Facebook

Soon after the discovery of the three eaglets, Dawn & Joel observed our nesting loon pair had begun work on a nest in the same area as last year, and within a few days, they reported that the loons were sitting on a nest.

So, we needed to get the loon nesting signs, provided by the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE), in place to create a buffer for them. Dawn & Joel stored the signs for us at their property after they were removed from the water last season.

However, 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 in the waters of the State. Per loon biologist Eric Hanson's recommendation, all the foam was replaced with cedar, which worked well.

Then, on June 17th, the big day arrived, and one of the two loon eggs they had been tending to hatched. As they did last year, the loon family captivated the lake, as we all got to enjoy seeing the chick grow from a tiny puffball riding on its parent’s back, to a full-sized subadult.

Photo: Karen Velsor

Thanks to Dawn & Joel for their efforts, and for Karen Velsor for her amazing photography!

As for the future of this loon family, Eric and Eloise from VCE explained:

"The parents will leave before the chick to start their migration on the New England coast and the chick migration will follow later on before the lakes freeze. The chick will stay between 2 to 4 years at the coast before returning in a range of 40 miles from his natal lake. It will then try to establish a territory to start breeding but that can take a few years before it is successful."

So, our loon parents will be back here at LSC next year, while their chick will remain on the ocean along the east coast for a few years. It will then return to our area on a waterbody within 40 miles of LSC (but will not return to LSC) to try to establish its own territory.

As we have in past years, the LSCA made a donation to VCE for their support of our loons.

Milfoil Control Program

Each season, the LSCA implements a Milfoil Control Program to keep milfoil in check, and at manageable levels in Lake St. Catherine.

The LSCA’s Milfoil Control Program consists of five components:

1. ‘Stop The Spread’ education and outreach. Our ‘Stop The Spread’ campaign educates boaters and property owners on best practices to limit the spread of milfoil. Each year, the LSCA holds a lake community meeting to discuss the control plan for the season, answer questions, and hand out a flyer with best practices for lake users to limit the spread of milfoil.

2. Volunteer milfoil cleanup. Throughout the season, we encourage lake users, boaters, and volunteers to collect detached floating milfoil and remove it from the lake, along with encouraging property owners to remove detached milfoil, and hand-pulling any along their shoreline.

3. DASH - Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting. Our DASH crew suits up in scuba gear and hand-pulls 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.

4. Herbicide spot treatments with ProcellaCOR EC. In order to maximize our DASH crew’s time, effectiveness, and number of acres covered, one of our control methods includes spot treatments with the herbicide ProcellaCOR EC. Spot treatments were not performed in 2025.

5. Water quality improvement programs. Although not directly related to Milfoil Control, the LSCA's work on Lake Wise on LSC, the LSC Stormwater Master Plan, and the LSC Watershed Action Plan all help to limit phosphorus and other nutrients from entering the lake which can contribute to excessive plant growth, and improves overall water quality.

Our Milfoil Control Program continues to consist of a pragmatic, multi-faceted approach, focusing on the areas of milfoil regrowth as noted by our spring and fall surveys. Two spring surveys were conducted in early May, and along with the fall 2024 survey, and input from our DASH team, a map was created to show areas where milfoil needed to be addressed. This map was submitted to the DEC and approved for our 2025 program.

This year, based on the results of the fall 2024 and spring 2025 surveys, we determined that spot herbicide treatments were not needed, and we focused on DASH and hand-pulling.

Our DASH contractor, Sinclair Commercial Dive Services began hand-pulling in June, with full DASH operations starting after the 4th of July weekend, covering over 36 acres, and collecting 648 17.5 gallon buckets of milfoil.

These efforts led to another successful year of milfoil control on Lake St. Catherine. Also, and just as importantly, we continue to see many species of our native aquatic plants that have been suppressed by milfoil have increased in frequency of occurrence - which is also backed up by the data. The Vermont DEC recently informed us that a study of LSC’s aquatic plant data shows that our native plant species richness (the number of different species represented in the lake) has increased during the years of the milfoil control program. You can read more about the results of this plant data analysis in the recently published Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan.

These results are exactly what we want to see!

Lake St. Catherine has over 30 native aquatic plants which are important and necessary to sustain a healthy lake ecology. Our efforts are focused on reducing the amount of milfoil in the lake so that these native aquatic plants can grow as they normally would. Keeping milfoil under control is helping to return the aquatic plant environment to conditions before milfoil was introduced in the 1970s. Because of our milfoil control efforts, we again have a complex and diverse native aquatic plant community.

In late August, our contractor Arrowwood Environmental performed a comprehensive lake-wide aquatic vegetation survey taking place over several days to both evaluate the performance of our milfoil control efforts, and to assess the overall state of aquatic plants in Lake St. Catherine.

Back in 2001, 199 GPS points were plotted throughout Lake St. Catherine, and these points are evaluated for aquatic plants during each report. This is the 22nd consecutive year a plant survey has been performed on Lake St. Catherine. You can see all the previous reports, dating back to 2001 here.

The full report can be read here: 2025 - Aquatic Vegetation Management Report. We encourage you to take a few moments to read through the whole report.

In early May, the lake will again be surveyed for milfoil growth. Using the data collected during this survey, and the data from the fall survey, areas that need to be addressed will be identified, and a plan will be created.

13th Annual LSCA Boat Parade

We had another fun and highly creative boat parade this year!

17 boats participated, and over 530 votes were cast online for their favorite boats in our 4 categories: most patriotic, funniest, most original, best overall. That’s twice as many votes as last year!

Our winners were:

Most Original:

WINNER: Boat #3 - The Green Monstah - Mary Papasso & Team

Most Patriotic:

WINNER: Boat #8 - Land of the Free, Gnome of the Brave - Michele Hunter

Funniest:

WINNER: Boat #11 - We Like Big Putts! - The Hicks Family

Best Overall:

WINNER: Boat #6 - Spirit of Woodstock - Melissa & Bill Tatko

Thank you to all who participated, to those who cheered from their boat and from the shore, to everyone who voted, and to Karen Velsor for once again taking photos of all the participating boats!

Sponsor Spotlight

We’d like to thank the 16 businesses who were LSCA Business Sponsors in 2025!

Our $200 Business Sponsor membership includes a listing on the Sponsors page of our website, a listing in our spring and fall newsletters, and a Sponsor Spotlight in June on our website and Facebook pages.

Thank you to: Haun Welding Supply, Bird Dog Home Inspection, Rathbun's Maple Sugar House, Lake St. Catherine Country Club, Clement Construction, Southern Vermont Standby Power, William Burns Insurance Family, Lake St. Catherine Cottages, Claudia Cedrone - Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Catherine Capers, VT Lakehouse, Thomas Auto & Marine, A-1 Sewer & Drain Service, Woodard Marine, Inc., Lakes & Homes Real Estate, and Owens Plumbing Services.

If you’d like to become a Business Sponsor in 2026, please let us know!

The Lake Wise Program

It was the 7th season for Lake Wise on Lake St. Catherine!

Stormwater has a widespread environmental impact which makes it a growing concern in Vermont. In a statewide effort, towns and local organizations are working to implement large scale projects to help clean stormwater before it enters water bodies. Work is being done from the headwaters all the way down to the stream outlets. Excess nutrients in the water contribute to problems which affect both human and wildlife health including; lower oxygen levels in the water, toxic algae blooms, and excessive plant growth.

This is such an important program for long term health of Lake St. Catherine, and we can all pitch in to make a difference.

The LSCA was happy to again be partnering with the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) on this program, using funds earned through a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) & NEIWPCC (we have again applied for grant funding from LCBP & NEIWPCC to continue the Lake Wise Program next year).

Although no properties received the Lake Wise Award this season, Jaden the Lake Wise team leader from PMNRCD reports that multiple properties are very close. Work will continue on these properties, and they can be reevaluated in the future. Currently, Lake St. Catherine has 29 Lake Wise Award winning properties. You can see where these properties are on the lake by viewing the interactive map on our Lake Wise page here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-wise-program.

Thank you to all the Lake Wise participants for the work they have put into their property in an effort to become Lake Wise. This work represents a model of what all LSC lakeshore owners should strive for, as these projects are both beautiful and lake friendly.

2024 Lake Wise Award Winners Kimberly Thomas & Dave Williams

Before the Lake Wise crew got to work around the lake this year, they once again participated in a training day conducted by the Vermont DEC, which has taken place at Lake St. Catherine over the past several years for our region. Thank you to the property owners who allowed PMNRCD and DEC staff to use your properties for the training!

The PMNRCD crew completed a tremendous amount of work in support of the Lake Wise Program this season (thank you Jaden!). They were also able to leverage their Lake Education Action Program (LEAP) program, which pairs student and community lake education with the implementation of small planting projects for shoreline owners to increase the amount of projects completed. This year, the LEAP team included high school interns from Poultney High School, and Long Trail High School.

Here are some stats of the work performed by the PMNRCD Lake Wise team this year:

7 new property assessments
1 property reassessment
4 projects funded through Lake Wise
2 projects funded through LEAP
206 total native plantings!

Projects can include the creation of buffer areas, native plantings, water diversion and water infiltration, and shoreline stabilization.

The LSCA would like to help other Lake St. Catherine property owners implement best practices to mitigate stormwater on their properties, and help them to earn the Lake Wise award. To date, over 110 properties have participated in the Lake Wise Program, and have at least received an initial assessment. This program is FREE to shoreline property owners, with funding earned through grants. If you would like to have your property assessed, or if you would like a reassessment, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to sign up for Lake Wise 2026.

Photos: By Jaden Groff.
- Left, LEAP intern Devon Barnes with native plantings
- Right, PMNRCD & Vermont DEC staff at Lake St. Catherine for Lake Wise training

LSCA’s Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner

The LSCA held our Annual Meeting & Dinner on Saturday, July 26th, at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club.

If you were unable to join us, you can watch a video of the presentation here.

If you have any questions about the presentation, or would like to share your feedback, please let us know..

Thank you to all our attendees & members, and to our State and local government officials who joined us. We appreciate your support!

Also, a big thank you to the LSC Country Club and their staff for hosting us - and providing a wonderful dinner.

Thank You For Your Support!

Thank you to all those in the lake community who showed their support for the Lake St. Catherine Association in 2025 by being a member, or making a donation, or volunteering, or participating in Lake Wise, or attending meetings & events, or helping to clean up milfoil… there are just so many ways we can all contribute! We hope you found our efforts for the lake in 2025 to be worthy of that support, and we hope to earn it again in 2026.

LSCA Trustees are hard at work getting ready for next season, so keep an eye on our website and Facebook pages for all the latest updates.

Finally, be on the lookout for our 2026 Membership Drive mailing which will go out in the New Year. We hope to earn your support in 2026 so we can continue to all work together to preserve, protect, and maintain beautiful Lake St. Catherine. Pictured below is the membership package you will receive when becoming a member, or renewing your 2026 membership to the Lake St. Catherine Association.

If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Happy Holidays & Happy New Year! We’ll see you at the lake soon,

- The Trustees of The Lake St. Catherine Association

2025 Lake Wise On Lake St. Catherine Recap

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 22:15:46 GMT

It was another great season for Lake Wise on Lake St. Catherine!

Stormwater has a widespread environmental impact which makes it a growing concern in Vermont. In a statewide effort, towns and local organizations are working to implement large scale projects to help clean stormwater before it enters water bodies. Work is being done from the headwaters all the way down to the stream outlets. Excess nutrients in the water contribute to problems which affect both human and wildlife health including; lower oxygen levels in the water, toxic algae blooms, and excessive plant growth.

As a shoreline property owner, you have the access and the ability to control what is happening directly at the water's edge. While small-scale improvements on individual properties may not seem like they have much impact, collectively the implementation of many small projects will have a positive benefit on the water quality in the lake and the surrounding watershed. Actions now will promote a healthy lake environment that will continue to support swimming, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing in the future.

This is such an important program for long term health of Lake St. Catherine, and we can all pitch in to make a difference.

Currently, Lake St. Catherine has 29 Lake Wise Award winning properties. You can see where these properties are on the lake by viewing the interactive map on our Lake Wise page here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-wise-program.

The LSCA and PMNRCD have again applied for grant funding from LCBP & NEIWPCC to continue the Lake Wise Program next year.

Here are some stats of the work performed by the PMNRCD Lake Wise team this year:

7 new property assessments
1 property reassessment
4 projects funded through Lake Wise
2 projects funded through LEAP
206 total native plantings!

Projects can include the creation of buffer areas, native plantings, water diversion and water infiltration, and shoreline stabilization.

The LSCA would like to help other Lake St. Catherine property owners implement best practices to mitigate stormwater on their properties, and help them to earn the Lake Wise award. To date, over 110 properties have participated in the Lake Wise Program, and have at least received an initial assessment. This program is FREE to shoreline property owners, with funding earned through grants. If you would like to have your property assessed, or if you would like a reassessment, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to sign up for Lake Wise 2026.

Photos: By Jaden Groff.

- Left, LEAP intern Devon Barnes with native plantings
- Right, PMNRCD & Vermont DEC staff at Lake St. Catherine for Lake Wise training

Happy Thanksgiving 2025

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 15:54:06 GMT

The Lake St. Catherine Association is thankful for the support of the lake community and our members as we work to fulfill our mission of the preservation, protection and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine.

The LSCA is also thankful for the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District and their excellent staff, Fitzgerald Environmental, Limnologist Emily Porter-Goff, the Towns of Wells & Poultney, the Wells Village Library, the LSC State Park, the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, the Lake Champlain Basin Program & NEIWPCC, all the departments under the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, our State Representatives & Senators, and the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds - thank you for your efforts in support of Lake St. Catherine in 2025!

We are currently hard-at-work making plans for 2026. Keep your eye out for our 2025 Year In Review summary coming soon.

The Trustees of the LSCA would like to wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank you for your support!

Early September 2025 VIP Paddle

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 23:34:42 GMT

A quick thank you to Lisa and Marsha who joined us this morning for the VIP Paddle at the Boat Launch.

We paddled the area looking at our native plants, and looking for any potential introductions of invasives.

Pictured below is one of our native plants, ribbon leaf pondweed.

We'll be filing a report with the DEC about our observations during today's paddle.

There was interest to do another paddle, so we'll look to schedule one at and around the Wells Lakeside Park on Little Lake towards the end of September. Let us know if you'd be interested in participating!

> About the VIP Program:

The VIP program was established by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in 2007 to focus on early detection of all known and potential aquatic invasive species (AIS) before they can become established in a waterbody. Early detection is vital to protecting Lake St. Catherine from harmful invasive plants and animals. Volunteers participating in the VIP Program will monitor Lake St. Catherine for new introductions of invasive species and report their findings to the DEC. If a new invasive is discovered, the DEC will dispatch a team and work with the LSCA to organize an effort to remove it from the lake. This is a GREAT addition to our invasive species control and prevention initiatives which includes our Greeter Program.

You can read more about the VIP Program on LSC here: https://lakestcatherine.org/vermont-invasive-patrollers

LSCA Donates To VCE In Support Of LSC's Loons

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 16:37:49 GMT

The LSCA recently made a donation to the Vermont Center for Ecostudies on behalf of Lake St. Catherine in honor of our 2025 loon chick, and in recognition of the continued support from Eric and Eloise from VCE of LSC's loons.

VCE sent us this article detailing the work of their Loon Conservation Project this summer, and the importance of community participation in their efforts.

Check it out here: "Two Biologists and Every Loon in Vermont: the Power of Community Science"

Photo: Karen Velsor

Meeting of the Board of Trustees - 8/23/25

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 17:09:49 GMT

On Saturday, August 23rd, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their fourth and final meeting of the 2025 season.

Attendance: Jim Canders, Mike Gay, Jerremy Jones, Mary Jo Teetor, Ed Laird, Jeff Crandall, Kemi McShane, Sue Williams, Lisa Micich, Nancy Liberatore. Absent: Bob Williams, Mark Shea, Dan O’Connell.

Guests: Beck Sinclair, Tim mante, Steve Mattison, John Belnavis, Melissa Hardesty.

Call to Order: President Jim Canders called the meeting to order at 8:03 AM.

Note: the meeting did not follow the agenda to accommodate the guest speakers and the Trustees with other engagements.

DASH Report: Beck Sinclair provided a report for the DASH team’s 2026 work. Work started in late June with hand-pulling only in multiple areas around the lake, with full DASH operations commencing after the 4th of July holiday weekend. Problem areas next year could be around Sunken Island, and Forest House and Atwater Bays. They also surveyed the boat launch area for signs of zebra mussels, and did not find any. They also noted that they did not see any Curley Leaf Pondweed in the Big Lake during their work.

Greeter Program Report: John Belnavis volunteered to run the 2026 Greeter Program even though he had retired from the board in 2025 - THANK YOU JOHN! John introduced Melissa (Missy), and a potential plan for her to manage the Greeter Program next season.

Lake Safety: Mike Gay requested funds for replacement parts for multiple buoys. Mary Jo made a motion to appropriate $608 for the parts, seconded by Sue. All in favor, so moved. Mike also requested assistance for the fall pickup of the buoys, hoping to use the DASH boat to do so.

Introduction of Potential Trustee Candidates: Jim Canders introduced Tim Mante, a resident on Atwater Bay, and Steve Mattison, a resident on Stonehenge - both are interested in joining the board. They both introduced themselves.

On to the agenda:

Approval of Meeting Minutes: Motion to approve the June Minutes, all in favor and so moved.

Treasurer’s Report: Mary Jo Teetor presented an overview of current balances and a report. An extension was filed for the 990, and due in October. Mary Jo also asked that we get a COI and a contract for all vendors. Mary Jo also discussed recent and upcoming State and LCBP grants. A motion was made to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented, all in favor, so moved.

Annual Membership Meeting: A brief discussion of the Annual Meeting took place. The meeting was well attended, the food was great, and it appears that all who attended had a good evening. Many State and local officials attended. John has given the CC our dates for next year.

Milfoil Program: Jeff Crandall discussed preparing for 2026. The fall survey will be taking place in September, conducted by Arrowwood Environmental. Atwater Bay appears to have the most dense areas of milfoil to be addressed next year. Jerremy spoke about the volunteer effort at Lakes End, which was very successful.

Water Quality and Testing: Mary Jo has been taking lay monitoring water samples, noting that the State has been late in picking up the samples. There was also discussion of dirty looking water reported coming from the Cascades area on RT 30, which would have been from a beaver dam letting loose. There was also discussion of the septic issue on Channel Drive, and the unfortunate discovery of an abandoned well that was found just before work was to begin on the new system.

Publicity: Jerremy provided copies of the Fall newsletter. Copies are also available at Wellsmere Farm and the Cluckin’ Cafe. Digital copies are available on our website and were emailed to members.

FOVLAP Update: Jerremy spoke about FOVLAP’s upcoming annual meeting in early September in Burlington which has the theme of celebrating Lake Associations. Jerremy also discussed the recent changes in Lakes and Ponds, the Greeter Program - and the effort to create a card for Greeters to be able to read to boaters about the laws.

Nominating Committee: Jim introduced Tim and Steve as candidates to fill open seats on the board. These 2 open seats have 2 years left on their term, so they would serve in 2026 and 2027. Jerremy made a motion to have Jim appoint Tim and Steve to the open positions, seconded by Sue. All in favor, so moved. Welcome to the board Tim and Steve!

Membership: Jerremy noted that the postcard reminders for renewals worked well, and that we currently have 377 members. The average contribution is around $200 per member. Jerremy mentioned that he will work to get the 2026 membership launched right at the beginning of the new year.

Government Relations: Discussion of the good representation at the annual meeting.

Old Business: Jerremy discussed the good turnout at East Poultney Day. Also a discussion about a replacement sign for the one that was run over.

New Business: Ed and Nancy discussed a possible land donation to the LSCA. Ed made a motion to hire an appraiser to evaluate the fair market value, seconded by Jeff, all in favor, so moved. There was also discussion about having an April meeting in 2026 to discuss things that may need to happen earlier in the season before we have the May meeting.

Election of Officers: A motion was made by Ed, seconded by Sue for Kemi McShane to be elected Recording Secretary, all in favor, so moved. A motion was made by Jeff, seconded by Jerremy for Mary Jo to be elected Treasurer, all in favor, so moved. A motion was made by Ed, seconded by Jerremy for Mike to be elected Vice President, all in favor, so moved. A motion was made by Jeff, seconded by Ed for Jim to be elected President, all in favor, so moved.

Adjournment: a motion was made by Sue to Adjourn the meeting at 9:45 and seconded by Jerremy. All in favor, so moved.

Minutes respectfully submitted, Kemi McShane

LSCA's Fall 2025 Newsletter

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 17:55:02 GMT

The Fall 2025 Newsletter is here!

A short run of printed copies of the newsletter are available at Wellsmere Farm in Wells, and the Cones Point General Store / Cluckin' Cafe in Poultney. If you'd like a printed copy, please feel free to pick one up when you are out and about (available now!). Thank you to Michelle and Nicole for having them available!

Also, your LSCA Trustee neighbors will have printed copies available around the lake over the weekend, so stop by to say hi.

The digital version is now available online via our website through this link: Click here to view the Fall 2025 Newsletter, or click on the image below. When you click on the link for the newsletter, you will be able to view it on screen - and be able to zoom in or out using the controls in your browser window. Or, you can click the download button to save a copy to your computer to view with a PDF reader, and/or print a copy.

September 2025 VIP Paddle

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 16:17:28 GMT

Calling all paddlers...

On the morning of Saturday, September 6th at 9 AM, the LSCA will hold the first VIP Paddle of the season at the boat launch, we hope you'll join us!

The VIP program was established by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in 2007 to focus on early detection of all known and potential aquatic invasive species (AIS) before they can become established in a waterbody.

Early detection is vital to protecting Lake St. Catherine from harmful invasive plants and animals. Volunteers participating in the VIP Program will monitor Lake St. Catherine for new introductions of invasive species and report their findings to the DEC. If a new invasive is discovered, the DEC will dispatch a team and work with the LSCA to organize an effort to remove it from the lake.

This is a GREAT addition to our invasive species control and prevention initiatives which includes our Greeter Program.

If you like to paddle, would like to learn more about LSC's aquatic plants, and would like to be part of an early warning system for detecting invasive species in LSC, please reach out to us at info@lakestcatherine.org to let us know you'd like to participate on September 6th.

You can read more about the VIP Program on LSC here: https://lakestcatherine.org/vermont-invasive-patrollers

Milfoil Cleanup At Lakes End

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 10 Aug 2025 21:08:08 GMT

Good evening LSC. We wanted to take a moment to thank everyone involved in the milfoil hand-pulling volunteer effort at Lakes End today.

Thanks to Jim, Christine, and Marcia and Steve for lending us floating mats, thanks to all the Lakes End neighbors that participated: Dale, Dave & Tyler, Mike & Shelia, and Alex & Michael, and thanks to folks from around the lake that helped out: Philip, Jerremy, Lindsey and her visiting friend, and new State Park Interpreter Elena.

We worked from 8 AM to about 1 PM, and got a lot done! It was great to see so many folks get together and make a big impact.

Milfoil had taken over the shoreline, crowding out the natives that had grown there previously. Tyler reached out to see what could be done, and we put together this volunteer morning which worked out very well!

The neighbors will let all the milfoil dewater and dry up, and will take it to the transfer station to dispose of it like yard waste. Also, after the water settles, they can float back out to remove any milfoil plants that we missed.

Great job all, and thanks for your efforts!

Here are some photos from the day from our Facebook page:

LSCA At 2025 East Poultney Day

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 02 Aug 2025 11:29:54 GMT

Next Saturday, August 9th, is the 90th East Poultney Day, held on the historic East Poultney Green from 9 AM to 3 PM. The theme this year is a commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary. You can read more about the day on the Poultney Historical Society's website here: https://www.poultneyhistoricalsociety.org/come-celebrate-the-90th-east-poultney-day

The LSCA will be there with our booth and the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Model - in our regular spot - so stop in and see us and talk about the lake!

We'll also have LSC stickers and LSC Scrapbooks available.

We hope to see you there!

Meeting of the Board of Trustees - 7/26/25

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:42:38 GMT

On Saturday, July 26th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their third meeting of the 2025 season.

Attendance: Jim Canders, Jerremy Jones, Mary Jo Teetor, Ed Laird, Jeff Crandall, Kemi McShane, Sue Williams, Mark Shea, Lisa Micich. Absent: Bob Williams, Mike Gay, Nancy Liberatore.

Guests: John Belnavis, reported on the Greeter Program. 1,000 boats inspected in 2024, 900 inspected in 2025 to date. There was a problem with the paychecks which was resolved, discussion of new requirements which we are exempt from. John spoke of the Annual Dinner and requested two checks from the Treasurer to pay for the facility fee and the money collected for the dinners. Dan O’Connell present as a candidate to the Board of Trustees.

Call to Order: President Jim Canders called the meeting to order at 8:30.

Approval of Meeting Minutes: Amendment made to the listing of Sue Williams as present and not online. Motion to approve the July Minutes, all in favor and so moved.

Treasurer’s Report: Mary Jo Teetor reviewed the accounts, a second payment was made to the DASH team, PMNRCD submitted an invoice to be paid. Watershed Action Plan payment received. Grant money from the Lake Champlain Basin Program is still outstanding. LSCA is in good shape financially. Grant money received and Membership is strong. Lisa made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented, seconded by Mark, all in favor, so moved.

Milfoil Program: Jeff reported as of April 2025, LSCA has a new five year permit in place. The milfoil was hard to find during the spring survey, but 15 sites identified based on the fall survey. The DASH team started hand-pulling in June and started DASH after the 4th of July weekend. Milfoil getting dense in and around Atwater Bay. Sue mentioned that Idylwild Bay was only partially DASHed last year, could the team revisit? This year only DASH and hand-pulling used, extending the DASH team a few weeks.

Publicity: Jerremy reviewed the presentation for the Annual Meeting, and noted the invited guests that will be attending. He mentioned the increase in the invasive Curly Leaf Pondweed. Mary Jo spoke of seeing cormorants, a bird that can be very destructive. Ed Laird spoke of the bylaws for the annual meeting. As of today, LSCA has 365 members.

Lake Safety: Mike has put solar lights on the buoys.

Water Quality and Testing: Mary Jo has been taking lay monitoring water samples. Early in the season, with so much rain, water clarity was low. Discussed multiple waves of high pollen and the recent wildfire smoke. Weather plays a major factor in water clarity. As of today, lake is looking good.

Nominating Committee: there has not been any contact with Bob Williams.

Membership: Jerremy reminder postcards will be mailed to members who have not yet renewed for 2025.

Government: Jerremy reached out to State and local reps to attend the Annual Meeting.

New Business: Jerremy asked to make a $200.00 donation to the VT Center of Ecostudies for their support of our loons. A motion to donate the funds in the amount of $200.00 was seconded by Lisa, all in favor and so moved.

Adjournment: a motion was made by Mark to Adjourn the meeting at 9:57 and seconded by Jeff. All in favor, so moved.

Next meeting: August 23, 2025 at 8:00 AM LSC CC.

Minutes respectfully submitted, Kemi McShane

LSCA's 2025 Annual Meeting & Dinner Recap

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 13:22:35 GMT

Good morning LSC. We wanted to post a quick recap of last night's Annual Meeting & Dinner.

We had a full house - thank you to everyone who attended! We hope you enjoyed the presentation, your dinner, and the evening spent with your lake neighbors. It was great to see so many folks who care about beautiful Lake St. Catherine.

A few more Thank Yous: Thanks to the Lake St. Catherine Country Club and their wonderful staff for hosting us last evening, dinner was excellent! And thank you to our State and local representatives who joined us last evening, we appreciate your interest and support for the lake!

The presentation was recorded and you can view it on YouTube here:

https://youtu.be/SEw6OHU3tz4

Our apologies for the audio on the recording which is a bit hard to hear.

If you have any comments or questions, please reach out to us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thanks for your support of the LSCA!

Here are some photos from the evening:

Late July 2025 DASH Update

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 17:10:08 GMT

We'd like to provide you with an update from the DASH crew on their work since full DASH operations began after the 4th of July Weekend.

Beck reports:

"Our team has finished up hand-pull and DASH operations in Oxbow Bay, Locations C, D, and E. There was a large dense patch of EWM in Location D, we will have to monitor that location in the future.

We are currently working the DASH boat at Location H, along the West Lake Road shoreline working towards Atwater Bay.

Once finished, we will focus our efforts on removing a large, dense EWM patch that is close to the water surface in Location G, around the rock buoy off of Atwater Bay. This area has high boat traffic which could lead to easier spreading of EWM throughout the lake.

Locations F and I are on the radar for DASH when time permits.

Please remember to give the DASH team and diver's 200 feet of distance or slow your speed and watch for any directions from the Top attendant if needing to access the area."

Thanks to Beck and his crew for their hard work for the lake!

The LSCA's 2025 Milfoil Control Program is funded by grants from the State's Grant-In-Aid Program, an AIS Prevention & Control grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program and NEIWPCC, and contributions from the lake community through LSCA membership dues and donations.

Lakes End Milfoil Cleanup

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 16:29:42 GMT

The LSCA and local neighbors at Lakes End by the dam are volunteering to work the morning of Sunday, August 10th, beginning at 8 AM to hand-pull a large patch of milfoil that has taken over the shoreline there.

We are also looking to borrow floating mats so that volunteers can float on top of the water to be able to reach down and hand-pull the milfoil. If you have a mat that we can borrow for the morning, and/or if you'd like to volunteer, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to let us know!

Thanks!

Vermont Center for EcoStudies 2025 LoonCount On LSC

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:14:18 GMT

From VCE's webpage:

So, we're looking to coordinate volunteers around the lake to count all the loons we see on the lake between 8 AM - 9 AM on Saturday, July 19th.

This would include the loon family (mom, dad, and chick), and any other loons visiting us during this timeframe.

If you'd like to participate, please observe your area, or head out onto the lake between 8 AM - 9 AM this Saturday, and note what you observe, where, and at what time. We'll create a post on our Facebook page that morning on which you can add your observations (or you can email us at info@lakestcatherine.org). We'll then gather all the reports and send that info over to Eric and Eloise at VCE.

Thanks!

Photo: Karen Velsor

Vermont DEC At LSC For 2025 Lake Wise Training

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 16:20:49 GMT

Good afternoon LSC. We wanted to let you know that the Vermont DEC were here last Tuesday at Lake St. Catherine to perform a Lake Wise training.

DEC staff worked with local groups who are performing Lake Wise assessments in our area, including the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District.

Lake Wise was developed through the Vermont DEC and is meant to provide technical assistance for shoreline landowners looking to incorporate lake friendly living practices on their properties. The Lake Wise assessment focuses on four portions of your property; driveway, structure, recreation area, and shoreline. The follow-up report gives recommendations on which stormwater management practices would be best for your property and the lake.

Lake Wise is a *FREE* program for lakeshore property owners!

If you would like to participate in Lake Wise this season, *spots are limited*, so please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to get signed up! If you have previously participated in Lake Wise and would like a follow-up assessment, please let us know.

If you had previously reached out to sign up, you'll be hearing from Jaden and the Lake Wise team soon to set up a meeting at your property.

Finally, a thank you to the 2 LSC property owners who hosted the training!

The Winners Of The LSCA's 13th Annual Boat Parade Are...

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 14:50:58 GMT

Hey there LSC - another fantastic Boat Parade in the books.

Thank you to all 17 of our very creative participants for their efforts! Many of the comments via the online poll said that this was one of the best ever. GREAT JOB ALL!

We'd also like to thank Karen Velsor for taking amazing photos of all the boats for the online poll. and for everyone to enjoy!

So, after over 530 votes (!!!), here are your winners of the LSCA's 13th Annual Boat Parade:

Most Original:

WINNER: Boat #3 - The Green Monstah - Mary Papasso & Team

Runner Up: Boat #10 - Got Service? - The Babkowski Family

Most Patriotic:

WINNER: Boat #8 - Land of the Free, Gnome of the Brave - Michele Hunter

Runner Up: Boat #15 - Founding Floaters - Shirley & Cambell Kennedy

Funniest:

WINNER: Boat #11 - We Like Big Putts! - The Hicks Family

Runner Up: Boat #4 - Lake St. Catherine is ONE IN A MINION! - Marybeth Harrison

Best Overall:

WINNER: Boat #6 - Spirit of Woodstock - Melissa & Bill Tatko

Runner Up: Boat #14 - A Wicked Good Time on Lake St. Catherine - The Wysolmerski Family

You can see a photo of every boat on our Facebook page here:

...and you can see ALL of Karens photos on the Lake St. Catherine - Vermont Facebook Group.

Hope you all had a great 4th of July weekend!

Meeting of the Board of Trustees - 6/28/25

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 23:49:49 GMT

On Saturday, June 28th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their second meeting of the 2025 season.

Attendance: Jim Canders, Jerremy Jones, Mary Jo Teetor, Ed Laird, Mike Gay, Jeff Crandall (online), Kemi McShane (online), Sue Williams, Mark Shea. Absent: Nancy Liberatore, Bob Williams, Lisa Micich

Guests: None

Call to Order: President Jim Canders called the meeting to order at 8:30.

Public Comment: None

Approval of Meeting Minutes: Mark made a motion to approve the May minutes, all in favor, so moved. Last meeting, approval of the August 2024 minutes was missed. Mark made a motion to approve the August 2024 minutes, all in favor, so moved.

Treasurer’s Report: Mary Jo Teetor, MJ outlined paying minor expenses, getting the 990 ready to submit for October, issues with Paychex, and the completed insurance audit.

Annual Meeting / Use of LSC CC: John Belnavis provided a report before the meeting that he has reserved the LSC Country Club for our Annual Meeting: July 27th, 2023 at 6 PM, and worked with the CC on the details of the meeting. 80 dinners can be sold, options are chicken, seafood, and prime rib. John mentioned a $400 facility fee for the evening. Mark made a motion to allocate $400 for the facility fee for the Annual Meeting, all in favor, so moved. Jerremy will promote and set up the RSVPing on the website and begin work on the presentation.

Milfoil Management: Jeff Crandall, Jeff discussed the DASH team’s work so far, hand-pulling in Lily Pond, near the State Park, and along Cones Point. There was a discussion about the increase in Curly Leaf Pondweed in the Little Lake & Channel, and starting to notice it in other areas of the lake. DASH team will keep an eye out when working. John reported before the meeting that the Greeters had greeted 299 boaters.

Water Testing: Mary Jo Teetor, MJ discussed getting started on Lay Monitoring, and a ‘low-alert’ cyanobacteria bloom in the northern end of North Bay. It appeared that a large amount of filamentous algae had collected along the shoreline creating an area of stagnant water which created conditions for the bloom to occur.

Publicity: Jerremy Jones, Jerremy spoke about recent articles, updating the website and Facebook pages, and email updates to members. He also discussed recent FOVLAP meetings, and the proposed changes to the Vermont Use of Public Water rules involving wakesports.

Lake Safety: Mike Gay, Mike has been getting the buoys and markers in place, getting supplies for repairs, and installing solar lights on top of the hazard buoys so they can be seen at night.

Nominating Committee: There was a discussion about the board members with terms ending this year. Ed, MJ, and Kemi have indicated they will run again. Nancy’s term is also up, she was not able to attend today, Jerremy will reach out. There is 1 open position for expiring terms (3 open spots in total). It was suggested that we include a call for Trustees in upcoming email updates to members, Jerremy will include this in new email updates. Also, current Trustees should look for potential candidates.

Membership: Jerremy Jones, Jerremy noted 353 current members, working to get to the goal of 400. Discussion of issue with members mistakenly joining another group, thinking they were renewing with us - this happened 5 times that we know about last year. After the Annual Meeting, Jerremy will send out reminder post cards to members who have not renewed yet.

Government Relations: Jerremy will reach out to our towns, and to our State representatives and senators to invite them to the Annual Meeting.

Grants: Jerremy discussed the recent SWMP and LWAP meetings. Jerremy and MJ working on deliverables and final reporting for the LWAP grant due at the end of the month. Lots of work!

Old Business: Discussion included getting signed up for East Poultney Day, and the loon chick, the 3 eaglets.

New Business: None

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 10:05, seconded and all in favor, so moved.

Next meeting: July 26, 2025 at 8:30 AM LSC CC, and Annual Meeting & Dinner that evening at 6 PM.

Meeting minutes compiled by Jerremy Jones.

LSC Stormwater Master Plan Meeting Recap

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 23:36:00 GMT

Thank you to everyone who joined us this past Wednesday evening for the Stormwater Master Plan update meeting.

Fitzgerald Environmental Associates presented a number designs for stormwater mitigation projects in areas all around the lake. These projects were designed using $50k in funds earned by the LSCA and PMNRCD via a Lake Champlain Basin Program grant.

Potential project areas included:

Along Ferncliff Road
Cones Point General Store
Along Channel Drive
The end of Cones Point Road
Clayton Tract
Lochlea Lane
Near the end of West Lake Road
Near 990 West Lake Road

You can learn more about the Lake St. Catherine Stormwater Master Plan on our website: https://lakestcatherine.org/stormwater-master-plan - including the SWMP report, and the designs for the projects presented on Wednesday.

Next steps will include working with landowners on agreements, and applying for grants for implementation.

You can view a recording of the presentation on YouTube here.

LSCA's 2025 Annual Meeting & Dinner - RSVPs Open!

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 17:27:27 GMT

Hello LSC.

We'd like to invite you to the 2025 Lake St. Catherine Association's Annual Meeting & Dinner at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club on Saturday, July 26th, beginning at 6 PM.

We are looking forward to seeing you!

At approximately 7:30, dinner will be served. If you'd like to stay for dinner, the LSC CC has provided the menu below:

Dinner options:

$25 - Chicken Piccata
$25 - Seafood Stuffed Filet of Sole
$35 - Prime Rib

Dinners include a vegetable, salad, potato, and dinner roll. Cake and coffee will be served for dessert.

Please RSVP for the meeting by clicking here to register:

https://lakestcatherine.org/event-6244367/Registration

You will be able to indicate the selection of dinner(s) you'd like to reserve. If you'd like to attend the meeting, but not stay for dinner, leave the dinner selection fields blank. You can pay online with a credit card or with cash at the door.

> You must RSVP for a dinner by Sunday, July 20th so the Country Club can properly prepare. We'll not be able to take walk-ins for dinner.

Please plan on arriving a bit before 6 PM so you can get checked in and be seated so we can begin the presentation as close to 6 as possible.

80 dinners are available. Dinners sold out last year, so please RSVP as soon as possible.

Thank you!

Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan Final Draft

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 22:17:46 GMT

We are very excited to share with you the completed draft of the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan - and we'd like your feedback before it's submitted on June 30th.

This project was a MASSIVE, multi-year undertaking, and the Lake St. Catherine Association would like to thank our partners and everyone who contributed, including:

Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District
Vermont State University at Castleton
Fitzgerald Environmental Associates
Limnologist Emily Porter-Goff
Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
The Towns of Wells & Poultney
The Lake St. Catherine Community

Thank you all for your contributions to this effort for the lake!

Below you'll find a link to the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan draft report and associated documents, and the link to the recording of the presentation from the June 4th meeting for your review.

Meeting Recording: https://youtu.be/Diy-bsg-qg4

LWAP Draft & documents: View the folder here.

We hope that you can take some time to review the presentation and the draft, and provide any feedback you may have before we submit the final report on June 30th.

Please send your feedback, comments, or questions to us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you!

Participate In Lake Wise 2025 On LSC

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 11:31:33 GMT

Help to protect our valuable natural resource - Lake St. Catherine - through conscious decision making by participating in the Lake Wise program!

You can read more about the Lake Wise Program here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-wise-program

As a shoreline property owner, you have the access and the ability to control what is happening directly at the water's edge.

While small-scale improvements on individual properties may not seem like they have much impact, collectively the implementation of many small projects will have a positive benefit on the water quality in the lake and the surrounding watershed. Larger watershed projects are also being worked on (The LSC Stormwater Master Plan, The LSC Watershed Action Plan).

Actions now will promote a healthy lake environment that will continue to support swimming, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing in the future.

Over the past 6 years, over 100 properties have participated in the Lake Wise Program on LSC, and 29 property owners have earned the Lake Wise Award. You can read all about all the great work that your fellow lakeshore property owners and our partner the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District (PMNRCD) put into the 2024 program here: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/13442577

Three property owners on the lake earned the Lake Wise Award in 2024, and we'll be sharing photos of the winners and their properties soon.

Jaden from PMNRCD did a fantastic job in 2024, and we're excited that she'll be coordinating the program again in 2025!

If you would like to participate in Lake Wise this season, spots are limited, so please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to get signed up! If you have previously participated in Lake Wise and would like a follow-up assessment, please let us know.

Lake Wise is a *FREE* program for lakeshore property owners. The 2025 Lake Wise Program on LSC is funded through a Clean Water Small Implementation Grant grant earned by the LSCA from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) and NEIWPCC.

Loon Chick Hatches!

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 16:29:23 GMT

For the second year in a row, our nesting loons have been successful, gracing the lake with another adorable loon chick!

As noted and reported by Dawn Smith-Pliner around noon time yesterday, one of the 2 loon eggs hatched, and a loon chick has been spotted with its parents - see the photo taken yesterday by LSC photographer extraordinaire Karen Velsor.

The parents are still tending to another egg at the nest - so we'll see if another chick emerges.

Thanks for sharing your wonderful photography Karen!

More photos can be found in the Lake St. Catherine - Vermont Facebook Group.

Vermont DEC to Perform Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Testing At LSC

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 13:38:34 GMT

The Vermont DEC will be at Lake St. Catherine on Monday, June 23rd and Tuesday, June 24th to perform tests as a follow up on the discovery of the half zebra mussel shell in the late fall of 2024, which you can read about here.

This testing is part of an invasive crustacean and mollusk distribution project supported by the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP).

They will perform the following tests over these 2 days around the Fish & Wildlife Access Area boat launch in Wells, and at the State Park launch in Poultney:

eDNA sampling for dreissenid (zebra & quagga) mussels (qPCR)
10 crayfish traps per site (sampling for rusty crayfish), set along a 50 m transect
Timed search for additional mollusks and crustaceans
Plankton net sampling for spiny waterflea and fishhook water flea

We thank the DEC and LCBP for their efforts in support of Lake St. Catherine!

We all need to be vigilant when dealing with aquatic invasive species (AIS) that could potentially infest the lake. This is why our Greeter and Vermont Invasive Patroller (VIP) Programs are so important.

Our Greeters inspect boats for AIS as they enter and exit the lake, but we only have enough funding and personnel to cover the public access on Friday - Sunday from Labor Day to Memorial Day, along with holidays and fishing tournaments. Also, boats and other vessels can be launched at other areas around the lake. It is critically important to “Clean, Drain, Dry” vessels and equipment that will be going into the water to prevent the spread of AIS.

The VIP Program paddles areas where vessels would be launched, like at the public access, at the State Park, and at Wells Lakeside Park using underwater viewers to look for potential new introductions of AIS. This program is an early warning system for finding new AIS that have made their way into the lake so they can be quickly addressed.

The VIP Program is a volunteer initiative. If you like paddling, and would like to learn more about the lake, please reach out to let us know you’d be interested in participating at info@lakestcatherine.org. You can learn more about the Vermont Invasive Patroller (VIP) Program on LSC here.

What can you do to help protect the lake from AIS? Become a member of the LSCA, volunteer, keep an eye on your shoreline and be sure to Clean, Drain, Dry any vessel coming in contact with the lake.

Thank you!

The 13th Annual LSCA Boat Parade - Register Your Boat Now!

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 16:54:02 GMT

Hello LSC - We'd like to let you know that the 13th Annual LSCA Boat Parade has been scheduled and is open for registration!

The 13th Annual LSCA Boat Parade will be on Saturday, July 5th at 1 PM.

We all know how fun it is to watch the boat parade, but it's even more fun to be part of it!

As we did last year, we'll take photos of all participants, and we'll have a lake-wide online vote to decide the winner.

Our categories are:

Most Original
Most Patriotic
Funniest
Best Overall

Our 12th Annual Boat Parade winners, and current reigning champions are:

Most Patriotic:

Winner, Most Patriotic: Boat #11 - God Bless America!! - Dave & Lisa

Funniest:

Winner, Funniest: Boat #5 - Dump Run! - Conine Family

Most Original:

Winner, Most Original: Boat #7 - Carnival - Hicks Family

Best Overall:

Winner, Best Overall: Boat #9 - Come On Barbie Let's Go Party - Christine Gay

[ All photos by Karen Velsor - thanks Karen! ]

So, start thinking about your theme, and mark your calendars for July 5th! Then, email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to register your boat.

Also, lake resident Kevin Mosmen has requested that we inform you of his Independence Day Fireworks display the evening of Friday, July 4th. Kevin is taking over the show from long-time producer Rick Roberts, and has set up a GoFundMe for the show, which you can read about by clicking here.

It's going to be a fun day!

LSCA Earns Grant From LCBP To Purchase Water Testing Equipment

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 16:41:44 GMT

Hello LSC, we have some very exciting news to share with you today.

We are very happy to report that we've just been informed by the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) & NEIWPCC that we've earned a grant to purchase water testing equipment for the lake!

This $13,206 grant will allow us to purchase:

3 Dissolved Oxygen in-lake loggers
3 Conductivity in-lake loggers
A hand-held testing unit
Macroinvertebrate testing materials

One of each of the in-lake Loggers will be installed in all 3 basins (Lily Pond, Big Lake, Little Lake) and they will take constant & continuous readings for Dissolved Oxygen, Conductivity (salt stress), and temperature. The hand-held unit will allow us to do spot testing for Dissolved Oxygen, Conductivity, pH, and Turbidity. The macroinvertebrate testing materials will allow us to monitor macroinvertebrates at our tributaries. We also plan to have a macroinvertebrate educational event this season.

We'll be working with our limnologist to select the best locations for the in-lake loggers and she'll also create a testing routine with locations for monitoring with the hand-held unit. She'll also analyze and report on the collected data, incorporating other available data generated through the Lay Monitoring Program and LaRosa steam monitoring.

We will be submitting our workplan soon, and once approved, we can purchase the equipment to begin the project.

The attached image is a slide from our presentation last evening about the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan.

Thank you to all who attended, we hope you found the presentation interesting and informative!

A recording of the presentation and a draft copy of the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan report will be posted next week for your review. We'll be collecting your comments and feedback over the next several weeks before we submit the final report at the end of the month.

Thank you!

2025 Milfoil Control Program Map

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 01 Jun 2025 16:41:20 GMT

Hello LSC, attached you will see the Milfoil Control Map for 2025.

Our DASH team (Beck and his crew) have been in the water this past week to dive at the milfoil areas identified during the fall survey. Beck reported that they observed some new sparse growth in areas, and some denser growth around the Sunken Island. They will start hand-pulling next week, and full DASH operations will begin on July 1st.

The team also performed a survey of the boat launch area for zebra mussels on Friday. Back in November, the Vermont DEC found a single, half shell next to the dock at the boat launch. You can read all about that here: Zebra Mussel Shell Found At Public Access. We are very happy to report that they did not find any zebra mussels during the dive.

It is extremely important to Clean, Drain, Dry any vessel coming in contact with the lake to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS). The LSCA's Greeters will be inspecting boats at the launch this season Friday - Sunday, holidays, and during fishing tournaments.

If you have any questions or comments, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org. Than you!

Lake St. Catherine Watershed Model Event Recap

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 31 May 2025 22:45:54 GMT

Good evening LSC. Here are some photos from today's event at the Wells Village Library to debut the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Model.

Poultney artist Nic Stark kicked off the event by discussion how the model was made. Nic chronicled the creation of the model with photos and video which you can see here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2kTTWK12EQNDjh778

Then we discussed animals around the lake like our loons & eagles. We then used the model to demonstrate erosion and stormwater runoff carrying sediments, phosphorus, and pollutants into the lake, and talked about how we can prevent that. This led to a great discussion about lots of other lake related topics!

We then all enjoyed cake, cookies, and refreshments created by The Flour Girl Bakery.

Thank you to all our attendees - we hope you had a great time, thank you to Nic for his presentation, and thank you to Gina for this wonderful event at the Library!

You can check out additional photos and video in this Facebook Gallery.

LSC Stormwater Master Plan Meeting

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 31 May 2025 14:01:47 GMT

Through extensive field work between 2018 - 2019, Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) and Fitzgerald Environmental Associates (FEA) created the Lake St. Catherine Stormwater Master Plan.

The stormwater master planning process is used to identify current stormwater inputs to surface waters. The relative impact from each of these inputs is calculated and the ranked projects can then be prioritized with feedback from local stakeholders who are familiar with both the storm-related problems and the capacity and resources available to assist in their mitigation.

In September 2023, the LSCA, PMNRCD, and FEA held a public stakeholder meting to select the next batch of projects to be designed, using $50k in funds earned by the LSCA and PMNRCD via a Lake Champlain Basin Program grant.

Potential projects were presented, along with their estimated impact for phosphorus reduction. After a discussion with attendees, the projects were selected.

We are happy to report that those projects have been designed, and we have scheduled a follow up meeting to present them.

Please join us on Wednesday, June 25th at the Wells Town Hall at 6:30 PM for a presentation of the designed projects.

Meeting of the Board of Trustees - 5/24/25

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 27 May 2025 16:03:17 GMT

On Saturday, May 24th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their first meeting of the 2025 season.

Attendance: Jim Canders, Jerremy Jones, Mary Jo Teetor, Ed Laird, Nancy Liberatore, Mike Gay, Jeff Crandall, Sue Williams (online), Lisa Micich (online), Mark Shea. Absent: Kemi McShane, Bob Williams

Guests: John Belnavis, Beck Sinclair, Gloria Weber

Call to Order: President Jim Canders called the meeting to order at 8:30.

Public Comment: An introduction of Gloria to the group, she's interested in participating with the board, and is attending to observe.

Approval of Meeting Minutes: This item was missed on the agenda as the meeting began, we will need to approve the minutes of the August 24, 2024 meeting at the next scheduled board meeting in June.

Milfoil Management: Jeff Crandall, Jeff discussed the approval of our new 5 year permit which was approved on April 21. The May 12th & 17th spring surveys were completed and found very low levels of milfoil, so the decision was made to only use hand-pulling and DASH for milfoil control in 2025, meaning no spot treatments in 2 of the past 3 seasons, an excellent result! A DASH map & other required documentation will be sent to Olin at the DEC for approval. A discussion was held about trying hand-pulling efforts for the 2 small spots in Lily Pond, and the very dense area on the western shore of Little Lake. Beck and crew will investigate the possibility / feasibility. Beck has purchased a new motor and muffler for the DASH boat, and will be getting it ready next week. He will also spend some time around the boat launch diving to check for any trace of zebra mussels based on the half shell being found in the late fall. Jim then passed along a quick report from John Belnavis who has volunteered to oversee the Greeter Program for us this year. Greeters are on duty with returning staff, and interested new Greeters are scheduled to attend upcoming trainings. As of the meeting, 8 fishing tournaments have been scheduled.

Treasurer’s Report: Mary Jo Teetor, MJ provided a copy of the filed 990, and a statement of activity. MJ also described the recent bank issue, and its resolution. Mark made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s report, seconded by Mike, all in favor, so moved. Jim announced a thank you to the Lake St. Catherine Country Club for allowing us to have our board meetings, and the Annual Meeting at the club. Mark made a motion to provide a $275 ‘facility fee’ to the club, seconded by Nancy, all in favor, so moved.

Water Testing: Mary Jo Teetor, there was a brief discussion of the ongoing septic issue on Channel Drive. MJ will start Lay Monitor water testing. Brief discussion about a posting by the DEC looking for cyanobacteria monitors on lakes, and LSC was included. MJ mentioned that the State Park already monitors for cyano at the beach. Jerremy will reach out to Lizzy at the DEC to see where on the lake they want to be monitored, and we’ll find a volunteer.

Annual Meeting / Use of LSC CC: John Belnavis has reserved the LSC Country Club for our Annual Meeting: July 27th, 2023 at 6 PM. John is working with the LSC CC on arrangements and dinner for the meeting. Details will be presented at the June Meeting. Discussion of potential speaker(s).

Publicity: Jerremy Jones, Spring newsletter available, emailed to members, posted on website, printed copies available at Wellsmere Farm & Cones Point General Store. Frequent postings on our website, Facebook, email blasts to keep the lake community infomed. Jerremy also gave a FOVLAP update, discussing the apparent removal of the ‘home lake’ rule of the new wakesport regulations, which is concerning because of the potential transport of aquatic invasive species, and the Chloride Contamination Reduction Program, H.86.

Lake Safety: Mike Gay, Mike and Buoy Buddies getting buoys and markers in. Multiple buoys are in need of repair or replacement, and it looks like the ice has taken some of our anchors. Mike is working on replairs, and will be installing solar lights on the hazard markers. Ed made a motion to allocate up to $1,200 for buoy and marker replacement and repair, seconded by Jim, all in favor, so moved. There was a discussion about the lake safety classes. Jerremy will reach out to Warden Jenna Reed to see if we could hire an instructor to teach a class for the lake community this year, and also see if there is a training for new instructors. Gloria may be interested in becoming an instructor. Jim then called for a moment of silence for Frank Callahan, who passed in January. Frank’s celebration of life was also noted as being at his camp from 1-5 on June 7th.

Nominating Committee: Jim Canders spoke. We did not hear from Bob last year. Jim will reach out. We currently have 3 openings on the board. As President, Jim can appoint members to open positions. Guest Gloria Weber joined the meeting, and is considering joining the board.

Membership: Jerremy Jones, slightly ahead at this time last year, 337 current members, working to get to the goal of 400. Drive kicked off in early January. Showed the membership stats posted on the website. Average contribution is over $200. Membership patches have been very popular.

Grants / Government Relations: Discussion about current and potential grants. LWAP grant ending at the end of June - final draft to be completed (meeting June 4th) [LCBP], Stormwater Master Plan grant provided funding for stormwater projects that have been designed (meeting June 25th) [LCBP], we did not apply for a grant for Lake Wise for 2025, using the remainder of the 2024 grant [LCBP], we earned a grant for AIS prevention & control from the State and LCBP for 2025, and we are awaiting word on a water testing equipment grant from LCBP. For government relations, we have very interested and supportive State representatives and senators, and support from our towns. All have been invited to the LWAP meeting in June.

Old Business: Discussion about the Welcome to Lake St. Catherine sign. Sheldon Slate can’t use the donated slate we have. Idea discussed to make the sign and get it into place with the 3 pieces of slate and have someone carve the slate. Jerremy will reach out to Kerry F from Poultney to see if she may be interested. Discussion about the eagles’ 3 new eaglets, the nesting loon pair is sitting on their nest (meaning they have eggs), and the beaver activity around the lake.

New Business: Signed up for East Poultney Day booth, Aug 9th. A new person is taking over the fireworks display from Rick Roberts and asked that we promote the GoFundMe campaign he has created. After a discussion with Ed, he suggested wording that would be acceptable to use. We will add this to our website calendar, and mention the event and the GoFundMe as we promote the Boat Parade, which will be the next day on July 5th.

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 10:25, seconded and all in favor, so moved.

President’s Note: Gloria Weber who has some very good credentials and has participated in several LSCA events, is interested in serving on the Board. She lives full time on the Little Lake with her husband Bob. She attended the May 24 Trustee Meeting where she was introduced to the Board and experienced first hand the inner workings of the Board meetings. Gloria blended very well with the Board members and the members with Gloria. It was pointed out that there are several vacancies on the Board and the President has the discretion to appoint a person to fill the vacancy of an unexpired trustee term. This process can be completed during the next Trustees meeting, June 24, 2025, at which time the President can exercise his discretion concerning one of the unexpired terms.

Next meeting: June 28, 2025 at 8:30 AM LSC CC.

Meeting minutes compiled by Jerremy Jones.

LSCA's 2025 Spring Newsletter

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 23 May 2025 14:00:42 GMT

It's here, Memorial Day Weekend - the 'unofficial start of summer'. Although the weather doesn't seem to be cooperating at the moment, we hope that you'll have a fun and safe season at the Lake, and that you'll be kind and respectful of each other and our beautiful lake as you create new memories and enjoy your time here this season.

We also hope that you will take a moment on Monday to remember and honor those who have died while serving our country for Memorial Day.

We'd like to let you know that the LSCA's Spring 2025 newsletter is attached with lots of information on plans and events that have already been scheduled this season.

Printed copies are available at Wellsmere Farm in Wells, and the Cones Point General Store / Cluckin' Cafe in Poultney. If you'd like a printed copy, please feel free to pick one up when you are out and about (available now!). Thank you to Michelle and Nicole for having them available!

Also, your LSCA Trustee neighbors will have printed copies available around the lake over the weekend, so stop by to say HI!

The digital version is now available online via our website through this link: Click here to view the Spring 2025 Newsletter, or click on the image below. When you click on the link for the newsletter, you will be able to view it on screen - and be able to zoom in or out using the controls in your browser window. Or, you can click the download button to save a copy to your computer to view with a PDF reader, and/or print a copy.

LSCA Announces 2025 Milfoil Control Plans

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 18 May 2025 21:36:54 GMT

On May 12th and 17th, spring plant surveys of the lake were conducted to evaluate native plant and milfoil growth, and the data collected was compared to the results of the fall 2024 aquatic plant survey. The map on the right shows the fall 2024 milfoil densities around the lake.

We are very excited to report that the amount of milfoil observed visually and via rake toss surveying was EXTREMELY low, and that our native plants are growing well. The one exception found during the spring surveys was a very large and dense patch of milfoil showing new growth along the western shore of Little Lake, which was also recorded in the fall survey. Based on these findings, and as was the case in 2023, a spot treatment will not be needed this year - and we’ll be focusing on our diver assisted suction harvesting (DASH) team’s work for milfoil control in 2025.

A map showing the 2025 DASH and hand-pulling areas will be posted soon. Our DASH team will begin swimming through low density milfoil areas to hand-pull in June when the water temperature allows, and will begin full DASH operations on July 1st, working throughout the summer to keep the milfoil at sparse and controllable levels.

The LSCA’s Milfoil Control Program consists of five components:

Stop The Spread’ education and outreach. Our ‘Stop The Spread’ campaign educates boaters and property owners on best practices to limit the spread of milfoil. Each year, the LSCA holds a lake community meeting to discuss the control plan for the season, answer questions, and hand out a flyer with best practices for lake users to limit the spread of milfoil.
Volunteer milfoil cleanup. Throughout the season, we encourage lake users, boaters, and volunteers to collect detached floating milfoil and remove it from the lake, along with encouraging property owners to remove detached milfoil, and hand-pulling any along their shoreline.
DASH - Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting. Our DASH crew suits up in scuba gear and hand-pulls 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.
Herbicide spot treatments with ProcellaCOR EC. In order to maximize our DASH crew’s time, effectiveness, and number of acres covered, one of our control methods includes spot treatments with ProcellaCOR EC. However, there will be no spot treatments in 2025.
Water quality improvement programs. Although not directly related to Milfoil Control, the LSCA's work on Lake Wise on LSC, the LSC Stormwater Master Plan, and the LSC Watershed Action Plan all help to limit phosphorus and other nutrients from entering the lake which can contribute to excessive plant growth, and improves overall water quality.

These efforts have resulted in the lowest percentage of milfoil cover and frequency of occurrence in the lake since the mid-2000s. Also, and just as importantly, we have seen many species of our native aquatic plants that have been suppressed by milfoil growth like have increased in frequency of occurrence, along with an increase in our plant species richness (the number of different plant species present in an ecological community). These results are exactly what we want to see! LSC has over 30 native aquatic plants which are necessary to sustain a healthy lake ecology. Our efforts are focused on reducing the amount of milfoil in the lake so that these native aquatic plants can grow as they normally would.

What can you do to help?

As a general rule, get as much milfoil out of the lake as possible and dispose of it.
Don’t drive through milfoil patches with your boat which will create fragments.
If you have milfoil on your prop, don’t just reverse and drive away, please remove it from the lake.
If you have milfoil growing in your dock or swimming area, pull it out by the roots and remove it from the lake.
If you see milfoil floating anywhere in the lake, near your dock, or along your shoreline, remove it from the lake.

As you may be aware, there has been a lot of recent misinformation about milfoil, ProcellaCOR, the permitting process, and Lake St. Catherine in general. We encourage everyone to visit our Milfoil Control Program page: https://lakestcatherine.org/milfoil-control-program

Thank you.

LSC Watershed Action Plan Presentation Meeting

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 15 May 2025 00:58:56 GMT

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!

2025 Poultney Community Guidebook

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 13 May 2025 17:23:45 GMT

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!

FOVLAP's 2025 Lake Seminar

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 13 May 2025 16:17:16 GMT

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:

An Update on Lake Issues - DEC Lakes and Ponds Manager, Jenny Austin
Fundamentals of River Science - DEC River Scientist, Staci Pomeroy
Headwater Protection to Improve Lake Health - DEC Lakes Scientist, Kellie Merrell
Evaluating Habitat Function in Floodplain Natural Communities to Inform Restoration and Conservation Prioritization - UVM Research Assistant Professor, Elizabeth Doran
Seed Saving for Floodplain Restoration – Northwoods Stewardship Center, Riparian Lands Program Assistant, Jake Gallinger
Water Quality Impacts of De-icing Salt in Lake Champlain and Its Tributaries - Lead Scientist, Lake Champlain Basin Program, Matthew Vaughan
Role of Beavers in Restoring Watersheds - Furbearer Program, VT Fish & Wildlife, Tyler Brown
Role of Strategic Wood Placement – Trout Unlimited, Erin Rodgers
Restoration through Dam Removal and River Reconnection - Vermont Natural Resources Council and Chair of the Vermont Dam Task Force, Karina Dailey
How Can We Work Together to Protect Lake Tributaries? - Former VT Legislator, VT Fish and Wildlife Advisory Board, Trout Unlimited District Board, David Deen

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!

Loon Nesting Signs Installed For 2025 Season

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 11 May 2025 21:05:08 GMT

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.

Celebration of Life For Frank Callahan - Saturday, June 7th, 2025

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 10 May 2025 14:47:05 GMT

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.

Green Up Vermont Day 2025 Recap

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 03 May 2025 18:45:22 GMT

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:

Lake St. Catherine Watershed Model Presentation Event

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 02 May 2025 16:28:13 GMT

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.

LSCA Earns 2025 Grant-In-Aid Funding

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 12:00:14 GMT

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.

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.

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!

Mid-March 2025 Membership Update

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 17:00:04 GMT

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!

Early Spring 2025 Loon Updates

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 17:10:28 GMT

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

Green Up Vermont Day 2025 on LSC, Wells & Poultney

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 16:00:45 GMT

Hello LSC, and residents of Wells & Poultney,

Saturday, May 3rd is Green Up Vermont Day.

Green Up Vermont is a state-wide volunteer cleanup day of Vermont's roads and waterways.

As Green Up Vermont's website says:

"We know it isn’t your litter but Vermont needs our help to be beautiful!"

We had a FANTASTIC turnout last year, with volunteers signing up to cover every road around the lake, and additional roads in Wells & Poultney - and we're looking to do it again this year. You can check out a quick recap, and see lots of photos from our volunteers of our 2024 Green UP Vermont Day here.

Would you like to volunteer for Green Up Vermont Day?

2025 Map (click here to view full-screen):

Also, on Green Up Day, there will be two opportunities for volunteer meet-ups!

Wells:

Poultney:

From 11 AM - 1 PM on the Town Office Green, the Town, along with Noble Ace Hardware and the Poultney Rotary Club will be providing hot dogs, snacks & beverages for volunteers. Also, the Village of Poultney will have a truck parked near the Town Office Green for Green Up bag collection. Green Up Bags are available now at the Town Hall, and will also be available on Green Up Day.

So, let us know if you'd like to participate and where you'll do your clean up, and we'll add your area to the map. We'll keep the map up-to-date here, and on our website Calendar, on the May 3rd Green Up Vermont Day event. You can view that here: 2025 Green Up Vermont Day Event.

Let's all pitch in to get Lake St. Catherine, and Wells & Poultney ready for a great Summer!

Thank you!

Zebra Mussel Shell Found At Public Access

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 01:22:57 GMT

Hello LSC. We’d like to share some concerning info with you about a recent discovery at the Fish & Wildlife Public Access in Wells involving an aquatic invasive species (AIS).

In October of last year, the AIS Golden Clams, scientific name: Corbicula fluminea, (previously called Asian Clams) were discovered in southern Lake Champlain at the South Bay Boat Launch. In November of 2024, multiple agencies in NY and VT met to discuss this finding, and what actions should be taken. Based on Lake St. Catherine’s proximity, and high-use of the public access, it was determined that LSC was an at-risk location, and was designated to be surveyed.

On November 19th, 2024, a Vermont DEC team performed a sieve survey at the public access on Lake St. Catherine. Although they did not discover any Golden Clams, they did find a Zebra Mussel shell, scientific name: Dreissena polymorpha, next to the southern side of the dock.

Zebra Mussel shell found at Lake St. Catherine.

Location of Zebra Mussel discovery at Lake St. Catherine.

Zebra Mussels on a native mussel. Photo by Megan Weber.

Based on this finding, the DEC team returned to the lake on November 25 to perform additional surveys of the area including visual inspection of the dock and underside of the dock, the boat ramp, and out into the lake. Net tow samples were also collected to analyze for veligers (Zebra Mussel larvae, which would represent reproduction occurring).

Thankfully, no additional Zebra Mussels, or veligers were discovered.

Based on these initial findings, we are hopeful that this shell did not represent a viable Zebra Mussel, and it was only a dead mussel that fell off of a boat or equipment when docked.

From the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds excellent page on Zebra Mussels, Zebra Mussels are highly reproductive, and can quickly establish large populations and outcompete native species for food and habitat, and they can:

clog water intakes and other pipes, (management costs in electrical power and other water-consuming facilities amount to several hundred $M per year)
attach to boat motors and boat hulls, reducing performance and efficiency,
attach to rocks, swim rafts and ladders where swimmers can cut their feet on the shells,
attach to and smother native mussels and clams, and
eat tiny food particles that they filter out of the water, which can reduce available food for larval fish and other animals. (They are responsible for the near extinction of many species in the Great Lake system by outcompeting native species for food and by growing on top of and suffocating the native clams and mussels.)

We do not want these getting established in Lake St. Catherine.

However, studies show that Zebra Mussels can sustain themselves and reproduce in lakes that have calcium levels around 20 mg/l or higher. Lake St. Catherine was recently tested for calcium levels, and it was found to be under 13 mg/l. Just up the road from us at Lake Bomoseen, Zebra Mussels are established there, and reproducing. Lake Bomoseen’s calcium level was found to be just under 20 mg/l (Lake Bomoseen also has Golden Clams). Live Zebra Mussels were found in Lake Dunmore in 2018 at their public access and removed. The calcium level in Lake Dunmore has been found to be around 8 mg/l, which made the Zebra Mussels discovered look grey, instead of their distinctive alternating light and dark zigzag stripe pattern. Follow up testing has not found additional Zebra Mussels or veligers in Lake Dunmore.

The DEC will return to Lake St. Catherine in the spring to perform some additional tests and surveys. Also, our DASH team will survey the area when they begin operations in the spring.

While our lower calcium level gives us a bit of protection from Zebra Mussels, we need to be vigilant when dealing with them and other AIS that could potentially infest the lake. This is why our Greeter and Vermont Invasive Patroller (VIP) Programs are so important.

We are hiring paid Greeters ($20/hr) for the 2025 season. If you are interested in working for the Greeter Program, please reach out to us at info@lakestcatherine.org. You can learn more about the Greeter Program on LSC here.

What can you do to help protect the lake from AIS? Become a member of the LSCA, volunteer, keep an eye on your shoreline and be sure to Clean, Drain, Dry any vessel coming in contact with the lake. This applies to everyone on the lake, but especially this spring to the folks on the Channel near the public access, please check your shoreline, and inspect your dock. Do you feel or see small bumps as shown in the photo below? These are Zebra Mussels at a very early stage, and they are very small. If you see these, or anything else that may be concerning - let us know - we’ll come right out to take a look.

Small Zebra Mussels on a stick.

We’d like to thank the DEC for their efforts!

We’ll be sure to keep you up-to-date with any new information. Thank you.

Ice Out 2025

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 20:10:05 GMT

From iced in to whitecaps, just like that.

Congrats to Nancy Williams with her guess of today at 2:30 in the 2025 Ice Out contest!

Bring on the sunny days...

Local Artist Peter Huntoon's Fall Painting Of Little Lake

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 16:52:02 GMT

Hey there LSC, we wanted to let you know that local artist Peter Huntoon has posted on his website the painting he created during the Art & Nature Libraries Love Lakes Fall Event at Wells Lakeside Park on Little Lake back in October.

You can see it here: https://www.peterhuntoon.com/painting/lakeside-park/ - and Peter has prints of the original painting available.

Libraries Love Lakes (librarieslovelakes.org) is an outreach project pairing libraries with lake scientists to provide collaborative programming emphasizing the importance of lakes to our everyday lives. The ongoing partnership between the Wells Village Library and LSCA was funded by education and outreach grant through the Lake Champlain Basin Program (lcbp.org).

This event focused on Art & Nature and encouraged attendees to use the inspiration of the beauty of Little Lake to express themselves creatively. This was the fourth and final Libraries Love Lakes event in 2024.

You can see some of the other art created on this day here in our recap: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/13421121

The LSCA and Wells Village Library hope to hold additional Libraries Love Lakes events in 2025.

We thank Peter for participating, and for creating this beautiful painting of the lake!

Predict Ice Out Day 2025

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 16:08:33 GMT

Hello LSC!

Are you ready for Spring - and getting excited for another fantastic season at Lake St. Catherine this year?

Let's have a little fun and make some predictions for when the ice will go out.

Last year was the earliest ice out recorded at LSC on March 7th. This year, we actually had a winter, and the ice has been pretty solid since mid January.

Please fill out the form linked below to make your guess.

Note: Since the ice is good at hanging around in some of the bays for quite a while, to simplify things this year, we'll use open water in the middle of the Big Lake to make the call on the date & time for ice out. Let's say if you could drive a boat from the western shore to Cones Point.

The winner will be crowned "LSC 2025 Ice Out Champion" and will have bragging rights all year!

Will your name be added to this list of previous Ice Out Champions?

In 2024, with his guess of March 7th at 12:00 PM, the 2024 Champ was John Sargent.
In 2023, with his guess of April 9th at 12:43 PM, the 2023 Champ was Tim Olivieri.
In 2022, with her guess of April 4th at 11:03 AM, the 2022 Champ was Mary-Sue Reed.
In 2021, with his guess of April 2nd at 2:30 AM, the 2021 Champ was Walter Huss.
In 2020, with his guess of March 23rd at 3 PM, the 2020 Champ was Melvin Ohl.
In 2019, with her guess of April 15th at 6 AM, the 2019 Champ was Judy Cummings.

Click here to make your guess - and good luck!

> 2025 Predict Ice Out Day on Lake St. Catherine Form

2025 Town Meeting Results - THANK YOU!

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 13:10:59 GMT

Good morning LSC.

On Tuesday, March 4th, 2025, the residents of Wells and Poultney voted to provide $12,000 and $15,000, respectively, in support of the Lake St. Catherine Association's mission of the preservation, protection and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine.

We'd like to thank the good folks of both towns for their continued support!

These funds help us manage and fund important programs that include: aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention and control: our boat launch Greeter Program, VIP Program, Milfoil Control Program, and water quality improvement programs: Lake Wise, LSC Stormwater Master Plan, Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan, and maintaining lake buoys and markers.

You can read more about our efforts for the benefit of Lake St. Catherine here in our 2024 Year In Review on our website:

https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/13443222

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 help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation for 2025. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.

Thanks again to the residents of Wells and Poultney!

Recording of February 2025 LWAP Update Meeting

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:33:36 GMT

Good afternoon LSC, we'd like to share a recording of the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan Update Meeting from last evening. Thank you to all who attended!

The LSCA would like to thank Hilary Solomon & Sadie Brown from the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD), Evan Fitzgerald from Fitzgerald Environmental Associates, Professor Andrew Vermilyea from VSU Castleton, and limnologist Emily Porter-Goff for their continued hard work on the LSC LWAP, and their participation in the meeting last night. A tremendous amount of effort has gone into this project, and we are excited for the final plan and the positive impact it will have for Lake St. Catherine.

We are excited about the completion of the LWAP, which will be in mid-2025. At that time, we'll schedule an in-person meeting to introduce it the lake community.

You can watch the recording of last night's update meeting here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5reV_5dahM

Please let us know if you have any questions or comments at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you!

Long-Time Lake St. Catherine Association Trustee Frank Callahan Has Passed Away

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 22:05:07 GMT

Hello LSC, we unfortunately have some very sad news to share with you.

Long-time LSCA Trustee Frank Callahan passed away at his home on the lake on January 26th.

Many in the lake community 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.

Services for Frank will take place at a later date - we'll let you know when they have been scheduled.

You can read more about Frank's life, and share a memory here:

https://www.robertsaubinfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Frank-L-Callahan?obId=35635440

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region in Rutland, VT or to your local Hospice.

Frank teaching a boating safety class in Poultney.

Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan Update Meeting

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 12:58:52 GMT

On Tuesday, February 11th, at 7 PM, the LSCA and the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District will be holding a meeting to update the lake community on the progress of the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan, and to select 3 projects identified in the plan to move ahead to the design stage.

In 2021, the LSCA applied for and earned a grant with the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) to create a Lake Watershed Action Plan (LWAP) for Lake St. Catherine. Work began in 2022, and the final plan will be completed by the end of June 2025.

PMNRCD, Fitzgerald Environmental Associates, Professor Andrew Vermilyea from VSU Castleton, limnologist Emily Porter-Goff, the Vermont DEC, and the LSCA have put a tremendous amount of effort into this project, and we are excited for the final plan and the positive impact it will have for Lake St. Catherine.

We hope you can join us on Tuesday, February 11th at 7 PM for this online meeting to hear a quick update on the LWAP, and to help us select the first 3 projects to be designed.

The meeting will be held online via Google Meet, and here is the link:

LWAP Lake Community Meeting
Tuesday, February 11 · 7:00 – 8:00pm

Google Meet joining info:

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/fmv-gxgm-iwn
Or dial: ‪(US) +1 323-641-3303‬ PIN: ‪571 183 591‬#

A future meeting in the Spring will be scheduled to introduce the completed Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan.

We hope to see you on February 11th!

Loon Discussion With Vermont Center for Ecostudies

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 13:00:20 GMT

On Friday, February 7th, at 12 PM, the LSCA and Community Science Coordinator Dana Williams from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) will be having a chat about VCE's Loon Conservation Project - and you are invited.

With all the excitement of our nesting pair of loons proudly parading their chick around the lake last summer, we know that LSC went looney for loons in 2024! So, we'd like to invite you to participate in this chat so you can loon more about loons, and what VCE is doing and planning for their Loon Conservation Project.

About the meeting from VCE:

We’re looking forward to when the loons return in just a few months and as we’re getting ready for the new season we’re excited to explore opportunities to expand the loon project. This is partially because we have some additional minds joining us from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies staff.

We’re hoping that some of these opportunities will help us spend more time in the field, help you get loon updates faster, and help everyone learn more to conserve Vermonts’ loons. While we have some ideas about what would be helpful for us on the research side of things, we want to make sure we hear from you since your collaboration in the project is crucial to its success.

To this end, we would like to invite you to have a meet and greet conversation with Dana Williams to share what you love about the loon project, any challenges you have faced participating in the loon project and what opportunities you would be interested in seeing us pursue for the future.

The Meeting will be held online via Google Meet, and here is the link:

Loon Discussion With Dana From VCE
Friday, February 7 · 12:00 – 1:00pm

Google Meet joining info:

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/jaq-dvqb-gfj
Or dial: ‪(US) +1 669-238-0306‬ PIN: ‪500 528 169‬#

Please join us on February 7th!

Photo: Karen Velsor

LSCA Earns Grant For 2025 DASH & Greeter Programs

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 12:56:57 GMT

We are very happy to report that the LSCA has earned the Healthy Ecosystems - Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Prevention and Management Grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) and NEIWPCC for $25,000 to be used for our Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting Program (DASH), and our Greeter Program at the public access boat launch in Wells.

These funds will help to partially fund these very important programs in 2025.

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 - 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.

About the DASH Program:

Our DASH crew suits up in scuba gear and hand-pulls 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.

Thank you to the LCBP & NEIWPCC!

The LSCA will continue to work on bringing grant funds to Lake St. Catherine this winter. We are awaiting word on another grant that has already been submitted, and we will be applying for another in February.

LSCA Launches 2025 Membership Drive

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 13:12:22 GMT

Hello to the good folks in the Lake St. Catherine community.

It's that time of year again... As the Lake St. Catherine Association heads into its 72nd year, we are asking for your support for the 2025 season.

What does the LSCA do for Lake St. Catherine? Please check out our recently published 2024 Year In Review:

LSCA's 2024 Year In Review

There are two easy ways to renew or become a member of the LSCA.

Soon, you will be receiving a mailing from us that contains the 2025 Membership Form. You can also download a copy by clicking here: 2025 Membership Form - just print and fill out the form, then mail it in with your check to:

Lake St. Catherine Association
PO Box 631
Wells, VT 05774

Or, you can renew or become a member on our website. If you were a member in 2024, click here to renew: https://lakestcatherine.org/membership-renewal, or click here to become a new member: https://lakestcatherine.org/become-a-member - and you can pay your dues online with your credit card. If you were a member last year (whether you paid by check or online by credit card), the website has an account ready for you. If you don't remember your password, or have never logged in, please click here: https://lakestcatherine.org/Sys/ResetPasswordRequest to set or reset your password.

Upon receiving your membership contribution, we’ll send you the 2025 membership package, which will include: your receipt, a '2025 Member' sticker for your LSCA window card (or a card & sticker for new members), a hand-written thank you note, and a new, beautifully designed 3" x 3" iron-on patch depicting a brown trout.

We'd like to thank LSC camp owner Andrew Gioulis (VT Lake House) for again providing a fantastic design for the 2025 patch, which you can see below:

We are happy to report that in 2024, we had 378 paid members, which includes 15 Business Sponsors. The average contribution of our members was $206 - THANK YOU! Your membership dues and additional contributions over and above our base $100 membership level are crucial to funding our important lake programs. As always, we ask you to help us to spread the word by discussing the LSCA with your neighbors. We are hoping to get our membership to over 400 this year.

We will continue to work hard for Lake St. Catherine to earn your support.

Thank you for your support of the LSCA!

- The Trustees of the Lake St. Catherine Association

If you ever have any questions about your membership or Lake St. Catherine, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Happy New Year 2025!

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 15:58:30 GMT

We hope you have all enjoyed the holiday season with your family and friends. As we approached the New Year, the LSCA posted a summary of our work for the benefit of Lake St Catherine 2024. The presentation was very informative and nicely organized, but if you missed it, here is the link for your review:

LSCA's 2024 Year In Review: http://lakestcatherine.org/2024-year-in-review

I would like to thank the Trustees, Membership and friends of the Lake St. Catherine Association for all their support in 2024, and wish everyone a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year! A special New Year wish to the Chairpersons, Select Boards and residents of the Towns of Poultney and Wells for all their support throughout the year.

Sincerely,

Jim Canders
President, LSCA

LSCA'S 2024 Year In Review

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 21 Dec 2024 14:07:46 GMT

Hello LSC.

What you’ll read below are short summaries of the projects and activities from 2024, but we encourage you to visit our website and click on our Blog to read more detailed accounts of all these efforts.

So, as we get ready to head into the new year, grab a beverage and read on for our 2024 Year In Review!

Membership

As of this writing, we have 376 members who contributed a total of $77,239, giving us an average contribution of $205.42. While our total members were slightly lower this year, we did receive just about the same amount in contributions that we did in 2023.

We’d also like to thank camp owner Andrew Gioulis for his fantastic design of our 2024 Membership gift, this beautiful 3" x 3" iron-on patch depicting one of LSC’s nesting eagles. We are so happy that our members are enjoying the patches! Andrew has also designed the 2025 patch (which looks fantastic!), and we’ll unveil it when the 2025 Membership Drive kicks off in the new year.

Thank you for your support!

Volunteering Around Lake St. Catherine

Green Up Vermont Day: Green Up Vermont Day is a state-wide volunteer cleanup day of Vermont's roads and waterways which takes place on the first Saturday in May. As Green Up Vermont's website says: "We know it isn’t your litter but Vermont needs our help to be beautiful!". Building on the success of our previous efforts, we worked to organize volunteers to cover ALL the roads around Lake St. Catherine this year, including additional roadways in Wells & Poultney! We estimate that we had up to 40 volunteers around the lake this year. On the morning of Green Up Day, volunteers met at the Wells Lakeside Park to kickoff the day with coffee and muffins from the Wells Country Store, thanks to the Town of Wells. Volunteers picked up Green Up Day trash bags, fueled up, and headed out to get to work. By the end of the day, the roads around the lake were cleaned up, and lined with filled Green Up Vermont trash bags. Thank you to the town crews from Wells and Poultney for picking up the bags. We’ll do it again in May!

Other volunteer efforts included two Vermont Invasive Patroller (VIP) paddles, milfoil cleanup, storm debris cleanup, and support for our loons - more on these later on. Thanks to all the good folks working hard to make Lake St. Catherine such a wonderful place!

Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan

In May of 2021, the LSCA earned a grant from the LCBP to help fund the creation of a Lake Watershed Action Plan (LWAP) for Lake St. Catherine.

From the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a Lake Watershed Action Plan is described as:

“Watershed planning helps address water quality problems in a holistic manner by fully assessing the potential contributing causes and sources of pollution, then prioritizing restoration and protection strategies to address these problems.”

Field work began in May 2023, and has included assessments of current conditions in the LSC watershed, including: in-lake, shoreline, roads & culverts, tributaries, wetlands, and forested land. The LWAP team is also evaluating and considering the unique characteristics and special needs of areas of the Lake like in our bays and channels - and everything in-between, from the Lily Pond, through the Big Lake & Little Lake, to Lake's End.

Work on the LWAP is nearing completion, and we anticipate the report being finalized in 2025 which will result in a long-term lake management plan for Lake St. Catherine.

Subsequent grants will be applied for to implement as many projects as possible and create a culture worthy of emulation that positions Lake St. Catherine for future funding that rewards water quality improvements including phosphorus load reduction. These efforts will continue for the balance of the decade and be the most important contribution all those who love being at Lake St. Catherine can make to distinguish its future beauty and health.

Lay Monitoring - Water Testing

The LSCA has participated in the Vermont DEC's Lay Monitoring Program since its inception, and has assisted in collecting four decades of water data on LSC. LSCA Trustees collect bi-weekly water samples from Big Lake and Little Lake from Memorial Day to Labor Day each season which are sent to the DEC for testing. The water is tested for phosphorus, clarity (secchi depth), chlorophyll-a (algae), and as of 2023, caffeine. You can review the data from the Big Lake (since 1979) and Little Lake (since 2009) by visiting the Lay Monitoring Lake Water Quality Data website. When on this page, select 'Wells' from the 'Select Town' dropdown, and Big Lake and Little Lake data will be available to view.

Greeter Program - Boat Launch Monitoring

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 - to stop them from entering LSC at the boat launch in Wells and the State Park in Poultney. 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. Our Greeter Program is partially funded by a grant from the Vermont DEC and contributions from our membership.

In total, our Greeters greeted over 1,000 vessels, 970 were inspected, and 451 had AIS debris removed.

Thank you to our Greeter team! They work hard each season to keep AIS out of Lake St. Catherine.

LSC’s ‘Territorial Pair’ of Loons Return, Nest, and Have Chicks!

Last year, we told you about a pair of loons that had started nesting activity in the Channel. Although they were unsuccessful in creating a viable nest, loon biologist Eric Hanson from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) told us to expect this pair to return this year to try again. So, this April, Eric came to LSC and we worked with him to build a nesting platform for the loons, which was placed in the area they attempted to nest last year.

As Eric predicted, our loons returned, and they were active in the Channel again. Then, in early May, lake residents Dawn & Joel observed the loons making a nest on the shoreline of the Channel - forgoing the deluxe accommodations we had provided for them.

With the help of Dawn & Joel, we immediately jumped into action to place the loon nesting area signs that Eric left for us which created a buffer zone for the loons.

After an anxious month of waiting, on June 18th, Dawn and Joel observed the loons with a chick… then a short time later, another chick was observed - two loon chicks! Later that evening, the loon family was observed heading under the bridge and off into the Big Lake.

After a few days of observing the loons on the Big Lake, it was clear that one of the loon chicks did not survive - which Eric explained is unfortunately fairly common for only one chick to survive.

Throughout the summer, the surviving chick thrived, and the proud loon family was the talk of the lake. It was fascinating to see the loon chick (or the ‘Loon Prince’ as he was nicknamed in the Lake St. Catherine - Vermont Facebook Group) mature from a small puff-ball riding on its parents back, to full-sized ‘sub-adult’ loon in such a short time.

As for the future of this loon family, Eric and Eloise from VCE explained:

Eric presented a year-end loon report at the end of September, which you can view here. Listen in at the end of the presentation when Eric talks about loon stats for 2024 as he gives the Lake St. Catherine community a shout-out for all the work and support we've given to our visiting loons, leading to nesting success this year! Great job all!

Milfoil Control Control Program

Each season, the LSCA implements a Milfoil Control Program to keep milfoil in check in Lake St. Catherine using a combination of spot herbicide treatments and DASH (Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting).

The LSCA’s Milfoil Control Program consists of four components:

2. Volunteer milfoil cleanup. Throughout the season, we organize volunteers to collect detached floating milfoil from the lake and deposit it on our designated drop off platforms. The milfoil is then picked up from the platforms and disposed of. We also encourage boaters and property owners to remove any milfoil they see in the lake while boating or on their shoreline.

Our Milfoil Control Program continues to consist of a pragmatic, multi-faceted approach, focusing on the areas of milfoil regrowth as noted by our spring and fall surveys. The spring survey was conducted on April 26th, and along with the fall 2023 survey, and input from our DASH team, a map was created to show areas where DASH and spot treatments would take place. This map was submitted to the DEC and approved for our 2024 program.

Our DASH contractor, Sinclair Commercial Dive Services began hand-pulling in June, with full DASH operations starting on July 1st, covering over 51 acres, and collecting 269 17.5 gallon buckets of milfoil. Our DASH team was encouraged to see light to moderately dense areas of growth which led to the least amount of material removed in over 10+ years.

An application of ProcellaCOR EC was used in 7 areas with a total of 34.55 acres covered. Limited ProcellaCOR treatments, along with the other components of our Milfoil Control Program, have been the most up to date and successful management techniques permitted and used. Without this program, it would be a very short time to see the lake back to the difficult conditions of the pre 2000’s. Knowing that eradication may never be possible, milfoil management is ongoing and necessary.

These efforts led to another successful year of milfoil control on Lake St. Catherine. Also, and just as importantly, we continue to see many species of our native aquatic plants that have been suppressed by milfoil have increased in frequency of occurrence - which is also backed up by the data. The Vermont DEC recently informed us that a study of LSC’s aquatic plant data shows that our native plant species richness (the number of different species represented in the lake) has increased during the years of the milfoil control program - which was great to hear. You can view our Aquatic Vegetation Management Reports dating back to 2001 here.

These results are exactly what we want to see!

In August, our contractor Arrowwood Environmental performed a comprehensive lake-wide aquatic vegetation survey taking place over several days to both evaluate the performance of our milfoil control efforts, and to assess the overall state of aquatic plants in Lake St. Catherine.

The full report can be read here: 2024 - Aquatic Vegetation Management Report. We encourage you to take a few moments to read through the whole report.

Sponsor Spotlight

We’d like to thank the 15 businesses who were LSCA Business Sponsors in 2024!

Thank you: A-1 Sewer & Drain Service, A113 Productions, Bird Dog Home Inspection, Burns Insurance Agency, Catherine Capers, Haun Welding Supply, Lake St. Catherine Cottages, Lake St. Catherine Country Club, New England Lakeside Realty, Owens Plumbing Services, Rathbun's Maple Sugar House, Realty One Group Lakes & Homes, Ross, Wehse & Kinney Insurance, Thomas Auto & Marine, VT Lakehouse.

If you’d like to become a Business Sponsor in 2025, please let us know!

Lake Markers and Buoys

The LSCA places and maintains no-wake zone and marker buoys throughout the lake. In 2024, the Lake Safety Committee continued to deploy multiple new markers to replace the aging ones, and a few more will be replaced in 2025. An additional no-wake buoy was placed in the Channel near the loon nesting area, and new buoys were purchased and placed at Sunken Island. Thank you to our ‘Buoy Buddies’ around the lake who assist us each year with the spring installation and fall removal of the markers and buoys.

We’d also like to thank our Game Warden Justin Turner who provided the lake community with updates throughout the season - keeping us informed of Warden activity at the lake. Thanks Justin!

The Lake Wise Program

It was the 6th season for Lake Wise on Lake St. Catherine!

This season, the LSCA again earned a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) to perform Lake Wise assessments, and to help property owners with projects on their land to mitigate stormwater runoff into the lake. The LSCA was happy to again partner with the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) on this project.

The PMNRCD crew completed a tremendous amount of work in support of the Lake Wise Program this season. They were also able to leverage their Lake Education Action Program (LEAP) program, which pairs student and community lake education with the implementation of small planting projects for shoreline owners to increase the amount of projects completed.

8 new properties were assessed, 4 properties were reassessed, and 5 Lake Wise projects were implemented (8 additional LEAP projects were also implemented). There were 3 award winners this season!

Kimberly Thomas, West Lake Road, Wells
Robin Barley-Waegener, Little Lake East, Wells
Jerremy Jones & Carrie Armenio, Cones Point Road, Poultney

Also, numerous other property owners have been working hard with PMNRCD, and are close... With the guidance and assistance of the PMNRCD, these properties, and properties assessed in previous years, will have the opportunity to earn the award in the future.

Thank you to all the participants for the work they have put into their property in an effort to become Lake Wise. This work represents a model of what all LSC lakeshore owners should strive for, as these projects are both beautiful and lake friendly.

If you would like to participate in 2025, or have your property reassessed, email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

The 12th Annual LSCA Boat Parade

We had another great boat parade this year!

14 boats participated, and over 250 people voted online for their favorite boats in our 4 categories: most patriotic, funniest, most original, best overall.

Our winners were:

Most Patriotic:

Winner: Boat #11 - God Bless America!! - Dave & Lisa

Funniest:

Winner: Boat #5 - Dump Run! - Conine Family

Most Original:

Winner: Boat #7 - Carnival - Hicks Family

Best Overall:

Winner: Boat #9 - Come On Barbie Let's Go Party - Christine Gay

Thank you to all who participated, to those who cheered from their boat and from the shore, and to everyone who voted! We are looking forward to our 13th year in 2025!

LSCA’s Annual Meeting & Dinner

The LSCA held our Annual Meeting & Dinner on Saturday, July 24th, at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club.

We had a packed house of approximately 100 attendees! It was great to see so many folks interested in preserving, protecting, and maintaining beautiful Lake St. Catherine. Thank you to all who were able to attend, and to Hilary Solomon from the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) for updating us on the progress of the LSC Watershed Action Plan, and the LSC Stormwater Masterplan! We hope you enjoyed the presentation, your dinner, and catching up with your lake neighbors.

If you were unable to join us, you can view the full presentation on YouTube:

Lake St Catherine Association's Annual Meeting & Dinner - 7/24/24

If you have any questions about the presentation, or would like to share your feedback, please let us know - you can always reach us at info@lakestcatherine.org - and we'll get right back to you.

Thanks to the LSC Country Club and their staff for hosting us - and providing a wonderful dinner, Hilary for her informative presentation, and our State and local government officials: Senators Collamore, Weeks, and Williams, Representative McCoy, and Don Preuss, Tammy Holcomb, and Paul Woodruff from the Wells Select Board for joining us.

Vermont Invasive Patrollers (VIP) Program

After conducting the first Vermont Invasive Patrollers (VIP) paddle on LSC in August of 2023, we were eager to schedule and perform additional paddles in 2024 - which we did! On August 3rd, volunteers performed a paddle around the boat launch in Wells, and on September 21st, volunteers performed a paddle around the boat launch area of the State Park in Poultney.

The focus of this program is early detection of aquatic invasive species (AIS) before they can become established in a waterbody.

From the DEC: The VIP program was established by the VTDEC in 2007 to focus on early detection of all known and potential aquatic invasive species (AIS). Although VIPs now emphasize aquatic invasive plants more broadly in their surveying efforts, they are trained to identify both aquatic invasive plants and animals that are either established in Vermont or in nearby states and pose the greatest threat to Vermont’s water bodies.

During the paddles, we used underwater viewers to find and identify many of our native plants, while keeping an eye out for invasive plants or animals. Patrolling boat launch areas is a focus, as it is a high-risk area for invasive species introduction.

As part of this Vermont DEC program, we filled out a report with our findings for the two days.

If you enjoy paddling, and would like to learn more about LSC’s native plants, and help to keep an eye out for new invasive species, we hope you’ll join us. If you'd like to learn more about this new program on LSC, please visit the VIP page on our website: https://www.lakestcatherine.org/vermont-invasive-patrollers. Let us know if you’d like to participate next season by emailing us at info@lakestcatherine.org. This is a GREAT addition to our invasive species control and prevention initiatives which includes our Greeter Program.

LSCA Sponsors Teen For Junior Warden Weekend

The LSCA was happy to sponsor a teen from Wells in Fish and Wildlife’s Junior Warden Program, which took place in late July at Edward F. Kehoe Green Mountain Conservation Camp on Lake Bomoseen.

Participants learned how Fish and Wildlife Game Wardens contribute to conservation in Vermont, and spent the weekend fishing, hiking, exploring mock crime scenes, and seeing K-9 units in action. Teens stayed in the cabins and enjoyed campfires, s’mores, swimming, and other camp activities during their stay.

Lake St. Catherine Stormwater Master Plan

In 2018 and 2019, extensive field work by the PMNRCD and Fitzgerald Environmental Associates took place in the LSC watershed. The goal was to identify sources of increased stormwater runoff and associated sediments and nutrients flowing into the lake. Phosphorus reducing projects are of particular importance given the water quality concerns within the watershed. The work involved identifying sources of stormwater, prioritizing sources based on various environmental, economic, and social criteria, and designing projects to mitigate those sources. This resulted in the creation of the Lake St. Catherine Stormwater Master Plan (SWMP). 50 potential sites were identified, and as of today, 6 projects have been implemented.

As part of a $50k grant earned from the LCBP, 12 projects from the SWMP were selected by the lake community at a meeting in September 2023, and Fitzgerald Environmental has been working on designs for these projects. When completed, we’ll work to submit grant applications to our region’s Clean Water Service Provider for implementation funding. Projects areas include: Clayton Tract, RT 30 (near Cluckin’ Chicken), the end of Cones Point Road, Lochlea Lane, West Lake Road, (south of the Lighthouse), West Lake Road (near Idylwild), Channel Drive, and a grouping of issues on Ferncliff Road.

You can read more about the SWMP, and view an interactive map with the identified sites by visiting our Stormwater Master Plan page.

LSCA & PMNRCD Interviewed For Public Affairs Show Catamount Community Connection

The LSCA was happy to be asked again to participate in the public affairs show hosted by Senator Brian Collamore called Catamount Community Connection. This edition featured an interview with the Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) and Poultney Poultney Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District (PMNRCD) and it aired the morning of July 14th, on 98.1 WJJR Rutland.

Thank you to Senator Collamore and to Catamount Radio for this opportunity to speak about these important topics for the lake community and all in the Poultney Mettowee conservation district.

You can listen to it here on YouTube: Catamount Community Connection - WJJR - July 14th, 2024.

Sediment Core Sampling

In late August, members from the Vermont DEC, our limnologist Emily Porter-Goff, and Trustees of the LSCA boated to the deepest area on the lake and took a deep core sediment sample.

The sample was then divided up into smaller samples (cookies), and prepped to ship off to two different labs for testing. One lab will date the samples, and the other will perform a taxonomy of the diatoms in the samples.

This will give us an idea of how the lake has processed phosphorus in the past and will inform future phosphorus reduction goals that would be part of the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan.

You can read more about diatoms here: https://diatoms.org/what-are-diatoms

Data from the samples will be available in 2025.

LSCA Newsletters

Our traditional Spring and Fall newsletters were posted digitally on our website, and printed copies were made available at Wellsmere Farm in Wells and the Cluckin’ Cafe in Poultney. If you missed them when they were released, you can read them here:

Keeping You Up-To-Date Via Our Website & Facebook Pages

When we have Lake St. Catherine news, we like to inform the lake community as soon as possible by posting it on our website Blog, and on our Facebook page. So, keep an eye on these sites for all the latest information on LSC. We also send out news summaries via email updates to our members who have shared their email with us - so please be sure to provide your email address when you become a member!

Website: https://lakestcatherine.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakeStCatherineAssociation

If you are not a Facebook user, you can still view our Facebook posts on the homepage of our website.

Libraries Love Lakes

The LSCA and the Wells Village Library were excited to earn another grant from the LCBP to continue the Libraries Love Lakes Program in 2024. This grant funded 4 seasonally themed events, a watershed model of Lake St. Catherine, and a LSC mascot (both of which will be completed soon). Libraries Love Lakes is an outreach project which pairs school and public libraries with lake scientists to provide collaborative programming emphasizing the importance of lakes in our everyday lives.

The winter event took place in March and brought the the Giant Lake Champlain Watershed Map experience to the Modern Woodmen of America Hall in Wells. Educator Meghan Hill from the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum (LCMM) spoke with visitors about numerous topics as they explored the accurate and detailed 35’ x 27’ giant map. Meghan also gave a presentation entitled "Climate Change and Our Lakes".

The spring event took place in April at the Wells Lakeside Park on Little Lake and focused on birds of Lake St. Catherine. Up first was loon biologist Eric Hanson who arrived early to canoe over to observe the nesting loons, and then arrived back just in time to kick off the presentations with a real-time loon report! Next, Kathleen Guinness from the Rutland County Audubon Society (RCAS) spoke about birds you can see at LSC, including many you may have heard, but have never seen. Kathleen explained that there are over 99 different bird species that visit Lake St. Catherine!

The July event took place in July at the Lake St. Catherine State Park. Kids and their families got to enjoy all the Lake St. Catherine Park has to offer, and they got to go swimming, get a treat at the snack bar, and participate in the fun educational activities with the educators that were on hand. PMNRCD staff set up their stream table to demonstrate runoff and erosion, Meghan Hill was back from the LCMM with the outdoor version of the Giant Map, and State Park Interpreter Jeff Ormsbee & ‘Captain’ Martha Pofit took kids and their families out on the lake. The kids tested for dissolved oxygen, and took secchi disk and temperature readings. They also saw one of the eagles, the eagle nest, and the loon family! They had quite a boat trip.

The fall event took place in October at the Wells Lakeside Park on Little Lake with a focus on nature and art. Attendees were given art and journaling supplies and they were able to interpret the beauty of Little Lake through their creations. Joe Capron from Earth and Time & the Wells Historical Society, and local artist Peter Huntoon were also on hand - Joe displaying historical photos of the lake, and Peter painting a beautiful scene of the lake. Nic Stark also showed off the work-in-progress watershed model of the lake that he is creating.

Thank you to Wells Village Librarian Gina Ellis for her vision and work on this fantastic program for the lake community! We are looking forward to more Libraries Love Lakes events in 2025.

Grants - Woking To Bring Funds To LSC

The LSCA has been working hard throughout 2024 to bring grant funds to Lake St. Catherine for 2025.

In 2024, we earned grants for AIS Prevention and Control from the State of Vermont’s Grant-In-Aid program to help partially fund our Greeter and DASH programs, and for Lake Wise (in partnership with PMNRCD) & Libraries Love Lakes (in partnership with the Wells Village Library) from the LCBP.

For 2025, we have already applied for the Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Prevention and Management grant from the LCBP, and we will again be applying for the State of Vermont’s Grant-In-Aid program to help partially fund our Greeter Program and our DASH team. We will also be applying for two other grants from the LCBP. The first is an Organizational grant to purchase water testing equipment, and the second will be an Education and Outreach grant which will help to fund the continuation of the Libraries Love Lakes collaboration with the Wells Village Library. We’ll let you know how we do!

Thank You For Your Support

Finally, some thank yous... Thank you to all those in the lake community who showed their support of the LSCA in 2024 by being a member, or making a donation, or volunteering, or participating in Lake Wise, or attending meetings & events, or helping to clean up milfoil - there are so many ways we can all contribute! We hope you found our efforts in 2024 for Lake St. Catherine to be worthy of that support.

Please also join us in thanking our partners who are also contributing in numerous ways for the benefit of Lake St. Catherine. To the PMNRCD and their excellent staff, Fitzgerald Environmental, Emily Porter-Goff, the Towns of Wells & Poultney, the Wells Village Library, the LSC State Park, the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, the LCBP & NEIWPCC, all the departments under the Vermont Agency for Natural Resources, and the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds - thank you all for your efforts!

2025 is going to be another busy year, and LSCA Trustees are hard at work getting ready.

Be on the lookout for our Membership Drive which will begin in the New Year. We hope to earn your support in 2025 so we can continue to all work together to preserve, protect, and maintain beautiful Lake St. Catherine.

Happy Holidays & Happy New Year! We’ll see you at the lake soon,

- The Trustees of The Lake St. Catherine Association

2024 Lake Wise On Lake St. Catherine Recap

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 16:51:59 GMT

It was another great season for Lake Wise on Lake St. Catherine!

Stormwater has a widespread environmental impact which makes it a growing concern in Vermont. In a statewide effort, towns and local organizations are working to implement large scale projects to help clean stormwater before it enters water bodies. Work is being done from the headwaters all the way down to the stream outlets. Excess nutrients in the water contribute to problems which affect both human and wildlife health including; lower oxygen levels in the water, toxic algae blooms, and excessive plant growth.

As a shoreline property owner, you have the access and the ability to control what is happening directly at the water's edge.

Actions now will promote a healthy lake environment that will continue to support swimming, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing in the future.

This is such an important program for long term health of Lake St. Catherine, and we can all pitch in to make a difference.

Building on the work of previous years, 3 property owners earned the Lake Wise Award this year! This brings the total number of Lake Wise Award properties on LSC to 29.

Our 2024 Lake Wise Award winners are:

Kimberly Thomas, West Lake Road, Wells
Robin Barley-Waegener, Little Lake East, Wells
Jerremy Jones & Carrie Armenio, Cones Point Road, Poultney

Congratulations to this year’s Lake Wise Award winners!

You can see where all 29 Lake Wise properties are on the lake by viewing the interactive map on our Lake Wise page here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-wise-program.

Thank you to all the winners and Lake Wise participants for the work they have put into their property in an effort to become Lake Wise. This work represents a model of what all LSC lakeshore owners should strive for, as these projects are both beautiful and lake friendly.

All winners will be receiving the Lake Wise Award plaque that they can proudly display on their shoreline. We’ll reach out to winners in the spring to schedule the presentation of their award and to take a photo! Keep an eye out for them as you cruise around the lake next season.

This year, the PMNRCD performed:

8 new property assessments
4 property reassessments
5 projects funded through Lake Wise
8 projects funded through LEAP

The LSCA would like to help other Lake St. Catherine property owners implement best practices to mitigate stormwater on their properties, and help them to earn the Lake Wise award. To date, over 100 properties have participated in the Lake Wise Program, and have at least received an initial assessment. If you would like to have your property assessed, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Happy Thanksgiving From The LSCA

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 02:50:03 GMT

The Lake St. Catherine Association is thankful for the support of the lake community as we work to fulfill our mission of the preservation, protection and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine.

We are currently hard-at-work making plans for 2025. Keep your eye out for our 2024 Year In Review summary coming soon.

The Trustees of the LSCA would like to wish you and your family a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

Thank you for your support!

2024 LSCA AIS Prevention & Control Wrap Up

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 02:21:55 GMT

For the 2024 season, the Lake St Catherine Association was awarded a DEC-ANC Grant-in-Aid through the Department of Environmental Conservation for $25,926 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. This funding is crucial to supporting our seasonal programs for prevention and control of AIS at Lake St Catherine.

2024 Greeter Program:

Each year Greeters are trained to identify AIS - including Eurasian watermilfoil, spiny waterflea, golden clams, water chestnut, starry stonewort and zebra mussels (and many others) - to stop them from entering LSC at the Fish and Wildlife boat launch in Wells. They also educate boaters about the importance of looking for these invasives, cleaning their boat, trailer, and live wells so they are not contributing to the spread to LSC or another lake. This year we had a great team of 9 greeters trained in the spring along with several other volunteers many of them taking a day long in person course hosted in Wells by the DEC. They were on duty from Memorial Day through Labor Day - working on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and also covering holidays and fishing tournaments. Over 1,000 vessels were greeted, 970 were inspected, and 451 had AIS debris removed. We are grateful for the leadership that Trustee John Belnavis has provided, coordinating, scheduling, and hiring our seasonal greeters. After many years, John will be retiring from his formal role as Trustee and Greeter Coordinator. We are always looking for interested people to become part of our team to greet and engage lake users to Lake St. Catherine. Please contact us for more information.

2024 Milfoil Control Program:

An application of ProcellaCOR EC was used in 7 areas with a total of 34.55 acres covered. Limited ProcellaCOR treatments, along with the other components of our Milfoil Control Program, have been the most up to date and successful management techniques permitted and used. Without this program, it would be a very short time to see the lake back to the difficult conditions of the 1980’s. Knowing that eradication may never be possible, milfoil management is ongoing and necessary.

While this funding is great news, it is only a fraction of our budget for these programs this year. Other sources of our funding for these programs come from our lake community through membership dues, additional contributions, donations, and support from the towns of Poultney and Wells. We are a volunteer organization that works hard for the good of the lake and its environment. We are thankful for the partnerships and support we receive.

Visit us at: www.lakestcatherine.org to find out more.

DEC Public Meeting - Permit Draft Approval

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 21:24:25 GMT

On Wednesday, October 30th, the DEC approved the LSCA's Aquatic Nuisance Control permit application which we submitted in late March. You can read our permit application and the DEC's draft decision on Vermont's Environmental Notice Bulletin (ENB) website here.

As part of the process, the DEC will be holding a public meeting on Wednesday, November 20th from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM at the Wells Town Hall. The meeting will also be available online. All the meeting details, including the online link to the meeting are listed here in the DEC's notification PDF.

At the public meeting, after introductions, the LSCA will give a short presentation about our Milfoil Control Program. Next, the DEC will outline their role in the project, discuss the technical review of the application, and review the draft permit and permit compliance. The remainder of the meeting will be open for public comments and questions from in-person and online attendees, concluding with the DEC outlining the next steps.

So, we are reaching out to our membership for your support. To demonstrate that support for the LSCA and our Milfoil Control Program, we'd encourage you to:

• Attend the public meeting, preferably in-person if you are available, and
• Submit a comment of support in-person or online during the meeting, or
• Submit a comment using the online form available on the ENB website before 12/2/24

To submit a comment online, click here to visit the ENB page for our permit, and click on the green Comment button and type in your comment in the form.

We anticipate that there will be opposition to the DEC's final approval of our permit, so we hope you can lend your voice of support during the meeting, or via the online comment form.

As there continues to be misinformation pushed about milfoil, milfoil control, ProcellaCOR, and the permitting process, we welcome the opportunity for this public meeting.

Please consider attending the public meeting in person to show your support, or please take a moment to submit a comment of support on the online form.

Please reach out to us with any questions you may have by emailing us at info@lakestcatherine.org - and we'll get right back you.

You can learn more about our Milfoil Control Program on our website.

Thank you for your support!

Libraries Love Lakes Art & Nature Fall Event Recap

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 12:07:56 GMT

THANK YOU to everyone who stopped in to the Art & Nature Libraries Love Lakes event on Saturday!

What a fun & beautiful day on the lake!

A huge thank you to Gina from the Wells Village Library (awesome job Gina!), the Town of Wells for use of the Park, Nic for showing off the (work-in progress) LSC watershed model, Nan (the WVL mascot), Joe from Earth and Time & the Wells Historical society, Peter Huntoon, and all our attendees. We hope you had a great day!

We'll be working with Peter to make prints available of his painting of the lake today.

Libraries Love Lakes (librarieslovelakes.org) is an outreach project pairing libraries with lake scientists to provide collaborative programming emphasizing the importance of lakes to our everyday lives. The ongoing partnership between the Wells Village Library and LSCA is funded by education and outreach grants through the Lake Champlain Basin Program (lcbp.org).

Thanks all!

Here are some photos from the day:

Lake St. Catherine State Park – Region 2 Park of the Year 2024

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 16:01:48 GMT

Hello LSC, we have some exciting lake news to share.

The LSCA would like to congratulate the fantastic staff at the Lake St. Catherine State Park for being recognized as the Region 2 Vermont State Park of the Year!

We reached out to Lake St. Catherine State Park Manager Rachael Marczak to ask if she could tell us more about this award.

From Rachael:

"Each year, one state park from each of the four regions is recognized as Vermont State Park of the Year. This year, our very own Lake St. Catherine State Park was selected as Park of the Year for the Southwest Region. Recognition is based on several factors including hospitality, safety, facility care, tool and equipment care, and is chosen by regional staff that work closely with each park in the region. The award was presented at the annual statewide end-of-year celebration held on September 5th at Kingsland Bay State Park.

In 2024, Lake St. Catherine State Park welcomed over 35,000 campers and day-use visitors to enjoy the many amenities it has to offer, which was about a 5% increase in visitation from 2023. Whether you’re looking to camp, hold a family reunion or graduation party, beat the summer heat at the beach, play disc golf, visit the Nature Center, or make use of the hiking and mountain biking trails, there are countless recreation opportunities for everyone.

This season, the park notably added its first cabin that became available to rent in July. Park staff and volunteers also refreshed some existing amenities, including the basketball court, beachfront, horseshoe pits, and made considerable progress manicuring their 18-hole disc golf course that was introduced in 2020. The park’s last operating day is Monday October 14th, 2024, and the staff looks forward to welcoming back new and returning visitors when the gates open on May 23rd, 2025."

As the State celebrates 100 Years of Vermont State Parks, we congratulate the beautiful Lake St. Catherine State Park on being named park of the year!

Libraries Love Lakes Fall Event

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 17:19:49 GMT

On Saturday, October 19th from 1:00 until 4:00 PM, Wells Village Library in collaboration with the Lake St. Catherine Association is holding an artist event at Lakeside Park in Wells.

Libraries Love Lakes (librarieslovelakes.org) is an outreach project pairing libraries with lake scientists to provide collaborative programming emphasizing the importance of lakes to our everyday lives. The ongoing partnership between WVL and LSCA is funded by education and outreach grants through the Lake Champlain Basin Program (lcbp.org). The autumn gathering is the fourth and final of 2024.

“There’s no better way than through art to form meaningful emotional connections with a resource,” says librarian, Gina Ellis. “We invite studio artists, poets, writers, sculptors, musicians and anyone who’d love to spend a colorful fall afternoon creatively interpreting the lake to join us.” While some items will be available including a limited number of easels, watercolors, journals and more, participants are encouraged to bring their own supplies if possible. Everyone is welcome; you needn’t consider yourself an artist to join the fun. You may sell your work while you’re there!

The first 20 families to arrive will receive a gift that includes on-topic books and materials. Artists and attendees will get a first look at a newly constructed educational watershed model, meet organizational mascots and enjoy specially designed treats while they last. If needed, the rain date will be the following day.

As mentioned above, we are currently calling for artists to participate. Renowned local artist Peter Huntoon will be joining us!

If you'd like to participate as an artist (visual art, poetry, storytelling, sculpting, music, etc.), please get in touch with Gina (wellslibraryvt@gmail.com) or us (info@lakestcatherine.org).

The Little Lake will be looking beautiful in fall colors at the park - please join us!

2024 Loon Zoom Recording

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 16:18:38 GMT

Good afternoon LSC.

Back on Monday, September 23rd, Eric Hanson from the Vermont Center for EcoStudies (VCE) hosted a 'Loon Zoom' to talk about loons, and how they have been doing in Vermont.

In recognition of the tremendous support we've received from Eric and the Vermont Center for EcoStudies (VCE) for Lake St. Catherine's loons, the LSCA made another donation to VCE this year, and our lake community was invited to attend this special presentation.

It was great to see lots of LSC folks participating!

If you were unable to attend, or missed the presentation, it was recorded, and is linked below.

As always, Eric is a great presenter, and the presentation was excellent. Check it out below, and listen in at the end when Eric talks about loon stats for 2024 as he gives the Lake St. Catherine community a shout-out for all the work and support we've given to our visiting loons, leading to nesting success this year! Great job all!

Watch the recording here: 2024 Loon Zoom

September 2024 Vermont Invasive Patrollers (VIP) Paddle Recap

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 19:09:06 GMT

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

Facebook Photo Gallery:

'Loon Zoom' With VCE's Eric Hanson - Monday, September 23rd

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 15:48:01 GMT

Hello there LSC, we have some fun loon related news to share.

In recognition of the tremendous support we've received from loon biologist Eric Hanson and staff from the Vermont Center for EcoStudies (VCE) for Lake St. Catherine's loons, the LSCA has made another donation to VCE.

Eric has travelled to Lake St. Catherine numerous times over the past several years in support of our increasing loon visits.

Most recently, Eric was here in May for the Libraries Love Lakes Spring Event at the Wells Lakeside Park. He was able to canoe over to the nesting loons to observe them, and he provided a report and a presentation to attendees. You can read more about that here: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/13362265

Eric was also here in April, and we assisted in the construction and placement of a loon nesting raft. As we all know, the loons found their own nesting area, and successfully hatched 2 chicks in June. You can read more about that here: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/13340050

Last May, he came to LSC to observe a pair of loons (now mom & dad loon) that had exhibited nesting activity in the Channel. Although they ultimately did not build a nest, Eric knew they would be back to try again - and he was right! You can read about his May visit here: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/13207383.

Last August, VCE also provided a collection tube that we installed at the boat launch in Wells to collect lead tackle and old fishing line, both deadly to loons. You can read more about that here: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/13235860

Eric was also at LSC twice in July of 2022 to participate in the first Libraries Love Lakes event, and to present at our Annual Meeting & Dinner. At that Annual Meeting, Eric gave a fantastic presentation about loons, which was recorded - and you can view that here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUrY1PqirzU.

In 2021, Eric also rescued a sub-adult loon on Lake St. Catherine that had been caught up with a lure and fishing line. You can read about that here: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/12107471.

We were very happy to receive this nice note from Laura at VCE thanking the LSCA and our members for the donation, and inviting members to a special conversation with Eric about loons - this Monday, September 23rd - and we'd like to share it with you:

"Thanks to you, Vermont’s loons are truly thriving. Not only did the number of nesting pairs increase from 108 last year to 123 this summer, but they also called 11 new territories home!

These tremendous successes showcase the impact of your generosity and dedication. Thank you for supporting loon conservation research, field work, network building, volunteer coordination, and public outreach, and helping us meet our $50,000 matching requirement of this year’s portion of our five-year U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service loon repopulation grant.

I’m delighted to invite you to an exclusive Loon Zoom for 2024 Vermont Loon Conservation Project supporters on Monday, September 23 from 7 to 8 p.m. You’ll get to ask VCE Loon Biologist Eric Hanson your most pressing loon questions and hear the latest loon news and stories."

This is a great opportunity to learn more about Vermont's loons, Eric always gives a fantastic presentation, and we're pretty sure he'll talk about LSC's new loon chick!

To participate, registration is required.

Click HERE to register.

We hope to see you there!

September 2024 VIP Paddle

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 14:39:10 GMT

Good morning LSC. We are planning a VIP (Vermont Invasive Patrollers) Paddle next Saturday, September 21st, beginning at 9 AM at the boat launch area at the State Park in Poultney.

We'll paddle & patrol this launch area (where new invasives are likely to be introduced) looking for aquatic invasive species (AIS).

We'll have underwater viewers to be able to look at the lake bottom, we'll do a patrol, and then we'll report our findings to the DEC.

So, if you like to paddle, would like to learn more about LSC's aquatic plants, and would like to be part of an early warning system for detecting invasive species in LSC, please reach out to us at info@lakestcatherine.org to let us know you'd like to participate on September 21st - and we'll see you there!

You can read a recap of our first 2024 paddle here: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/13390025

...and you can read more about the VIP Program on LSC here: https://lakestcatherine.org/vermont-invasive-patrollers

Thanks!

Meeting of the Board of Trustees - 8/24/24

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 20:17:18 GMT

On Saturday, August 24th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their fourth and final meeting of the 2024 season.

Attendance: Jim Canders, Mark Shea, Sue Williams, Mike Gay, Mary Jo Teetor, Jerremy Jones, Jeff Crandall, Lisa Micich. Absent: Kemi McShane, Frank Callahan, Ed Laird, Bob Williams, Nancy Liberatore.

Guests: Beck Sinclair

Call to Order: President Jim Canders called the meeting to order at 8:35.

Public Comment: None.

DASH Update: Beck Sinclair provided a report on his DASH work for the season. DASH ended on August 20th. DASH boat needs a new suction motor. Beck will source. Motion made to allocate up to $3,500 to purchase the new motor. All in favor, so moved. Beck also provided his thoughts for areas to address in 2025. He noted low milfoil conditions around the lake at the end of the season. Also noted that we need a new banner for the boat. Jerremy was given the old one to reproduce.

Approval of Meeting Minutes: Minutes of July 27, 2024 posted. Motion to accept the minutes as presented. All in favor, so moved.

Treasurer’s Report: Mary Jo Teetor presented her report, looking to be even for 2024 with expenses and income. MJ also mentioned progress on our grants, spoke about new VT labor laws, and our 990. There was a brief discussion on a dues increase. Motion to accept the report as presented. All in favor, so moved.

Annual Membership Meeting: A brief discussion about the annual meeting. The presentation ended on-time, the food and service was excellent, and the meeting was well attended, including all of our state senators and representatives, and the Wells Select Board.

Milfoil Management: Jeff Crandall gave a recap of the Milfoil Control Program for the year. We could not extend the DASH time due to the boat issue. Our permit application is still under review.

Greeter Program: Jerremy Jones presented information provided by John Belnavis. 906 inspections at this time, lower than last year. John mentioned that there are some fishing tournaments after Labor Day. A motion was made to extend the Greeter Program to cover the tournaments after Labor Day. All in favor, so moved. Jerremy will let John know.

Water Quality and Testing: Mary Jo Teetor talked about Lay Monitoring for the season. Discussion of the sediment testing that was conducted the day before. Also discussed runoff issue on West Lake Road, and a septic issue on Channel Drive.

Publicity: Jerremy Jones discussed East Poultney Day, and the fall newsletter.

Lake Safety: Mike Gay talked about new wiring hardware for the buoys, fixing the Rock buoy, and getting ready for next year. Quick discussion about possibility of putting solar lights on top of the buoys.

Nominating Committee: We now have 2 open spots on the board. Discussion of possible candidates.

Membership: Jerremy Jones, 370 members as of today.

Government Relations / Grants: Jerremy Jones, excellent participation at the annual meeting with state and local reps. Discussed Lake Wise, LLL, water testing grants, AIS grants.

Old Business: None.

New Business: Jerremy Jones, discussed attending the LSCCF's annual meeting.

Officer Elections: Jim Canders asked for nominations for President, Vice-President, and Treasurer. Jim Canders, Mike Gay, and Mary Jo Teetor were all nominated respectively, all in favor, so moved.

2025 Meetings:

May 24, 2025
June 28, 2025
July 26, 2025, Annual Meeting that evening
August 23, 2025

Motion to adjourn meeting at 10:15, all in favor, so moved.

Respectfully submitted, Jerremy Jones

DASH End Of 2024 Season Report

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 16:20:44 GMT

Hello LSC, we'd like to share the DASH team's end of season report with you.

Beck and his DASH team began swimming sparse milfoil areas in late June, and were able to hand-pull and clear some of those areas before full DASH operations began on July 1st.

Referencing the attached map, they worked in areas C, D, E (Sandy Bay only), H, H1, I1, I2, I3, and K. The team estimated that they could have worked for 3 more days in area K (Idylwild Bay), but suction motor issues cut that short. We'll need to source and install a new motor on the DASH boat for the 2025 season.

The team collected 269 17.5 gallon buckets of milfoil this season. Last season, they collected 1,057.

Beck reported the team's observations from their work around the lake this season noting that our native plants are looking healthy, and milfoil was at low growth levels - which is great news, and indicative of the lower bucket total this year as compared to last.

Our DASH and Greeter Programs are funded through Vermont's Aquatic Nuisance Control Grant-In-Aid Program, and membership dues and contributions from the lake community. Thank you for your continued support of the LSCA and these important programs.

The LSCA's yearly aquatic plant survey is also underway, with Arrowwood Environmental beginning their work last week. Their report to us will be available in the late fall, and will be posted to our website.

Please join us in thanking Beck and his crew for another great season working to keep milfoil under control at Lake St. Catherine!

Sediment Core Collected For Testing on LSC

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 24 Aug 2024 02:55:11 GMT

It was a cool science day on LSC!

Earlier today, members from the Vermont DEC, our limnologist, and Trustees of the LSCA boated to the deepest area on the lake and took a deep core sediment sample.

The sample was then divided up into smaller samples (cookies), and prepped to ship off to two different labs for testing.

One lab will date the samples, and the other will perform a taxonomy of the diatoms in the samples.

This will give us an idea of how the lake has processed phosphorus in the past and will inform future phosphorus reduction goals that would be part of the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan (https://lakestcatherine.org/lsc-watershed-action-plan).

You can read more about diatoms here: https://diatoms.org/what-are-diatoms

Diatoms are algae with silica cell walls
Diatoms produce 20-30% of the air we breathe
Diatoms produce long-chain fatty acids, and these molecules are food for the entire food web, from zooplankton to aquatic insects to fish.
Diatoms are particular about the quality of water in which they live, so they are vital for assessment and monitoring biotic condition of waters.

Thank you to all involved for helping to make this happen, including the lake community for donating food shipping containers and freezer packs so the samples could be properly shipped to the labs!

We'll post about the data when it becomes available.

LSCA's 2024 Fall Newsletter

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 13:54:42 GMT

The Fall 2024 Newsletter is here!

Also, your LSCA Trustee neighbors will have printed copies available around the lake over the weekend, so stop in to say hi.

Early August 2024 VIP Paddle

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 14:04:17 GMT

Good morning LSC - we wanted to post a quick update to thank our volunteers: Donna, Mary, Lisa, and Gloria - for joining us for the first VIP Paddle of the season.

At 9 AM on Saturday, we met at the boat launch in Wells to perform a Vermont Invasive Patrollers paddle to look for invasive species.

We did not discover any new invasive species, but we did see examples of existing invasives: eurasian watermilfoil, curly-leaf pondweed, and some purple loosestrife on the shoreline.

We also observed and identified a number of our native plants like american eel grass, pickerel weed, robbins pondweed, illinois pondweed, ribbon-leaf pondweed, and broad-leaf pondweed, among others.

We'll fill out and submit a VIP report for this paddle to the DEC this week. We are also planning for another paddle in late August / early September that will take place near the State Park. If you'd be interested in participating, let us know!

You can read more about the VIP Program here on our website: https://lakestcatherine.org/vermont-invasive-patrollers

Thanks to our volunteers - we hope you enjoyed the paddle!

Meeting of the Board of Trustees - 7/27/24

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:49:01 GMT

On Saturday, July 27th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their third meeting of the 2024 season.

Attendance: John Belnavis, Mark Shea, Mary Jo Teetor, Lisa Micich, Jim Canders, Kemi McShane, Frank Callahan, Jerremy Jones, Mike Gay (call in), Ed Laird. Absent: Jeff Crandall, Sue Williams, Bob Williams, Nancy Liberatore, Rob Nesbit

Guests: None

Call to Order: President Jim Canders called the meeting to order at 8:37.

Public Comment: None.

Approval of Meeting Minutes: Minutes of June 22, 2024 posted. Motion to accept the minutes as presented. All in favor, so moved.

Treasurer’s Report: Mary Jo Teetor presented income, expenses, and anticipated costs for DASH, Arrowwood and Greeter Program. A foreign transaction fee in account, Jerremy will look into. Motion to accept the Treasurer’s report. All in favor, so moved.

Annual Membership Meeting: John Belnavis. Meeting is this evening at the CC. Discussion of setup for the meeting & dinner. John made a motion for an allocation of $275 for the facility fee. All in favor, so moved. Mary Jo will take care of checks for facility fee and dinners paid for on the LSCA to the CC.

Milfoil Management: Jerremy Jones. Discussion of LL, and treatment in northern end, detached plants being caught in topped-out pond weed in middle to eastern shore. Ed mentioned Lake George court decision. Discussed new permit and probable public meeting. Discussed Arrowwood estimate and contract, Jerremy will ask Arrowwood for COI.

Greeter Program: John Belnavis. John said 630 boats greeted so far, and he recounted a discussion with Kim J from DEC asking that we work on installing a wash station.

Water Quality and Testing: Mary Jo Teetor. No sign of bacteria or cyano. The lake looks clean, but geese are very active this year. Discussion of the loons.

Publicity: Jerremy Jones. Good recent coverage in the FreePress, and a FOVLAP update.

Lake Safety: Frank Callahan & Mike Gay. New buoys placed at Sunken Island. Discussion of adding additional reflective tape.

Nominating Committee: Jim and other members have not heard from Bob. We’ll have 2 vacancies on the board after the annual meeting.

Membership: Jerremy Jones. To date there are 360 LSCA members. The membership goal is to reach 400. A reminder postcard was sent. $71k in dues & donations so far.

Government Relations: Jerremy Jones. Our 3 state senators, 1 state representative, and all members of the Wells Select Board were invited and will be attending the annual meeting.

Grants: Hilary S from PMNRCD will be attending the annual meeting and speaking about 2 grants, LWAP and SWMP project development.

Old Business: LSCA to participate in East Poultney Day, August 10th, Jerremy, Jim and Frank to work the booth. Jerremy will leave briefly to attend LSCCF meeting. Formal approval of the DASH expense that was discussed over email.

New Business: LSCA sponsored a Wells teen for the new Junior Warden program. Discussion about dues collection and the bylaws.

Motion to adjourn meeting at 10:08, all in favor, so moved.

The board remained to review the slide presentation prepared for the Annual Meeting.

Respectfully submitted, Kemi McShane

LSCA's 2024 Annual Meeting & Dinner Recap

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 12:11:31 GMT

Good morning LSC.

A big THANK YOU to the tremendous group we had at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club Saturday evening for the LSCA's Annual Meeting & Dinner. It was great to see so many of you who care so much about LSC. We had a full house!

We hope you enjoyed the presentation, your meal, and your evening with your lake neighbors. Thank you all for your interest in the preservation, protection and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine.

We'd also like to thank the Lake St. Catherine Country Club staff for their wonderful service and the excellent dinner.

Finally, thank you to Hilary Solomon from PMNRCD for the update on the LSC Watershed Action plan, and the LSC Stormwater Master Plan, and to all of our invited guests, and the lake community for your interest!

Check out a Photo Gallery from the evening.

Here is our slide presentation:

Here is a recording of the meeting via YouTube:

Mid-July 2024 DASH Update

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 17:24:38 GMT

We'd like to share a quick DASH update with you this afternoon.

Beck from our DASH team just sent in this quick report:

"DASH has started and we have already cleared location C, 2.33 acres. There was a dense patch of EWM out front of the state park boat launch that we wanted to prioritize this summer. We are currently working in location D (near Kinni Kinnic) moving towards some larger patches growing in location E, Sandy Bay."

Beck also reports that milfoil conditions are looking good overall (great news!), but will be prioritizing dense areas, including spots in Sandy Bay and areas along Cones Point, location E over the next few weeks.

Thanks to Beck and his team for doing a great job!

Vermont DEC At LSC For 2024 Lake Wise Training

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 16:13:24 GMT

Good afternoon LSC.

We'd like to let you know that the Vermont DEC were at Lake St. Catherine late last week conducting Lake Wise training for Poultney Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District (PMNRCD) staff, and other organizations that will be preforming Lake Wise assessments in the area.

The 2024 Lake Wise team will start reaching out to LSC property owners who have signed up to schedule appointments for your assessment.

The Lake Wise Program is free to LSC property owners who are interested in making their shoreline lake friendly, working to keep runoff from your property carrying phosphorus, sediment, and other pollutants into the lake. If you are interested in participating for the first time, or if you'd like a revisit, we have a few spots left for 2024, so please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to sign up!

You can read more about the Lake Wise Program on LSC here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-wise-program

This Lake St. Catherine Association project is made possible by a grant earned from the Lake Champlain Basin Program & NEIWPCC, and is partially funded by the US EPA, and Lake Champlain Sea Grant.

A Fun Day At The LSC State Park!

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 19:32:29 GMT

Good evening LSC, we'd like to give you a brief recap of the Libraries Love Lakes Summer Event which took place today at the Lake St. Catherine State Park,

What a fun day!

Kids and their families got to enjoy all the Lake St. Catherine Park has to offer, and they got to go swimming, get a treat at the snack bar, and participate in the fun educational activities with the educators that were on hand.

The stream table was a hit:

As was the Giant Lake Champlain Watershed Map:

...and the boat ride for water testing:

...with some followup at the Nature Center:

The kids tested for dissolved oxygen, and took secchi disk and temperature readings. They also saw one of the eagles, the eagle nest, and the loon family! They had quite a boat trip. Some also then ventured forth to Endless Brook to check out the macroinvertebrates.

The LSCA and the Wells Village Library would like to thank the Lake St. Catherine State Park - and their fantastic staff, 'Captain' Martha Pofit for taking everyone out on her boat, our volunteers for the day, the awesome staff from PMNRCD - Jaden & James, Megan Hill from the Maritime Museum, Park Interpreter Jeff Ormsbee, and all the families that attended the event - we hope all involved had a great time!

Finally, we would like to thank the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission which made this day possible through an Education & Outreach Grant earned by the LSCA and Wells Village Library.

Our final Libraries Love Lakes event will take place in the fall and will focus on the artist side of nature. Watch for details for this event in the coming weeks.

More images from the day are available in our Facebook photo gallery:

Facebook Photo Gallery

LSCA & PMNRCD Interviewed For Catamount Community Connection

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 19:46:42 GMT

Hello LSC.

The Lake St. Catherine Association and the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) were interviewed earlier today by Senator Brian Collamore for a new episode of his public affairs show Catamount Community Connection.

Our episode will air this Sunday, July 14th on WJJR, 98.1 FM at 6 AM, and on Cat Country, 105.3 FM at 11 PM. You can listen to both of these stations online by clicking the attached links.

We'll do our best to record our episode in case you miss it and make it available for listening at another time.

Jerremy Jones from the LSCA and Hilary Solomon from the PMNRCD had a great discussion with Senator Collamore about the projects and programs our organizations are working on, and how we are working together on numerous preservation and protection initiatives for the lake and the Lake St. Catherine watershed.

Thank you to Senator Collamore and to Catamount Radio for this opportunity to speak about these important topics for the lake community and all in the Poultney Mettowee conservation district.

We hope you can tune in!

Junior Game Warden Weekend

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 16:05:50 GMT

Hello LSC, we'd like to let you know about this great Vermont Fish and Wildlife program called Junior Warden Weekend, talking place at the Edward F. Kehoe Green Mountain Conservation Camp on Lake Bomoseen, July 27th & 28th - and the Lake St. Catherine Association would like to sponsor a teen from Wells or Poultney to participate!

More details about Junior Warden Weekend are included below, and here is the direct link to learn more and apply:

https://vtfishandwildlife.com/learn-more/conservation-education/junior-warden-weekend

Please help to spread the word - thanks!

The Winners Of The LSCA's 12th Annual Boat Parade Are...

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 15:01:22 GMT

Hello LSC, here are your winners of the LSCA's 12th Annual Boat Parade. Over 250 votes were cast in the online poll!

THANK YOU to:

All of our creative participants
The Goldman Family for being our lead boat
Karen Velsor for the fantastic photos of the boats

Winner, Best Overall: Boat #9 - Come On Barbie Let's Go Party - Christine Gay

Second Place, Best Overall: Boat #7 - Carnival - Hicks Family

Winner, Funniest: Boat #5 - Dump Run! - Conine Family

Second Place, Funniest: Boat #9 - Come On Barbie Let's Go Party - Christine Gay

Winner, Most Original: Boat #7 - Carnival - Hicks Family

Second Place, Most Original: Boat #2 - The Loon Pontoon - Dawn Smith-Pliner

Winner, Most Patriotic: Boat #11 - God Bless America!! - Dave & Lisa

Second Place, Most Patriotic: Boat #8 - Red, White and Brew BBQ - Cahill & Klamik Family

If you enjoyed the boat parade, please consider becoming a member of the Lake St. Catherine Association to support our work for the benefit of LSC. We have multiple membership levels for you. You can learn more about becoming a member here: https://lakestcatherine.org/become-a-member

Thank you, and have a safe and fun 4th of July weekend!

Vote For Your Favorite Boats - 12th Annual LSCA Boat Parade

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 06 Jul 2024 22:37:35 GMT

Hello LSC - we hope you all enjoyed the boat parade!

THANK YOU:

> All of our CREATIVE participants!
> Karen Velsor for the AWESOME photos!
> Everyone cheering from their boats and from the shore!

Now, time to vote for your favorite boats in our four categories:

• Most Original
• Most Patriotic
• Funniest
• Best Overall

Here is the link:

https://forms.gle/Bxe5KqAoTaykhHkXA

Poll closes at 9 PM - so get your votes in - and we'll post the results later this evening.

Note: We did not get a photo of Boat #14 - if someone has a photo of this boat, please send along so we can update the poll.

Thanks all - hope you have a great 4th weekend!

If you'd like to help support the LSCA's mission of the preservation, protection, and maintenance of beautiful Lake St. Catherine, you can become a member or make a donation.

More info here:

> https://lakestcatherine.org/become-a-member
> https://lakestcatherine.org/donation

Thank you!

Photo Gallery:

> All photos by Karen Velsor

LSCA's 2024 Annual Meeting & Dinner - RSVPs Open!

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 16:37:10 GMT

Hello LSC.

We'd like to invite you to the 2024 Lake St. Catherine Association's Annual Meeting & Dinner at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club on Saturday, July 27th, beginning at 6 PM.

Our Guest Speakers will include:

Hilary Solomon from Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) with an update on the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan.

We are looking forward to seeing you!

At approximately 7:30, dinner will be served. If you'd like to stay for dinner, the LSC CC has provided the menu below.

Dinner options:

$25 - Chicken Piccata
$25 - Seafood Stuffed Filet of Sole
$35 - Prime Rib

Dinners include a vegetable, salad, and potato. Cake and coffee will be served for dessert.

> You must RSVP for a dinner by July 21st so the Country Club can properly prepare. We'll not be able to take walk-ins for dinner.

Please plan on arriving a bit before 6 PM so you can get checked in and be seated so we can begin the presentation as close to 6 as possible.

80 dinners are available. Dinners sold out last year, so please RSVP as soon as possible.

Thank you!

Libraries Love Lakes Summer Event to be Held at Lake St. Catherine State Park

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 12:00:35 GMT

The Wells Village Library and the Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) are hosting their third event of the year at the Lake St. Catherine State Park on Saturday, July 13th from 10 AM until 3 PM.

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. Accordingly, there will be a slew of fun and educational activities designed to get folks on and in the lake.

When arriving, attendees mentioning Libraries Love Lakes will enjoy free park entry. The first 20 families to arrive will receive an event-themed kit containing on-topic books and other materials. This is a family friendly event, so bring the kids and they’ll get a free treat from the snack bar. There will be swimming, canoeing, kayaking, pedal boating and more.

At the park nature center between 12 PM and 2 PM, various presenters will be on-hand including Meghan Hill Bartholomew of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. Meghan will set up a 35’ x 27’ Lake Champlain Watershed Giant Map and talk about upstream influences on Lake St. Catherine, among other things. Additionally, the new State Park Interpreter, Jeff Ormsbee, will demonstrate water quality testing as well as the collection and study of macroinvertebrates from Endless Brook, which runs through the park and into the lake. Finally, members of the Lake Education and Action Program (LEAP) and the Lake Wise Program teams from the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) will display their stream table and discuss water quality, runoff, and erosion impacts.

This and most LLL activities are possible through an Education & Outreach Grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission. Watch for details on another great event planned for October.

Questions may be directed to Jerremy Jones, Trustee, at the Lake St. Catherine Association by calling (802) 287-6027 or emailing jerremy.jones@lakestcatherine.org.

Late June 2024 Update From Our DASH Team

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 21:14:25 GMT

Hello LSC. We'd like to provide you with an update from our Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) team, as they have started off the season with hand-pulling milfoil.

Here's the update from Beck:

"Ferncliff Aquatic Services finished hand-pulling location H1 today (along West Lake Road) and moved onto location H in Oxbow Bay (see the 2024 map here). We have been testing out our new electric air compressors that drastically reduce noise and don’t emit exhaust. We look forward to incorporating them into our operation throughout the summer."

Also, the team frequently removes garbage they find as they work. Here is just a small example from the past few days of the type and amount of junk that they pick up from the lake bottom:

Thanks to Beck and the DASH team for their great work around the lake!

Full DASH operations will begin on July 1.

Meeting of the Board of Trustees - 6/22/24

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 16:38:50 GMT

On Saturday, June 22nd, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their second meeting of the 2024 season.

Attendance: John Belnavis, Mark Shea, Sue Wojtkowiak, Mary Jo Teetor, Lisa Micich, Jim Canders, Jeff Crandall (call in), Kemi McShane (call in), Frank Callahan, Jerremy Jones, and Mike Gay. Absent: Bob Williams, Nancy Liberatore, Rob Nesbit, Ed Laird

Guests: None

Call to Order: President Jim Canders called the meeting to order at 8:00.

Public Comment: None.

Call to Order: President Jim Canders called the meeting to order at 8:30 AM

Approval of Meeting Minutes: Minutes of May 25, 2024 posted. Motion to accept the minutes as presented. All in favor, so moved.

Treasurer’s Report: Mary Jo Teetor presented income and expenses. Motion to accept the Treasurer’s report. All in favor, so moved.

Annual Membership Meeting: Saturday, July 20,20224. The annual membership meeting will be held at the LSC CC at 6:00 PM. The format for the meeting will be the Committee Chairperson will present for each committee. One guest speaker will address the Membership. An invitation will be made to Hilary from the PMNRCD who will report on the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan, and the Stormwater Master Plan. Invitations were also extended to the Select Boards of Poultney and Wells, and our state senators and representatives. John spoke of the menu selection and pricing as discussed with the Dining Room manager, Nicole. The facility can handle 80 guests. All dinner reservations and selection must be made by 7/21. The Board of Trustees are preparing for a good turnout and will be able to address topics of interest, and save time for a Q&A period at the end of the Membership meeting.

Milfoil Management: Jeff Crandall, treatment took place on June 4, 2024. June 6, 2024 water testing showed the herbicide had dissipated out of the water. Jim spoke to the presence of the law enforcement at the boat launch area, and how well they handled the protesting. Jeff has received the SOLitude contract and has the invoice for payment of $48,260.00 to give to MJ. Jeff reported an update for the DASH program. The team will work on 14 sites, as approved by the DEC. The team will begin full operations on July 1, 2024. A motion was made to ratify the DASH budget, (that was proposed via e-mail) for $53,000.00. All in favor, so moved. On our new 5-year permit application, no new news, but we do expect a public meeting, and will ask members to make comments and participate.

Greeter Program: John Belnavis spoke of the team Greeters this 2024 season consisting of high schoolers and retirees. John mentioned the good relationship between the Marina and the Greeters, which allows the Greeters to use the facilities at the Marina. He has good coverage for this season. John mentioned a conversation with Kim Jensen about a potential boat wash station, and led to a discussion about the new wake boat decontamination rules.

Water Quality and Testing: Mary Jo Teetor spoke of the high pollen count this Spring. She will address any area of water that is of concern to residents. Cyanobacteria are always present and become problematic due to weather conditions. There has been a decrease in the phosphorus levels in LSC which could be the result of property owner education and the work of various water quality improvement projects around the lake by LSCA and PMNRCD.

Publicity: Jerremy Jones, involvement with FOVLAP has provided an increased exposure to other lakes and is a good resource for what is going on in the State. LSCA’s website and Facebook pages are continually updated with LSC related information.

Lake Safety: Frank Callahan & Mike Gay, reported the condition and placement of the many buoys around the lake. All were in the lake for Memorial Day weekend. One went missing and was found in Halls Bay. An additional marker will be added to Forest House Bay for the protection of the Loons and their new chick. Frank said that he may not be able to conduct the boat safety course as he had done over the years, waiting for booklets and tests from the State.

Nominating Committee: Jim Canders referred to the E-mail poll and the results. Lisa, Mike and Mark will be returning Trustees, Rob has not informed the board of his decision yet. John’s seat is open for a new candidate. Discussion regarding potential new Trustees. Jerremy will invite the candidate that was discussed. John mentioned the collection of the signs posted to inform the public of the herbicide treatment, need to stay up for 30 days, John will collect them at that time. John also mentioned a conversation about beavers in Lily Pond from a resident. Jerremy will reach out to someone at the State who recently gave a presentation on beavers.

Membership: Jerremy Jones, to date there are 350 LSCA members. The membership goal is to reach 400. A reminder postcard will be sent later in July.

Government Relations: Jim Canders addressed the cooperation the LSCA received from Wells and the State of VT regarding the need for a presence at the boat launch on the day of the treatment.

Grants: Mary Jo Teetor mentioned the need to hire a Grant writer and discussed the process for writing a grant and reporting on it is time consuming. MJ has managed the grants with help from Hilary and her staff at PMNRCD. This position will be advertised.

Old Business: LSCA to participate in East Poultney Day, August 10th. LSCA new welcome sign needs to be erected and a placement for it needs to be established. Contacted the Butternut Hill Condos to ask to use their land at the base of the hill. A written agreement between the LSCA and Butternut Hill Condos was suggested.

New Business: Jerremy reported that registration for the Boat Parade is low but usually picks up once people arrive at the Lake. Volunteers to help at the Library Loves Lakes on July 13 at the State Park would be helpful.

Subsequent Trustees Meeting dates:

July 27, 2024 Trustees Meeting 8:30 AM

July 27, 2024 Annual Membership Meeting 6:00 PM at LSC CC

August 24, 2024 Trustees Meeting 8:30 AM (last meeting for 2024) to include Election of Officers: President, Vice President and Treasurer

Motion to adjourn meeting at 10:25, all in favor, so moved.

Respectfully submitted, Kemi McShane

Two Baby Loon Chicks Hatch On Lake St. Catherine!

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 11:51:36 GMT

It was quite the day yesterday when Dawn & Joel, who have been monitoring the nesting loons from their camp on the Channel, reported that a baby loon chick was seen with the pair. Then, a few hours later, a new sighting with two loon chicks!

Amazing!

The parent loons were observed feeding the chicks, and the chicks were seen riding on the backs of their parents.

Here is a photo taken by Lake St. Catherine photographer extraordinaire Karen Velsor:

Thank you to Karen for allowing us to include one of her photos in this announcement!

Many more images and videos have been posted in the Lake St. Catherine Vermont Facebook Group, which you can join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LakeSaintCatherine

As of last evening, all four loons were observed heading under the bridge, then out onto the Big Lake!

Please keep your eyes peeled for them, and be sure to give them their space - and do not approach them during this crucial time.

Check out this brochure from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, "A Guide For Boaters" for tips on sharing the water with the loons.

Thanks to Dawn & Joel for keeping a good eye on them as they nested, and thanks Eric Hanson from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies for his support over these past several years to get us to the this point!

Game Warden Justin Turner Provides First Update Of The 2024 Season

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 11:48:22 GMT

Our Game Warden Justin Turner sent us his first update of the 2024 season about his work at the lake since May 22nd to pass along to the lake community. He will be providing updates throughout the season.

We thank Justin for his work, and for providing these updates to the lake community!

Justin's Report:

“Vermont Game Wardens returned to boating patrol on Lake St. Catherine on May 22, 2024. Like last summer, Wardens will be conducting safety inspections, fishing compliance checks and general patrol for boating safety.

Wake violations were one of the most common complaints and or observed violations in 2023. As a reminder, it is a violation to operate a boat within 200 feet of the shoreline; an individual in the water; a canoe, rowboat, or other vessel; an anchored or moored vessel containing any individual; or anchorages or docks, except at a speed of less than five miles per hour that does not create a wake.

In addition, and worth noting, an individual shall not operate a vessel, except at speeds of less than five miles per hour, within 200 feet of a designated swimming area. This applies to the designated swimming area buoys found off the beach at the State Park and through the channel.

As mentioned above, a safety inspection is an equipment check including but not limited to the following items when applicable, working lights, pfd(s), fire extinguisher(s), registration numbers, current validation sticker, muffling device, a working bilge blower, and a boating safety card. Having said that about fire extinguishers, if your non rechargeable fire extinguisher is more than 12 years old, it is considered “expired” per the United State Coast Guard rules and regulations. Here is a link to the USCG boat responsibly page as it pertains to fire extinguishers and a Q&A taken from that page:

Q3. How do I tell if my fire extinguisher is expired?

A3. If your disposable (non-rechargeable) fire extinguisher has the Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) Trademark, a date of manufacture stamped on the bottle, and it is older than 12 years since the date, the extinguisher is considered expired and must be removed from service. Look for wording on the bottle stating, “This product must be removed from service within 12 years after date of manufacturing”.

https://uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/fire-extinguisher-faq.php

Here is a link to the USCG boat responsibly home page:

https://uscgboating.org/index.php

If you see Wardens on the boat, please feel free to flag us down on the water or from your dock and we are happy to complete an inspection for you or answer any questions/concerns you may have.”

The 12th Annual LSCA Boat Parade - Register Your Boat Now!

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 11:21:14 GMT

Hello LSC - We'd like to let you know that the 12th Annual LSCA Boat Parade has been scheduled and is open for registration!

The 12th Annual LSCA Boat Parade will be on Saturday, July 6th at 1 PM.

We all know how fun it is to watch the boat parade, but it's even more fun to be part of it!

As we did last year, we'll take photos of all participants, and we'll have a lake-wide online vote to decide the winner.

Our categories are:

Most Original
Most Patriotic
Funniest
Best Overall

Our 11th Annual Boat Parade winners, and current reigning champions are:

Most Patriotic:

1st Place: Boat #3 - 4th of July / Fireworks - Joseph Cheslawski

Funniest:

1st Place: Boat #11 - Sunnyside 5th Generation - Megan Caswell

Most Original:

1st Place: Boat #1 - Unidentified Floating Object - The Goldman Family

Best Overall:

1st Place: Boat #6 - Groovin On The Lake 2.0 - Christine & Mike Gay

[ All photos by Karen Velsor - thanks Karen! ]

So, start thinking about your theme, and mark your calendars for July 6th! Then, email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to register your boat.

Also, lake resident Rick Roberts has announced that his annual fireworks display will take place that evening, Saturday, July 6th at dusk.

It's going to be a fun day!

Meeting of the Board of Trustees - 5/25/24

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 31 May 2024 19:15:37 GMT

On Saturday, May 25th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their first meeting of the 2024 season.

Attendance: Jim Canders, Jerremy Jones, Mary Jo Teetor, Frank Callahan, Ed Laird, Nancy Liberatore, Mike Gay, Jeff Crandall, Sue Williams, Rob Nesbit, Kemi McShane, John Belnavis Absent: Lisa Micich, Mark Shea, Bob Williams

Guests: None

Call to Order: President Jim Canders called the meeting to order at 8:00.

Public Comment: None at the start of the meeting.

Approval of Meeting Minutes: Minutes of August 26, 2024 posted. Motion to accept the minutes as presented. All in favor, so moved.

Milfoil Management: Jeff Crandall, Jeff discussed the late April plant survey, and DEC approval of our plans for the Milfoil Control Program for the 2024 season. Jeff mentioned that there is a spot treatment in Little Lake, so we approached the LSCCF to see if they would like to contribute, but they declined citing budgetary concerns.

> Public Comment: At this point in the meeting, Jim, Donnalee, and Jeanie Kelly arrived, so we gave them time to speak and ask questions about the upcoming ProcellaCOR treatment, and a discussion followed. They requested some additional information which we will follow up with after the meeting. As they left, Ed continued the discussion with them outside.

Returning to the Milfoil Management discussion: Jeff continued by going over the locations that will be spot treated or DASHed on the 2024 map. Jeff also outlined the process for the new permit application that was submitted to the DEC. There was also discussion about the recent Wells Select Board Meeting at which a group asked the board to pull support for our new permit, and preparations for rumored disruptions at the boat launch on the day of the treatment on June 4th.

Treasurer’s Report: Mary Jo Teetor, MJ provided printed reports of year-to-date income and expenses, discussed grants, and budgetary numbers for the 2024 season for our large expenses which includes the Greeter Program and the Milfoil Control Program. MJ also suggested looking for someone to assist with grant writing and reporting as a paid position. MJ also mentioned voting to increase Greeter pay to $20 per hour. A motion was made by Frank to increase Greeter pay to $20 per hour, seconded by Nancy. All in favor, so moved. Motion to accept the Treasurer's Report as presented made by John, and seconded by Nancy. All in favor, so moved.

Publicity: Jerremy Jones, Spring newsletter available, emailed to members, posted on website, printed copies available at Wellsmere Farm & Cones Point General Store. Frequent postings on our website, Facebook, email blasts to keep the lake community infomed. Jerremy also mentioned that the website has been updated with the new wake sport regulations, as well as the Milfoil Control Program page.

Lake Safety: Frank Callahan & Mike Gay, new buoys going in for Sunken Island, all buoys and markers should be in by the end of the weekend. Frank is looking to schedule the boating safety classes, waiting to hear back from F&W on new materials for 2024.

Nominating Committee: Jim Canders spoke for Bob Williams, John Belnavis is stepping down at the end of his term, we will have at least one opening. Discussion about potential new board members.

Membership: Jerremy Jones, ahead of last year, 331 current members. Some very generous contributions this year. Working to hit our goal of 400 members, and will send out reminder postcards in July.

Grants / Government Relations: Jim Canders, Jim discussed the good attendance of local and state representatives at our recent events.

Old Business: Discussion about reserving a booth and attending East Poultney Day.

New Business: Ed discussed board voting, and said that it always take place in-person, or online (ie. Google Meet) with a quorum, and should not be done via email. Replacing the Welcome to Lake St. Catherine sign was discussed - John speaking to landowners about a new location, we have a structural design from Mike, and are working with a lake resident on the sign design. Jerremy requested that the LSCA make a $100 donation to the Vermont Center for Ecostudies in acknowledgement of Eric Hanson’s assistance in setting up the loon nesting platform. Motion to make the donation made by John, and seconded by Frank. All in favor, so moved.

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 9:45, seconded and all in favor, so moved.

Next meeting: June 22, 2024 at 8:30 AM LSC CC.

Meeting minutes compiled by Kemi McShane & Jerremy Jones.

Libraries Love Lakes - Spring Event - A Great Day At The Lake!

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 25 May 2024 19:45:59 GMT

Good afternoon LSC - we hope you are getting in some lake time on this beautiful day!

What a great event at the Wells Lakeside Park this afternoon for the Libraries Love Lakes Spring Event!

We hope all who attended enjoyed it!

Loon biologist Eric Hanson arrived early to canoe over to observe the nesting loons, then arrived back just in time to kick off the presentations with a real-time loon report! Based on what Eric saw, and Dawn's observations, Eric explained that he believes the loons are sitting on an egg. They have been doing so for about a week, so we may be 3 weeks away from seeing if they will be successful based on average loon egg incubation time. As Dawn has encouraged everyone, please maintain no wake speed near the marked area, and please do not stop to observe, just take a peak as you slowly move past. Very exciting!

Next, Kathleen Guinness from RCAS spoke about birds you can see at LSC, including many you may have heard, but have never seen. Kathleen explained that there are over 99 different bird species that visit Lake St. Catherine!

The LSCA would like to thank our attendees, the Lake Champlain Basin Program, NEIWPCC, the Wells Village Library - and their mascot Nan, the Town of Wells, Eric, Kathleen, Karen, and of course Gina for their contributions to making this event a great success! THANK YOU!

The next Libraries Love Lakes event will take place at the State Park on July 13th - there will be swimming, paddling, AND SO MUCH MORE! More details as we get closer to the event - mark your calendar.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend all!

More photos in the Facebook Gallery:

LSCA's 2024 Spring Newsletter

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 24 May 2024 12:17:57 GMT

It's almost here, Memorial Day Weekend, and the 'unofficial start of summer'. We hope that you'll have a fun and safe season at the Lake, and that you'll be kind and respectful of each other and our beautiful lake as you create new memories and enjoy your time here this season.

We also hope that you will take a moment on Monday to remember and honor those who have died while serving our country for Memorial Day.

The LSCA's Spring 2024 newsletter is attached with lots of information about our plans for the season, and details on many of the events that will be taking place at or around the lake.

In an effort to save on printing and mailing costs, we've decided to only print a short run of copies and distribute them at Wellsmere Farm in Wells, and the Cones Point General Store / Cluckin' Cafe in Poultney. If you'd like a printed copy, please feel free to pick one up when you are out and about (available Friday after 9AM). Thank you to Michelle and Nicole for having them available!

Also, your LSCA Trustee neighbors will have printed copies available around the lake over the weekend, so stop in to say hi.

The digital version is now available online via our website through this link: Click here to view the Spring 2024 Newsletter, or click on the image below. When you click on the link for the newsletter, you will be able to view it on screen - and be able to zoom in or out using the controls in your browser window. Or, you can click the download button to save a copy to your computer to view with a PDF reader, and/or print a copy.

LSCA Hosts Vermont DEC For Greeter Training

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 18 May 2024 16:59:37 GMT

Today, the LSCA was happy to host Olin Reed from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation Lakes and Ponds today at the Wells Town Hall for his in-person training session on the Greeter Program.

Folks from lakes all around the State attended the training session to be Greeters on their local lake, including Greeters that will work at Lake St. Catherine this summer.

Today's training included:

> Aquatic invasive species biology, threats to Vermont, the importance of spread prevention

> Access area rules and regulations, invasive species laws

> Invasive species messaging, tips on interacting with the public

> Inspection and data collection training

About the Greeter Program on LSC:

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, asian clams, water chestnut, starry stonewort and zebra mussels (and many others) - to stop them from entering LSC at the boat launch in Wells and the State Park in Poultney. 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.

The Greeter Program on LSC is partially funded by the Aquatic Nuisance Control (ANC) Grant-in-Aid Program, and by membership dues and contributions to the LSCA.

If you are interested in being a paid Greeter as part of this program, please reach out to us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Also, a thank you to the Town of Wells for the use of the Town Hall Meeting Room!

LSC's Loons Build A Nest In The Channel!

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 09 May 2024 16:24:06 GMT

We recently told you about the loon nesting platform that was built and placed in the Channel last month in the hopes that our territorial loon pair would return and nest this year.

Well... our loons in the Channel have built a nest just off the shoreline - foregoing the deluxe accommodations we provided for them... (but we don't mind).

Channel residents Dawn & Joel observed their building activities over the past few days, and they informed Eric Hanson from Vermont Center for Ecostudies.

Wednesday evening, Dawn & Joel assisted us in placing the Loon Nesting Area signs to create a small buffer zone around the nest. These signs were left at the lake last year (with Dawn & Joel) when the nesting activity was first observed. The loons did not end up building a nest last year, so they were not placed at that time.

Now that they have a nest, we need to give them space to do their thing:

Please do not approach the nest
When passing by the nest, please do not stop, just continue on your way
Most importantly, PLEASE travel at NO WAKE speed in this area. Eric mentioned that eggs have been recently lost on other lakes from wave action

Let's keep our fingers crossed that this pair will be successful!

Thanks again to Dawn & Joel for their help!

> Photos by Dawn Smith-Pliner

LSCA Hiring Greeters For 2024 Season

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 07 May 2024 16:25:04 GMT

Hello LSC.

The LSCA is currently seeking dedicated and reliable folks to work as Greeters on Lake St. Catherine as part of the Vermont Public Access Greeter Program.

About the LSCA's Greeter Program:

Greeters earn $20 per hour.

If you are interested in being a paid Greeter as part of this program, please reach out to us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Additional details about the Greeter position:

Boat Access Greeter Duties

Approaching and interacting with boaters
Inspecting watercraft
Identifying and handling suspicious specimens
Collecting and reporting data
Distributing educational material on aquatic invasive species

Annual Greeter Program Training

All Vermont Public Access Greeters and Coordinators are required to attend annual Greeter Program Trainings. The trainings include up-to-date information about the program and professional development techniques. Some of the topics include:

Aquatic invasive species biology, threats to Vermont, and the importance of spread prevention
Access area rules and regulations, invasive species laws
Tips on delivering invasive species messages and interacting with the public
How to inspect watercraft and data collection methods

> In-person training will take place on Saturday, May 18th at the Wells Town Hall beginning at 10 AM.

For more info on the Greeter Program: https://dec.vermont.gov/watershed/lakes-ponds/aquatic-invasives/spread-prevention/vermont-public-access-greeter-program

2024 Green Up Day On LSC A Big Success!

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 04 May 2024 23:07:34 GMT

Please join us in thanking all the volunteers who have been out cleaning up litter along the roadways for Green Up Vermont Day! What a difference!

We estimate that we had around 35-40 volunteers working to clean up all the roads around the lake this year.

We'd also like to thank the towns of Wells & Poultney & the town crews for picking up the bags, and the Wells Country Store for the coffee & muffins this morning at the Volunteer Meetup.

Thank you all for your efforts!

You can see more photos on this Facebook post.

LSCA Announces 2024 Milfoil Control Plans

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 03 May 2024 14:32:10 GMT

Hello LSC, we'd like to let you know about the LSCA's 2024 plans for our Milfoil Control Program.

On April 26th, LSCA Trustees, our Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) team, our contractor, and Arrowwood Environmental performed a spring survey of the lake for milfoil growth.

Our findings were similar to those seen in the fall 2023 Aquatic Plant Survey, which you can view here. Using the information gathered from both surveys, we have created a map to show where spot treatments will take place, and where our DASH team will be working this season:

Spot treatments of ProcellaCOR EC will take place on Tuesday, June 4th. Please see the attached notice below for further information:

Our DASH team will begin swimming through low density milfoil areas to hand-pull in June when the water temp allows, and will begin full DASH operations on July 1st.

The LSCA’s Milfoil Control Program consists of five components:

1. ‘Stop The Spread’ education and outreach. Our ‘Stop The Spread’ campaign educates boaters and property owners on best practices to limit the spread of milfoil. Each year, the LSCA holds a lake community meeting to discuss the control plan for the season, answer questions, and hand out a flyer with best practices for lake users to limit the spread of milfoil.

2. Volunteer milfoil cleanup. Throughout the season, we organize volunteers to collect detached floating milfoil from the lake and deposit it on our designated drop off platforms. The milfoil is then picked up from the platforms and disposed of. We also encourage boaters and property owners to remove any milfoil they see in the lake while boating or on their shoreline.

What can you do to help?

As a general rule, get as much milfoil out of the lake as possible and dispose of it.
Don’t drive through milfoil patches with your boat which will create fragments.
If you have milfoil on your prop, don’t just reverse and drive away, please remove it from the lake.
If you have milfoil growing in your dock or swimming area, pull it out by the roots and remove it from the lake.
If you see milfoil floating anywhere in the lake, near your dock, or along your shoreline, remove it from the lake.
Become a member of the LSCA to help support our efforts!

Keep in mind that native aquatic plants are important and necessary to sustain a healthy lake ecology. Please focus on removing milfoil plants only. It's up to all of us to stop the spread of milfoil.

We’re also working to schedule our yearly Milfoil Control Meeting - which we’ll announce soon. All are welcome to attend to learn about our milfoil control plans for the season, and ask questions. Also, as we have done the past several years, a drop-off float is located in the Channel where you can deposit detached milfoil and other plants - and we’ll remove them from the lake.

As you may be aware, there has been a lot of recent misinformation about milfoil, ProcellaCOR, the permitting process, and Lake St. Catherine in general. We encourage everyone to visit our newly updated Milfoil Control Program page to read more about this important topic.

Thank you.

Libraries Love Lakes Spring Event

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 27 Apr 2024 10:35:44 GMT

The Wells Village Library and the Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) are excited to host the Rutland County Audubon Society (RCAS) at the Wells Lakeside Park on Little Lake, 1268 North Street in Wells, on Saturday, May 25th at 11 AM.

Kathleen Guinness, Co-Vice President & Secretary of RCAS will talk about many of the birds you'll see at Lake St. Catherine.

We’ll also discuss the new loon nesting platform recently installed on the lake, and all attendees will have a chance to win a framed loon photo taken and donated by Lake St. Catherine photographer extraordinaire Karen Velsor. Also, the first 20 families to arrive will receive an event themed kit of on-topic surprises.

Libraries Love Lakes is an outreach project which pairs school and public libraries with lake scientists to provide collaborative programming emphasizing the importance of lakes in our everyday lives. This will be the second event of four that are planned for the Libraries Love Lakes Program for 2024. We’re planning two more seasonally themed events for summer and fall.

This and future Libraries Love Lakes events are made possible by a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) and NEIWPCC.

Bobolink Photo: Doug Gimler / Vermont Audubon

Neighbors Working Together to Clear Debris From Lily Pond Channel

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 16:14:06 GMT

The LSCA would like to acknowledge Rick Dupont and his neighbors for their extensive work in clearing debris at the mouth of the Lily Pond.

Additionally, we'd also like to acknowledge the good work of Ferncliff residents who pulled debris out of the entrance to the Lily Pond channel.

Back in 2017, the LSCA conducted a hydroraking project to remove sediment and debris from the middle of the Lily Pond channel to make it more navigable and to increase water flow.

That project was successful, but great efforts like those of Rick and the residents in that area are needed, possibly multiple times a year, to maintain ongoing connectivity of Lily Pond to North Bay.

These efforts are excellent example of lake neighbors organizing and working together to address an issue - thank you all for your continued efforts!

Green Up Day 2024 - In Two Weeks!

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 11:10:51 GMT

Saturday, May 4th is Green Up Vermont Day!

Green Up Vermont is a state-wide volunteer cleanup day of Vermont's roads and waterways.

As Green Up Vermont's website says:

"We know it isn’t your litter but Vermont needs our help to be beautiful!"

We had a FANTASTIC turnout last year, with volunteers signing up to cover just about every road around the lake, and additional roads in Wells & Poultney - and we're looking to do it again this year. You can check out a quick recap, and see lots of photos from our volunteers of our 2023 Green UP Vermont Day here.

Would you like to volunteer for Green Up Vermont Day?

We are working to organize volunteers in Wells & Poultney, and around the lake, to pitch in for Green Up Day and help to clean up our roadways - and we're off to a great start!

If so, email us at info@lakestcatherine.org, or contact us on Facebook, and let us know the roads (or sections of roads) you'd like to work on, and we'll add you to our volunteer map: Green Up 2024 Map.

You can also visit the Wells or Poultney Town Halls to pick up bags, and let them know where you'll work.

Also, as we did last year, in coordination with the Town of Wells, we will be hosting a brief kickoff to the day at the Wells Lakeside Park on Little Lake at 8 AM that morning. Please stop in to pick up Green Up bags, fuel up on coffee and muffins from the Wells Country Store to get energized for the day, and meet your fellow volunteers! Please let us know if you'll be joining us so we can get a count.

So, let us know if you'd like to participate and where you'll do your clean up, and we'll add your area to the map. We'll keep the map up-to-date here, and on our website Calendar, on the May 4th Green Up Vermont Day event. You can view that here: 2024 Green Up Vermont Day Event.

Let's all pitch in to get Lake St. Catherine, and Wells & Poultney ready for a great Summer!

Loon Nesting Platform Installed In The Channel

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 18:25:08 GMT

Hello LSC.

It was a great day on the water with Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) loon biologist Eric Hanson!

Last spring, Channel resident Dawn Smith-Pliner observed and recorded loons appearing to perform nesting activities. Eric confirmed this was the case, and came down to Lake St. Catherine with 'Loon Nesting Area' signs. But, after visiting the site, he could tell that they would not be successful in building a nest - so we did not place the signs at that time.

However, because of this activity, Eric believes that these loons are now a 'Territorial Pair', and will return this spring, to the same spot, to attempt to nest again.

Today, Eric came down to Lake St. Catherine to build and place a nesting platform for these loons in the area they attempted to nest last year.

After meeting Eric at the boat launch, we loaded up his canoe with all the supplies, and paddled over to Dawn & Joel's dock which we used as a staging area. THANK YOU to Dawn and Joel!

As we were getting ready, we met Linda Paquette, and she took this photo of us right before we headed out:

Thanks for the photo Linda!

After arriving at the dock, we unloaded and started building the platform:

Next, a mesh flooring is placed and secured on top of the timbers:

Then, the platform is placed into the water, and floats are added in the cavity to create additional buoyancy for the organic matter used to create the nesting area:

Here is the completed platform:

The shrubs are placed on the side that will face the open water to provide some cover for the loons, and a nesting bowl was set up in the middle of the platform. You'll notice that some open areas were left in the 2 front corners which allows some space for the loons to hop up onto the platform.

Finally, we loaded the attached cinder blocks into the canoe and paddled over to the place where the loons attempted to nest last year, and got it in place:

Eric said that loons should be arriving soon to Lake St. Catherine, and we're hopeful that they will find the nest.

Eric explained that just because we have provided a great place for the loons to nest does not mean that they will use it, and it may take a few years - but we can still be hopeful!

If we do observe loon activity, we'll then place loon nesting signs to give them the space they need to be successful. Please do what you can to avoid going close to, or lingering near the platform. Let's all do everything we can to give them the best shot possible.

Here's our goal:

Photo: From VCE website, by Jeff Nadler

After arriving back to at boat launch, we checked the collection tube that we installed last year as part of the VCE program to ask anglers to check their tackle boxes for old lead tackle and fishing line - which are deadly to loons. You can read more about that program here. As you can see, there was a good amount of lead and line that was added to the tube, which Eric took to be properly destroyed:

We'd like to once again thank Eric for his fantastic work, and Dawn & Joel for the use of their property to make this happen.

One final note: Eric's work is funded by grants and donations. If you'd like to support Eric and his work for loons with VCE, please consider making a donation to them, which you can do here. There's a spot on the form where you can type in that your donation is in support of Eric's work at Lake St. Catherine.

We'll keep you up-to-date throughout the season - keep those fingers crossed!

Thank you.

LSCA Earns 2024 Grant-In-Aid Funding

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 16:49:42 GMT

We are happy to report that we've just been informed by the State that we have earned a grant for $25,926 to support our AIS (aquatic invasive species) prevention and control programs which include our Boat Launch Greet Program, and our Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) Program.

About the Greeter Program:

About our DASH Program:

While this funding is great news, it is only a fraction of our projected budget for these programs this year. The majority of the funding for these programs comes from our lake community through membership dues, additional contributions, and donations.

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!

Green Up Vermont Day 2024 - Volunteer To Help Clean Up LSC And Wells & Poultney

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 11:33:20 GMT

Hello LSC, and residents of Wells & Poultney,

Saturday, May 4th is Green Up Vermont Day.

Green Up Vermont is a state-wide volunteer cleanup day of Vermont's roads and waterways.

As Green Up Vermont's website says:

"We know it isn’t your litter but Vermont needs our help to be beautiful!"

Would you like to volunteer for Green Up Vermont Day?

If so, email us at info@lakestcatherine.org, or contact us on Facebook, and let us know the roads (or sections of roads) you'd like to work on, and we'll add you to our volunteer map:

So, let us know if you'd like to participate and where you'll do your clean up, and we'll add your area to the map. We'll keep the map up-to-date here, and on our website Calendar, on the May 6th Green Up Vermont Day event. You can view that here: 2024 Green Up Vermont Day Event.

Let's all pitch in to get Lake St. Catherine, and Wells & Poultney ready for a great Summer!

Thank you.

Creating A Mascot For Lake St. Catherine

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 17:45:11 GMT

Hi LSC.

The Wells Village Library and the Lake St. Catherine Association have received a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) to support the Libraries Love Lakes Program.

For 2024, this program will provide funding for four fun and educational events (the first of which was the Giant Map experience last weekend), additional lake themed materials for the section of the library called the “Lake St. Catherine Collection,” a watershed model of our lake, and the creation of a lake mascot to enrich educational programming.

So, we are seeking your input for a Lake St. Catherine Mascot!

When thinking of Lake St. Catherine, what do you think would make a good mascot to represent the lake? An eagle, a fish, a loon, a turtle, a plant, a muskrat...? There are SO MANY things to choose from!

We've set up a survey for the lake community so you can contribute your ideas:

Lake St. Catherine Mascot Survey

Ideas will be collected and reviewed before work begins, and you'll also be able to indicate on the survey if you'd like to assist us with the creation of the mascot.

Three more seasonally themed future events are being planned for the spring, winter, and fall. Our next event is being planned for May and will have a focus on migratory birds. We hope to have information on this upcoming event soon!

Loon Nesting Platform To Be Placed In The Channel

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 18:31:39 GMT

Hello LSC.

We have some exciting news to share with you this evening.

The LSCA will be working with loon biologist Eric Hanson from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies to place a loon nesting platform in the Channel - tentatively scheduled for Sunday, April 7th, beginning at 9 AM.

However, because of this activity, Eric believes that these loons are now a 'Territorial Pair', and will return this spring, to the same spot, to attempt to nest again.

So, Eric is planning to be here at 9 AM on Sunday, April 7th, and we'll work to build and place the nesting platform for the loons at their selected spot in the Channel. Our hope is that they will discover it, and use it to make their nest. The platform will look similar to this:

Loon Nesting Platform - Photo: Vermont Center for Ecostudies

We hope these efforts will lead to scenes like this on LSC:

Common loon and baby - Photo: Jeff Nadler, from VCE's website

We may need some extra hands, so we are putting a call out for volunteers. We may also need a boat (to be determined) which might get a little dirty from transporting materials for the platform. If you would like to help out, please let us know by emailing us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

We'll keep the lake community informed about this exciting project as it progresses!

Article: Are record ice-outs an alarm? ‘Our concern is for our Earth.’

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 16:56:23 GMT

Hello LSC, here is an article from the Boston Globe: Are record ice-outs an alarm? ‘Our concern is for our Earth.’

It talks about lakes in Vermont and New Hampshire that experienced their record earliest ice outs in 2024, and the impact that has on the ecosystem of the lake.

Based on our records, our March 7th ice out is the earliest, going back to our records which started in 1933. The previous earliest was in 2012 on March 13th. The shortest amount of ice coverage was in 2010 when the ice didn't set until Feb, and went out on Mar 20th.

In the article Mark Mitchell, a freshwater scientist and partner for the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and the University of Vermont Lake Champlain Sea Grant, who we work with on the Lay Monitoring Program for LSC, talks about how early melts and warmer water mean a longer period for plant growth and the proliferation of invasive species (like milfoil) and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms.

To read more on this topic:

> In 2022, Mark wrote about this topic for the Spring 2022 edition of the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds Newsletter in this article: Lake Ice-Out and Ice-In in Vermont.

He goes into more detail, and it also includes a chart of LSC's ice out going back to 1933.

> This weekend at the Giant Map event in Wells, educator Meghan Hill from the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum gave attendees this presentation: Climate Change and our Lakes.

Giant Map Recap

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 24 Mar 2024 21:44:49 GMT

Hello LSC.

Thanks to everyone who dug out from the 18" of snow from Saturday, and joined us, the Wells Village Library, and the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum (LCMM) for the Lake Champlain Watershed Giant Map experience in Wells this afternoon.

Educator Meghan Hill from the LCMM spoke with visitors about numerous topics as they explored this accurate and detailed 35’ x 27’ giant map:

Kids participated in a scavenger hunt to find things on the map, and learn along the way:

Meghan also gave a presentation "Climate Change and Our Lakes":

View Meghan's presentation here.

...and she also demonstrated the impacts of stormwater runoff using a watershed model:

We hope all of our attendees today enjoyed the event!

Libraries Love Lakes is an outreach project which pairs school and public libraries with lake scientists to provide collaborative programming emphasizing the importance of lakes in our everyday lives. This will be the first event of four that are planned for the Libraries Love Lakes Program for 2024. Three more seasonally themed future events are being planned for the spring, winter, and fall.

The next event for Spring will be in May, and will focus on migratory birds. We'll let you know when this event is scheduled - and we hope you'll join us!

This and future Libraries Love Lakes events are made possible by a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) and NEIWPCC.

The LSCA and Wells Village Library would like to the thank Meghan and the LCMM for this event, and The Modern Woodmen of America for the use of their building.

Libraries Love Lakes: The Giant Map Comes To Wells!

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 10 Mar 2024 20:31:54 GMT

The Wells Village Library and the Lake St. Catherine Association are excited to host the Giant Lake Champlain Watershed Map experience at the Modern Woodmen of America Hall, 133 Main State Route in Wells, on Sunday, March 24th from 11-2 PM.

Educator Meghan Hill from the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum (LCMM) will be on hand with the Giant Map, and a working watershed model to discuss the Lake Champlain Basin: history, water quality, geography, science, and much more. Lake St. Catherine is in the Lake Champlain Basin, and is included on this accurate and detailed 35’ x 27’ giant map. You can learn more about the Giant Map on the LCMM website: www.lcmm.org/giantmap/.

Meghan will also be giving a presentation at 1 PM to discuss the impacts of climate change contributing to our recent mild winters, and the issues that are caused because of it. Families are invited to arrive at any time between 11-2 PM to interact with the Giant Map. The first 20 families to arrive will receive an event themed kit of on-topic books and activities.

Libraries Love Lakes is an outreach project which pairs school and public libraries with lake scientists to provide collaborative programming emphasizing the importance of lakes in our everyday lives. This will be the first event of four that are planned for the Libraries Love Lakes Program for 2024. Three more seasonally themed future events are being planned for the spring, winter, and fall.

This and future Libraries Love Lakes events are made possible by a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) and NEIWPCC.

We hope to see you there!

Check out this video of the Giant Map:

The 2024 Ice Out Champion Is...

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 13:41:00 GMT

Good morning LSC.

The 2024 Ice Out Champion is: John Sargent with his guess of 3/7/2024 at 12 PM - congrats John!

While there are still some small patches of ice around, we simplified the call this year by noting on the guessing form that we'd call it when there was open water in the middle of the Big Lake, ie. if you could drive a boat from the western shore to Cones Point.

Just a few hours after this photo was taken yesterday morning, the wind came in and took care of the ice.

So... who's putting their docks & boat in this weekend?

If you are at the lake, post the photos of your view!

Thanks to everyone who made a prediction, we had well over 100 guesses.

Wells & Poultney Vote To Provide Funds To The LSCA On Town Meeting Day 2024

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 17:03:57 GMT

On Tuesday, March 5th, 2024, the residents of Wells and Poultney voted to provide $12,000 and $15,000, respectively, in support of the Lake St. Catherine Association's mission of the preservation, protection and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine.

We'd like to thank the good folks of both towns for their continued support!

These funds help us manage and fund important programs that include (but are not limited to): aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention and control: our boat launch Greeter Program, VIP Program, Milfoil Control Program, and water quality improvement programs: Lake Wise, LSC Stormwater Master Plan, Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan.

You can read more about our efforts for the benefit of Lake St. Catherine here in our 2023 Year In Review on our website:

• Part 1

• Part 2

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 help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.

Thanks again to the residents of Wells and Poultney!

Predict Ice Out Day 2024

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 17:17:19 GMT

Hello LSC!

Are you ready for Spring - and getting excited for another fantastic season at Lake St. Catherine this year?

Let's have a little fun and make some predictions for when the ice will go out.

We unfortunately did not have much time with ice cover on the lake again this winter, a concerning trend over the past few winters... Little Lake and Lily Pond have already opened up, but the Big Lake is still ice covered.

Please fill out this form to make your guess.

Note: Since the ice is good at hanging around in some of the bays for quite a while, to simplify things this year, we'll use open water in the middle of the Big Lake to make the call on the date & time for ice out. Let's say if you could drive a boat from the western shore to Cones Point.

The winner will be crowned "LSC 2024 Ice Out Champion" and will have bragging rights all year!

Will your name be added to this list of previous Ice Out Champions?

- In 2023, with his guess of April 9th at 12:43 PM, the 2023 Champ was Tim Olivieri.

- In 2022, with her guess of April 4th at 11:03 AM, the 2022 Champ was Mary-Sue Reed.

- In 2021, with his guess of April 2nd at 2:30 AM, the 2021 Champ was Walter Huss.

- In 2020, with his guess of March 23rd at 3 PM, the 2020 Champ was Melvin Ohl.

- In 2019, with her guess of April 15th at 6 AM, the 2019 Champ was Judy Cummings.

Make your guess - and good luck!

2024 LSCA Membership Drive

As the LSCA heads into our 71st year, we hope to earn your support for 2024. Our Membership Drive is underway, and we have membership levels for property owners, businesses, family members of property owners, renters and those who use the lake for recreation - anyone who loves LSC can become a member.

Thank you for your support of the LSCA!

Wake Boat Use Rules Passed For Vermont's Inland Lakes

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 18:00:51 GMT

Hello LSC.

We want to make you aware of a decision made on February 15th by the Vermont Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (LCAR) to pass rules to regulate wake boat use on certain public waters.

In March of 2022, a citizens group, "Responsible Wakes for Vermont Lakes" submitted a petition to the DEC proposing regulation of wake boat use on Vermont's lakes and ponds. You can see that petition here.

Their concerns in the petition included:

Increased shoreline erosion from enhanced wakes
Disturbance to lake bottom sediments creating turbidity, disrupting plants & fish habitat, & releasing phosphorus & other nutrients which can create algae blooms and reduce clarity
Wakeboats can shred & uproot plants spreading aquatic invasive species
Wakeboats can spread invasive species when moved between lakes
Wakeboats create safety concerns, can damage docks and shoreland infrastructure

Based on this petition, the Vermont DEC held numerous public meetings, and in January of 2024, filed a draft rule to LCAR.

The DEC’s rule would allow wake boats to engage in wake sports on public waters under the following three conditions:

On lakes, ponds, and reservoirs with a minimum of 50 contiguous acres that are 500 feet from shore on all sides and 20 feet deep (eligibility rule)
Wake boats must be 500 feet from shore at all times while engaging in wake sports (operating rule)
A wake boat must stay in one lake per calendar year unless boat is decontaminated by a DEC-approved entity (home lake rule)

Under this newly approved rule, wake boats can engage in wake sports on 30 inland lakes in Vermont, one of which is Lake St. Catherine.

This rule will be in effect for the 2024 boating season.

The DEC has provided preliminary maps for the 30 lake which show the wake sport zone, and you can see the LSC map here - also shown below.

The DEC will also be providing digital maps, via an app, that can be used on your phone to show your location on the lake using the phone's GPS - meaning cell service will not be needed to use the map and see your location on the lake.

Much more information will be forthcoming, but we wanted to make you aware of this new rule regulating wake boat use on Vermont lakes. The LSCA will be working over the spring and summer to educate boaters about this new regulation.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

LSCA Launches 2024 Membership Drive

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 14:00:34 GMT

Hello to the good folks in the Lake St. Catherine community.

It's that time of year again... As the Lake St. Catherine Association heads into its 71st year, we are asking for your support for the 2024 season.

What does the LSCA do for Lake St. Catherine? Please check out our recently published 2023 Year In Review:

• Part 1: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/13293804

• Part 2: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/13293801

Your membership contributions and donations, along with allocations from the towns of Wells & Poultney, and grants earned from the state and the Lake Champlain Basin Program help us to fulfill our mission of the preservation, protection, and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine by helping to fund important lake programs and projects. Some of which include water quality improvement programs like Lake Wise, the LSC Stormwater Master Plan, and the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan, and our aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention and control programs like our Greeter, Vermont Invasive Patroller (VIP), and Milfoil Control Programs. You can learn all about these initiatives on our website: https://lakestcatherine.org

There are two easy ways to renew or become a member of the LSCA.

Soon, you will be receiving a mailing from us that contains the 2024 Membership Form and a summary of our 2023 Year In Review. You can also download a copy by clicking here: 2024 Membership Form - Just print and fill out the form, then mail it in with your check to:

Lake St. Catherine Association
PO Box 631
Wells, VT 05774

Or, you can renew or become a member on our website. If you were a member in 2023, click here to renew: https://lakestcatherine.org/membership-renewal, or click here to become a new member: https://lakestcatherine.org/become-a-member - and you can pay your dues online with your credit card. If you were a member last year (whether you paid by check or online by credit card), the website has an account ready for you. If you don't remember your password, or have never logged in, please click here: https://lakestcatherine.org/Sys/ResetPasswordRequest to set or reset your password.

Upon receiving your membership contribution, we’ll send you the 2024 membership package, which will include: your receipt, a '2024 Member' sticker for your LSCA window card (or a card & sticker for new members), a hand-written thank you note, and a beautiful 3" x 3" iron-on patch depicting one of our eagles overlooking beautiful Lake St. Catherine.

Our loon patch from last year was very popular, and we were so happy to see them on hats, shirts, and bags, and on display at your camp. We are happy to be able to create a new patch for 2024 - and we'd like to thank LSC camp owner Andrew Gioulis (VT Lake House) for again providing a fantastic design, which you can see below.

We are happy to report that in 2023, we had 395 paid members, which includes 16 Business Sponsors. The average contribution of our members was $203 - THANK YOU! Your membership dues and additional contributions over and above our base $100 membership level are crucial to funding our important lake programs. As always, we ask you to help us to spread the word by discussing the LSCA with your neighbors. We are hoping to get our membership to over 400 this year.

We will continue to work hard for Lake St. Catherine to earn your support.

Thank you for your support of the LSCA!

- The Trustees of the Lake St. Catherine Association

If you ever have any questions about your membership or Lake St. Catherine, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Commentary: Vermont’s Lake Associations - Preserving and Protecting Our Lakes and Ponds

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 03:18:22 GMT

Hello LSC.

Check out this commentary in VT Digger from the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds (FOVLAP) entitled "Vermont’s Lake Associations - Preserving and Protecting Our Lakes and Ponds".

You can read an extended version of the commentary on FOVLAP's website.

LSCA's 2023 Year In Review, Part I

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 17:11:43 GMT

Hello LSC.

What you’ll read below are short summaries of the projects and activities from 2023, but we encourage you to visit our website and click on our Blog to read more detailed accounts of all these efforts.

We’ve got a lot to tell you about, so please get comfortable, grab a hot cider, and read on for our 2023 Year In Review.

Membership

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the LSCA this year through memberships and donations! Your contributions are critically important to help fund our numerous lake management programs which you’ll read more about below.

Our membership continues to grow - which shows that we have a great community of lake stewards who are invested in preserving, protecting, and maintaining beautiful Lake St. Catherine. As of this writing, we have 395 members who contributed a total of $77,791, giving us an average contribution of $203. While we did receive just slightly less than last year, we did surpass our 2022 total for active members.

We’d also like to thank camp owner Andrew Gioulis for his fantastic design of our 2023 Membership gift, this beautiful 3" x 3" iron-on patch depicting a loon scene from Lake St. Catherine. With this new patch, we are looking to start a bit of a new tradition in which members can collect these patches each year to display, or iron-on or sew onto a hat, shirt, bag, etc. We’ve just started working on the patch design for 2024.

We hope to earn your support next year as we launch our Membership Drive in early February of 2024.

Thank you for your support!

Volunteering Around Lake St. Catherine

Green Up Vermont Day: Green Up Vermont Day is a state-wide volunteer cleanup day of Vermont's roads and waterways which takes place on the first Saturday in May. As Green Up Vermont's website says: "We know it isn’t your litter but Vermont needs our help to be beautiful!". Building on the success of our 2021 and 2022 efforts, we were able to organize volunteers to cover almost all the roads around Lake St. Catherine! On the morning of Green Up Day, volunteers met at the Wells Lakeside Park to kickoff the day with coffee and muffins from the Wells Country Store, thanks to the Town of Wells. Volunteers picked up Green Up Day trash bags, fueled up, and headed out to get to work. By the end of the day, the roads around the lake were cleaned up, and lined with filled Green Up Vermont trash bags. Thank you to the town crews from Wells and Poultney for picking up the bags. We’ll do it again in May!

Milfoil Cleanup Community Day: In early June, as part of our milfoil control efforts, the LSCA hosted a meeting at the Wells Lakeside Park on Little Lake. We discussed what Eurasian Watermilfoil (milfoil) is, what it does when introduced into a lake, and why we work to control it in Lake St. Catherine. We then outlined the milfoil control plans for the year, and we talked about what you can do to help to Stop The Spread of Milfoil in Lake St. Catherine. Because of the poor weather that day, we did not head out onto the lake for our usual cleanup day. However, throughout the rest of the season, volunteers placed detached milfoil and other plants on the designated float in the Channel, and we made numerous collection runs to remove the plants. Thank you to all the volunteers involved in this project! We’ll do it all again next year.

Also, in late August, the first Vermont Invasive Patroller (VIP) paddle was performed on Lake St. Catherine. Volunteers gathered at the boat launch in Wells, and performed a VIP paddle looking for aquatic invasive species. We’ll go into more detail on the VIP program at Lake St. Catherine a little later.

Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan

In May of 2021, the LSCA earned a grant from the LCBP to help fund the creation of a Lake Watershed Action Plan (LWAP) for Lake St. Catherine.

From the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a Lake Watershed Action Plan is described as:

In partnership with the PMNRCD, the LSCA will use this 3-year grant to create an LWAP for Lake St. Catherine. The $38,224 awarded by the grant will allow the LSCA to hire and partner with lake experts to perform various in-lake and watershed based measurements, testing, and studies to identify current or potential future issues and design a comprehensive, long-term plan to address them. The resulting plan will leverage current LSCA investments in water quality and pollution prevention, be driven by accepted best management practices, elevate under-assessed areas and gaps, and will identify issues, opportunities, and projects to guide locally-led water quality implementation work in the Lake St. Catherine watershed.

After many years of successfully managing individual lake programs which include: in-lake invasive species control (Milfoil Control Program), invasive species prevention (Greeter Program, VIP Program), and stormwater management (Lake Wise, SWMP), the LSCA is now poised to integrate these programs into a broader watershed plan with a focus on the prevention of pollutant loads (phosphorus, nitrogen, sediments) that enter into the Lake from sources outside the waterbody. The LSCA plans to use the success of these building blocks to expand its work in the watershed and focus on prevention for the future.

A Project Team led by Trustees of the Association will engage the following partners:

Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District
The Natural Sciences Department at Castleton University
Fitzgerald Environmental
Limnologist Emily Porter-Goff PhD from the Lamoille County Conservation District
Lake community Stakeholders

Subsequent grants will be requested to implement as many projects as possible and create a culture worthy of emulation that positions Lake St. Catherine for future funding that rewards water quality improvements including phosphorus load reduction. These efforts will continue for the balance of the decade and be the most important contribution all those who love being at Lake St. Catherine can do to distinguish its future beauty and health.

Field work began in May, and will include assessment of current conditions in areas to include: in-lake, shoreline, roads & culverts, tributaries, wetlands, and forested land. The team will also evaluate and consider the characteristics and special needs of unique areas of the Lake like in our bays and channels - and everything in-between, from the Lily Pond, through the Big Lake & Little Lake, to Lake's End. The result will be a long-term lake management plan for Lake St. Catherine.

Presentation At Wells Village School

We'd like to thank the Wells Village School and Ms. Woodruff for inviting us to speak and give a presentation to the 6th grade class in early May as part of their Career Explorations day.

The students all had GREAT questions as we discussed conservation & protection of the lake, and how volunteerism plays a big part in that process.

Students also heard from Rutland District Senator Brian Collamore about his previous radio career, and his current work in the legislature.

Thanks again to the School and to the students who made it a great morning with their enthusiasm and attention!

Lay Monitoring - Water Testing

The LSCA has participated in the Vermont DEC's Lay Monitoring Program since its inception, and has assisted in collecting almost 40 years of water data on LSC. LSCA Trustees collect bi-weekly water samples from Big Lake and Little Lake from Memorial Day to Labor Day each season which are sent to the DEC for testing. The water is tested for phosphorus, clarity (secchi depth), chlorophyll-a (algae), and as of this year, caffeine. You can review the data from the Big Lake (since 1979) and Little Lake (since 2009) by visiting the Lay Monitoring Lake Water Quality Data website. When on this page, select 'Wells' from the 'Select Town' dropdown, and Big Lake and Little Lake data will be available to view.

Greeter Program - Boat Launch Monitoring

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, asian clams, water chestnut, starry stonewort and zebra mussels - to stop them from entering LSC at the boat launch in Wells and the State Park in Poultney. 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.

In total, our Greeters inspected 1,149 boats this year at the boat launch in Wells, and at the State Park in Poultney. This is around 800 less than the number of vessels they inspected last year. Boat launches were down in 2023, most likely due to numerous rainy weekends this season.

Our Greeter Program is partially funded by a grant from the Vermont DEC, a grant from the LCBP and contributions from our membership.

Thank you to our Greeter team! They work hard each season to keep AIS out of Lake St. Catherine.

Lake St. Catherine’s Eagles Have Three Eaglets!

Lake St. Catherine’s nesting pair of eagles had three eaglets in April! Over the course of the past several years, they have parented multiple groups of eaglets, so it was great to see babies in the nest again after they did not have any in 2022.

‘Territorial Pair’ Of Loons Observed On Lake St. Catherine

For several weeks in late May, lake resident Dawn Smith had been observing a pair of loons that were frequently active in the same area near her camp. Dawn was able to record activity by one of the loons that looked like nest building.

We sent this video to loon biologist Eric Hanson from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE), and he confirmed that the loons are performing nesting activity. Eric was here at Lake St. Catherine twice in July of 2022, once at our Libraries Love Lakes event, and then again at our Annual Meeting & Dinner. At the Annual Meeting, Eric gave a fantastic presentation about loons, which was recorded - and you can view that here: LSCA's 2022 Annual Meeting & Dinner. In 2021, Eric also rescued a sub-adult loon on Lake St. Catherine that had been caught up with a lure and fishing line. You can read about that here: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/12107471

On May 27th, Eric loaded up loon nesting buoys and headed down from Crafstbury Vermont to the lake. We put 5 signs together and headed out to the site.

Although the loons had been performing nesting activity on the site over several days, there was no evidence of a nest yet, so we did not place the signs. So, now that our territorial pair have decided to nest, we'll need to keep an eye out to see if they attempt to nest at the initial site that they were observed at, or somewhere nearby in 2024. Based on this activity, we’ll work with Eric to place nesting platforms in the area to give them the best chance to nest next April after ice out. Thanks to Dawn for storing the signs at her camp!

Later in August, in partnership with VCE and Vermont Fish & Wildlife, we installed a collection tube provided by VCE at the boat launch in Wells to collect old lead tackle and monofilament fishing line.

Even a small lead split shot is 100 percent fatal if swallowed.

Every year lead tackle and discarded monofilament line kills aquatic wildlife, including loons, eagles, swans, geese, mammals, and other waterbirds, and nearly 50% of loon deaths from 1989-2022 in Vermont were caused by lead fishing gear, monofilament, and ingestion of hooks.

Our Greeters will inform boaters of the new collection tube, and we will monitor it throughout the year. VCE will make pickups and properly dispose of the collected lead and line.

Check your tackle box for old lead sinkers, tackle, and old fishing line, and drop it off in the tube!

Milfoil Control Control Program

The LSCA’s Milfoil Control Program consists of four components:

Although not directly related to Milfoil Control, the LSCA's work on Lake Wise on LSC, the LSC Stormwater Master Plan, and the LSC Watershed Action Plan all help to limit phosphorus and other nutrients from entering the lake which can contribute to excessive plant growth, and improves overall water quality.

Our DASH crew started their work early in the summer by swimming and hand-pulling milfoil in less dense areas, and began full DASH operations on July 1st, and worked into September. Over this time, the DASH crew removed 1,057 (17.5 gallon) buckets of milfoil from the lake, covering just over 65 acres in 5 areas of the lake.

These efforts led to another successful year of milfoil control on Lake St. Catherine. Also, and just as importantly, we continue to see many species of our native aquatic plants that have been suppressed by milfoil growth like Water stargrass, Tape grass, Thin-leaf pondweed, Illinois pondweed, Common waterweed, and Robbins’ pondweed have all increased in frequency of occurrence. You can view our Aquatic Vegetation Management Reports dating back to 2001 here.

These results are exactly what we want to see!

In September, our contractor Arrowwood Environmental performed a comprehensive lake-wide aquatic vegetation survey taking place over several days to both evaluate the performance of our milfoil control efforts, and to assess the overall state of aquatic plants in Lake St. Catherine.

Back in 2001, 199 GPS points were plotted throughout Lake St. Catherine, and these points are evaluated for aquatic plants during each report. This is the 20th consecutive year a plant survey has been performed on Lake St. Catherine. You can see all the previous reports, dating back to 2001 in our Links & Downloads section.

The full report can be read here: 2023 - Aquatic Vegetation Management Report. We encourage you to take a few moments to read through the whole report.

Sponsor Spotlight

We’d like to thank the 16 businesses who were LSCA Business Sponsors in 2022!

Thank you: A-1 Sewer & Drain Service, A113 Productions, Aerus Water and Air Purification, Bird Dog Home Inspection, Catherine Capers, Haun Welding Supply, Lake St. Catherine Cottages, Lake St. Catherine Country Club, Merritt Environmental Consulting, New England Lakeside Realty, North Adams Sheet Metal, Inc., Rathbun's Maple Sugar House, Realty One Group Lakes & Homes, VT Lakehouse, Williams Hardware, Woodard Marine.

We’d also like to give a special thank you to the LSC Country Club for providing a discount to LSCA members by offering 10% discount off daily rates, and cart rentals at membership rates, and to Aerus Water and Air Purification who offered a free arsenic and bacteria test of your water.

If you’d like to become a Business Sponsor in 2024, please let us know!

Community Talks & Town to Trails Open House

The LSCA was happy to be asked to participate in the Poultney Comes Together Again: Community Talks & Town to Trails Open House which took place on June 16th at the Poultney High School.

This was a great event! Lots of fantastic ideas for Poultney were shared - and lots of hard working local groups, including the LSCA, gave brief presentations about their work. It was great to see so many folks from the lake in attendance - it was great speaking with everyone.

Boating Safety Classes & Lake Safety

The LSCA was happy to be able to again provide free boating safety classes for those in the lake community who wanted to get their boating license. Anyone born after January 1st, 1974 must successfully complete an approved boating safety education course to legally operate any motorized vessel - including personal watercraft.

Frank Callahan, Trustee in charge of Boating Safety, conducted the 2 free courses - in June. 16 lake community members earned their boating safety education card. We hope to be able to offer these classes again in 2024. Keep an eye out for an announcement in the spring.

The LSCA also places and maintains no-wake zone and marker buoys throughout the lake. In 2023, the Lake Safety Committee deployed multiple new markers to replace the aging ones, and a few more will be replaced in 2024. Thank you to our ‘Buoy Buddies’ around the lake who assist us each year with the spring installation and fall removal of the markers and buoys.

We’d also like to thank our Game Warden Justin Turner who provided the lake community with six updates throughout the season - keeping us informed of Warden activity at the lake. Thanks Justin!

The Lake Wise Program

It was the 5th season for Lake Wise on Lake St. Catherine!

Stormwater has a widespread environmental impact which makes it a growing concern in Vermont. In a statewide effort, towns and local organizations are working to implement large scale projects to help clean stormwater before it enters water bodies. Work is being done from the headwaters all the way down to the stream outlets. Excess nutrients in the water contribute to problems which affect both human and wildlife health including; lower oxygen levels in the water, toxic algae blooms, and excessive plant growth.

20 properties were assessed (15 new and 5 re-assessments) and 15 Lake Wise projects were implemented (3 additional LEAP projects were also implemented). There were no award winners this season, but numerous properties came very close. With the guidance and assistance of the PMNRCD, these properties, and properties assessed in previous years, will have the opportunity to earn the award in the future.

In July, at the DEC’s Lake Wise training which occurred at Lake St. Catherine, we learned that since the program's inception in 2014, 780 Lake Wise assessments have been performed, and 81 of those have taken place on Lake St. Catherine! That's over 10% of all the Lake Wise assessments in the State! This is a fantastic testament to the commitment of our lakeshore owners to work to preserve and protect beautiful Lake St. Catherine.

The LSCA would like to help other Lake St. Catherine property owners implement best practices to mitigate stormwater on their properties, and help them to earn the Lake Wise award. Including this season, approximately 100 properties have participated in the Lake Wise Program, and have at least received an initial assessment. If you would like to participate, or have your property reassessed, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

In early December, we learned that we'd earned a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) for a Clean Water Small Implementation Grant for $18,952 for the 2024 Lake Wise Program!

LSCA Receives Generous Land Donation

Back in August of 2021, the LSCA received a letter from someone who wanted to make a land donation to us to help support our mission for Lake St. Catherine. They said: "I am aware of the work the LSCA does in preserving Lake St. Catherine and hope this donation furthers your ability to continue that work."

After all associated costs from the sale of the property have been accounted for, the proceeds from this donation will total just over $42,000 dollars. Two of our trustees donated their professional time to minimize the expenses of LSCA related to this real estate transaction.

This donation will help to fund important water quality improvements like the creation of the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan, and the projects that will result from it.

In addition, this large supplement to our cash reserve will help LSCA bridge the timing gap that often exists between the expenses incurred to preserve the lake and various municipal grants awarded for this purpose. Sometimes the timing gap is as long as one year.

Please join us in thanking the donor (who wishes to remain anonymous) for this extremely generous donation which will greatly benefit Lake St. Catherine!

Click here to read Part II.

LSCA's 2023 Year In Review, Part II

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 17:10:14 GMT

LSCA's 2023 Year in Review continued...

The 11th Annual LSCA Boat Parade

We had another great boat parade this year!

14 boats registered, 12 participated, and 177 people voted online for their favorite boats in our 4 categories: most patriotic, funniest, most original, best overall.

Our winners were:

Most Patriotic:

Winner: Boat #3 - 4th of July / Fireworks - Joseph Cheslawski

Funniest:

Winner: Boat #11 - Sunnyside 5th Generation - Megan Caswell

Most Original:

Winner: Boat #1 - Unidentified Floating Object - The Goldman Family

Best Overall:

Winner: Boat #6 - Groovin On The Lake 2.0 - Christine & MIke Gay

Thank you to all who participated, to those who cheered from their boat and from the shore, and to everyone who voted! We are looking forward to our 12th year in 2024! Thanks to Karen Velsor for these excellent photos!

LSCA’s Annual Meeting & Dinner

The LSCA held our Annual Meeting & Dinner on Saturday, July 22nd, at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club.

We had a packed house of approximately 100 attendees! It was great to see so many folks interested in preserving, protecting, and maintaining beautiful Lake St. Catherine. Thank you to all who were able to attend! We hope you enjoyed our guest speakers Pat Suozzi from FOVLAP and our Game Warden Justin Turner's presentations, our presentation, your dinner, and catching up with your lake neighbors.

If you were unable to join us, you can view the full presentation on YouTube:

Lake St Catherine Association's Annual Meeting & Dinner - 7/22/23

If you have any questions about the presentation, or would like to share your feedback, please let us know - you can always reach us at info@lakestcatherine.org - and we'll get right back to you.

Thanks to the LSC Country Club and their staff for hosting us - and providing a wonderful dinner, Justin and Pat for their informative presentations, and our State and local government officials: Senators Collamore and Williams, Representative Chesnut-Tangerman, and Don Preuss from the Wells Select Board for joining us.

East Poultney Day

The theme for East Poultney Day this year was “Lakes, Mountains, and Summer” and focused on beautiful Lake St. Catherine!

We had our usual spot set up for the day on the green, and had great conversations with those in the lake community who stopped by our booth. It was great to see and speak with so many good folks who care so much about Lake St. Catherine.

We were also very happy to be asked to give a presentation at the event tent about Lake St. Catherine and the LSCA by the Poultney Historical Society.

PEGTV was there to record the happenings at East Poultney Day, and our presentation was included in the video from the day, and you can watch that here: 88th East Poultney Day - August 12th, 2023.

Vermont Invasive Patrollers (VIP) Program

On August 19th, the first Vermont Invasive Patrollers (VIP) paddle took place on Lake St. Catherine. The focus of this program is early detection of aquatic invasive species (AIS) before they can become established in a waterbody.

First - a THANK YOU to our participants: Kim, Gloria, Marcia, and Steve. We appreciate you all taking part in our first paddle - we hope you enjoyed it!

On this first introductory paddle, we used underwater viewers to find and identify many of our native plants, while keeping an eye out for invasive plants or animals around the boat launch. Patrolling the boat launch is a great place to kickoff this program, as it is a high-risk area for invasive species introduction.

We of course found some of our common natives like elodea, Robbins' pondweed, and white water lily, and the invasive eurasian watermilfoil.

But we also found some of our more interesting ones... we found:

american eel-grass - with the female plants having a coiling stem which resembles a corkscrew
watershield - which has floating, elliptical shaped leaves that have a clear jelly-like undercoating
ribbon-leaf pondweed - which has two different leaf types: submerged long and slender grass like leaves and floating, elliptical leaves.

As part of this Vermont DEC program, we filled out a report with our findings for the day.

We'll plan VIP paddles in 2024. If you enjoy paddling, and would like to learn more about LSC’s native plants, and help to keep an eye out for new invasive species, we hope you’ll join us. If you'd like to learn more about this new program on LSC, please visit the VIP page on our website: https://www.lakestcatherine.org/vermont-invasive-patrollers. Let us know if you’d like to participate next season by emailing us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

This is a GREAT addition to our invasive species control and prevention initiatives which includes our Greeter Program.

If you'd like to learn more about the interesting aquatic plants in LSC, check out the book "Aquatic Flora of Northern New England" by Donald J. Padgett. It contains great photos and descriptions of native (and invasive) aquatic plants that you'd find in LSC.

LSCA Marks 70th Anniversary

August 31st, 2023 marked the Lake St. Catherine Association's 70th anniversary!

A lot has changed over those 70 years, and the LSCA has evolved to meet new challenges over that time. As you’ll read below, the LSCA has updated its original stated purpose a few times as the needs of the lake have changed, and to focus on the responsibility of stewardship.

Back on August 31st, 1953, the founding Trustees of the Lake St. Catherine Association submitted our Articles of Association with the stated purpose of “…encouraging, and promoting the development and beautifying of the grounds, cottages, beaches and roads of privately owned homes and cottages on or near Lake St. Catherine...”

On August 28th, 1980, the LSCA’s Trustees submitted an Amendment of Articles of Association to update our purpose. It was changed to “The purpose of this corporation is the promotion of the common good, general welfare and civic betterment of the Lake St. Catherine community by restoring and maintaining the quality of Lake St. Catherine, a public body of water, and the surrounding area, for the benefit of all those people who visit and use the lake and for the benefit of the total environment of all people.”

Then on July 30th, 2011, the LSCA’s Trustees submitted another Amendment of Articles of Association which updated our purpose to what it is today, and instituting our 501c3 non-profit status: “The purpose of this corporation is to be a public charity to receive donations, grants or contributions and to utilize its income and assets for the preservation, protection, and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine, a public body of water in the State of Vermont, and its environs.”

What started in 1953 as a well-intentioned group of folks promoting the beautification of the grounds of Lake St. Catherine has evolved into an association of dedicated volunteers planning for the long-term future and health of the lake.

As we acknowledge this occasion, we also reflect back to think of those who started this great organization. We sincerely hope that they would be proud to see what the Association has grown into.

So, as we mark our 70th anniversary, cheers to those founding members of the LSCA, to those who have served in the past, and to our current 15 Trustees who continue to work to preserve, protect, and maintain beautiful Lake St. Catherine!

Dockside Chats

Dockside Chats began in 2020 as a way to have safe, face-to-face interactions with members around LSC to discuss lake related issues during COVID. We invited lake residents to schedule a Dockside Chat with a LSCA Trustee who would meet you at your dock to chat about the lake. These were again very popular in 2022, so we continued the program this year. 7 Dockside Chats were scheduled this year. Let us know if you’d like to get a chat scheduled for next season by emailing us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Lake St. Catherine Stormwater Master Plan

In 2022, we were informed that we had earned part of a $100k grant being administered by the PMNRCD from the LCBP. $50,000 of this grant will be used directly for Lake St. Catherine to design Stormwater Master Plan Projects on LSC. The goal of this grant is to develop 10-12 projects identified in the Lake St. Catherine Stormwater Master Plan to be ready for implementation and submitted to our region’s Clean Water Service Provider for funding.

Our Project Team, consisting of the LSCA, PMNRCD, Fitzgerald Environmental, and local partners, identified a list of the remaining high and medium priority projects and presented those to the lake community at a meeting at the Wells Town Hall in September. 12 projects from the SWMP were selected by attendees and will move ahead into the design phase. They include projects on: Clayton Tract, RT 30 (near Cluckin’ Chicken), the end of Cones Point Road, Lochlea Lane, West Lake Road, (south of the Lighthouse), West Lake Road (near Idylwild), Channel Drive, and a grouping of issues on Ferncliff Road. This was an extremely productive meeting, and we thank all attendees for your participation, input and enthusiasm to make this project a success!

Fitzgerald Environmental will now develop 30% conceptual designs to address these issues. Included with the conceptual designs will be detailed budget estimates, anticipated permitting needs, and preliminary landowner agreements or letters of interest.

You can read more about the SWMP, and view an interactive map with the identified sites by visiting our Stormwater Master Plan page.

LSCA & PMNRCD Interviewed For Public Affairs Show Catamount Community Connection

The LSCA was happy to be asked to participate in a public affairs show hosted by Senator Brian Collamore called Catamount Community Connection. This edition featured an interview with the Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) and Poultney Poultney Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District (PMNRCD) and it aired the morning of October 1st, on 98.1 WJJR Rutland.

Thank you to Senator Collamore and to Catamount Radio for this opportunity to speak about these important topics for the lake community and all in the Poultney Mettowee conservation district.

You can listen to it here on YouTube: Catamount Community Connection - WJJR - October 1st, 2023.

LSCA Newsletters

Our traditional Spring and Fall newsletters were posted digitally on our website, and printed copies were made available at Wellsmere Farm in Wells (thanks Michelle!). If you missed them when they were released, you can read them here:

Keeping You Up-To-Date Via Our Website & Facebook Pages

Website: https://lakestcatherine.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakeStCatherineAssociation

If you are not a Facebook user, you can still view our Facebook posts on the homepage of our website.

Grants - Working To Bring Funding To Lake St. Catherine

The LSCA has been working hard throughout 2023 to bring grant funds to Lake St. Catherine for 2024.

In July, we learned that the Libraries Love Lakes initiative at Lake St. Catherine will continue. Based on the FANTASTIC ideas and grant proposal created by Wells Village Librarian Gina Ellis, the Lake St. Catherine Association and the Wells Village Library were awarded an Education & Outreach grant for $20,360 by the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) for a series of initiatives and events in support of Libraries Love Lakes!

Last year, the inaugural Libraries Love Lakes event took place on July 3rd at the Wells Lakeside Park. Nine presenters offered opportunities for stewardship-based, hands-on, lake-related learning, and families were given lake-themed kits that included numerous books and activities. Boat tours were also provided to get attendees out on the lake to learn more about beautiful Lake St. Catherine. This effort also led to the creation of a new section in the Wells Village Library called "The Lake St. Catherine Collection."

This new Libraries Love Lakes project is entitled: "Libraries Love Lakes II: Conveying an Understanding of How Lake St. Catherine Fits to the Broader Watershed in order to Promote Inter/Intra-Community Collaboration and Sound Stewardship," and it is chock-full of fun and educational activities!

Libraries Love Lakes II includes:

The creation of an interactive watershed model of Lake St. Catherine
The creation of a Lake St. Catherine mascot through community participation
Expanding "The Lake St. Catherine Collection" at the library
Four seasonal themed, hands-on, fun & educational events for winter, spring summer & fall, which will include a larger summer event at the Lake St. Catherine State Park

Work on this project will begin in December, with the first event based on the winter theme taking place in February 2024.

As you read earlier, in early December, we learned that we earned a grant for $18,592 for the 2024 Lake Wise Program from the LCBP, which will be our 6th year for Lake Wise on Lake St. Catherine.

We will also be applying for a grant from the State of Vermont for AIS prevention and control to help fund our Greeter and Milfoil Control Programs, and an Organizational grant from the LCBP to purchase water testing equipment. This new equipment will allow us to take additional and constant water readings, along with macroinvertebrate monitoring. This data, along with the Lay Monitoring data from the State, will be analyzed and reported on by our limnologist. We’ll let you know how we do!

Thank You For Your Support!

Finally, thank you to all those in the lake community who showed their support of the LSCA in 2023 by being a member, or making a donation, or volunteering, or participating in Lake Wise, or attending meetings, or helping to clean up milfoil - there are so many ways we can all contribute! We hope you found our efforts in 2023 for Lake St. Catherine to be worthy of that support.

2024 is going to be another busy year, and LSCA Trustees are hard at work getting ready.

Be on the lookout for our Membership Drive which will begin in early February. We hope to earn your support so we can continue to all work together to preserve, protect, and maintain beautiful Lake St. Catherine.

Happy Holidays, and we’ll see you at the lake soon,

- The Trustees of The Lake St. Catherine Association

LSCA Earns Grant For 2024 Lake Wise Program

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 17:23:21 GMT

Good afternoon LSC.

Hot off the press, we have some great news about Lake Wise on Lake St. Catherine for 2024!

We've just learned that we've earned a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) for a Clean Water Small Implementation Grant for $18,952 for the 2024 Lake Wise Program!

Thank you to LCBP and NEIWPCC for helping to fund our 6th year of Lake Wise on LSC!

...and THANK YOU to our partner the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) for their continued great work and dedication to this program for Lake St. Catherine!

2022 Lake Wise Award Winners - Steve & Marcia Turcina (and neighbor dog Boone)

If you would like to participate in this fantastic program, or have your property reassessed in 2024, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to reserve your spot - spots will fill up quickly.

This program is FREE to property owners. PMNRCD will make project recommendations to you based on their assessment, and will work to implement the projects you select from those recommendations.

You can read all about the Lake Wise Program on LSC on our website here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-wise-program, including an interactive map showing the Lake Wise properties around LSC.

Email us to get on the list for 2024.

Thank you!

LSCA's DASH, VIP, and Greeter Program Support From LCBP and the State & You

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 17:02:03 GMT

The Lake St. Catherine Association would like to thank the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) and the State of Vermont's Aquatic Nuisance Control (ANC) Grant-In-Aid Program for helping to partially fund important components of our aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention and control programs which include our newly launched Vermont Invasive Patrollers (VIP) Program, our Greeter Program, and our Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) Program.

Vermont Invasive Patrollers (VIP) Program

The VIP program was established by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in 2007 to focus on early detection of all known and potential aquatic invasive species before they can become established in a waterbody. Early detection is vital to protecting Lake St. Catherine from harmful invasive plants and animals. Volunteers participating in the VIP Program will monitor Lake St. Catherine for new introductions of invasive species and report their findings to the DEC. If a new invasive is discovered, the DEC will dispatch a team and work with the LSCA to organize an effort to remove it from the lake.

In late August, members of the LSCA and 4 volunteers performed the first VIP paddle at the boat launch in Wells. On this first introductory paddle, we used underwater viewers (purchased as part of the LCBP grant) to find and identify many of our native plants, while keeping an eye out for invasive plants or animals around the boat launch. Patrolling the boat launch is a great place to kickoff this program, as it is a high-risk area for aquatic invasive species introduction.

We'll perform more VIP paddles in 2024. We hope you'll join us - it was a lot of fun! If you'd like to learn more about this new program on LSC, please visit the VIP Program page on our website to learn more.

Greeter Program - Boat Launch Monitoring

Our Greeter Program is very important to the health of Lake St. Catherine. Our Greeters have been trained to identify aquatic invasive species - like spiny waterflea, asian clams, water chestnut, starry stonewort and zebra mussels - to stop them from entering LSC at the boat launch in Wells and the State Park in Poultney. 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.

Milfoil Control Program

The LSCA’s Milfoil Control Program consists of four components:

These vitally important programs for Lake St. Catherine are partially funded through grants earned by the LSCA from the LCBP and the State, with the majority of the funding coming through generous donations and membership dues from the lake community.

THANK YOU to the LCBP, the State, and all those who have contributed to the LSCA this season to help make these programs a success.

Milfoil Resources & The Act 57 Study Committee

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 13:19:36 GMT

Hello LSC.

We'd like to take some time today to inform you about some recent activity in the Vermont Legislature that could have an impact on the Lake St. Catherine Association's Milfoil Control Program.

As you may be aware, the Vermont legislature has created an Aquatic Nuisance Control Study Committee with the passing of Act 57 (H.31). From the Act 57 Committee’s website:

"The Aquatic Nuisance Control Study Committee was created to assess the environmental and public health effects of the use of pesticides, chemicals other than pesticides, biological controls, and other controls in comparison to the efficacy of their use in controlling aquatic nuisances recommendations regarding whether and when pesticides, chemicals other than pesticides, or biological controls should be used to control aquatic nuisances in Vermont in a report to the VT General Assembly on or before December 15, 2023."

As introduced, the intent of H.31 was to institute a 'moratorium' on pesticide use (notably carving out an exception to allow lampricide use to control lampreys in Lake Champlain), along with the creation of a study committee to summarize pesticide use, safety, effectiveness, use recommendations, and impact on non-target species.

Many lake associations, including the LSCA, the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds (FOVLAP), and the DEC testified against this bill which looked to eliminate one of the safe and effective tools available to control Eurasian watermilfoil (milfoil, EWM).

Thankfully, the 'moratorium' was removed, but the scope of the study committee was expanded, and the bill was passed. The study committee will now additionally look at the existing Vermont statute permitting herbicide use (10 V.S.A. § 1455), and make recommendations for changes, if any. Study committee members include representatives from the DEC, Fish and Wildlife, Department of Health, a UVM Aquatic Biologist, a UVM Public Health Expert, and a member from the State House and State Senate.

Members of the LSCA have been attending the public meetings of the study committee, and we have submitted comments to them. We urged them to consider the tremendous amount of volunteer effort put forth by lake associations like the LSCA, as we work to preserve, protect, and maintain Lake St. Catherine and Vermont's lakes and ponds for all Vermonters and our visitors through our aquatic invasive species prevention control efforts, and our numerous water quality improvement projects. We asked that changes they propose, if any, to the already rigorous permitting process, will be based on the facts and the science, and not by those who seek to influence the process by providing misleading and false information, and that lake associations continue to have access to regulated, safe, and effective use of herbicides as a tool to maintain control of Eurasian watermilfoil in infested waterbodies.

As mentioned above, there has been a lot of misinformation about milfoil, ProcellaCOR, and the permitting process in online postings, newspaper commentaries, and during testimony given during the H.31 hearings.

So, we'd like to share a few publications and webpages with you which deal directly with this recent misinformation, while also providing fact-based information about milfoil, milfoil control, ProcellaCOR, and the permitting process. We hope you will give them a few minutes of your time.

1. Vermont DEC White Paper: "Permitting Aquatic Herbicide Projects in Vermont"

The Vermont DEC describes that the purpose of this document is to:

Provide background information about DEC’s Aquatic Nuisance Control (ANC) permitting program, with a specific focus on aquatic herbicide projects;
Identify some of the recent findings related to ProcellaCOR; and
Provide a Q&A section on this topic reflecting common questions that DEC receives about our ANC permitting program

2. Vermont DEC Presentation: "ANC Permitting 101"

This presentation goes into great detail about the lengthy and rigorous process lake associations like the LSCA goes through to apply for a permit, what it takes to receive a permit, and what conditions and reporting requirements are included in approved permits. It also discusses the ongoing work that is needed on a yearly basis after the permit is approved.

3. Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds Webpage: "Eurasian watermilfoil"

This new webpage from FOVLAP talks about what milfoil is, what it does when it's introduced into a lake, prevention and early detection, control, and an FAQ section which deals directly with recent misinformation on milfoil, ProcellaCOR, and the permitting process you may have come across online or in newspaper commentaries.

4. Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds White Paper: "The Case for an Accessible Path for Vermont Lake Associations to Use ProcellaCOR to Control Invasive Milfoil"

This white paper was recently submitted to the Act 57 study committee. We thank FOVLAP for their work on this document as they make the case that the permitting application and review process remains rigorous but without unjustified new burdens.

An increasing share of the burden of preserving Vermont’s lakes and ponds falls on the volunteer associations, who must address a host of challenges to ensure the protection and the long-term health of these vital Vermont aquatic resources. Currently, management of invasive milfoil is Vermont’s most pressing AIS problem. The current regulations governing this management provides a means to manage milfoil with a high but sustainable cost and with a bearable permitting burden.

Ongoing action is needed to care for and protect Vermont lakes and ponds from the threat of milfoil and other AIS. The Act 57 Study Group’s recommendations for changing herbicide use permit regulations should carefully consider the concerns of the volunteer organizations who are passionately devoting time and resources to milfoil management. The State of Vermont has the statutory responsibility to preserve the public waters of the state. This common goal leads to a vital partnership between the State and the associations. An effective partnership can improve lake health, avoid loss of lakeshore property values, and continue to attract the robust tourist economy that Vermont lakes and ponds provide.

If the Act 57 Study Committee findings result in a delay or in significant changes to the permitting process that make the process yet more complex and burdensome, many milfoil infested lakes with active, successful, long term management programs (like Lake St. Catherine) could be negatively impacted, as they seek ANC permit renewals for ProcellaCOR. There would be similar negative impacts to those lakes that will, out of necessity, newly seek herbicide permits to control growing infestations.

We ask that you take some time to read through these resources. If you'd then like to take a step to help support the LSCA, and other lake associations that are working to control milfoil infestations, please consider writing in to the study committee to show your support of the LSCA, and let them know that lake associations should continue to have access to regulated, safe, and effective use of herbicides as a tool to maintain control of Eurasian watermilfoil. Comments can be sent to the study committee by sending them to this address: anr.wsmdlakes@vermont.gov with 'Act 57 Study Committee' in the subject line.

As mentioned above, the study committee's report is due on December 15th.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us, we'd be happy to discuss these issues with you. Email us at: info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you for your support of the LSCA!

A Thank You To Sheldon Slate

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 16:02:29 GMT

Hello LSC.

As you may have heard, back on Saturday. September 30th, someone completely destroyed the Welcome to Lake St. Catherine sign, and a memorial slate plaque for Martin Greenberg at the bottom of North Street.

A plaque was placed there in memory of Martin when he passed away in December of 2018. Unfortunately, Martin's plaque was also completely destroyed.

LSCA Trustee John Belnavis reached out to Sheldon Slate, who produced the plaque for us back in 2018, and they were able to recreate it for us:

We'd like to thank Sheldon Slate, and especially Pete & Karen, for reproducing Martin's plaque, and for very kindly donating to the LSCA.

THANK YOU!

You can read more about Martin, and his contributions to Lake St. Catherine and the LSCA here: "Longtime LSCA Trustee Martin Greenberg Passes Away".

The LSCA is currently working on designs for a new sign. We'll share those with you when we are a bit further along in the process.

You can read more about the hit and run destruction of the sign here. Based on reported observations, it happened between 7:30 AM and 8 AM on the morning of September 30th. Based on parts left behind, the car was a blue 2000-2005 Toyota RAV4, which would have parts missing from its front bumper. If you have any additional information you can provide, please let us know.

Game Warden Justin Turner's Final 2023 Season Update

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 15 Oct 2023 21:38:49 GMT

Our Game Warden Justin Turner sent us this final summer update about Game Warden patrols at the lake to pass along to the lake community. He has been providing updates throughout the season, and this is his sixth and final update for the season.

We thank Justin for his work, and providing these updates to the lake community!

Justin's Report:

"Game Wardens conducted approximately 100 vessel inspections on the lake this summer, the majority of which resulted in a pass and a sticker. To date, there were not any boating incidents that required an immediate response. One arrest was made for boating while intoxicated. The majority of violations were addressed with a warning and education, and significantly less were addressed with civil tickets.

The State Park was busy with campers and call volume for complaints was nearly nonexistent.

The brown trout fishing seemed to pick up as summer came to an end, with the occasional lake trout hitting the net. If you’re going to be out targeting brown trout during the “frost bite” season or any other target species for that matter, please remember your safety equipment. Life jackets save lives.

The LSC patrol boat will remain ready and operable for the coming weeks. As the local Warden, it was nice to meet many people on the water and I look forward to seeing you all next summer, if not sooner. As always, please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Lastly, as deer season is upon us, if you witness a wildlife crime or see poaching activity, please do not hesitate to contact Warden Turner directly at 802-595-8754 or through Vermont State Police dispatch at 802-722-4629. In the event you wish to remain anonymous, you can call the toll-free hotline: 1-800-75-ALERT (1-800-752-5378). The toll-free hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to report wildlife violations or visit this link if you wish to remain anonymous via online submission:

https://vtfishandwildlife.com/hunt/hunting-regulations/operation-game-thief

Thank you and be safe."

Thank you to Justin for working to keep us all safe on the lake, and for providing these updates throughout the season!

You can read more about boating rules, and how to contact Justin on our Lake Safety page here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-safety

LSCA & PMNRCD Interview On Catamount Community Connection - Recording Available

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 17:18:31 GMT

The episode of the public affairs show hosted by Senator Brian Collamore called Catamount Community Connection featuring an interview with the Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) and Poultney Poultney Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District (PMNRCD) aired this morning, October 1st, on 98.1 WJJR Rutland.

Thank you to Senator Collamore and to Catamount Radio for this opportunity to speak about these important topics for the lake community and all in the Poultney Mettowee conservation district.

You can listen to it here on YouTube:

Check it out!

Welcome To Lake St. Catherine Sign Destroyed By Hit & Run

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 17:10:44 GMT

Hello LSC, we have some unfortunate news to share.

On Saturday morning, September 30th, someone completely destroyed the Welcome to Lake St. Catherine sign, and a memorial slate plaque for Martin Greenberg at the bottom of North Street.

Based on car parts left behind at the scene and some observations from folks around the lake, it appears that the vehicle was a blue 2000-2005 Toyota RAV4, and the sign was hit between 7:30 and 8 AM.

If you have any info that you can provide, please let us know, and we'll send that along to VSP for their investigation. Also, keep an eye out for a blue RAV4 with front bumper damage.

We have already started planning for a new sign, and we'll have more info soon.

Thanks again to the Kings for all the hard work they provide to maintain and make this area look beautiful for all of us.

LSCA & PMNRCD Interviewed For Public Affairs Show Catamount Community Connection

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 17:12:28 GMT

Hello LSC.

The Lake St. Catherine Association and the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) were recently interviewed by Senator Brian Collamore for his public affairs show Catamount Community Connection.

Our episode will air next Sunday, October 1st on WJJR, 98.1 FM at 6 AM, and on Cat Country, 105.3 FM at 11 PM. You can listen to both of these stations online by clicking the attached links.

We'll do our best to record our episode in case you miss it and make it available for listening at another time.

Thank you to Senator Collamore and to Catamount Radio for this opportunity to speak about these important topics for the lake community and all in the Poultney Mettowee conservation district.

We hope you can tune in!

A Conversation with VCE Loon Biologist Eric Hanson

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 16:02:31 GMT

Hello LSC.

The Lake St. Catherine Association recently made a donation to the Vermont Center for EcoStudies (VCE) to support and acknowledge the fine work of VCE and loon biologist Eric Hanson for loons in Vermont - and at Lake St. Catherine.

Eric has travelled to Lake St. Catherine numerous times over the past few years in support of our increasing loon visits.

This May, he came to LSC to observe a pair of loons that had exhibited nesting activity in the Channel. Although they ultimately did not build a nest, we'll work with Eric to place a nesting platform for them when they return in April. You can read about his May visit here: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/13207383.

In August, VCE also provided a collection tube that we installed at the boat launch in Wells to collect lead tackle and old fishing line, both deadly to loons. You can read more about that here: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/13235860

Eric was also at LSC twice in July of 2022 to participate in the Libraries Love Lakes event, and to present at our Annual Meeting & Dinner. At that Annual Meeting, Eric gave a fantastic presentation about loons, which was recorded - and you can view that here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUrY1PqirzU.

In 2021, Eric also rescued a sub-adult loon on Lake St. Catherine that had been caught up with a lure and fishing line. You can read about that here: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/12107471.

Yesterday, we were very happy to read this nice note from Alyssa at VCE thanking the LSCA and our members for the donation, and inviting members to a special conversation with Eric about loons - and we'd like to share it with you:

"First off, I want to thank you for giving to the Vermont Loon Conservation Project (VLCP) during our recent Loon Appeal. Thanks to you and your fellow supporters, Vermont's loons are better supported than ever before. Your gift will support our efforts to reduce the amount of lead tackle being used on Vermont's lakes, provide nesting rafts for the loons that need them, and more.

As a new VLCP donor, the Lake St. Catherine Association is invited to a special conversation with VCE's loon Biologist, Eric Hanson, to hear about the state of Vermont's loons, including stories from the field and time for a Q & A. This is an exclusive opportunity to connect with Eric, who criss-crosses Vermont all summer visiting our lakes and ponds, rescuing loons, and conducting our ongoing loon monitoring. Eric has been the loon biologist for the VLCP since 1998 and hearing him share his knowledge and insights from the past couple decades is always a treat!

This conversation will take place on Zoom at 7pm on 9/25/2023. That's just a week away! Please pre-register for the Zoom meeting here to receive the link to the conversation. Please feel free to pass this link along to your members."

This is a great opportunity to learn more about Vermont's loons, and Eric always gives a fantastic presentation!

We hope to see you there!

LSC Stormwater Master Plan Meeting Summary

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 19:09:11 GMT

Hey there LSC. Wow - what a fantastic meeting this morning!

It was great to see so many folks who care about the lake joining in on the discussion about the Lake St. Catherine Stormwater Master Plan (SWMP) this morning at the Wells Town Hall. There were 40 attendees in total!

12 projects from the SWMP were selected and will move ahead into the design phase. You can see a plotting of the projects on a Google map on the LSC Stormwater Master Plan Page here: https://lakestcatherine.org/stormwater-master-plan

Projects selected were:

• CT-1 (Clayton Tract)
• RT30-1 (RT 30, near Otto's)
• CP-1 (end of Cones Point Road)
• LL-1 (Lochlea Lane)
• WL-1 (West Lake Road, south of the Lighthouse)
• WL-6 (West Lake Road, near Idylwild)
• CD-1 (Channel Drive)
• FCR-1 (revisit), FCR-2, FCR-3, FCR-4, IVL-1 (grouping of issues on Ferncliff Road)

Although noted as separate projects, the grouping on Ferncliff will be looked at together in scope, as will the multiple issues that have been observed on Channel Drive.

This was an extremely productive meeting, and we thank all attendees for your participation, input and enthusiasm to make this project a success! Also, many folks that were unable to attend wrote in to share issues they have observed, which have also been noted.

We'd also like to thank the town of Wells for the use of the Town Hall meeting room, and Hilary, Sadie, Sophia, and Evan (from Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District and Fitzgerald Environmental) for all the work they put forth in preparation for the meeting.

Finally, we'd like to thank Don Preuss & Paul Woodruff from the Wells Select Board, members of the town road crews from Wells & Poultney, Senator Terry Williams, Poultney Community Development Director Sarah Pelkey, Poultney Town Manager Paul Donaldson, and Vermont DEC Watershed Planner Angie Allen for attending and contributing.

It's going to take all of us contributing and working on these and other important lake issues to make progress - so it was just so great to see so many folks participating - THANK YOU!

We'll keep you up-to-date on this and all other projects as they move forward. We'll look to have another gathering soon to discuss the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan.

Enjoy this beautiful Labor Day Weekend...

Meeting of the Board of Trustees - 8/26/23

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 23:53:23 GMT

On Saturday, August 26th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their fourth meeting of the 2023 season.

Attendance: Jim Canders, Jerremy Jones, Mary Jo Teetor, Kemi McShane, Frank Callahan, Ed Laird, Lisa Micich, Rob Nesbit, Jeff Crandall, Mark Shea, Mike Gay, Sue Williams. Absent: Nancy Liberatore, John Belnavis, Bob Williams

Guests: None

Call to Order: President Jim Canders called the meeting to order at 8:08.

Public Comment: None.

Approval of Meeting Minutes: Minutes of July 22, 2023 posted. Motion to accept the minutes as presented, made by Frank, seconded by Mike. All in favor, so moved.

Milfoil Management: Jeff Crandall, Jeff reported on the DASH team's extensive work in North Bay, the Channel, and their extended contract to 9/8. Also discussed: applying for a new permit, the Lake Bomoseen permit denial, the invasive early spring curly-leaf pondweed in the northern end of LL and the Channel, the impact of the harvester.

Purchasing Policy: Ed Laird, Ed presented the final draft of the Purchasing Policy for the LSCA. After a brief discussion, a motion to accept the policy was made by Frank, seconded by Mike. All in favor, so moved.

Treasurer’s Report: Mary Jo Teetor, Mary Jo discussed our financials - in really good shape. She discussed: expenditures, filing our 990, the land donation and sale, grants, insurance. Motion to accept the treasurer's report made by Frank, seconded by Jim. All in favor, so moved.

Boat Launch Greeter Program: John Belnavis, Jim reported for John. Boat launches are down, probably due to weather. Also discussed: maintaining staff and funding.

Publicity: Jerremy Jones, Jerremy discussed information from recent FOVLAP meetings: $550k budget item for AIS prevention & control, filling of Lakes and Ponds positions at DEC, wakesport rules. Also discussed potential renters guide for LSC, and fall newsletters are available.

Lake Safety: Mike Gay, Mike discussed buoys and markers, getting quotes for buoy replacements, needing additional ‘buoy buddies’, and buoy and marker placement.

Nominating Committee: Slate of candidates was approved at the annual meeting, update the terms for newly elected trustees.

Membership: Jerremy Jones, Jerremy reported that we are at 385 members, 15 away from the goal of 400. ~$75k collected in dues & donations. Reminder postcards were sent.

Government Relations: Excellent turnout of elected officials at annual meeting, some will be attend SWMP meeting in September.

Grants: Discussion of Libraries Love Lakes II with Wells Village Library, future potential funding from the CWSP, and Greeter / AIS funding.

Old Business: Discussion of a very successful East Poultney Day, Jerremy & Frank spoke at the event tent, and Sue helped to staff the booth. Lake Wise 2022 winners were visited and photos were taken & plaques delivered.

New Business: Discussion of SWMP meeting at the Wells Town Hall on Sept 9 with Fitzgerald Environmental and PMNRCD & the public to select the next set of 10-12 projects to design. Discussed how LSCA was portrayed at the LSCCF’s annual meeting. 2024 meeting dates were set. Jerremy asked that we make a donation to VT Center for Ecostudies to recognize the work that loon biologist Eric Hanson has done at LSC, and that he will be back in April to help us install a loon nesting platform. A motion was made by Rob for $200, seconded by Frank. All in favor, so moved. FOVLAP dues were paid. Noted that August 31st 2023 is the LSCA’s 70th anniversary. Senator Collamore invited Hilary from PMNRCD and Jerremy from the LSCA to be guests on his radio show on Sept 1 to be recorded and broadcast in October. Discussion on if we have outgrown the golf course for our annual meeting?

Election of Officers: Nominations: Jim: President, Mike: Vice President, Treasurer: Mary Jo. All in favor, so moved.

Motion made to adjourn the meeting at 10:30, seconded and all in favor, so moved.

Next meeting: May 25, 2024 at 8:00 AM LSC CC.

Meeting minutes compiled by Kemi McShane & Jerremy Jones

Today Marks The LSCA's 70th Anniversary!

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 11:59:07 GMT

Today marks the Lake St. Catherine Association's 70th anniversary!

What started in 1953 as a well-intentioned group of folks promoting the beautifying of the grounds of Lake St. Catherine has evolved into an association of dedicated volunteers planning for the long-term future and health of the lake.

As we acknowledge this occasion, we also reflect back to think of those who started this great organization. We sincerely hope that they would be proud to see what the Association has grown into.

Game Warden Justin Turner's Update For August

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 21:05:29 GMT

Our Game Warden Justin Turner sent us this update about Game Warden patrols at the lake in August to pass along to the lake community. He has been providing updates throughout the season, and this is his fifth update.

We thank Justin for his work, and providing these updates to the lake community!

Justin's Report:

"Game Wardens patrolled the lake throughout the month of August conducting safety inspections and visibility patrols. Several patrols resulted in addressing zero violations, for example no wake violations, illegal operation of personal watercraft, or the mandatory requirements for having a personal flotation device(s). Having said that, as a reminder anybody born after January 1, 1974, is required by statute to complete a boating safety course.

Here is a link: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/23/029/03305b

Fishing pressure seems to be increasing while the recreational boating seems to be slowing down. There are several fishing derbies scheduled to be on the lake in the near future. Here are those dates: 09/02, 09/10, 10/07, 10/08, and 10/14.

If you see a violation or any activity that raises concern, please feel free to contact Warden Turner directly at 802-595-8754. If there is an emergency and you are unable to speak directly with Warden Turner, call State Police Dispatch at 802-772-4629 and the next available Warden can assist you.

Stay safe, keep dry, and enjoy the lake!”

One of those numerous safety inspections Justin conducted in August was with me as I had stopped to observe a loon this past Sunday in Oxbow Bay:

Justin checked that I had my boating license, and also inspected the boat for things like proper PFDs, working lights, a fire extinguisher, and registration.

When you pass the safety inspection, you get a Warden Service Inspection Sticker:

Thank you to Justin for working to keep us all safe on the lake, and for providing these updates!

You can read more about boating rules, and how to contact Justin on our Lake Safety page here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-safety

The LSCA's Fall 2023 Newsletter Is Now Available

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 13:55:17 GMT

The Fall 2023 Newsletter is here!

In an effort to save on printing and mailing costs, we've decided to only print a short run of copies and distribute them at Wellsmere Farm. If you'd like a printed copy, please feel free to pick one up when you are out and about (available now!). Thank you to Michelle for having them at the farm!

Also, your LSCA Trustee neighbors will have printed copies available around the lake over the weekend.

The digital version is now available online via our website through this link: Click here to view the Fall 2023 Newsletter, or click on the image below. When you click on the link for the newsletter, you will be able to view it on screen - and be able to zoom in or out using the controls in your browser window. Or, you can click the download button to save a copy to your computer to view with a PDF reader, and/or print a copy.

LSC Stormwater Master Plan Meeting - September 1st

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 16:08:25 GMT

Please join us, the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD), and Fitzgerald Environmental Associates at the Wells Town Hall on September 1st, 2023 at 10 AM for a discussion as we choose the next TEN stormwater projects to implement around the lake.

The projects were identified in the Lake St. Catherine Stormwater Master Plan (SWMP) and the first six projects have been completed. You can read more about the LSC SWMP on the LSCA website here: https://www.lakestcatherine.org/stormwater-master-plan

Last year, the LSCA and PMNRCD earned a grant for $50k from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) to design 10-12 more projects from the LSC SWMP. At this meeting, we will:

Discuss the LSC SWMP
Discuss the grant
Outline the identified SWMP projects that will have the most impact
Select 10-12 of the SWMP projects to be designed
Discuss the future funding and implementation of these projects
Discuss additional projects that have been brought to our attention by residents and decide how we want to move forward with them...

We will also discuss the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan as it intersects with the above project development... but we will meet in more depth about the Watershed Action Plan later this fall or winter...

Please help to spread the word - everyone is welcome!

Please join us, we hope to see you there!

First Vermont Invasive Patrollers (VIP) Paddle Performed On LSC

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 19 Aug 2023 23:35:42 GMT

Hello LSC. We'd like to give you a quick recap of the first Lake St. Catherine Vermont Invasive Patrollers (VIP) paddle which took place this morning.

The focus of this program is early detection of aquatic invasive species (AIS) before they can become established in a waterbody.

First - a THANK YOU to our participants: Kim, Gloria, Marcia, and Steve. We appreciate you all taking part in our first paddle - we hope you enjoyed it!

We of course found some of our common natives like elodea, Robbins' pondweed, and white water lily, and the invasive eurasian watermilfoil.

But we also found some of our more interesting ones... we found:

- american eel-grass - with the female plants having a coiling stem which resembles a corkscrew

- watershield - which has floating, elliptical shaped leaves that have a clear jelly-like undercoating

- ribbon-leaf pondweed - which has two different leaf types: submerged long and slender grass like leaves and floating, elliptical leaves.

As part of this Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation program, we will be filing out and filing a report this evening.

We'll plan another VIP paddle in mid-September, and we'll select and post a date soon. We hope you'll join us - it was a lot of fun! If you'd like to learn more about this new program on LSC, please visit the VIP page on our website: https://www.lakestcatherine.org/vermont-invasive-patrollers

> Aquatic plant photos from Native Plant Trust: https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org

2023 East Poultney Day

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 00:32:53 GMT

We had a great time speaking to so many good folks at East Poultney Day on Saturday! Thanks for stopping by our booth to talk about the lake.

We'd also like to thank the Poultney Historical Society for inviting us to give a presentation about the lake and the work of the LSCA. There was a great crowd - we hope you enjoyed our talk.

If you were unable to attend, PEGTV was there to record it:

August 2023 DASH Update

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 11:58:28 GMT

We'd like to share an update from our Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) crew.

So far this season, Beck & Owen have been working in North Bay, Horseshoe Bay, and Oxbow Bay, hand-pulling 643 buckets (17.5 gallon) of milfoil so far.

This Monday, they have started working in the Channel, near the boat launch, and will be in the Channel for most of the remainder of their season.

Beck reached out with this note thanking lake users: "All lake users have been very respectful and encouraging with our activity taking up a lot of space."

Thank you for giving them the space they need to work!

Be sure to give them a wave, or say hi if you are passing by.

We'd like to thank all the Channel folks who signed the letter of support that Dawn Smith put together which the LSCA submitted with our grant application to help fund this project and the Greeter Program at the boat launch!

You can read more about DASH, and our milfoil control efforts here: https://lakestcatherine.org/milfoil-control-program

Our DASH team and the Greeter Program on Lake St. Catherine are made possible in part through a grant earned from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP), and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC).

Lead And Monofilament Collection Tube Installed At Boat Launch

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 01:42:46 GMT

Good evening LSC - we'd like to let you know about a new loon conservation and protection project on Lake St. Catherine.

In partnership with the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) and Vermont Fish & Wildlife, this evening, we have installed a collection tube provided by VCE at the boat launch in Wells to collect old lead tackle and monofilament fishing line.

Even a small lead split shot is 100 percent fatal if swallowed.

• Every year lead tackle and discarded monofilament line kills aquatic wildlife, including loons, eagles, swans, geese, mammals, and other waterbirds.

• Nearly 50% of loon deaths from 1989-2022 in Vermont were caused by lead fishing gear, monofilament, and ingestion of hooks.

Our Greeters will inform boaters of the new collection tube, and we will monitor it throughout the year. VCE will make pickups and properly dispose of the collect lead and line.

Check your tackle box for old lead sinkers, tackle, and old fishing line, and drop it off in the tube.

Please help to spread the word!

You can read more about this project and loons via these links:

• https://fishleadfree.org/vt/

• https://vtecostudies.org/.../common-loon-conservation/

Thank you!

Game Warden Justin Turner's Update - Through July 30th

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 16:17:48 GMT

Good afternoon LSC.

Our Game Warden Justin Turner sent us this update about Game Warden patrols at the lake over the past 2 weeks to pass along to the lake community. He will be providing updates throughout the season, and this is his fourth update.

We thank Justin for his work, and providing these updates to the lake community!

Justin's Report:

“Patrol update from July 15th through July 30th. Game Wardens have been patrolling the lake, making a lot contacts, and issuing safety inspection stickers to many boats. During patrols Wardens continue to address wake violations.

Please remember the distance requirements and be aware of your surroundings while on the water. Here is the exact verbiage as it relates to distance requirement from Title 23 V.S.A. 3311(c). Operation of vessels:

(1) An individual shall not operate any vessel, seaplane, racing shell, or rowing scull, except a sailboard or a police or emergency vessel, within 200 feet of the shoreline; an individual in the water; a canoe, rowboat, or other vessel; an anchored or moored vessel containing any individual; or anchorages or docks, except at a speed of less than five miles per hour that does not create a wake.

(2) An individual shall not operate any vessel, seaplane, racing shell, or rowing scull, except a nonmotorized canoe, a nonmotorized rowboat, or a police or emergency vessel, within 200 feet of a divers-down flag.

(3) Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit rendering assistance to another individual, picking up an individual in the water, necessary mooring or landing, or leaving shore, or operating in any other place where obstruction, other than the shoreline, would prevent abiding by this statute.

(4) An individual shall not operate a vessel, except at speeds of less than five miles per hour, within 200 feet of a designated swimming area.

If you see us out on the water and would like an inspection, have a question, or just want to say hi, please feel free to flag us down. We have pulled up to several docks recently for all the above.

Stay safe and enjoy the lake!”

Thank you to Justin for working to keep us all safe on the lake, and for providing these updates.

You can read more about boating rules, and how to contact Justin on our Lake Safety page here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-safety

Vermont Invasive Patrollers (VIP) Paddle - Saturday, August 19th

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 12:00:14 GMT

The Vermont Invasive Patrollers (VIP) Program was established by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in 2007 to focus on early detection of all known and potential aquatic invasive species (AIS) before they can become established in a waterbody. Early detection is vital to protecting Lake St. Catherine from harmful invasive plants and animals. Volunteers participating in the VIP Program will monitor Lake St. Catherine for new introductions of invasive species and report their findings to the DEC. If a new invasive is discovered, the DEC will dispatch a team and work with the LSCA to organize an effort to remove it from the lake.

This is a GREAT addition to our invasive species control and prevention initiatives which includes our Greeter Program. Our Greeters work at the Wells boat launch and at the State Park to inspect vessels before (and after) they enter Lake St. Catherine to check for AIS like spiny water flea, asian clams, zebra mussels, and other invasive plants and animals that are only a lake away from LSC.

If you enjoy paddling on Lake St. Catherine and would also like to be part of an early warning system looking for invasive species, we hope you will join us and participate in this program. Using underwater viewers, we'll patrol LSC for invasive species, survey our healthy native plant populations, and reduce the threat for invasive plant species introductions.

VIP volunteers will:

Be trained and learn how to identify and survey for aquatic invasive species
Participate in paddles in high-risk areas (like the boat launch) to survey for the presence of invasive plants and animals
Notify DEC staff of their survey(s) and submit suspicious samples for positive identification.

Our first paddle will be on Saturday, August 19th at 9 AM. We'll meet in our kayaks, canoes, SUPs, etc. around the Wells Boat Launch, do a training, and our first patrol! Email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to let us know you’d like to volunteer for this program!

You can read more about the VIP Program on our website: https://lakestcatherine.org/vermont-invasive-patrollers

Meeting of the Board of Trustees - 7/22/23

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 11:56:12 GMT

On Saturday, July 22nd, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their third meeting of the 2023 season.

Attendance: Jim Canders, Jerremy Jones, Mary Jo Teetor, Kemi McShane, Frank Callahan, Ed Laird, Lisa Micich, John Belnavis, Rob Nesbit, Bob Williams, Jeff Crandall, Mark Shea, Nancy Liberatore. Absent: Mike Gay, Sue Williams

Guests: None

Call to Order: President Jim Canders called the meeting to order at 8:08.

Public Comment: None.

Approval of Meeting Minutes: Minutes of June 24, 2023 posted. Motion to accept the minutes as presented, made by Frank, seconded by Mark. All in favor, so moved.

Treasurer’s Report: Mary Jo Teetor, MJ presented the report and discussed expenditures, income from donations, sale of land, membership dues, and grants & funding (some have not been received) and some allocations from the previous year are reflected in the report. Motion to accept the Treasurer's Report as presented made by Lisa, and seconded by Mark. All in favor, so moved. Next, Ed presented the Purchasing Policy he had drafted, following state guidelines. All in favor, so moved. After further discussion, Ed will make some slight language changes and present the final draft at the August meeting for a vote. Once adopted, the policy will be sent to our CWSP to complete our qualifications.

Annual Meeting: John Belnavis, John discussed the plans for the evening including the room set-up and breakdown from the meeting to the dinner. The Board approved facility fee of $350.00 which will be paid to the LSCCC. Dinner was a sold-out event, expecting 100 attendees. Jerremy ran through the presentation slides and made suggested adjustments.

Milfoil Management: Jeff Crandall, Jeff reported on the DASH team's work in North, Oxbow, and Horseshoe Bays. Mentioned working with Arrowwood for the fall plant survey, and a brief discussion was had about alewifes and water clarity.

Water Quality: Mary Jo Teetor, Mary Jo discussed E. coli tests at the State Park, a concern due to the heavy rain - all clear. There was also a brief discussion of the LBA's permit denial, our new permit, and the upcoming wake boat meetings being held by the state in early August.

Publicity: Jerremy Jones, Jerremy discussed getting the word out with posts on our Blog, Facebook pages, emails to membership. We'll have a booth and give a presentation at East Poultney Day on Aug 12.

Lake Safety: Frank Callahan & Mike Gay, Mike discussed the need to recruit some volunteers (Buoy Buddies) for some buoys around the lake.

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 9:55, seconded and all in favor, so moved.

Next meeting: August 26, 2023 at 8:30 AM LSC CC.

Meeting minutes compiled by Kemi McShane.

LSCA's 2023 Annual Meeting & Dinner 2023

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 11:16:16 GMT

Hello LSC.

Thank you to all who attended the LSCA's Annual Meeting & Dinner - we had a packed house!

We hope you you enjoyed our guest speakers, our presentation, and having a great dinner with your lake neighbors.

The LSCA would like to thank the Lake St. Catherine Country Club and their staff for hosting us, our guest speakers Justin Turner and Pat Suozzi, and the local and state officials who joined us for the evening.

If you were unable to join us, you can view the full presentation on YouTube:

If you have any questions about the presentation, please let us know, we'd be happy to answer them. You can reach us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you!

A Statement from the Vermont DEC Lakes and Ponds Program After the July 2023 Floods

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 01:22:07 GMT

Lakes and Ponds Program Manager Oliver Pierson has issued this statement about the recent flooding in Vermont,

"A Statement from the Vermont DEC Lakes and Ponds Program After the July 2023 Floods"

Read it here: https://vermontlakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Statement-from-the-Vermont-DEC-Lakes-and-Ponds-Program-after-the-July-2023-Floods.pdf

Help Clean Up Debris On The Dam At Lake's End

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 16:52:29 GMT

> UPDATE

Lake resident Russ Rosinski has taken care of the debris, so we'll not need to meet on Sunday the 23rd for a cleanup. Thanks Russ!

Original posting:

Good afternoon LSC.

We've been contacted about the debris that has piled up on the dam at Lake's End, and we've made plans to both organize volunteers and head down to the dam to do a cleanup this Sunday, July 23rd at 8 AM.

We did this back in 2021, and the gathered volunteers helped us make quick work of the cleanup. You can read about that effort here: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/10629912

If you'd like to help out on Sunday, send us an email to info@laketscatherine.org to let us know you'll be there.

Thanks!

DEC Lake Wise Training At Lake St. Catherine

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 22:19:36 GMT

Today, we and the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District were very happy to host Lake Shoreland Coordinator Alison Marchione from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation at Lake St. Catherine as Alison conducted a Lake Wise training.

All these fine folks were learning how to perform Lake Wise assessments for Lake St. Catherine, and other local lakes.

Thank you Alison, and all the trainees!

Lake Wise is a DEC program that works with lake property owners to help make their shoreline lake friendly.

If you would like to participate in Lake Wise this season, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org - we have a few spots left!

Finally, a cool stat that we learned today... Since the program's inception in 2014, 780 Lake Wise assessments have been performed, and 81 of those have taken place on Lake St. Catherine! That's over 10% of all the Lake Wise assessments in the State! This is a fantastic testament to the commitment of our lakeshore owners to work to preserve and protect beautiful Lake St. Catherine.

Please consider signing up! Learn more here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-wise-program

This Lake St. Catherine Association project is made possible by a grant earned from the Lake Champlain Basin Program & NEIWPCC, and is partially funded by the US EPA. The LSCA has again earned a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program to perform Lake Wise assessments and implement projects for 2023.

Game Warden Justin Turner's Update - Through 4th Of July Weekend

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 23:18:06 GMT

Good evening LSC, we hope you are dry and safe this evening.

Our Game Warden Justin Turner sent us this update about Game Warden patrols at the lake through the 4th of July weekend to pass along to the lake community. He will be providing updates throughout the season, and this is his third update.

We thank Justin for his work, and providing these updates to the lake community!

Justin's Report:

“Game Wardens conducted efforts leading into the 4th of July weekend to include evening patrols. On Saturday July 1st Wardens made an arrest for boating while intoxicated.

Throughout patrols Wardens continue to address wake violations, unregistered motorboats, personal flotation device violations, and operation of jet skis after sunset.

As a reminder, the operation of personal watercraft (aka jet ski) is prohibited between sunset and sunrise. Here is a link that that statute, Vermont title 23 V.S.A. 3312a; https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/23/029/03312a

During every patrol Wardens are issuing safety inspection stickers to multiple boats for having all the required safety equipment, valid registration, boaters’ safety card, etc. Stay safe and keep enjoying the lake!”

Thank you to Justin for working to keep us all safe on the lake, and for providing these updates.

You can read more about boating rules, and how to contact Justin on our Lake Safety page here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-safety

Finally, Justin will be one our guest speakers at the LSCA's Annual Meeting & Dinner on July 22nd at 6 PM at the LSC Country Club. You can click here to RSVP, and reserve a dinner: https://lakestcatherine.org/event-5329309 - please join us!

Libraries Love Lakes Initiative To Continue At Lake St. Catherine

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 15:56:34 GMT

Hello LSC, we have more exciting news to share with you today!

Based on the FANTASTIC ideas and grant proposal created by Wells Village Librarian Gina Ellis, the Lake St. Catherine Association and the Wells Village Library were awarded an Education & Outreach grant for $20,360 by the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) for a series of initiatives and events in support of Libraries Love Lakes!

Libraries Love Lakes II includes:

• The creation of an interactive watershed model of Lake St. Catherine

• The creation of a Lake St. Catherine mascot through community participation

• Expanding "The Lake St. Catherine Collection" at the library

• Four seasonal themed, hands-on, fun & educational events for winter, spring summer & fall, which will include a larger summer event at the Lake St. Catherine State Park

Work on this project will begin in December, with the first event based on the winter theme taking place in February 2024.

We'll keep you up-to-date as this project progresses!

Meeting of the Board of Trustees - 6/24/23

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 17:17:55 GMT

On Saturday, June 24th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their second meeting of the 2023 season.

Attendance: Jim Canders, Jerremy Jones, Mary Jo Teetor (Online), Kemi McShane (Online), Frank Callahan, Ed Laird, Mike Gay (Online), Sue Williams (Online), Lisa Micich, John Belnavis. Absent: Bob Williams, Rob Nesbit, Jeff Crandall, Mark Shea, Nancy Liberatore

Guests: None

Call to Order: President Jim Canders called the meeting to order at 8:35.

Public Comment: None.

Approval of Meeting Minutes: Minutes of May 27, 2023 posted. Motion to accept the minutes as presented, made by Frank, seconded by Lisa. All in favor, so moved.

Treasurer’s Report: Mary Jo Teetor, MJ outlined 2023 income and expenditures, Lake Wise payment to PMNRCD, DASH contract, Arrowwood and limnologist contracts, and discussed completed land sale. Jerremy will draft an announcement. Motion to accept the Treasurer's Report as presented made by Frank, and seconded by John. All in favor, so moved.

Annual Meeting: John Belnavis, John outlined the plan for the CC and the Annual Meeting. Dinner choices will be chicken piccata, baked haddock, prime rib. CC can support up to 80 dinners, need to have count by the Friday before meeting. John suggested $375 for facility fee to the CC. Motion made by John, seconded by Lisa, All in favor, so moved. Guest speakers mentioned were Pat Suozzi from FOVLAP, our Game Warden Justin Turner. Also discussed reaching out to town boards and legislators. Jerremy will reach out, start on presentation. There was also a brif discussion about the LSCA's upcoming presentation at East Poultney Day.

Milfoil Management: DASH team report was read, They began hand-pulling near the State Park, will be ready to start full DASH operations on July 1. They will start on areas identified in the May survey as moderate density - North Bay and the Channel.

Boat Launch Greeter Program: John Belnavis, John reported that he had some initial issues with staffing, but now has a good crew in place. Lots of floating milfoil in the channel. Discussed Arrowwood taking over the plant survey, and will use SOLitude's existing GPS points.

Water Quality: May Jo Teetor, lay monitoring bi-weekly. Also discussed limnologist Emily Porter-Goff’s presentation and recommendations for water testing. Discussed gradual increase in water clarity since 1998 from DEC charts.

Publicity: Jerremy Jones, Jerremy reported about recent appearances at the Town 2 Trails open house at Poultney High School, and the Milfoil Control meeting at the Wells Lakeside Park. Keeping the website and Facebook pages up-to-date with all the latest news.

Lake Safety: Frank Callahan & Mike Gay, new buoys are being placed, with a few left to put out. Frank spoke about the first boating license class, the second one is happening next week.

Nominating Committee: The 5 trustees whose terms end in 2023 all indicated that they would serve another term: Jim, Jeff, Jerremy, Sue, Bob.

Membership: Jerremy Jones, 350 members, getting closer to our goal of 400. Nudge postcards will be sent to those who have been members in the past but not yet renewed for 2023.

Grants / Government Relations: Discussed continued work on grants. Quarterly reports will be due in early July.

New & Old Business: Discussed East Poultney Day & and our presentation, boat parade signups are low, upcoming Lake Wise training at LSC - DEC to drop off award plaques for 2022 winners, Libraries Love Lakes grant earned in partnership with Wells Village Library, upcoming permit renewal, our Game Warden's new weekly updates to the lake community, the upcoming DEC wake boat meetings on the draft rule,

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 10:20, seconded and all in favor, so moved.

Next meeting: July 22, 2023 at 8:00 AM LSC CC, followed by the Annual Meeting & Dinner later that evening at 6 PM.

Meeting minutes compiled by Kemi McShane & Jerremy Jones.

The Winners Of The LSCA's 11th Annual Boat Parade Are...

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 02 Jul 2023 01:45:25 GMT

The results are in, and after 177 votes, here are your winners of the LSCA's 11th Annual Boat Parade:

Most Original: Boat #1 - Unidentified Floating Object - The Goldman Family

Most Patriotic: Boat #3 - 4th of July / Fireworks - Joseph Cheslawski

Funniest: Boat #11 - Sunnyside 5th Generation - Megan Caswell

Best Overall: Boat #6 - Groovin On The Lake 2.0 - Christine & Mike Gay

THANK YOU to all our participants - fantastic creativity all around, and to Karen Velsor for the photos!

Thank you, and have a safe and fun 4th of July weekend!

The LSCA's 11th Annual Boat Parade - Cast Your Vote

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 22:48:04 GMT

Hello LSC - we hope you enjoyed the 11th Annual Boat Parade!

Cast your vote: https://forms.gle/F6jiLGU491d2CHXe6

THANK YOU to all the participants! Your enthusiasm and creativity was fantastic!

...and thank you to Karen Velsor for all these fantastic photos!

The poll will be open until 9 PM.

Thank you, and have a safe and fun 4th of July weekend!

LSCA Receives Generous Donation

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 17:32:52 GMT

Hello LSC, we have some very exciting news to share with you today.

Back in August of 2021, we received a letter from someone who wanted to make a land donation to the LSCA to help support our mission for Lake St. Catherine. They said: "I am aware of the work the LSCA does in preserving Lake St. Catherine and hope this donation furthers your ability to continue that work."

After all associated costs from the sale of the property have been accounted for, the proceeds from this donation will total just over $42,000 dollars. Two of our trustees donated their professional time to minimize the expenses of LSCA related to this real estate transaction.

This donation will help to fund important water quality improvements like the creation of the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan, and the projects that will result from it.

In addition, this large supplement to our cash reserve will help LSCA bridge the timing gap that often exists between the expenses incurred to preserve the lake and various municipal grants awarded for this purpose. Sometimes the timing gap is as long as one year.

Please join us in thanking the donor (who wishes to remain anonymous) for this extremely generous donation which will greatly benefit Lake St. Catherine.

THANK YOU!

> Photo by Andrew Gioulis

Game Warden Justin Turner's Update - June 17 - 24

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 16:30:38 GMT

Good afternoon LSC.

Our Game Warden Justin Turner sent us this update about his work at the lake this past week, June 17th - 24th to pass along to the lake community. He will be providing updates throughout the season, and this is his second update.

We thank Justin for his work, and providing these updates to the lake community!

Justin's Report:

"Last week Vermont Game Wardens conducted boating patrols throughout the week, to include more safety inspections, fishing compliance checks and general patrol for boating safety. Wardens addressed personal floatation device (pfd) violations, wake violations, and failure to have an observer while water skiing.

Wardens have noticed while doing safety inspections that life jackets and fire extinguishers are not always easily accessible or found in a known location. For example, safety equipment found in a compartment under an anchor line or other miscellaneous items. It may be worth checking your safety equipment to ensure you know where it is and that it is easily and quickly accessible.

As a reminder, its is a violation to operate a boat within 200 feet of the shoreline; an individual in the water; a canoe, rowboat, or other vessel; an anchored or moored vessel containing any individual; or anchorages or docks, except at a speed of less than five miles per hour that does not create a wake.

In addition, and worth noting, an individual shall not operate a vessel, except at speeds of less than five miles per hour, within 200 feet of a designated swimming area. This applies to the designated swimming area buoys found off the beach at the State Park.

Here is a link to distance requirement statute: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/23/029/03311

As mentioned before, Wardens will be conducting safety inspections throughout the summer. A safety inspection is an equipment check including but not limited to the following items when applicable, working lights, pfd’s, fire extinguisher(s), registration numbers, current validation sticker, muffling device, a working bilge blower, and a boating safety card. If you see Wardens out and about, please feel free to flag us down on the water or from your dock and we are happy to complete an inspection for you or answer any questions/concerns you may have.”

Thank you to Justin for working to keep us all safe on the lake, and for providing these updates.

You can read more about boating rules, and how to contact Justin on our Lake Safety page here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-safety

The LSCA's 2023 Annual Meeting & Dinner

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 25 Jun 2023 14:16:16 GMT

Hello LSC.

We'd like to invite you to the 2023 Lake St. Catherine Association's Annual Meeting & Dinner at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club on Saturday, July 22nd, beginning at 6 PM.

Guest speakers will be announced soon.

We are looking forward to seeing you!

At approximately 7:30, dinner will be served. If you'd like to stay for dinner, the LSC CC has provided the menu below.

Dinner options:

$25 - Chicken Piccata, rice, mixed vegetable, salad
$25 - Baked Haddock, rice, mixed vegetable, salad
$30 - Prime Rib, baked potato, mixed vegetable, salad

- Includes dinner rolls, cake and coffee.

Please RSVP for the meeting by clicking here to register. You will be able to indicate the selection of dinner(s) you'd like to reserve. If you'd like to attend the meeting, but not stay for dinner, leave the dinner selection fields blank. You can pay online with a credit card or with cash at the door.

You must RSVP for a dinner by July 14th so the Country Club can properly prepare. We'll not be able to take walk-ins for dinner.

80 dinners available. Dinners sold out last year, so please RSVP as soon as possible.

Thank you!

LSCA's DASH Team Begins Work For The 2023 Season

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 16:27:35 GMT

Good afternoon LSC - we'd like to give you an update from our Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) team.

Owen and Beck have started hand-pulling in Area F by the State Park (see the attached map) by swimming the area and using mesh bags for collection.

Full DASH operations will begin on July 1st. At this time, the team can use the DASH boat and suction tube. After hand-pulling the milfoil from the lakebed, they place the pulled weed into the suction tube and it's transported to the collection table on the boat. Milfoil is then placed in buckets and removed from the lake.

Once full DASH operations can begin, the team will prioritize Area M in the Channel and Area C in North Bay. These are 2 of the 3 'moderate' density areas.

Also, you may have seen milfoil fragments (see attached photo) making their way around the lake. You can help to make a difference by scooping these fragments out of the lake, and out from around your dock & shoreline. As a general rule, get as much milfoil out of the lake as you can - let it dry out on land and dispose of it as you would yard waste. See the attached flyer for other tips - and try to avoid driving through milfoil patches with your boat.

Keep an eye out for the guys, and give them plenty of room to work. We'll keep you up-to-date on their progress throughout the season.

Thanks for your great efforts Owen & Beck!

Our Game Warden Justin Turner Provides Updates To The Lake Community

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 16:28:55 GMT

Good afternoon LSC.

Our Game Warden Justin Turner sent us this update about his work at the lake this past weekend to pass along to the lake community. He will be providing updates throughout the season, which we will share with you.

We thank Justin for his work, and providing these updates to the lake community!

From Justin:

“Vermont Game Wardens conducted boating patrol on Lake St. Catherine over the weekend, to include safety inspections, fishing compliance checks and general patrol for boating safety. Wardens addressed personal floatation device (pfd) violations, fishing without a license, and failure to have an observer while water skiing.

As a reminder, USCG approved wearable pfd’s are required for each occupant on board a vessel, to include those in kayaks. Children under the age of 12 are required to wear a pfd at all times when under power and on an open deck, and if you’re towing somebody in a tube, wakeboard, kneeboard, water skis etc., an observer over the age of 12 is required in a position to observe the progress of the individual or individuals being towed.

Here are some links with information about lights and equipment along with the water ski regulations:

• https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/23/029/03306
• https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/23/029/03315

Wardens will be conducting safety inspections throughout the summer. A safety inspection is an equipment check including but not limited to the following items when applicable, working lights, pfd’s, fire extinguisher(s), registration numbers, current validation sticker, muffling device, a working bilge blower, and a boating safety card."

Justin said that he will be able to be on the lake more this season, so be sure to say hi when you see him.

You can read more about boating rules, and how to contact Justin on our Lake Safety page here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-safety

Greeter Positions Available

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 16:16:23 GMT

Hello LSC.

We'd like to let you know that we have some openings available in our Greeter Program.

The LSCA has managed and funded the Lake St. Catherine Greeter Program since 2004 through membership contributions & donations, and grants.

Our Greeters are hard working folks who have been trained to identify aquatic invasive species (AIS) to stop them from entering LSC at the boat launch. 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.

Their duties include:

Approaching and interacting with boaters
Inspecting watercraft
Identifying and handling suspicious specimens
Collecting and reporting data
Distributing educational material on aquatic invasive species

Greeters do not just check boats and trailers for milfoil - they are checking for many invasive species that are just a lake or two away from us. These invasives include zebra mussels, spiny waterflea, asian clams, water chestnuts and starry stonewort.

Our Greeters are on duty from Memorial Day through Labor Day - working on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They also cover holidays and fishing tournaments. You can learn more about the LSCA's Greeter Program by clicking here.

Greeters will be fully trained, and will earn $15 per hour.

If you are interested in becoming a Lake St. Catherine Greeter, please contact us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you!

Meeting of the Board of Trustees - 5/27/23

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 04 Jun 2023 16:50:43 GMT

On Saturday, May 27th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their first meeting of the 2023 season.

Attendance: Jim Canders, Jerremy Jones, Mary Jo Teetor, Frank Callahan, Ed Laird, Nancy Liberatore, Mike Gay, Jeff Crandall, Mark Shea, Sue Williams (Online), Bob Williams, Absent: Lisa Micich, Kemi McShane, Rob Nesbit, John Belnavis

Guests: None

Call to Order: President Jim Canders called the meeting to order at 8:30.

Public Comment: None.

Approval of Meeting Minutes: Minutes of August 27, 2022 posted. Motion to accept the minutes as presented, made by Frank, seconded by Nancy. All in favor, so moved.

Treasurer’s Report: Mary Jo Teetor, outlined 2022 income and expenditures, and projections and budgeting for 2023 with printed reports. Motion to accept the Treasurer's Report as presented made by Jeff, and seconded by Mark. All in favor, so moved.

Annual Meeting / Use of LSC CC: As reported by Jim Canders, John Belnavis has reserved the LSC Country Club for our Annual Meeting: July 22nd, 2023 at 6 PM. John is working with the LSC CC on arrangements and dinner for the meeting. Details will be presented at the June Meeting.

Milfoil Management: Jeff Crandall, Jeff discussed the favorable results of the early May survey, and explained that after discussions with the DASH team, they decided that they can cover the sparse milfoil growth and a spot treatment would not be needed. Also discussed, contracts with Arrowwood Environmental to take over our fall plant survey from SOLitude and our contract with limnologist Emily Porter-Goff for the LWAP. Motion by Mary Jo to approve Arrowwood contract, and seconded by Mark. All in favor, so moved. Motion by Mary Jo to approve limnologist contract, and seconded by Frank. All in favor, so moved.

Boat Launch Greeter Program: As reported by Jim Canders, John Belnavis has the Greeter Program underway as of Memorial Day Weekend. John and Greeters recently attended in-person training in Manchester.

Water Quality: May Jo Teetor, lay monitoring to start, new water testing equipment purchased for lay monitoring water testing. Underwater viewers purchased to launch the Vermont Invasive Patrollers Program (VIP).

Publicity: Jerremy Jones, Spring newsletter available, emailed to members, posted on website, printed copies available at Wellsmere Farm. Frequent postings on our website, Facebook, email blasts to keep the lake community informed.

Lake Safety: Frank Callahan & Mike Gay, new marker buoys built, will be installed over the weekend. Boating license classes scheduled for June 21 & 22 in Poultney, June 26 & 27 in Wells.

Nominating Committee: Bob Williams, LSCA has a full complement of Trustees, but always looking for folks that would be interested.

Membership: Jerremy Jones, in good shape, 335 members to date, 16 of which are Business Sponsors. Goal is 400, ended 2022 with 388. Patches have been popular.

Grants / Government Relations: Discussed our State & LCBP grants and the need for help from other Trustees with reporting. Mark indicated his interest in assisting.

New Business: VT Ecostudies will be installing lead tackle and old monofilament collection tubes at the boat launch. Will have Greeters point them out, and keep an eye on them. Eric Hanson from VT Ecostudies will be at the lake later today to inspect the area where loons are exhibiting nest building activities. We have been invited to present a history of LSC at East Poultney Day - discussed what could be presented and who would present (maybe Frank?). Boat Parade will be Saturday, July 1st at 1 PM. Will start promoting and signing up boats.

Old Business: Ed and Nancy discussed the land sale, we have an offer. After discussion, it was decided to counter. Nancy will present the counter to the potential buyer and will report back.

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 10:30, seconded and all in favor, so moved.

Next meeting: June 24, 2023 at 8:30 AM LSC CC.

Meeting minutes compiled by Jerremy Jones.

Milfoil Control Program Meeting & Cleanup Community Day

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 11:12:09 GMT

Good morning LSC,

We would like to invite you to our annual Milfoil Cleanup Community Day & Milfoil Control Meeting at the Wells Lakeside Park on Little Lake on Saturday, June 17th at 9 AM.

All are welcome to attend to learn about our milfoil control plans for the season, and then those who would like to participate can head out onto the lake to do some milfoil & detached plant cleanup.

All the details are included below. We hope to see you on the 17th!

Milfoil Control Program Meeting

As we have for the past 2 seasons, we'll be holding a Milfoil Control Meeting and volunteer Milfoil Cleanup Community Day.

On Saturday, June 17th at 9 AM, we'll have a meeting at the Wells Lakeside Park on Little Lake to discuss our Milfoil Control Plans for the season. We recently outlined our plans in a previous email, and on our website here: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/13207138

We'll discuss our plans for the season, and answer any questions you may have.

Here is a quick summary of our plans for the season:

After reviewing all the data, and discussing the current milfoil conditions, our Milfoil Control Committee and our DASH team have concluded that we will not need to perform a spot treatment this year. All the hard work of our Milfoil Control Committee, our DASH team, and all of you who have been removing milfoil from the lake have helped to get us to this point. Milfoil is an extremely fast growing invasive weed, so a spot treatment may be needed in the future. However, we will be working very hard to keep milfoil at sparse, controllable levels that our DASH team can manage to the extent possible. This season, our DASH team will be expanding by adding a new member to their crew, and this team will be able to handle the milfoil identified in the surveys. Soon, we’ll share a map showing the locations the DASH team will be working in this season. There has been regrowth of milfoil in the northern section of Little Lake. Since DASH is not feasible there because the depth and loose sediments making it difficult to work, we are exploring a hand-pulling pilot program there this year. We’ll provide details on this potential new program soon.

We hope to see you on the 17th at the park!

Milfoil Cleanup Community Day Kick Off

After the Milfoil Control Meeting, we invite volunteers to help us kick off our Milfoil Cleanup Community Day by heading out onto the lake to collect detached and floating milfoil (and other detached and floating plants) to get them out of the lake and on to our drop off point.

Volunteers that would like to participate can head out onto the lake in kayaks, boats, canoes, and SUPs to scoop up floating milfoil and other detached plants and place them on the drop off float that has just been set up in the Channel south of the bridge.

Milfoil spreads easily via fragmentation, so getting milfoil out of the lake helps to prevent it from infesting new locations.

If you can't participate on the kick off day on June 17th, that's OK - you can still contribute throughout the season. This initiative will continue throughout the summer, and the LSCA will collect the deposited detached plants as the float fills up. So, cleanup can continue until the drop off float is removed in the late fall.

Read on about how you can help to stop the spread of milfoil in all areas of the lake.

What Else Can You Do To Help To Stop The Spread Of Milfoil?

As a general rule, get as much milfoil out of the lake as possible and dispose of it..
Don’t drive through milfoil patches with your boat which will create fragments.
If you have milfoil on your prop, don’t just reverse and drive away, please remove it from the lake.
If you have milfoil growing in your dock or swimming area, pull it out by the roots and remove it from the lake.
If you see milfoil floating anywhere in the lake, near your dock, or along your shoreline, remove it from the lake.
Become a member of the LSCA to help support our efforts!

Read more about Eurasian watermilfoil (milfoil, EWM, Myriophyllum spicatum) - what it is, what it does when introduced into a lake, and why we work to control it in Lake St. Catherine on our Milfoil Control Program here: lakestcatherine.org/milfoil-control-program

The 11th Annual LSCA Boat Parade - Register Your Boat Now!

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 11:39:09 GMT

Hello LSC - we hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend at the lake!

We'd like to let you know that the 11th Annual LSCA Boat Parade has been scheduled and is open for registration!

The 11th Annual LSCA Boat Parade will be on Saturday, July 1st at 1 PM.

We all know how fun it is to watch the boat parade, but it's even more fun to be part of it!

As we did last year, we'll take photos of all participants, and we'll have a lake-wide online vote to decide the winner.

Our categories are:

Most Original
Most Patriotic
Funniest
Best Overall

Our 10th Annual Boat Parade winners, and current reigning champions are:

Most Patriotic:

1st Place: Boat #6 - God Bless America - Adam Wunderlich

Funniest:

1st Place: Boat #7 - Monster Mash - The Ramirez Family

Most Original:

1st Place: Boat #12 - RMS Titanic - Goldman Family

Best Overall:

1st Place: Boat #3 - Moana - Megan Frueh

[ All photos by Karen Velsor - thanks Karen! ]

So, start thinking about your theme, and mark your calendars for July 1st! Then, email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to register your boat.

Also, lake resident Rick Roberts has announced that his annual fireworks display will take place that evening, Saturday, July 1st at dusk.

It's going to be a fun day!

'Territorial Pair" of Loons Observed in the Channel

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 27 May 2023 17:10:49 GMT

Hello LSC - we have some very exciting loon news to share, and we also need your help!

Over the past few weeks, lake resident Dawn Smith has been observing a pair of loons that were frequently active in the same area near her camp. On Thursday, Dawn was able to record activity by one of the loons that looked like nest building.

We sent this video to loon biologist Eric Hanson from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, and he confirmed that the loons are performing nesting activity. Eric was here at Lake St. Catherine twice this past July, once at our Libraries Love Lakes event, and then again at our Annual Meeting & Dinner. At the Annual Meeting, Eric gave a fantastic presentation about loons, which was recorded - and you can view that here: LSCA's 2022 Annual Meeting & Dinner. In 2021, Eric also rescued a sub-adult loon on Lake St. Catherine that had been caught up with a lure and fishing line. You can read about that here: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/12107471

This morning, Eric loaded up loon nesting buoys and headed down from Crafstbury Vermont to the lake. We put 5 signs together and headed out to the site:

Although the loons have been performing nesting activity on the site over the past few days, there was no evidence of a nest yet. Eric explained that a nest would look bowl shaped, and that they may be attempting to build a nest in multiple locations. So, now that our territorial pair have decided to nest, we'll need to keep an eye out to see if they attempt to nest at the initial site that they were observed at, or somewhere nearby.

After observing the site, he decided that it was too early to place the loon nesting signs around this area. Dawn has volunteered to store the 5 markers at her place, and if we do see that they are moving ahead with the nest there or at another location, we can quickly deploy them.

Eric explained that they may not be successful this year, but we could try to help them next year by installing a floating nest platform now that they have selected an area to attempt to nest on Lake St. Catherine. Loons typically nest between May 15th and June 10th, so they still have plenty of time to make their nest.

We need your help to give this loon pair the best chance for success:

PLEASE be sure observe the no wake speed in the Channel. They are very active in the Channel south of the bridge.
If you see the loons, PLEASE do not stop your boat while passing them, and give them as much room as possible when passing by. Reel up any lines you may have in the water if the loons are nearby.
If you see nesting activity in the Channel, PLEASE report it to us. Seeing a loon out of the water on something above the water and moving materials indicates nest building. You can see that activity here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csId0j2_rLU

It is very exciting that a pair of loons has decided to nest here at Lake St. Catherine! Let's all do what we can to give them the best chance possible.

Thank you to Eric for rushing down here help! Also, thank you to Dawn for reporting her observations, helping out with the markers, and for taking us to the location with her boat. She was a great captain for this mission today!

We'll keep you up to date on their progress.

The Vermont Center for Ecostudies, and Eric's work rely on donations and contributions. If you'd like to support their loon conservation efforts, you can learn how to make a donation to them here: https://vtecostudies.org/give/

LSCA Announces Plans For 2023 Milfoil Control Program

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 26 May 2023 16:48:55 GMT

Hello LSC, we'd like to let you know about the LSCA's 2023 plans for our Milfoil Control Program.

On May 8th, LSCA Trustees, a member of our Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) team, and our contractor performed a spring survey of the lake for milfoil growth. We were happy to see that the majority of the milfoil observed was sparse in density, and was comparable to what was detected during the late fall survey.

LSCA's Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting team - Owen & Beck

There has been regrowth of milfoil in the northern section of Little Lake. Since DASH is not feasible there because the depth and loose sediments making it difficult to work, we are exploring a hand-pulling pilot program there this year. We’ll provide details on this potential new program soon.

What does the LSCA do to control milfoil?

Our Milfoil Control Program consists of four components:

1. ‘Stop The Spread’ education and outreach. Our ‘Stop The Spread’ campaign educates boaters and property owners on best practices to limit the spread of milfoil.

2. Volunteer milfoil cleanup. Throughout the season, we organize volunteers to collect floating milfoil from the lake and deposit it at designated drop off points which is then picked up and disposed of. We also encourage boaters and property owners to remove any milfoil they see in the lake.

3. DASH - Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting. Our DASH crew hand-pulls milfoil by the roots from the lakebed which is then suctioned up through a tube to a catch table on a boat. Milfoil is then placed in 17.5 gallon buckets for transport.

4. Herbicide spot treatments with ProcellaCOR EC. In order to maximize our DASH crew’s time, effectiveness, and amount of acres covered, one of our control methods includes spot treatments of the herbicide ProcellaCOR EC. (There will be no treatment in 2023)

Although not directly related to Milfoil Control, our work on Lake Wise, the LSC Stormwater Master Plan, and the LSC Watershed Action Plan all help to limit phosphorus and other nutrients from entering the lake which can contribute to excessive plant growth, while improving overall water quality.

These efforts have resulted in the lowest percent of milfoil cover and frequency of occurrence at our 199 GPS data points in the lake since the mid-2000s. Also, and just as importantly, we have seen that numerous species of our native aquatic plants have increased in frequency of occurrence at the data points. This is exactly what we want to see! LSC has over 30 native aquatic plants which are important and necessary to sustain a healthy lake ecology. Our efforts are focused on reducing the amount of milfoil in the lake so that these native aquatic plants can grow as they normally would. Because of our milfoil control efforts, we again have a complex and diverse native plant community.

What can you do to help?

As a general rule, get as much milfoil out of the lake as possible and dispose of it..
Don’t drive through milfoil patches with your boat which will create fragments.
If you have milfoil on your prop, don’t just reverse and drive away, please remove it from the lake.
If you have milfoil growing in your dock or swimming area, pull it out by the roots and remove it from the lake.
If you see milfoil floating anywhere in the lake, near your dock, or along your shoreline, remove it from the lake.
Become a member of the LSCA to help support our efforts!

We will be holding our annual Milfoil Cleanup Community Day & Milfoil Control Meeting at the Wells Lakeside Park on Saturday, June 17th at 9 AM. All are welcome to attend to learn about our milfoil control plans for the season, and then those who would like to participate can head out onto the lake to do some milfoil & detached plant cleanup. We'll be placing the drop-off float soon. If you have a place on the Channel and you'd like to volunteer to to have the drop-off float near your place to keep an eye on it for us, please let us know. More info on this meeting & volunteer day soon.

Memorial Day Weekend & Spring 2023 Newsletter

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 26 May 2023 16:25:45 GMT

Good afternoon LSC - we'd like to say a few words about the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, and let you know about our Spring 2023 Newsletter that is now available.

As we near Memorial Day weekend 2023, and the 'unofficial start of summer', we hope that you'll have a fun and safe season at the Lake, and that you'll be kind and respectful of each other and our beautiful lake as you enjoy your time here this season. We also hope that you will take a moment on Monday to remember and honor those who have died while serving our country for Memorial Day.

Also, the LSCA's Spring 2023 newsletter is here with lots of information about our plans for the season, and details on many of the events that will be taking place at or around the lake.

Also, your LSCA Trustee neighbors will have printed copies available around the lake over the weekend.

The digital version is now available online via our website by clicking on the cover image below, or via this link:

LSCA's 2023 Spring Newsletter

When you click on the link for the newsletter, you will be able to view it on screen - and be able to zoom in or out using the controls in your browser window. Or, you can click the download button to save a copy to your computer to view with a PDF reader, and/or print a copy.

Here's to having a great season at the lake!

LSCA Offers 2 FREE! Boating License Classes

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 21 May 2023 19:45:51 GMT

Good Sunday afternoon LSC.

We are pleased to announce our 2 FREE boating license classes for the 2023 season.

Each year, the LSCA offers FREE safe boating courses to help boaters satisfy the requirements by the state of Vermont and get their boating license.

All boaters born after January 1st, 1974, must be certified to operate a power boat in Vermont waters. The certificate received by passing this class is good in all 50 states.

2 classes are available:

• June 21 & 22, Poultney Fire Department
• June 26 & 27, Wells Village School

Classes take place over 2 evenings from 4:30 - 8:30.

To register, please call LSC Boating Safety Chair Frank Callahan at 802-645-9136 or email him at frank.callahan@lakestcatherine.org.

Classes are limited to 25 participants per class, and lesson materials are for 6th grade and above reading levels.

Field Work on the LSC Watershed Action Plan Has Begun!

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 16 May 2023 23:02:59 GMT

Good evening LSC. We are excited to report that field work has begun on the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan!

Hilary Solomon & Sadie Brown from the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD), Evan Fitzgerald from Fitzgerald Environmental Associates, limnologist Emily Porter-Goff from the Lamoille County Conservation District (LCCC), and Trustees from the Lake St. Catherine Association headed out on the water to begin the assessment of current shoreline and in-lake conditions.

From the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a Lake Watershed Action Plan is described as: “Watershed planning helps address water quality problems in a holistic manner by fully assessing the potential contributing causes and sources of pollution, then prioritizing restoration and protection strategies to address these problems.”

After many years of successfully managing individual lake programs which include: invasive species control & prevention, and stormwater management, the LSCA is now poised to integrate these programs into a broader watershed plan with a focus on the prevention of pollutant loads (phosphorus, nitrogen, sediments) that enter into the Lake from sources outside the waterbody. The LSCA plans to use the success of these building blocks to expand its work in the watershed and focus on prevention for the future.

The LSCA has hired and will partner with lake experts to perform various in-lake and watershed based measurements, testing, and studies to identify current or potential future issues and design a comprehensive, long-term plan to address them. The resulting plan will leverage current investments in water quality and pollution prevention, be driven by accepted best management practices, elevate under-assessed areas and gaps, and will identify issues, opportunities, and projects to guide locally-led water quality implementation work in the LSC watershed.

You can read more about the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan on our website: https://lakestcatherine.org/lsc-watershed-action-plan

This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement (LC 00A00707-0) to NEIWPCC in partnership with the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP).

Green Up Vermont Day 2023 - Thank You!

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 10 May 2023 01:24:04 GMT

We'd like to thank everyone for their Green Up Vermont Day efforts around the lake, and elsewhere in Wells & Poultney today!

A round of applause for: Pat and Sue Caizza, Dave and Jill Hassebroek, Peter O’Brien, Jill O’Brien, Bill Tatko, Melissa Liebig, Becky Raub! Marcia & Steve Turcina, Sherry Smith, Carrie Armenio, Jerremy Jones, Dennis Stark, Lisa Dreher, David Mook, Autumn Webb, Ginger & TJ, Sue Ritchie, Peg Young, Linda Cardona, Dorey Eliza & her sons, and all the volunteers that were out doing cleanup today!

Also, thank you to the The Wells Country Store, the Town of Wells, and the town crews in Wells & Poultney who will pick up all the Green Up Day bags for us this week!

Well done all!

Attached are some photos taken throughout the day by volunteers.

Aerus Water and Air Purification Offers Free Water Tests To LSCA Members

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 11:06:39 GMT

Aerus Water and Air Purification has been a Business Sponsor of the LSCA for the past few years. We thank them (and all of our Business Sponsors which you can see here) for their continued support!

Aerus recently reached out to us to let us know about an offer to current members of the LSCA this season.

LSCA members who present their LSCA Membership Card will be eligible for:

• A FREE Arsenic and Bacteria test of your water

Thank you to Aerus for this offer to LSCA members!

There are 2 ways you can show your current LSCA membership to Aerus. You can either show them your digital membership card on your phone, or print out your membership card from our website, here's how:

Digital Membership Card On Your Phone

The LSCA website has a companion app that you can download for your iOS or Android based phone or tablet. The app is named for the company that hosts our website, Wild Apricot. The app is called 'Wild Apricot For Members' and you can find it in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

After installing it on your device, you can log in with the username and password you use for the LSCA website. In the app, you'll be able to view and search the Membership Directory, make edits to your member profile, view upcoming events, renew your membership, and view your digital membership card.

Right on the main screen of the app is a blue button labeled "MY CARD". Clicking on this button will show your digital membership card, and it will list your renewal date. Current members will show that the renewal date is "1 Jan 2024".

Printing Your Membership Card

To print a copy of your membership card, log into your account on the LSCA website, and you will be taken to your membership profile page. Here you will see a copy of your membership card and a link to download a PDF copy that you can print. If you are already logged into your account, just click on the "MEMBERSHIP PROFILE" page listed under the "MEMBERSHIP" heading at the top of the screen.

If you have issues with either method, please let us know so we can help you out.

Thank you to all our members, and to Aerus for this offer.

Thank you for your support of the LSCA!

If you'd like to become a member of the LSCA, visit our Membership page here: https://lakestcatherine.org/become-a-member, if you are a renewing member, you can renew here: https://lakestcatherine.org/membership-renewal.

Field Work To Begin On The Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 16:42:44 GMT

Hello LSC. We are excited to let you know that field work on the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan will begin in mid May.

From the Vermont DEC and EPA: A Lake and Watershed Action Plan (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?' Watershed planning helps address water quality problems in a holistic manner by fully assessing the potential contributing causes and sources of pollution, then prioritizing restoration and protection strategies to address these problems.

This exhaustive study will assess the Lake St. Catherine watershed, including its: shorelines, roadways, tributaries, forests, wetlands, and in-lake conditions. The findings from the creation of the Lake Watershed Action Plan will guide our long term efforts to increase water quality, and will position Lake St. Catherine to secure future grants and Clean Water Funding to implement projects to benefit the lake.

This 3 year project will begin on May 16th, as representatives from the Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA), the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD), and our hired environmental consultant and limnologist take a tour of the lake to assess current shoreline conditions, and to take water and sediment samples. A follow-up paddle will then be scheduled to take a closer look at areas of concern identified during the initial tour.

Before we head out, we'd like to hear from you!

Some background: In 2018 and 2019, extensive field work by the PMNRCD and Fitzgerald Environmental Associates took place in the LSC watershed. The goal was to identify sources of increased stormwater runoff and associated sediments and nutrients flowing into the lake - and this resulted in the creation of the Lake St. Catherine Stormwater Master Plan (SWMP). Six initial projects were designed from the SWMP, and currently four have been implemented. Ten to twelve more projects will be designed this year.

Since the SWMP was created, we have learned of additional areas of concern around the lake from observations collected after storms, and from input from property owners. These areas have been initially investigated and photographed.

As we plan to tour the lake on May 16th, we'll be using previously collected information to take a good look at some areas, but we'd also like to hear from you. Where are your areas of concern for stormwater runoff around the lake? Let us know! Send us an email at info@lakestcatherine.org with the location, any information you can provide, and photographs if possible.

The Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan is being made possible through a grant earned from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP), and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC).

You can read more about the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan on our website here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lsc-watershed-action-plan

Give us a wave if you see us out on the lake on May 16th. Thanks!

Sign Up For The 2023 Lake Wise Program

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 16:15:35 GMT

Hello LSC.

Spring has sprung - and that means that the LSCA is hard at work on lake programs and initiatives for the upcoming season.

First up, we'd like to invite you to participate in the 2023 Lake Wise Program.

Help to protect our valuable natural resource - Lake St. Catherine - through conscious decision making, and participate in the Lake Wise program!

As a shoreline property owner, you have the access and the ability to control what is happening directly at the water's edge.

Actions now will promote a healthy lake environment that will continue to support swimming, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing in the future.

Over the past 4 years, over 80 properties have participated in the Lake Wise Program on LSC, and 26 property owners have earned the Lake Wise Award. You can read all about all the great work that your fellow lakeshore property owners and our partner the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District put into the 2022 program here: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/13031593.

Lake Wise is a FREE program for lakeshore property owners. The 2023 Lake Wise Program on LSC is funded through a Clean Water Small Implementation Grant grant earned by the LSCA from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC).

This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) under assistance agreement (LC 00A00981-0) to NEIWPCC in partnership with the Lake Champlain Basin Program.

The 2023 Ice Out Champion Is...

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 15:12:04 GMT

Good afternoon LSC. Hope you are enjoying the sun and blue sky! The lake is a mirror this morning!

We'e received word that the ice has cleared in Oxbow Bay overnight (thanks Jill OBrien!), so we are going to call it for Ice Out.

...and checking the list, we see that the 2023 Ice Out Champion is:

Tim Olivieri

Congrats Tim!

Thanks to all who entered a guess - and thank you to all our Ice Spotters for sending in reports!

The majority of the ice on the lake went out Wed, Thu, and Fri, with small spots in Lily Pond and the bays hanging on over the past few days. Next year, we'll look to simplify the process to make it easier to make the call.

Finally, a quick mention about our membership drive - we hope you can support us this season! To become a member, or to renew your membership, please visit our website: https://lakestcatherine.org/become-a-member

We have membership levels for everyone who loves LSC.

Thank you & enjoy this beautiful day!

Green Up Vermont Day 2023 - Volunteer To Help Clean Up LSC And Wells & Poultney

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 12:15:12 GMT

Hello LSC, and residents of Wells & Poultney,

Saturday, May 6th is Green Up Vermont Day.

Green Up Vermont is a state-wide volunteer cleanup day of Vermont's roads and waterways.

As Green Up Vermont's website says:

"We know it isn’t your litter but Vermont needs our help to be beautiful!"

We had a FANTASTIC turnout last year, with volunteers signing up to cover every road around the lake! This year, we are looking to do that again, and also expand to cover additional roads in Wells & Poultney. You can check out a quick recap, and see lots of photos from our volunteers of our 2022 Green UP Vermont Day here.

Would you like to volunteer for Green Up Vermont Day?

If so, email us at info@lakestcatherine.org, or contact us on Facebook, and let us know the roads (or sections of roads) you'd like to work on, and we'll add you to our volunteer map:

Also, as we did last year, we will be hosting a brief kickoff to the day at the Wells Lakeside Park at 8 AM that morning. Please stop in to pick up Green Up bags, fuel up on coffee and muffins to get energized for the day, and meet your fellow volunteers! Please let us know if you'll be joining us so we can get a count.

So, let us know if you'd like to participate and where you'll do your clean up, and we'll add your area to the map. We'll keep the map up-to-date here, and on our website Calendar, on the May 6th Green Up Vermont Day event. You can view that here: 2023 Green Up Vermont Day Event.

Let's all pitch in to get Lake St. Catherine, and Wells & Poultney ready for a great Summer!

Thank you.

Predict Ice Out Day 2023

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 17:34:45 GMT

Hello LSC fans!

Are you ready for Spring - and getting excited for a fantastic season at Lake St. Catherine this year?

Well, it took quite a while for LSC to freeze over this Winter... but when will the ice go out?

It's time to start up #IceWatch2023!

Let's have a little fun and make some predictions for when the ice will go out.

You can make your guess here: https://forms.gle/W5VVG8Q1LvDjzr9U7

The winner will be crowned "LSC 2023 Ice Out Champion" and will have bragging rights all year!

Will your name be added to this list of previous Ice Out Champions?

In 2022, with her guess of April 4th at 11:03 AM, the 2022 Champ was Mary-Sue Reed.
In 2021, with his guess of April 2nd at 2:30 AM, the 2021 Champ was Walter Huss.
In 2020, with his guess of March 23rd at 3 PM, the 2020 Champ was Melvin Ohl.
In 2019, with her guess of April 15th at 6 AM, the 2019 Champ was Judy Cummings.

Make your guess - and good luck!

Note: By ice out, we mean when the Lake will be clear of ice. The ice in the bays can be stubborn! We'll be relying on our Ice Spotters around the lake for up-to-date reports on conditions - and we'll use those to make the call.

2023 LSCA Membership Drive

As the LSCA heads into our 70th year, we hope to earn your support for 2023. Our Membership Drive is underway, and we have membership levels for property owners, businesses, family members of property owners, renters and those who use the lake for recreation - anyone who loves LSC can become a member.

• Click here to become a member on our website

• Click here to renew your membership on our website

• Click here to download our paper 2023 Membership Form

Thank you for your support of the LSCA!

Former LSCA Trustee and President Phil Alden Passes Away

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 12:12:08 GMT

Hello LSC. We unfortunately have some sad news to report to you today.

Former long-time board member and President of the LSCA Phil Alden has passed away at the age of 94.

You can read more about Phil in his obituary here.

LSCA board member Jeff Crandall remember Phil, and also shared this recent story about seeing him this past September:

"I am very sorry to hear this. Phil had a great run, and lived life to the fullest. He was able to fly his own plane until he was in his early 90’s. Last September he (along with his girlfriend Marge (his “traveling companion”, according to Phil)) drove his new electric car from Florida to the Northeast, and stayed at his former home at Lake St. Catherine for a couple of days. In classic Phil style, he precisely mapped out in advance every stop he needed to make to charge his Tesla, including the 220 volt outlet in our laundry room at the Lake!"

A memorial service is being planned for early April. In lieu of flowers, Phil's family has requested that contributions in Phil's memory may be made to Avow Foundation, Inc.

LSCA Earns Grant For Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Prevention & Control For 2023

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 23:06:07 GMT

Hello LSC, we've received some exciting news to share with you today!

We've just learned that we've earned a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) for a "Healthy Ecosystems - AIS Spread Prevention Grant" for $18,938 to help fund our Greeter and Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) Programs in 2023.

Our Greeter Program is very important to the health of Lake St. Catherine. Our Greeters are hard working young adults who have been trained to identify aquatic invasive species (AIS) to stop them from entering LSC at the boat launch. Multiple concerning invasive species are just a lake or two away from LSC. 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. You can read more our the Greeter Program on LSC here: https://lakestcatherine.org/boat-launch-monitoring-greeter-program

Our excellent DASH crew suits up in scuba gear and hand-pulls 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. You can read more about our full Milfoil Control Program here: https://lakestcatherine.org/milfoil-control-program

While we continue to work to bring funding via grants to Lake St. Catherine, your support via membership dues, contributions, and donations are vital to help us fulfill our mission of the preservation, protection, and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine.

Our 2023 Membership Drive just kicked off last weekend. You can read all about that here: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/13084706

We have membership levels for camp owners, businesses, and supporters of Lake St. Catherine like family members of property owners, renters, recreators, etc. Anyone who loves LSC can become a member to help support our mission.

We hope to earn your support in 2023!

Thank you.

LSCA Launches 2023 Membership Drive

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 12:44:50 GMT

Hello to the good folks in the Lake St. Catherine community.

Greetings from a suddenly FRIGID Lake St. Catherine - it’s currently 15 below!

It's that time of year again... As the Lake St. Catherine Association heads into its 70th year, we are asking for your support for the 2023 season.

What does the LSCA do for Lake St. Catherine? Please check out our recently published 2022 Year In Review.

Your membership dues and contributions help to fund many of the services provided by the LSCA:

Maintaining & purchasing navigation and shoreline protection buoys throughout the lake.
Testing the water for E coli, phosphorus (nutrient) concentration, chlorophyll-a (algae and cyanobacteria) concentration, and Secchi depth (water clarity).
Conducting 2 free boat-safety courses that are state mandated for all persons born after January 1, 1974 (look for an announcement in the Spring for dates).
Greeter Program: Inspecting boats wishing to enter the lake for aquatic invasive species (AIS) to keep them out of the lake.
Controlling milfoil.
Organizing lake community volunteer events like Green Up Vermont Day, and Milfoil Cleanup Community Day.
Working with the state, towns, and Poultney Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District & Castleton University to solve the problems of sedimentation and impacts of phosphorus and other sources of pollution through our Lake Wise Program, and the LSC Stormwater Master Plan. (We are now accepting requests from property owners to participate in Lake Wise in 2023 - email us to sign up.)
Long-term planning for the future of the lake by beginning a 3 year process to create a Watershed Action Plan for Lake St. Catherine.
Maintaining "welcome" signs and gardens.
Liaising with other lakes and organizations in order to exchange information.
Sponsoring the annual fun-filled July 4th Boat Parade.
Disseminating information to our membership and the lake community through newsletters, emails, website & social media postings, and other local publications.
Organizing funding through membership fees, donations, and grants and allocations from the State of Vermont, Poultney and Wells, and environmental groups.
Representing you to state and local governments to protect your rights and the lake in general.
Protecting the value of your property by maintaining the beauty, access, and safety of the lake.

There are two easy ways to renew or become a member of the LSCA.

Soon, you will be receiving a mailing from us that contains the 2022 Membership Form. You can also download a copy by clicking here: 2023 LSCA Membership Form PDF. Just print and fill out the form, then mail it in with your check to:

Lake St. Catherine Association
PO Box 631
Wells, VT 05774

Or, you can renew or become a member on our website. If you were a member in 2022, click here to renew, or click here to become a new member - and you can pay your dues online with your credit card. If you were a member last year (whether you paid by check or online by credit card), the website has an account ready for you. If you don't remember your password, or have never logged in, please click here to set or reset your password.

If you are a business in the Lake St. Catherine community, we have a Business Sponsor Membership we'd like to tell you about. The Business Sponsor Membership includes:

A listing on our ‘Sponsors’ page on lakestcatherine.org with your logo, a link to your web or Facebook page, including a brief description of your business and services.
The posting of your events and special occasions to our Events & LSC Community Website Calendar.
A posting on our Blog and Facebook page about your business as a ‘Sponsor Spotlight’ feature.
A posting for your business in our Spring and Fall newsletters. Newsletters will be made available to the community in both printed and digital versions.

Thank you to our Business Sponsors! Please click on the Sponsors page of our website to check them out.

Your membership and the dues and contributions we receive allows us to accomplish our work. Maintaining the lake costs approximately $125,000 annually. While we do receive annual grants from Poultney, Wells, and the State, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding.

Upon receiving your membership contribution, we’ll send you the 2023 membership package, which will include: your receipt, a '2023 Member' sticker for your LSCA window card (or a card & sticker for new members), a hand-written thank you note, and a beautiful 3" x 3" iron-on patch depicting a loon scene from beautiful Lake St. Catherine.

With this new patch, we are looking to start a bit of a new tradition in which members can collect these patches each year to display, or iron-on or sew onto a hat, shirt, bag, etc. We’ll come up with a new design each year. Thank you to LSC camp owner Andrew Gioulis for this fantastic design, which you can see below.

We are happy to report that in 2022, we had 389 paid members, which includes 16 Business Sponsors. The average contribution of our members was $208 - THANK YOU! Your membership dues and additional contributions over and above our base $100 membership level are crucial to funding our important lake programs. As always, we ask you to help us to spread the word by discussing the LSCA with your neighbors. We are hoping to get our membership to over 400 this year.

We will continue to work hard for Lake St. Catherine to earn your support.

Thank you for your support of the LSCA!

- The Trustees of the Lake St. Catherine Association

If you ever have any questions about your membership or Lake St. Catherine, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

FOVLAP Mini-Webinar: Overview of the Lake Wise Program

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 23:18:05 GMT

Hello LSC.

We'd like to let you know about an upcoming mini-webinar from the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds, entitled: "Overview of the Lake Wise Program".

This seminar will take place via Zoom on Tuesday, February 21st from 12 PM - 1:15 PM. You can RSVP to attend here: https://vermontlakes.org/event/lake_wise_program/.

Alison Marchione, the Lake Wise Coordinator for the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, will speak about the Lake Wise Program she has recently come to lead.

Alison will cover the reasons for the program’s existence, review the process of getting Lake Wise assessments, and briefly speak about the Lake Wise “Gold Award”. She will also cover several common best management practices for lake shorelines and describe how lake associations can help promote the Lake Wise program.

There will be ample time for attendees to ask questions about these and other topics, e.g., bioengineering, project funding, shoreline permits, etc.

This is such an important program for long term health of Lake St. Catherine - and we are heading into our 5th year in 2023!

If you'd like to learn more about this great water quality improvement program, please RSVP to the webinar.

To learn more about Lake Wise on Lake St. Catherine, check out our Lake Wise Program webpage here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-wise-program. You can read about the program, and see an interactive map which includes our 26 Lake Wise Award winning properties.

If you would like to participate in the 2023 Lake Wise Program, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Loon Observation Project Update

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 28 Jan 2023 12:30:36 GMT

Hello LSC, we wanted to give you an update on the Loon Observation Project that we launched in mid-September.

A quick recap on the project:

We've been working with Eric Hanson from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies and Scott MacLachlan to come up with a form to log and record data about the loons visiting LSC. We are hoping that their increased visits to LSC will lead to a nesting pair!

If you attended the LSCA's Annual Meeting in July, Eric gave a fantastic presentation about loons. If you missed that, you can see his presentation here: https://youtu.be/iUrY1PqirzU. Scott also gave a great presentation on loons, arranged by the Rutland County Audubon Society, at the Poultney Public Library at the end of July.

The number of loons observed on LSC has been increasing over the past few years, as has the excitement and interest of the lake community.

So, we've set up a form for you to be able to record your observations of loons on the lake!

The form asks your name, email address (optional), the date of the observation, the location where the loons were observed, the number of loons, and a space to record if you saw a 'sub-adult' loon, and a description of what you observed.

Since the forms went live, we've received 24 observation reports. Thank you to everyone who submitted a report!

Here are some stats.

For numbers of loons observed per report:

(1) = 11
(2) = 10
(3) = 2
(4) = 1

For the locations, half of the observations (12 in total) took place in areas 18 - 22. 8 more observations took place in areas 10 - 13. See the map before for reference:

Here are a few examples of some interesting observations:

"It was insane on the lake this morning. I was already awake at around 5:45 when I heard loud wailing. At first I thought it was owls because it was still pretty dark out, but then I looked outside and saw three loons right off the end of the dock "screaming" at an eagle and stretching out of the water and flapping their wings. They were very angry at the eagle. I started to walk down the lawn for a closer view and I startled a heron that was standing on our dock (or rather the heron startled me). Once the heron was gone the loons quieted down somewhat."

Another observer reported:

"While kayaking, heard the loons - they were being very vocal. I then saw them take flight, flying north, also being very vocal. A few minutes later, they flew back south to end up where they started. Appeared to be 2 black & white adults."

And another eagle related report:

"An eagle was nearby, and it was being vocal. When the eagle left, it was diving, coming back up, and diving again until I lost sight of it from the shore."

Observers also submitted video and images as part of their report. You can see a folder of those videos and images here.

When the loons return in the spring, keep submitting those reports!

The forms to submit an observation can be found on our Wildlife page here.

Finally, this year the LSCA will partner with the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, and with the permission of Vermont Fish & Wildlife, to install monofilament and lead collection tubes at the boat launch. During their normal boat inspections, our Greeters will educate boaters about this collection program so that visitors can quickly look through their tackle box for old lead gear and bundles of fishing line to deposit in the tubes. Vermont Ecostudies also hopes to launch a voucher program with local tackle shops, so that old lead tackle collected can be replaced with lead-free alternatives. Every year, lead tackle and discarded monofilament line kills aquatic wildlife dependent on Vermont lakes. Entanglement in fishing tackle and poisoning by lead sinkers account for nearly 50% of loon deaths in Vermont.

We are all excited to see so many loons on LSC, but we need to give them their space (along with all wildlife on the lake). Please enjoy observing them from afar, but do not follow them or approach them with your vessel. Let’s do all we can to keep our loons safe, and work to create an environment to support a nesting pair so we can see baby chicks riding on the backs of their proud parents!

Vermont DEC Schedules Public Meeting on Proposed Draft Wakeboat Rules

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 14 Jan 2023 19:36:49 GMT

The Vermont DEC has scheduled a public meeting for Wednesday, February 15, from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM to discuss proposed draft wakeboat rules.

In March of 2022, a citizens group, "Responsible Wakes for Vermont Lakes" submitted a petition to the DEC proposing regulation of wakeboat use on Vermont's lakes and ponds. You can see that petition here.

Their concerns included:

Increased shoreline erosion from enhanced wakes
Disturbance to lake bottom sediments creating turbidity, disrupting plants & fish habitat, & releasing phosphorus & other nutrients which can create algae blooms and reduce clarity
Wakeboats can shred & uproot plants spreading aquatic invasive species
Wakeboats can spread invasive species when moved between lakes
Wakeboats create safety concerns, can damage docks and shoreland infrastructure

At the meeting, the DEC will summarize their review of the scientific studies, legal precedent, and operational considerations related to wakeboat use on the following subjects:

Minimum distance from shore to reduce or limit shoreline erosion
Minimum depth to avoid benthic sediment and phosphorus disturbance
Potential risk of Aquatic Invasive Species spread from ballast tanks
Impact of wakeboat waves on loon nests
Minimum number of contiguous acres required for safe use
Review of regulation in other states and past UPW Rules Decisions

They will also outline and discuss the proposed draft rule:

Under this rule, on lakes or ponds that meet the eligibility criteria (Lake St. Catherine being one), the DEC will create a wake sports zone map that will show the area on the lake where use is permitted. Using this rule concept, 31 Vermont lakes are eligible for wake sports use (in their designated area).

You can read all about this in a presentation that the DEC has created here.
The DEC's press release can be read here.
You can attend the meeting in person at the Highland Center for the Arts 2875 Hardwick St, Greensboro, VT 05841, or virtually using the Microsoft Team Link here.
If you would like to make a comment in person or via the online meeting, you need to register before, and you will be called upon to do so during the comment period. You can sign up to provide a comment here.

The LSCA's 2022 Year In Review

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 27 Dec 2022 02:19:05 GMT

Hello LSC.

It’s that time of year again when we like to take a moment to present you a recap of the work performed by the LSCA for Lake St. Catherine on behalf of the lake community and our membership. What you’ll read below are short summaries of the projects and activities, but we encourage you to visit our website and click on our Blog to read the detailed accounts of all these initiatives.

It was another busy year from start to finish!

We’ll do our best to recount the year chronologically - so grab a cup of hot chocolate and read on for our 2022 Year In Review.

Membership

First, a sincere THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to the LSCA this year! Our membership continues to grow - which means that there are funds available to help support our lake programs that everyone who enjoys Lake St. Catherine benefits from. Also, it shows that we have a great community of lake stewards who are invested in the preservation, protection, and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine.

At the end of 2021, we set an ambitious goal of reaching 400 members... and we came SO CLOSE.

As of this writing, we have 388 members who contributed a total of $79,581, giving us an average contribution of $208. While we did come up just a bit short of our goal of 400 members, we did surpass our 2021 totals for both total members, and dollars contributed - and we continue to build on these numbers year over year.

Can we crack the 400 member mark next year? This will be our goal as we continue to reach out to LSC property owners, and hope to expand our reach with membership levels for family members of property owners, renters, and those who use the lake for recreation.

We hope to earn your support in 2023 as we launch our Membership Drive in early February of 2023.

Thank you for your support!

Volunteering Around LSC: Green Up Vermont Day, Milfoil Cleanup Community Day

Green Up Vermont Day: Green Up Vermont Day is a state-wide volunteer cleanup day of Vermont's roads and waterways which takes place on the first Saturday in May. As Green Up Vermont's website says: "We know it isn’t your litter but Vermont needs our help to be beautiful!". Building on the success of our 2021 effort, we were able to organize volunteers to cover all the roads around Lake St. Catherine! On the morning of Green Up Day, volunteers met at the Wells Lakeside Park to kickoff the day with coffee and muffins from the Wells Country Store, thanks to the Town of Wells. Volunteers picked up Green Up Day trash bags, fueled up, and headed out to get to work. By the end of the day, the roads around the lake were cleaned up, and lined with filled Green Up Vermont trash bags. Thank you to the town crews from Wells and Poultney for picking up the bags. We’ll do it again in May!

Milfoil Cleanup Community Day: In early June, as part of our milfoil control efforts, the LSCA hosted a meeting at theWells Lakeside Park on Little Lake. We discussed what Eurasian Watermilfoil (milfoil) is, what it does when introduced into a lake, and why we work to control it in Lake St. Catherine. We then outlined the milfoil control plans for the year, and we talked about what you can do to help to Stop The Spread of Milfoil in Lake St. Catherine. Then, volunteers headed out onto the lake in kayaks, boats, canoes, and SUPs to scoop up floating milfoil and other detached plants and place them on the drop off float that was set up in the Channel south of the bridge. Throughout the rest of the season, volunteers placed detached milfoil and other plants on the float, and we made numerous collection runs to remove the plants.Thank you to all the volunteers involved in this project! We’ll do it all again next year.

The Lake Wise Program

It was another great season for Lake Wise on Lake St. Catherine!

Stormwater has a widespread environmental impact which makes it a growing concern in Vermont. In a statewide effort, towns and local organizations are working to implement large scale projects to help clean stormwater before it enters water bodies. Work is being done from the headwaters all the way down to the stream outlets. Excess nutrients in the water contribute to problems which affect both human and wildlife health including; lower oxygen levels in the water, toxic algae blooms, and excessive plant growth.

Click here to read all about the Lake Wise Program on LSC: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-wise-program

Building on the work of previous years, and the efforts of 2022, 10 property owners earned the Lake Wise Award this year! This brings the total number of Lake Wise Award properties on LSC to 26.

Our 2022 Lake Wise Award winners are:

James Giery, West Lake Road, Wells
David Mook & Marcia Angermann, Ferncliff Road, Poultney
Autumn Webb, West Lake Road, Poultney
Mike & Karla Dendor, Clayton Tract, Wells
Janet Burchett, Ferncliff Road, Poultney
James Canders, West Lake Road, Wells
Bonnie Fielding, Kinni Kinnic Lane, Poultney
Marcia and Steve Turcina, Cones Point Road, Poultney
Jane Adams, Cones Point Road, Poultney
Carol Higgins, Grace Wood Way, Wells

Congratulations to this year’s Lake Wise Award winners!

All winners will be receiving the Lake Wise Award plaque that they can proudly display on their shoreline. Keep an eye out for them as you cruise around the lake next season.

The LSCA would like to help other Lake St. Catherine property owners implement best practices to mitigate stormwater on their properties, and help them to earn the Lake Wise award. To date, over 80 properties have participated in the Lake Wise Program, and have at least received an initial assessment. If you would like to have your property assessed, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

The Lake St. Catherine Stormwater Master Plan

50 potential sites were identified, and as of today, 4 projects have been implemented, and 2 others have been designed and are awaiting installation. Projects have recently been completed on North Street, Ferncliff Road, the boat launch in Wells, and at the Wells Lakeside Park. That leaves 44 others that need to be evaluated, designed, and implemented.

In early January, we were informed that we had earned part of a $100k grant being administered by the PMNRCD from the LCBP. $50,000 of this grant will be used directly for Lake St. Catherine to design Stormwater Master Plan Projects on LSC.

The goal of our approved grant in 2023 is to develop 10-12 projects identified in the Lake St Catherine Stormwater Master Plan to be ready for implementation during the first round of Clean Water Service Provider formula grant funds in 2023 and thereafter. Our Project Team, consisting of the LSCA, PMNRCD, local partners, and the selected consultant, will identify a list of high and medium priority projects and develop 30% conceptual designs for those that rank within the top 10-12. Included with the conceptual designs will be detailed budget estimates, anticipated permitting needs, and preliminary landowner agreements or letters of interest. We hope to have a meeting soon with the lake community to select the top projects to be developed.

You can read more about the SWMP, and view an interactive map with the identified sites by visiting our Stormwater Master Plan page: https://lakestcatherine.org/stormwater-master-plan

The Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan

In May of 2021, the LSCA earned a grant from the LCBP to help fund the creation of a Lake Watershed Action Plan (LWAP) for Lake St. Catherine.

From the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a Lake Watershed Action Plan is described as:

After many years of successfully managing individual lake programs which include: in-lake invasive species control, invasive species prevention, and stormwater management, the LSCA is now poised to integrate these programs into a broader watershed plan with a focus on the prevention of pollutant loads (phosphorus, nitrogen, sediments) that enter into the Lake from sources outside the waterbody. The LSCA plans to use the success of these building blocks to expand its work in the watershed and focus on prevention for the future.

A Project Team led by Trustees of the Association will engage the following partners:

Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District to do field work on the areas adjacent to the Lake to identify sources of pollutants and recommend 20 projects to address them.
The Natural Sciences Department at Castleton University to use its environmental chemistry lab with access to water sampling supplies and instrumentation; Castleton undergraduate students to conduct broader in-lake and in-flow tributary water sampling and analyze the impact of major storm events. Students will help literature review of best management practices for water quality to sample collection, to water analysis, to data analysis, to GIS modeling.
A Limnologist consultant and/or chemist will advise on lake nutrient cycling, lake functions, and assist with any in-lake studies, such as water chemistry, sediment testing, and measuring phosphorus concentrations.
A series of community Stakeholders will be actively engaged to evaluate their part in understanding and mitigating excessive phosphorus and erosion around the Lake. These include: The Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund; the Towns of Wells and Poultney, especially the road crews as well as zoning provisions; members of the Association and homeowners to enact prevention on their properties; the Vermont DEC who has agreed to co-sponsor an annual symposium on best practices; businesses and the lake community who use the Lake and surrounding area for recreation.

Using the data and information collected about the Lake St. Catherine Watershed, the Project Team will create the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan by the end of the grant period in 2024. This plan will identify “Opportunities For Action” and the strategies, interventions, and projects to best address them.

Preliminary work began this year, including our first stakeholder meeting at the Wells Lakeside Park on July 14th. The lake community was invited to join us, and representatives from PMNRCD, Castleton University, and Fitzgerald Environmental Associates for a presentation introducing and outlining our plans for the LWAP. Field work will begin in 2023.

Greeter Program - Boat Launch Monitoring

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, asian clams, water chestnut, starry stonewort and zebra mussels - to stop them from entering LSC at the boat launch in Wells and the State Park in Poultney. 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.

In total, our Greeters inspected 1960 boats this year at the boat launch in Wells, and at the State Park in Poultney. This is more than double the number of vessels they inspected last year. Boat launches were down in 2021, most likely due to numerous rainy weekends last season.

Milfoil Control Program

The LSCA’s Milfoil Control Program consists of four components:

4. Herbicide spot treatments with ProcellaCOR EC. In order to maximize our DASH crew’s time, effectiveness, and number of acres covered, one of our control methods includes spot treatments with the herbicide ProcellaCOR EC. We’ll further discuss ProcellaCOR later in this article. When the lake is spot treated by herbicide, the State recommends that the lake not be used for any purpose on the day of the treatment. Normal recreational and domestic (household) lake water use may resume the next day after treatment, and use of lake water for irrigation may resume 1 week after the treatment.

These efforts led to another successful year of milfoil control on Lake St. Catherine, and have resulted in the lowest percentage of milfoil cover and frequency of occurrence in the lake since the mid-2000s. Also, and just as importantly, we have seen many species of our native aquatic plants that have been suppressed by milfoil growth like Water stargrass, Tape grass, Thin-leaf pondweed, Illinois pondweed, Common waterweed, and Robbins’ pondweed have all increased in frequency of occurrence. You can view our Aquatic Vegetation Management Reports dating back to 2001 here.

These results are exactly what we want to see!

In late September, our contractor SOLitude Lake Management performed a comprehensive, 2 day lake-wide aquatic vegetation survey to both evaluate the performance of our milfoil control efforts, and to assess the overall state of aquatic plants in Lake St. Catherine.

Back in 2001, 199 GPS points were plotted throughout Lake St. Catherine, and these points are evaluated for aquatic plants during each report. This is the 19th consecutive year a plant survey has been performed on Lake St. Catherine. You can see all the previous reports, dating back to 2004 in our Links & Downloads section.

The full report can be read here: 2022 - Aquatic Vegetation Management Report. We encourage you to take a few moments to read through the whole report.

Based on the data, and the results we've all seen throughout the whole of Lake St. Catherine, our Milfoil Control Program had a very successful year. The ProcellaCOR treatments were highly effective, our DASH team did another great job this year (252 buckets of milfoil removed), and you got involved as well by participating and volunteering to collect floating milfoil from June through October as part of our Milfoil Cleanup Community Day. These collective efforts are making a difference!

In early May, the lake will again be surveyed for milfoil growth. At that point, a final treatment map will be created which will show the areas to be addressed.

Sponsor Spotlight

We’d like to thank the 16 businesses who were LSCA Business Sponsors in 2022!

Thank you: A-1 Sewer & Drain Service, A113 Productions, Aerus Water and Air Purification, Bird Dog Home Inspection, Catherine Capers, Haun Welding Supply, Lake St. Catherine Cottages, Lake St. Catherine Country Club, Lakes & Homes Real Estate, Liebig Berries, Merritt Environmental Consulting, New England Lakeside Realty, Rathbun's Maple Sugar House, VT Lakehouse, Williams Hardware, Woodard Marine.

If you’d like to become a Business Sponsor in 2023, please let us know!

Boating Safety Classes & Lake Safety

Frank Callahan, Trustee in charge of Boating Safety, conducted the 2 free courses - in June & July. 19 lake community members earned their license this year.

The LSCA also places and maintains no-wake zone and marker buoys throughout the lake. In 2022, the Lake Safety Committee began building newly designed markers to replace the aging ones, and will complete the upgrade in 2023. Thank you to our ‘Buoy Buddies’ around the lake who assist us each year with the spring installation and fall removal of the markers and buoys.

Libraries Love Lakes

The Wells Village Library, the Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) and the Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund (LSCCF) joined forces to bring the lake community a very exciting event!

On July 3rd at the Wells Lakeside Park, the Libraries Love Lakes event took place, offering family-friendly opportunities for stewardship-based, hands-on, lake-related learning. Ecology-based topics like native flora and fauna, stormwater impacts and natural history were all on the agenda, including real-time water quality assessments in which guests can participate, expert presentations, and pontoon boat tours.

The families received a lake-themed kit replete with on-topic books and activities.

Presenters included:

Wells Village Library
Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA)
Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund (LSCCF)
Castleton University
Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD)
LSCA's Greeter Program
LSCA's Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) team
Wells Historical Society
Loon Biologist Eric Hanson from Vermont Center for Ecostudies

Libraries Love Lakes is a national outreach project which pairs school and public libraries with lake scientists to provide collaborative programming emphasizing the importance of lakes in our everyday lives. You can learn more by visiting www.librarieslovelakes.org.

To help fund this event and ongoing collaboration among the library and lake organizations, the LSCA applied for and received an Education & Outreach grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) funded by the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC).

The lake-related learning continued at the Wells Village Library, as a new section of the library called the 'Lake St. Catherine Collection' was unveiled with a reception at the library on September 17th. The collection curated by librarian Gina Ellis includes books, activities, experiments, iPad apps, models, and science tools like dip nets and binoculars that can be borrowed. Materials to learn from are available for all ages. Be sure to stop in to the library to check out all the lake & stewardship themed materials.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to make this wonderful event on LSC a success!

The LSCA's 10th Annual Boat Parade

We had another great boat parade this year!

18 boats registered, 14 participated, and 22 people voted online for their favorite boats in our 4 categories: most patriotic, funniest, most original, best overall.

Our winners were:

Most Patriotic:

Boat #6 - God Bless America - Adam Wunderlich

Runner up:

Boat #18 - Patriotic - Ryan Bagley

Funniest:

Boat #7 - Monster Mash - The Ramirez Family

Runner up:

Boat #13 - Groovin On The Lake - Mike & Chris Gay

Most Original:

Boat #12 - RMS Titanic - Goldman Family

Runner up:

Boat #10 - Lake Saint Catherine Fire Boat - Wysolmerski Family

Best Overall:

Boat #3 - Moana - Megan Frueh

Runner up:

Boat #4 - Pirates Secret - Mary Papasso

Thank you to all who participated, to those who cheered from their boat and from the shore, and to everyone who voted! We are looking forward to our 11th year in 2023!

Wastewater Workshop

On July 11th, at the LSC Country Club, the LSCA hosted a 'Wastewater Workshop' presentation by Cristin Ashmankas, Environmental Analyst with the State of Vermont’s Department of Environmental Conservation, Drinking Water & Groundwater Protection Division.

Cristin talked about the basics of septic systems: how they work, why they are so important, how they fail, and how to properly maintain them. She also outlined how they are designed, and the many different types of systems that are available - including innovative and alternative systems that can be used in unique situations.

She also discussed the rules, where to get help, and why it is so important that systems be fully working around the lake.

Her presentation, and contact information is available on our website here. If you have any septic system questions, please reach out to Cristin, she would be happy to help!

LSCA's Annual Meeting & Dinner

Thank you to the tremendous group we had at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club on Saturday, July 23rd for the LSCA's 2022 Annual Meeting & Dinner. It was great to see so many of you who care so much about LSC. What a crowd! We hope you enjoyed our presentation, your meal, and your evening with your lake neighbors.

We'd also like to thank the Lake St. Catherine Country Club staff for their excellent service and a wonderful meal, Eric Hanson from Vermont Center for Ecostudies for his fantastic presentation on loons, and to our Trustees for their excellent reports from their committees, and their hard work for Lake St. Catherine.

You can see photos from the evening and view the full presentation on our website Blog.

Dockside Chats With The LSCA

Dockside Chats began in 2020 as a way to have safe, face-to-face interactions with members around LSC to discuss lake related issues. We invited lake residents to schedule a Dockside Chat with a LSCA Trustee who would meet you at your dock to chat about the lake. These were again very popular in 2021, so we continued the program this year. 8 Dockside Chats were scheduled this year. Let us know if you’d like to get a chat scheduled for next season by emailing us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

LSCA Newsletters

Our traditional Spring and Fall newsletters were posted digitally on our website, and printed copies were made available at Wellsmere Farm in Wells. If you missed them when they were released, you can read them here:

Spring Newsletter

Fall Newsletter

Keeping You Up-To-Date

As soon as we have Lake St. Catherine news, we like to inform the lake community as soon as possible by posting it on our website Blog, and on our Facebook page. So, keep an eye on these sites for all the latest information on LSC. We also send out news summaries via email updates to our members who have shared their email with us - so please be sure to provide your email address when you become a member!

Vermont Invasive Patrollers (VIP) Program

On August 9th, LSCA Trustees were trained by the DEC to perform aquatic invasive species (AIS) patrols of the lake as part of their Vermont Invasive Patrollers (VIP) program.

The VIP program was established by the VTDEC in 2007 to focus on early detection of all known and potential AIS. Although VIPs now emphasize aquatic invasive plants more broadly in their surveying efforts, they are trained to identify both aquatic invasive plants and animals that are either established in Vermont or in nearby states and pose the greatest threat to Vermont’s water bodies.

This hands-on workshop trained participants on what aquatic invasive species are, how to prevent the spread of AIS, and how to identify the species that pose the greatest threats to Lake St. Catherine.

The goals of the program are:

To increase AIS knowledge of lakeshore residents and lake users.
To create an early detection volunteer network with a primary focus on aquatic invasive species, including plants and animals.
To increase VTDEC’s knowledge of new infestations and the spread of AIS in lakes.

This is a GREAT addition to our invasive species control and prevention initiatives which includes our Greeter Program.

We hope to work with and train volunteers to help launch this program on LSC in 2023 - please contact us if you are interested. VIPs monitor the lake, especially near boat launches, for new introductions of invasive species and report their findings to the DEC. If a new AIS is detected early, it's possible to eradicate it before it infests the lake.

Loon Observation & Loon Safety Projects

We've been working with Eric Hanson from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies and Scott MacLachlan to come up with a form to log and record data about the loons visiting LSC. We are hoping that their increased visits to LSC will lead to a nesting pair!

The number of loons observed on LSC has been increasing over the past few years, as has the excitement and interest of the lake community. So, we've set up a form for you to be able to record your observations of loons on the lake! We ask that you please DO NOT approach the loons. If you see them, observe them from your location, take a photo if you'd like, and then visit the forms listed below to log your observations and notes.

There are 2 forms. One will allow you to upload photos or a short video of your loon observation, but it does require that you have a Google account. The other form does not require a Google account and will allow you to record your observation, but you will not be able to upload a photo or video.

On the form, you can add your name and email address (optional), the date, location, number of loons, a place to indicate if you see a subadult loon, and a description of their activity that you observe.

Here are the forms:

• Loon observation form (With Photo): https://bit.ly/lsc-log-loon-photo (Google Account required)

• Loon observation form (No Photo): https://bit.ly/lsc-log-loon-no-photo

We also hope to launch a new loon program in the spring with the Vermont Center for Ecostudies by participating in their lead & monofilament fishing line collection initiative. You can read more about this project in our Fall newsletter.

Grants

The LSCA has been working hard over the fall to bring grant funds to Lake St. Catherine for 2023. We have applied for a grant from the State of Vermont and from the LCBP for AIS control and prevention, and two other grants from the LCBP to help fund our Lake Wise Program, and an expanded Libraries Love Lakes program for 2023. Keep your fingers crossed.

Just before we were about to send out our Year In Review, we learned that we have received a grant from the LCBP to help fund our 2023 Lake Wise On LSC Program! Please contact us to get on the list for 2023!

Thank You For Your Support!

Finally, thank you to everyone who supported us this year. We hope you found our efforts in 2022 for Lake St. Catherine to be worthy.

2023 is going to be another busy year, and we hope to earn your support again in 2023. Be on the lookout for our Membership Drive which will begin in early February.

Happy Holidays, and we’ll see you at the lake soon,

- The Trustees of The Lake St. Catherine Association

LSCA Earns Grant For 2023 Lake Wise Program

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 17:30:43 GMT

Good afternoon LSC.

Hot off the press, we have some great news about Lake Wise on Lake St. Catherine for 2023!

Thank you to LCBP and NEIWPCC for helping to fund our 5th year of Lake Wise on LSC!

If you would like to participate in this fantastic program in 2023, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to reserve your spot - spots will fill up quickly.

You can read all about the Lake Wise Program on LSC on our website here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-wise-program, including an interactive map showing the Lake Wise properties around LSC.

If you missed the Lake Wise news from yesterday, 10 LSC properties earned the Lake Wise Award in 2022 due to the hard work of the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District, and the property owners. You can read all about that here: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/13031593.

10 LSC Properties Achieve Lake Wise Award In 2022!

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 01:26:07 GMT

It was another great season for Lake Wise on Lake St. Catherine!

Stormwater has a widespread environmental impact which makes it a growing concern in Vermont. In a statewide effort, towns and local organizations are working to implement large scale projects to help clean stormwater before it enters water bodies. Work is being done from the headwaters all the way down to the stream outlets. Excess nutrients in the water contribute to problems which affect both human and wildlife health including; lower oxygen levels in the water, toxic algae blooms, and excessive plant growth.

As a shoreline property owner, you have the access and the ability to control what is happening directly at the water's edge.

Actions now will promote a healthy lake environment that will continue to support swimming, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing in the future.

This is such an important program for long term health of Lake St. Catherine, and we can all pitch in to make a difference.

Building on the work of previous years, and the efforts of 2022, 10 property owners earned the Lake Wise Award this year! This brings the total number of Lake Wise Award properties on LSC to 26.

Our 2022 Lake Wise Award winners are:

James Giery, West Lake Road, Wells
David Mook & Marcia Angermann, Ferncliff Road, Poultney
Autumn Webb, West Lake Road, Poultney
Mike & Karla Dendor, Clayton Tract, Wells
Janet Burchett, Ferncliff Road, Poultney
James Canders, West Lake Road, Wells
Bonnie Fielding, Kinni Kinnic Lane, Poultney
Marcia and Steve Turcina, Cones Point Road, Poultney
Jane Adams, Cones Point Road, Poultney
Carol Higgins, Grace Wood Way, Wells

Congratulations to this year’s Lake Wise Award winners!

You can see where all 26 Lake Wise properties are on the lake by viewing the interactive map on our Lake Wise page here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-wise-program.

This year, the PMNRCD performed 22 property assessments, revisited 6 properties to do a reassessment, and completed 15 projects.

Check out some of their work from this season:

Photo: PMNRCD

The LSCA would like to help other Lake St. Catherine property owners implement best practices to mitigate stormwater on their properties, and help them to earn the Lake Wise award. To date, over 80 properties have participated in the Lake Wise Program, and have at least received an initial assessment. If you would like to have your property assessed, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

FOVLAP Seminar: Emerging Aquatic Invasive Species in Vermont Inland Lakes

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 12:37:35 GMT

Hello LSC.

We'd like to let you know about an upcoming seminar from the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds (Vermont Lakes), entitled: "Emerging Aquatic Invasive Species in Vermont Inland Lakes".

This seminar will take place via Zoom on Thursday, January 19th from 10 AM - 12 PM. You can RSVP to attend here: https://vermontlakes.org/event/emerging-aquatic-invasive-species/.

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) are non-native plants and animals that are introduced and can cause harm to the local environment. You can read more about the issues and problems caused by AIS on Vermont's AIS webpage.

The seminar will discuss existing infestations in Vermont lakes and ponds, and will then focus on 3 emerging threats: spiny and fishhook waterflea, the round goby, and hydrilla.

The LSCA funds programs and works to both prevent new infestations of AIS with our Greeter Program which checks boats and trailers for AIS before and after they enter LSC, and to control the existing infestation of Eurasian watermilfoil in LSC with our Milfoil Control Program.

Many AIS are just a lake or two away from LSC, and include spiny waterflea, zebra mussels, asian clams, and water chestnut - and we do not want these to become established in the lake. Our Greeters are on the lookout for them - and we hope that you are too. Prevention is our best line of defense against invasives.

In August of 2022, LSCA Trustees were trained by the DEC to perform AIS patrols of the lake as part of their Vermont Invasive Patrollers (VIP) program. We hope to work with and train volunteers to help launch this program on LSC in 2023 - please contact us if you are interested. VIPs monitor the lake, especially near boat launches, for new introductions of invasive species and report their findings to the DEC. If a new AIS is detected early, it's possible to eradicate it before it infests the lake.

We have also recently highlighted some articles and commentaries noting that Vermont's lakes and ponds are under increasing pressure from the spread of new and existing AIS, but funding from the State for AIS prevention and control is decreasing in 2023. The LSCA will continue to work to increase our membership and apply for grants to help fund our AIS prevention and control programs.

If you'd like to learn more about AIS, and these three new emerging threats, you can RSVP to this seminar here: https://vermontlakes.org/event/emerging-aquatic-invasive-species/. We hope to see you there.

Happy Thanksgiving - 2022

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 17:30:27 GMT

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Lake St. Catherine Association is thankful for the support of the lake community as we work to fulfill our mission of the preservation, protection and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine.

We are currently hard-at-work making plans for next year, including applying for numerous grants to bring funds to LSC in 2023.

The Trustees of the LSCA wish you and your family a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

Thank you for your support!

Reduction in AIS Funding - Submit Comments on the Governor's Budget

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 01:27:01 GMT

Hello to all in the LSC community.

The following is a letter from Pat Suozzi, the President of the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds (FOVLAP) requesting that you take a moment to submit a comment on the reduction of funding for aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention and control as the Governor prepares his budget.

About The Letter:

The budget cut discussed in this letter will have a significant impact on the amount of funds the LSCA will receive from the DEC for Aquatic Species Control (AIS) which helps to fund our Boat Launch Greeter Program (keeping new invasive species out of LSC), and our Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting Program (DASH) as part of our Milfoil Control Program going forward.

The LSCA continually searches and applies for grants to help fund our lake programs and initiatives. As you will read in this letter, these funds continue to dwindle, and more lakes are applying for them. We are also working with other groups to sound the alarm with the State to let them know that more funding is needed to help support volunteer lake associations that are putting in the good work to preserve, protect, and maintain our lakes and ponds.

You have an opportunity to comment on this reduction as the Governor prepares his budget. We hope you will consider taking a moment to do so here: https://finance.vermont.gov/about-department/contact-us/public-comments-budget-process

About the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds:

FOVLAP 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 LSCA is a member of FOVLAP, and two LSCA Trustees are part of the board, one as a Director, and one as an auxiliary member.

The Letter:

Dear Friends of Vermont Lakes,

This is the time of year when the Governor prepares his budget to submit to the state legislature in January. The public is invited to submit comments on funding needs and priorities. I am writing to you today to ask you to consider submitting a comment regarding the reduction in funding for Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) prevention and control. You can submit your comment here.

Many lake associations that manage greeter programs have received some funds from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Aquatic Nuisance Control (ANC) Grant-in-Aid program. For the last 10 years that program has been level-funded at $450,000. However, for 2023 that fund will be reduced to between $305,000 and $310,000. This was announced at the same time we learned of three new AIS infestations in formerly pristine lakes in the state.

We need funds not only for educational outreach and greeter programs to prevent infestations, but also to manage and control existing infestations so AIS is not carried from those lakes to non-infested lakes. Now more than ever we need funding for AIS prevention and control to increase – not decrease!

Here are some further details that may help you in submitting your comments:

Vermont law requires AIS prevention: In 1978, Vermont lawmakers recognized the critical threat posed by aquatic invasive species and passed Vermont’s Aquatic Nuisance Control law (10 V.S.A. Chapter 50). This law states: “It is the policy of the state of Vermont to prevent the infestation and proliferation of invasive species in the state that result in negative environmental impacts, including habitat loss and a reduction in native biodiversity along with adverse social and economic impacts and impacts to the public health and safety.” (10 V.S.A, Chapter 50. §1451)
The state’s General Fund provides only $25,000 for AIS prevention and control.
Source of ANC Funds: DEC is allocated a portion of the Motorboat Registration fees (MBR). A percentage of this is used for staff salaries for AIS prevention and permitting (due to lack of general fund support as noted in #2 above) with the remainder funding the Aquatic Nuisance Control (ANC) grant-in-aid program. For at least a decade, this program has been level funded and has consisted of $250,000 from the MBR fees, $100,000 from an Army Corps of Engineers grant, and $100,000/year from a one-time surplus.
2023 Reduction: The one-time surplus is now depleted reducing the funds to $350,000. This will be further reduced because the administration of the Grant-in-Aid program is being outsourced to a provider who will charge a fee (probably 15%), leaving approximately $305,000 for AIS prevention programs.
ANC Staffing: Staffing in the program was reduced to one person several years ago. Due to this reduction the Grant-in-Aid program is being outsourced
The new grant program: The grant program will, for the first time, be competitive which means it is possible that not all current greeter programs will necessarily receive funding. Priority for funds that are available will be for AIS prevention with little to no funding for AIS management and control.
The need: In 2022 the ANC program received nearly $2 million in requests for AIS prevention and control. Of the 800+ lakes and ponds in the state, only 34 have greeter programs, not all of which operate 7 days/week, and only 4 have boat washers.
What about the $50 million in the Clean Water Budget? AIS prevention and control is NOT eligible for any of these funds.

Please submit a comment as soon as possible on the Governor’s Budget here: https://finance.vermont.gov/about-department/contact-us/public-comments-budget-process

Thank-you,

Pat Suozzi
President
Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds

Wells Village Library Holds Raffle To Support The "Lake St. Catherine Collection"

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 14:00:00 GMT

The Wells Village Library is holding a Holiday Raffle to support purchasing additional materials for the new section of the library called the Lake St. Catherine Collection.

The collection has been curated by librarian Gina Ellis, and is devoted to lake conservation, protection, and stewardship. It includes: books, activities, experiments, iPad apps, models, and science tools like dip nets and binoculars that can be borrowed. Materials to learn from are available for all ages.

The raffle includes a custom-made walnut and epoxy charcuterie / cutting board engraved with Lake Saint Catherine from Swimming Dog Studios, a $50 gift certificate to the Wells Country Store (Juli will create a lovely charcuterie for your new board), and a bottle of Pinot Noir from Ken Wright Cellars.

Individual tickets are $30, or 4 Tickets for $100.

Specifically, your purchase of raffle tickets will help the library acquire new books, new water-related learning implements, fun and educational programming, and special events (like a Vermont Institute of Natural Science [VINS] program).

Be sure to stop in to the library to check out all the lake & stewardship themed materials in the new "Lake St. Catherine Collection", and pick up your raffle tickets!

You can also purchase tickets at the Wells Country Store. Or, if you are not currently at the lake, you can email us at info@lakestcatherine.org and we can arrange to get you a ticket.

The drawing will be Thursday, December 15th.

The Lake St. Catherine Collection at the Wells Village Library:

This initial collection of materials was funded via an Education and Outreach grant as part of the Libraries Love Lakes initiative, earned by the LSCA from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) and New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC).

Commentary: Funding Cuts Jeopardize Vermont’s Lakes and Ponds

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 16:20:46 GMT

Hello LSC.

The following commentary was written by the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds (FOVLAP) President, Pat Suozzi, and it was published in VTDigger on Monday, October 24th, 2022.

About the commentary

The budget cut discussed in this commentary will have a significant impact on the amount of funds the LSCA will receive from the DEC for Aquatic Species Control (AIS) which helps to fund our Boat Launch Greeter Program (keeping new invasive species out of LSC), and our Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting Program (DASH) as part of our Milfoil Control Program going forward.

The LSCA continually searches and applies for grants to help fund our lake programs and initiatives. As you will read in this commentary, these funds continue to dwindle, and more lakes are applying for them. We are also working with other groups to sound the alarm with the State to let them know that more funding is needed to help support volunteer lake associations that are putting in the good work to preserve, protect, and maintain our lakes and ponds.

Your membership support is crucial to support our lake programs and initiatives.

We hope that you can see the value in our efforts, and we can earn your support. You can learn more about becoming a member here: Become A Member.

About the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds

The LSCA is a member of FOVLAP, and two LSCA Trustees are part of the board, one as a Director, and one as an auxiliary member.

Funding Cuts Jeopardize Vermont’s Lakes and Ponds - by Pat Suozzi

Vermont’s lakes and ponds are facing a serious and growing threat from the spread of aquatic invasive species. While Vermont can still boast some of the cleanest and most pristine surface waters in the country, our public waters are under increasing pressure from the spread of aquatic invasive species. In the summer of 2022, three lakes that formerly had no invasives, reported new infestations of Eurasian watermilfoil.

This is unfortunate news because these kinds of infestations are preventable. With a small amount of funding from the state’s Aquatic Nuisance Control Grant-in-Aid program and a great deal of fundraising, volunteer lake associations around the state run greeter programs to inspect and clean boats entering and leaving lakes and to educate boaters and all lake users about the problem of invasive species. These funds are also used to control and reduce already existing infestations, helping to prevent transport to other lakes. Yet for 2023, the state is cutting these funds by over 30%.

Greeter and control programs are vital to invasive species spread prevention. As the damage invasives can cause to an ecosystem has become more evident, more lake associations have developed greeter programs, looking to the state Aquatic Nuisance Control Grant-in- Aid program for basic funding. Although the number of programs has grown, the Aquatic Nuisance Control funds have been level funded for nearly 20 years at $450,000. Now, when there is even greater pressure on our lakes from increased usage, when we should be creating more greeter programs, and when those already operating should increase their hours, the state is cutting the funds that support these programs to a mere $305,000.

The amount of this cut may seem small in a multi-billion-dollar budget but $145,000 can be the difference between clean water or an invasive infestation. While these funds were never truly adequate and volunteer lake associations have always been in the position of having to raise more funds, they still helped. They were often the seed that got a program off the ground. Nevertheless, of the 196 Vermont lakes with public boat or fishing accesses, only approximately 32 have active greeter programs and of these only 4 have hot water boat wash stations to clean boats (the best way to ensure no invasives are transported). The reason for these low numbers is simple – inadequate funding.

The spread of aquatic Invasive species is a human caused problem, spread by moving boats and other gear from infested water bodies to non-infested water bodies. The best and most cost-effective defense against spread is prevention. Once a waterbody is infested, reducing and controlling the infestation to maintain the health of the lake and to avoid degraded water quality is extremely expensive, far more expensive than prevention. For example, Diver-Assisted Suction Harvesting to clear 1 acre of Eurasian watermilfoil can cost as much as $10,000 while running a greeter program for an entire summer season might cost $20,000 to $30,000.

Control and reduction of aquatic invasives is also part of prevention. The more that an infestation can be reduced, the less likely boats leaving that waterbody will carry the invasive to other waterbodies. Yet the indications are that this funding cut will all but eliminate funds for control programs.

This is not a trivial matter, aquatic invasive species, such as Eurasian watermilfoil, if left unchecked, can spread to form monocultures that will squeeze out the native plant species that are necessary to support native fish and other wildlife that depend on a healthy lake ecosystem. Other types of invasives, such as zebra mussels can clog water intakes, make beaches unusable, and damage boat engines. Invasive species can cause poor water quality and can adversely affect human health.

There is an economic cost, too. A dense infestation can lead to falling waterfront property values, meaning lower tax revenues for towns, as well as decreases in tourism, an important contributor to Vermont’s economy.

We are fortunate that many of our most beautiful and pristine lakes, such as Willioughby, Caspian, Maidstone, Seymour, Raponda still have no known invasives. However, without adequate funding, these and the other lakes and ponds still not infested are in real danger of infestation.

Our volunteer lake associations bear the burden of the work of prevention and control of aquatic invasive species in the state’s public waters. Each year our volunteers raise hundreds of thousands of dollars and contribute thousands of hours of unpaid labor to implement a variety of programs to monitor, collect data, prevent the spread of invasives, protect our lakes and ponds from pollutants, and educate the public about best practices to protect our public waters. We do this willingly, but we cannot do it without a reasonable amount of funding and support from the state. This funding cut suggests that the state is abdicating its responsibility to protect our public waters from aquatic invasive species.

Pat Suozzi, who lives in Hinesburg, is the President of the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds and also a member and past president of the board of directors of the Lake Iroquois Association.

Photo: VT Lake House

"Permitting Aquatic Herbicide Projects in Vermont" Paper Released By DEC

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 11:45:52 GMT

Hello LSC.

Back in May, as part of our Spring 2022 Newsletter, we noted that misinformation was being posted online and in newspaper commentaries related to the Lake Bomoseen Association applying for a permit to use the herbicide ProcellaCOR EC to control Eurasian Watermilfoil. This is the product that we have used for our milfoil spot treatments over the last 4 years as part of our Milfoil Control Program. As we mentioned then, and has continued to occur, some are even making things up and disparaging Lake St. Catherine, then using these false stories to voice their opposition.

We'd like to thank the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Watershed Management Division, Lakes and Ponds Management and Protection Program for publishing a new document entitled “Permitting Aquatic Herbicide Projects in Vermont”.

The Vermont DEC describes that the purpose of the document is to:

1. Provide background information about DEC’s Aquatic Nuisance Control (ANC) permitting program, with a specific focus on aquatic herbicide projects;

2. Identify some of the recent findings related to ProcellaCOR; and

3. Provide a Q&A section on this topic reflecting common questions that DEC receives about our ANC permitting program

The document details Vermont statutes, the permitting application and technical review process, and the departments and agencies involved in the permitting process.

It also discusses key findings on ProcellaCOR EC, including: a pre- and post-treatment statistical analysis of the aquatic plant survey data from Vermont waterbodies treated with ProcellaCOR, an Aquatic Toxicity Review memorandum performed by a DEC Environmental Scientist, a Macroinvertebrate Survey conducted by the New York DEC, a review memorandum performed by a Vermont State Toxicologist from the Vermont Department of Health detailing a review of ProcellaCOR’s confidential statement of formulation, an acknowledgement from the DEC’s Drinking Water & Groundwater Protection Division, and much more.

Finally, the document contains 16 frequently asked questions posed to the DEC about these topics with their answers.

This new document can be viewed here: Permitting Aquatic Herbicide Projects in Vermont

The LSCA has always employed evidenced-based decision making when evaluating lake related issues, and we continue to do so with our Milfoil Control Program. Working with the State and lake scientists & experts, following the science and the data, and evaluating the results of our efforts show that we are doing the right things for the long-term health of Lake St. Catherine. These efforts include numerous effective water quality programs for the Lake St. Catherine watershed including: outreach and education on lake issues, water testing, Lake Wise, the LSC Stormwater Master Plan, Milfoil Control, Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Prevention, and the upcoming Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan.

To our members, and all who love Lake St. Catherine, if you ever have any questions or concerns, reach out to us. We would be happy to discuss this or any other lake related topic with you so we can address your questions or concerns, and provide you with factual information. We can always be reached at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you.

Participate in South Lake Champlain Tactical Basin Plan Informational Meetings

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 21:56:23 GMT

Over the next few weeks, scientists from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and local nonprofit organizations will be hosting two meetings for the public to learn about the Basin 2 & 4 tactical plan and provide comments and suggestions.

October 27 – In-person meeting
- Wells Town Office, 1064 Vermont Route 30, Wells, VT 05774
- 5:30 - 7:00 pm.

November 3 – Virtual meeting
- Microsoft Teams Link, or call in: +1 802-828-7667, 234016973#
- 5:30 - 6:30 pm

Angie Allen, a watershed planner with the state of Vermont’s DEC, will be presenting information about the draft, and soliciting feedback from attendees. Angie works in several watersheds in southern Vermont, but these meetings will focus on the draft plan for Basin 2 (Poultney Mettowee) and Basin 4 (tributaries that drain directly to South Lake Champlain). Basin 2 also contains Lake St. Catherine, Lake Bomoseen, Lake Hortonia, Lake Beebe, Echo Lake, Sunrise and Sunset Lakes, Glenn Lake, and Burr Pond.

From the DEC's Tactical Basin Planning StoryMap website, a tactical basin plan is:

"Tactical Basin Plans (TBP) are strategic guidebooks for achieving watershed health. They identify surface waters that are in need of restoration and protection and outline a list of actions to achieve water quality goals. The plans also identify the partners and funding critical to implementing the actions."

The plan contains three key elements:

A health assessment of the rivers, lakes, and wetlands within the South Lake Champlain and Poultney-Mettowee River watersheds.
62 strategies to improve water quality, including methods to decrease runoff from farms and roads, protect and restore water bodies, and limit overflows from wastewater treatment facilities.
Tips for landowners, watershed organizations, and towns interested in receiving funding and technical assistance to help protect and restore water resources.

You can read the draft plan here: 2022 South Lake Champlain Basin 2 & 4 Tactical Basin Plan Draft

The Lake St. Catherine Association administers and partners on many effective water quality programs for the Lake St. Catherine watershed including: outreach and education on lake issues, water testing, Lake Wise, the LSC Stormwater Master Plan, Milfoil Control, Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Prevention, and the upcoming Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan.

As a shoreline homeowner, or someone who cares about Lake St. Catherine, your participation in these meetings is very much appreciated!

We hope to see you at the in-person meeting at the Wells Town Hall on October 27th, or online on November 3rd.

Jonas Rosenthal Passes Away

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 09 Oct 2022 13:24:22 GMT

We have some sad news to report this morning. Former Town Manager of Poultney Jonas Rosenthal has passed away.

LSCA Trustee Mary Jo Teetor remembered Jonas:

"We are saddened to hear of the sudden passing of our friend and colleague Jonas Rosenthal.

Jonas, who had a long career of public service in the area, was a supporter of the LSCA. He knew the value of the lake as an economic engine, as well as a precious natural resource to the area. He was always supportive of the lake activities and helped the association secure funding, participated in meetings, as well as helping with grant writing to support the work we do managing the lake.

A workaholic and dedicated public servant, Jonas was happiest seeing projects through from conception to completion and beyond. It is hard to conceive of where we would be without the help and friendship he provided. Jonas is already sorely missed in the widespread communities he serviced.

With sincere condolences to his wife Jima and daughter Katie, we wish you the best in this difficult time."

A celebration of his life will be held at the American Legion in Poultney on Saturday, October 29 from 1 - 4 PM.

You can read more about Jonas in the Rutland Herald:

• Rutland County mourns Jonas Rosenthal

• Jonas H. Rosenthal Obituary

Vermont DEC Releases Set Of Lake Wise Info Sheets

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 21:52:32 GMT

Check out this great new collection of Lake Wise Info Sheets from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.

Topics include:

Living Shoreland

Beaches and Recreation Areas
Bioengineering
Conserve and Protect Lakeshores
Lakeshore Buffers
Lake-Friendly Yard Maintenance
Live Stakes and Fascines
Low Impact Lakeshore Development
Managing Invasive Plants
Restore Natural Plant Communities

Low Impact Lake Access

Infiltration Steps
Driveways and Lake Roads
Planning Pathways
Turn-outs & Rock Aprons
Water Bars & Open-Top Culverts

Upland Stormwater Management

Check Dams
Dry Wells
Filter Berms
Infiltration Trenches
Permeable Pavers
Rain Gardens
Downspout Disconnection & Rain Barrels
Vegetated Swales

These are great resources to show you how to implement best practices on your lakeshore property to make it lake-friendly by limiting stormwater from carrying phosphorus, sediments, and other pollutants into the lake.

They also illustrate the great work that our partner the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District (PMNRCD) performs around the lake as part of the Lake St. Catherine Lake Wise Program. Over the past 4 years, these projects have worked to limit stormwater runoff, and have also helped to beautify the shoreline.

If you are interested in participating in Lake Wise on LSC in 2023 (which will be our 5th year!), please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to get on the list!

You can learn more about the Lake Wise Program here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-wise-program

Here's an example of page 1 of the Lakeshore Buffers Lake Wise Info Sheet:

The new sheets and lots of additional information on the Lake Wise Program from the Vermont DEC can be viewed here: https://dec.vermont.gov/watershed/lakes-ponds/lakeshores-lake-wise/bmp

Log Your Loon Observations on LSC

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 22:25:59 GMT

We have a very cool loon project to tell you about today.

If you attended the LSCA's Annual Meeting in July, Eric gave a fantastic presentation about loons. If you missed that, you can see his presentation here: https://youtu.be/iUrY1PqirzU. Scott also gave a great presentation on loons, arranged by the Rutland County Audubon Society, at the Poultney Public Library at the end of July.

The number of loons observed on LSC has been increasing over the past few years, as has the excitement and interest of the lake community.

So, we've set up a form for you to be able to record your observations of loons on the lake!

Here are the forms:

• Loon observation form (With Photo): https://bit.ly/lsc-log-loon-photo (Google Account required)

• Loon observation form (No Photo): https://bit.ly/lsc-log-loon-no-photo

Bookmark them for quick access.

We've just entered the first entry into the form with this observation of an adult and subadult loon swimming and diving in Atwater Bay this afternoon:

These forms will be a great collection of data on the loons visiting LSC, and it should be fun logging our observations of them.

We ask that you please DO NOT approach the loons. If you see them, observe them from your location, take a photo if you'd like, and then visit the form to log your observation and notes.

We'll keep you updated on the data as it comes in.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you - and have fun!

The "Lake St. Catherine Collection" at the Wells Village Library

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 17:57:00 GMT

Hello LSC.

Here are some photos from the reception this afternoon at the Wells Village Library to unveil the new "Lake St. Catherine Collection" - a new section of the library devoted to lake conservation, protection, and stewardship.

The collection curated by librarian Gina Ellis includes books, activities, experiments, iPad apps, models, and science tools like dip nets and binoculars that can be borrowed. Materials to learn from are available for all ages.

Thank you to Gina for arranging this reception, to the attendees today, and to the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) and New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) for funding this collection via an Education and Outreach grant as part of the Libraries Love Lakes initiative!

So, stop in to the library to check out all the lake & stewardship themed materials. There is so much to learn from and enjoy!

"The Lake St. Catherine Collection" Reception at the Wells Village Library

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 01:04:34 GMT

On September 17th at noon, the Wells Village Library will hold a reception to unveil "The Lake St. Catherine Collection", a new section of the library.

From the press release:

The Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA), the Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund (LSCCF), and the library have joined forces to highlight and advance the inherent, environmental, historical and recreational significance of Lake St. Catherine.

“As part of our ongoing collaboration to provide educational, stewardship-based, hands-on, lake-related resources, we’ve acquired new on-topic literature, flora and fauna life-cycle models, borrowable binoculars, dip nets, and more,” explains librarian, Gina Ellis. “We are also providing access to related science applications through our iPad station, which is situated across from our new collection.”

To share details and garner feedback, the library will host a reception Saturday, September 17th from noon until 1:30. This is a free event and open to the public. “We want to hear folks’ thoughts on what we’ve thus far accomplished and how we can further contribute to and ensure a vibrant, healthful lake community,” adds Jerremy Jones, a trustee of the Lake St. Catherine Association.

The partnership between the library and lake groups originated through Libraries Love Lakes, which is a national outreach project that pairs school and public libraries with lake scientists to provide collaborative programming emphasizing the importance of lakes in our everyday lives. You can learn more by visiting www.librarieslovelakes.org.

The partners’ activities to date, including a successful lakeside event over the July 4th weekend and the library’s new specialized collection, have been possible through the LSCA’s successful proposal for an Education & Outreach grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) funded by the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC).

Please join us at the reception!

LSCA Replacing Aging Marker Buoys

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 11 Sep 2022 19:30:43 GMT

Hello LSC.

A quick note to let you know that our Lake Safety Committee has been working on new marker buoys to replace the aging ones around the lake. These buoys will mark caution areas on the lake (like shallow water & water hazards), and are marked with a diamond.

2 new buoys went in on Atwater Bay a few weeks ago, and have fared well. This is what they look like:

We will be producing at least 10 more to replace the aging markers around the lake.

We will also be updating the Lake St. Catherine buoys and markers map, which you can see on our Lake Safety page here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-safety

2022 End Of Season DASH Report

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 11:55:03 GMT

Hello LSC.

Our diver assisted suction harvesting (DASH) team was hard at work again this summer.

This season, Beck & Owen spent the majority of their time in North Bay, but also worked on a few sites outside of the bay.

In total, they hand pulled 252 buckets worth of milfoil from the lake (buckets are 17.5 gallons). The bucket totals from the last few years are - 2021: 146, 2020: 132, 2019: 1,293. They have also performed a quick survey of the lake, and have noted potential spots for attention in 2023.

In the next few weeks, a comprehensive 2-day aquatic plant survey which is performed yearly, will take place. This survey will result in a full report that will be posted to our website in late November.

Thank you to Owen & Beck for their great work again this season!

We also appreciate your efforts to Stop The Spread of milfoil in the lake. You've been using the drop off float in the Channel, and we've heard from you how you are removing milfoil from your dock and swimming areas, from your shorelines, from the the lake, and following other best practices. This is GREAT - let's all keep up the good work! Our collective efforts are making a significant and measurable difference in the milfoil level of Lake St. Catherine.

Finally, if you did not see it last week, here is a video taken by the DASH team showing the healthy and abundant native plants in Forest House Bay during an underwater survey earlier this month:

Lake St. Catherine Native Mussel - The Eastern Elliptio

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 27 Aug 2022 23:44:35 GMT

Hello LSC.

You may have recently seen a news story about fresh water mussels in Vermont, specifically the Brook floater (which is not in LSC) on WCAX. The link is included below.

This is a good opportunity to talk about the fresh water mussel that we do have in Lake St. Catherine called the Eastern Elliptio (which is briefly mentioned in the story).

The Eastern Elliptio is abundant in LSC, and you have probably seen the discarded shells left by muskrats near the shoreline. This native mussel is very beneficial to the lake!

Photo: Eastern Elliptio, Vermont Center for Ecostudies

As noted by the Chesapeake Bay Program and NH F&G, the Eastern Elliptio needs relatively clean water to survive, so its presence is a good indicator of environmental health, an adult mussel can filter and clean about 10 gallons of water each day, it has an important role in filtering water and nutrient cycling and therefore water quality, and because of its abundance and important role as both prey and water filtration, it is among the most valuable benthic organisms to local ecosystems.

The Eastern Elliptio should not be confused with the much smaller, and invasive zebra mussel (which are in nearby lakes). Our Greeter Program at the boat launch checks incoming vessels for this invasive mussel, and other aquatic invasive species (AIS) to make sure they do not get introduced into LSC. This image shows a native mussel with multiple zebra mussels attached:

Photo: Mussel with Zebra Mussels attached, University of Minnesota Extension

As noted by Vermont F&W, zebra mussels have many ecological and economic impacts in waters they have invaded. They reproduce quickly, form dense colonies, and can completely coat lake bottoms in densities of more than 10,000 per square meter, reducing available food resources for native species that rely on plankton and can impact native mussel populations in particular.

You can read more about the Eastern Elliptio on this page from Vermont Center for Ecostudies: https://val.vtecostudies.org/projects/vermont-freshwater-mussel-atlas/elliptio-complanata/

The WCAX Brook floater story: https://www.wcax.com/2022/08/16/wildlife-watch-brook-floater/?fbclid=IwAR0PNGgebopxnmZz5r_9SuS4OkMq0YXnLZS3kKfacwDPHcffWfM8cVA2arg

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees - 08/27/2022

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 27 Aug 2022 19:11:10 GMT

On Saturday, August 27th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their fourth and final meeting of the 2022 season. Meeting minutes compiled by Jeremy Jones.

Attendance: Jim Canders, Jerremy Jones, Mary Jo Teetor, John Belnavis, Frank Callahan, (Online) Ed Laird, Nancy Liberatore, Mike Gay, (Online) Jeff Crandall, (Online) Mark Shea, Sue Williams. Absent:, Bob Williams, Lisa Micich, Kemi McShane, Rob Nesbit

Guests: None

Call to Order: President Jim Canders called the meeting to order at 8:33.

Public Comment: None.

Floor To Ed Laird: To accommodate Ed’s schedule, Jim started the meeting by giving the floor to Ed to discuss the land donation to the LSCA and the LSCA conflict of interest policy. Ed reported that the closing of the land should be soon, and then the property can be listed for sale, with a target of September 2nd. Nancy Liberatore has donated her time and services to list and sell the property. Nancy presented the selling agreement, a motion was made to approve by John, seconded by Frank. Motion passed unanimously, Nancy abstained. Nancy’s recommendation is to list at $64,900, a motion was made by Frank, seconded by John. Motion passed unanimously, Nancy abstained. Ed then discussed the LSCA’s Conflict of Interest agreement that was instituted in 2012. It was suggested that all current board members reattest their agreement. Jerremy will create an online form with the agreement so all Trustees can do so.

President’s Opening Comments: Jim Canders, Jim said a few words remembering former Trustee Bill McLaughlin who recently passed away, and asked for a moment of silence.

Approval of Meeting Minutes: Minutes of July 23, 2022 posted. Motion to accept the minutes as presented, made by John, seconded by Nancy. All in favor, so moved.

Treasurer’s Report: Mary Jo Teetor, report presented on screen. Large bills have been paid to SOLitude, DASH crew. Membership contributions and donations above estimated budget. Projecting a surplus. Motion to accept the Treasurer's Report as presented made by Frank, and seconded by Mike. All in favor, so moved.

Annual Meeting / Use of LSC CC: John Belnavis, John has reserved the LSC Country Club for the dates of our 4 Trustee meetings in 2023, and the Annual Meeting. Dates are: May 27th, 2023, June 24th, 2023, July 22nd, 2023, August 26th, 2023 at 8:30 AM. The Annual Meeting will be July 22nd, 2023 at 6 PM. John explained that we will need to close RSVPs for the dinner on the Sunday before the meeting so the chef can have a count. We sold out of dinners this year, and the kitchen was concerned about having enough food. Everyone enjoyed the guest speaker Eric Hanson, and his loon presentation. We’ll look to have a guest speaker next year as well.

Milfoil Management: Jeff Crandall, DASH report submitted by DASH team. 252 buckets harvested over 76 acres. Some areas marked for DASH on the map were not visited. The DASH team has marked potential areas for 2023. SOLitude will perform the plant survey in September. Little Lake treatment was very effective. Lake tour with Misha went well.

Boat Launch Greeter Program: John Belnavis, hired a new Greeter. 2 other inquiries. Total payroll for the year will be under budget.

Publicity / Membership: Jerremy Jones, 377 members, with a goal of 400, surpassed last year’s total of 372. Fall newsletter was printed and available.

Lake Safety: Frank Callahan & Mike Gay, new marker buoys built and installed in Atwater Bay. Mike estimated that we need 10 more new buoys to be fabricated in the new style. A motion to allocate up to $850 for new buoys was made by John, and seconded by Jeff. All in favor, so moved.

Nominating Committee: LSCA has a full complement of Trustees.

Grants / Government Relations: Received a letter back from the Basin Water Quality Council. Members have already been selected, and according to the bylaws, we would not qualify to be on the board. Mark and Sue have volunteered to help with grants. We have quarterly reports due on October 10th, and new grants have just been announced.

New Business: Discussion of buoy incident in North Bay and jetski speeding incident in the Channel - appears to be the same people. Discussed hand pulling milfoil test in Little Lake with LSCCF. Have not received a reply from F&W to our letter, will send email asking if we will be receiving a reply. Discussion of loon project with VT Ecostudies to place collection tubes at the boat launch to collect lead sinkers and monofilament line, with instruction from our Greeters - spring 2023.

Old Business: Discussed East Poultney Day, new tent and other gear for events. Discussed meeting dates for next year.

Election of Officers:

- Treasurer: John nominated Mary Jo Teetor, all voted in favor.

- Recording Secretary: Jim nominated Kemi McShane, all voted in favor.

- Vice President: Mary Jo nominated Mike Gay, all voted in favor.

- President: Mary Jo nominated Jim Canders, all voted in favor.

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 10:27, seconded and all in favor, so moved.

Next meeting: May 27, 2023 at 8:30 AM LSC CC.

Meeting minutes compiled by Jerremy Jones.

The LSCA's Fall 2022 Newsletter

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 13:48:46 GMT

The Fall 2022 newsletter is here with news of the LSCA's work for the season with some brief recaps, some information about two initiatives involving loons for 2023, a discussion about milfoil, and details on a new project to patrol LSC looking for aquatic invasive species (AIS).

Also, your LSCA Trustee neighbors will have printed copies available around the lake over the weekend.

The digital version is now available online via our website through this link: Click here to view the Fall 2022 Newsletter, or click on the image below. When you click on the link for the newsletter, you will be able to view it on screen - and be able to zoom in or out using the controls in your browser window. Or, you can click the download button to save a copy to your computer to view with a PDF reader, and/or print a copy.

Former LSCA Trustee William McLaughlin Passes Away

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 00:26:34 GMT

Hello LSC, we have some sad news to report today. Former LSCA Trustee William "Bill" McLaughlin passed away at his home in Albany on July 25th.

LSCA President Jim Canders remembered Bill: "He was very dedicated to the lake and he always had an idea about how to get something accomplished during his years of service on the board."

You can read Bill's life in his obituary here: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/timesunion-albany/name/william-mclaughlin-obituary?id=36296505

Plans to celebrate Bill's life will be announced at a later date.

Our thoughts are with his family.

August 2022 DASH Team Update

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 13:54:00 GMT

Good morning LSC. We'd like to give you a quick update from our Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) team.

They have been hard-at-work all summer, hand-pulling milfoil in numerous areas around the lake. Last week, they finished working in area J, near Idylwild. They will be finishing their contract this week, working in North Bay. In the coming weeks, we'll provide a full recap of their work for the summer.

We thank them for their work and dedication to LSC - thank you Beck & Owen!

We also wanted to share an underwater video survey they took of Forest House Bay on August 11th. This area of Forest House Bay received a small milfoil spot treatment on June 20th. As anticipated, no milfoil was observed, and you can see that our native plants like eelgrass, illinois pondweed, and robbins pondweed are healthy and abundant.

Finally, you can read all about our 2022 Milfoil Control Program, including how you can individually help to 'Stop The Spread' of milfoil in the lake here: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/12787652

Video:

LSCA At East Poultney Day

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 09:02:27 GMT

Thanks to everyone who stopped in to talk about Lake St. Catherine at East Poultney Day!

It was great to speak with you all.

If you have any further questions, please reach out at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you for your support of the LSCA!

Vermont Invasive Patrollers (VIP) Paddle On LSC

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 18:11:35 GMT

The LSCA would like to thank Kimberly Jensen (and her great crew!) from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VTDEC) for both performing a Vermont Invasive Patrollers (VIP) training and zebra mussel water testing at Lake St. Catherine On August 9th. Much was learned - and a good time was had by all!

What is the Vermont Invasive Patrollers Program?

The VIP program was established by the VTDEC in 2007 to focus on early detection of all known and potential aqua c invasive species (AIS). Although VIPs now emphasize aquatic invasive plants more broadly in their surveying efforts, they are trained to identify both aquatic invasive plants and animals that are either established in Vermont or in nearby states and pose the greatest threat to Vermont’s water bodies.

This hands‐on workshop trained participants what aquatic invasive species are, how to prevent the spread of AIS, and how to identify the species that pose the greatest threats to Lake St. Catherine.

The goals of the program are:

To increase AIS knowledge of lakeshore residents and lake users.
To create an early detection volunteer network with a primary focus on aquatic invasive species, including plants and animals.
To increase VTDEC’s knowledge of new infestations and the spread of AIS in lakes.

This is a GREAT addition to our invasive species control and prevention initiatives which includes our Greeter Program. Our Greeters work at the Wells boat launch and at the State Park to inspect vessels before (and after) they enter Lake St. Catherine to check for AIS like spiny water flea, asian clams, zebra mussels, and other invasive plants and animals that are only a lake away from LSC.

Volunteer!

If you enjoy paddling on Lake St. Catherine and would also like to be part of an early warning system looking for invasive species, we hope you will join us and participate in this program. You can help us to monitor LSC for invasive species, survey our healthy native plant populations, and reduce the threat for invasive plant species introductions. Email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to let us know you’d like to volunteer for this program!

LSCA's 2022 Annual Meeting & Dinner Presentation

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 15:33:59 GMT

THANK YOU to the tremendous group we had at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club Saturday evening for the LSCA's Annual Meeting & Dinner. It was great to see so many of you who care so much about LSC. What a crowd! We hoped you enjoyed our presentation, your meal, and your evening with your lake neighbors.

Thank you all for your interest in the preservation, protection and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine.

Attached below you will find a video of the presentation, which includes our slides and the audio of the speakers. Unfortunately, the recording stopped before the end of the meeting (missing the last 15 minutes), but the full slideshow is also included.

If you have any questions, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you for your support of the LSCA!

Video:

Slideshow:

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees - 7/23/22

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 12:01:16 GMT

On Saturday, July 23rd, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their third meeting of the 2022 season. Meeting minutes compiled by Kemi McShane Bostock

Attendance: Jim Canders, Martha Pofit, Jerremy Jones, Mary Jo Teetor, John Belnavis, Lisa Micich, Frank Callahan, (Online) Jeff Crandall, Rob Nesbit, Kemi McShane, Mark Shea. Absent: Ed Laird, Nancy Liberatore, Mike Gay, Bob Williams.

Guests: None

Call to Order: President Jim Canders called the meeting to order at 8:34.

Public Comment: None.

Approval of Meeting Minutes: Minutes of June 25, 2022 posted. Motion to accept the minutes as presented, made by Lisa Micich, seconded by Frank Callahan. All in favor, so moved.

Treasurer’s Report: Mary Jo Teetor, awaiting large invoices from DASH, SOLitude. Discussed checks for LSC CC for facility fee, money collected for dinners. Annual Meeting will show pie charts for income & expenses. Motion to accept the Treasurer's Report as presented made by Lisa Micich, and seconded by Martha Pofit. All in favor, so moved.

Milfoil Management: Jeff Crandall, DASH permit allowed to start July 1, 2022. Will compare the suction work to the hand-pulling to see if it was effective. Jim stated that Misha will be at LSC on August 8, 2022 for a discussion and tour. MJ has arranged for transportation. Jeff reported on the good results in LIttle Lake. Frank spoke to the increase of boat activity on the LL. LSCA is receiving positive feedback from the LL property owners.

Boat Launch Greeter Program: John Belnavis, reports need for more workers, recently received inquiries. Not much boat traffic at the State Park. John provides the State Park with the Greeter program informational pamphlet to hand out to campers/boaters. Program under budget to date. The Greeter Program has a website for training purposes to hire new people. Discussed the fishing tournaments that take place on LSC, and other than Champlain, LSC has the majority of fishing tournaments in the State of VT.

Publicity / Membership: Jerremy Jones, 350 members, with a goal of 400. By the end of 2021, had 372 active members. Just mailed reminder postcards to increase members. Have 59 new members. Use of FB, postings of events, pictures and educational/informational updates keep people engaged and interested in the LSCA.

Lake Safety: Frank Callahan, markers and buoys are secured and in place, none have been removed or damaged. Discussed the differences regarding the boat safety course requirements between Fish & Wildlife and the VT State Police Marine Division. Has issued temporary boating certificates. Reported a tree being cut down and possible concern for it floating in the lake - will be looked into. Not sure of location. Water level is very low this summer season.

Nominating Committee: Slate of 5 candidates to present at the Annual Meeting for vote. Mark Shea was newly appointed Trustee, and will serve the remaining term of an open Trustee spot (2024).

Annual Meeting: John Belnavis, Jerremy Jones, John discussed the menu, expecting 80 members to attend. Jerremy presented the order of slides with discussion. Guest speaker, Eric Hanson of VT Ecostudies will speak on loons. Committee reports will be presented.

Old Business: Jerremy Jones, discussed his position on both boards: LSCA and FOVLAP. Board discussed the implications of his involvement as to voting, balancing representing both boards.

Discussion regarding the wake boat petition, its implications, and legislative process involved.

Letter from LSCA to VT FIsh & Wildlife: Board did not feel the response received from our May 31st letter addressed our concerns. After initial follow up from the board requesting a meeting, a reply from Eric asked that we ‘submit additional questions in writing’. Jerremy made a motion to send a reply asking that our concerns in our letter be addressed. Frank seconded, all in favor, so moved to send the request.

New Business: Jerremy Jones, presented three items to be purchased for education/ community outreach by the LSCA. A tent, a banner stand, and a table throw & table for set up at community events. A motion was made by MJ to designate up to $1,500.00 for the purchasing of these items. John seconded, all in favor, and so moved.

Grants: Martha Pofit, presented a motion to the Board to send the letter drafted to PMNRCD and the Rutland Regional Planning Commission requesting that they approve the Lake St. Catherine Association to be a member of the inaugural Basin Water Quality Council in order to: provide local water quality knowledge; advise Clean Water Service Providers on funding decisions; prioritize projects; and participate in the Tactical Basin Planning process. Martha made the motion, Frank seconded, all in favor, and so moved to send the letter.

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 10:39, seconded and all in favor, so moved.

Next meeting: August 27, 2022 at 8:30 AM LSC CC.

Respectfully submitted, Kemi McShane Bostock, Recording Secretary

Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan Meeting

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 00:49:16 GMT

Hello LSC.

It was great to see so many folks attending our first Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan Stakeholder meeting this evening at the Wells Lakeside Park!

We hope you enjoyed the presentation.

About the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan:

The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) describes the purpose of a Watershed Action Plan as:

A Lake and Watershed Action Plan (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?'

After many years of successfully managing and participating in individual lake programs to protect Lake St. Catherine, which include: water testing (Lay Monitoring Program) in-lake invasive species control (Milfoil Control Program), invasive species prevention (Greeter Program), and stormwater management (Lake Wise Program, LSC Stormwater Master Plan), the LSCA is now poised to integrate these programs into a broader watershed plan with a focus on the prevention of pollutant loads (phosphorus, nitrogen, sediments) that enter into the Lake from sources outside the waterbody. The LSCA plans to use the success of these building blocks to expand its work in the watershed and focus on prevention for the future as part of a comprehensive long-term plan. The resulting plan will leverage current LSCA investments in water quality and pollution prevention, be driven by accepted best management practices, elevate under-assessed areas and gaps, and will identify issues, opportunities, and projects to guide locally-led water quality implementation work in the Lake St. Catherine watershed.

The findings from the creation of the LWAP will guide our long-term efforts to increase water quality, and projects identified can then feed into the DEC Watershed Projects Database and be considered for funding under the Clean Water Initiative Program (CWIP) and other sources.

One of the first steps in this 3-year process was to hold a meeting with Lake St. Catherine stakeholders to describe what LWAPs are, to outline our work plan, to discuss how the Lake St. Catherine watershed will be assessed, and to inform you on how you can help and participate in planning for the future of Lake St. Catherine. We'll let you know about future meetings.

If you were unable to attend, you can view our slide presentation below.

Please let us know if you have any questions at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you!

Presentation:

Wastewater Workshop Presentation

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 16:42:41 GMT

The Lake St. Catherine Association would like to thank Cristin Ashmankas, Environmental Analyst with the State of Vermont’s Department of Environmental Conservation, Drinking Water & Groundwater Protection Division for her presentation to attendees at the 'Wastewater Workshop' on July 8 at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club.

She also discussed the rules, where to get help, and why it is so important that systems be fully working around the lake.

All this great information can be found in her presentation, which is attached below:

Lake St. Catherine Wastewater Workshop - July 8, 2022

Also available are 2 handouts:

• The Guide To Failed Wastewater Systems
• The Homeowners Guide To Wastewater Systems

If you have any septic system questions, please reach out to Cristin, she would be happy to help!

Cristin.Ashmankas@vermont.gov
802-522-3257

Thank you to our attendees - we hope you found this presentation helpful - and thank you to the Lake St. Catherine Country Club for hosting our meeting!

Meeting of the Board of Trustees - 6/25/22

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 12:11:49 GMT

On Saturday, June 25th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their second meeting of the 2022 season. Meeting minutes compiled by Kemi McShane Bostock

Attendance: Jim Canders, Martha Pofit, Jerremy Jones, Mary Jo Teetor, John Belnavis, Bob Williams, Lisa Micich, Nancy Liberatore, Kemi McShane, Frank Callahan, Mike Gay, Ed Laird, (Online) Jeff Crandall

Guests: Mike Shea, Kevin Smarz

Call to Order: President Jim Canders called the meeting to order at 8:40.

Public Comment: Introductions to and of guests

President’s Opening Comments: Jim Canders, President

Approval of Meeting Minutes: Minutes of May 28, 2022 posted and corrected and submitted by Jerremy Jones

Treasurer’s Report: Mary Jo Teetor, statement of activity, not many bills paid - waiting on Solitude, Libraries Love Lakes spending. Town of Wells paid last year's allocation. Corrected bank deposit error, budget is correct. Credit at Williams Hardware for any LSCA needed items. Volunteer logs for milfoil management / Greeters AIS grant, to include: 1. Administration, 2. Directly related to Greeter program, & mIlfoil program.

Jim asked for a motion to accept the Treasurer's report as presented. Lisa made a motion to accept, Ed seconded, all in favor, motion passed.

Milfoil Management: Jeff Crandall, treatment was on June 20, 2022 in Horseshoe Bay, Forest House Bay, Little Lake. No issues. DASH began hand-pulling, will start full operations on 7/1. Discussed needing better customer service from SOLitude. Discussed misinformation surrounding ProcellaCOR, milfoil control in general, will address misinformation at Annual Meeting.

Boat Launch Greeter Program: John Belnavis, short on greeters, concentrating on the State Boat Launch. Will advertise for Greeter positions. DEC on August 9, 2022 will be educating the public on AIS with a Vermont Invasive Patroller paddle launching from the Wells Lakeside Park at 10 AM.

Publicity / Membership: Jerremy Jones, membership numbers currently at 338 members, goal is 400, including individuals and business sponsors. 15 business sponsors, 58 new members. Already ahead of last year with dues and donations.

Lake Safety: Frank Callahan, markers in, Boat Safety course had 3 locations, but will only need 2. State Police Marine Division and Fish & Wildlife are in conflict regarding the testing, making it difficult to administer.

Nominating Committee: Bob WIlliams, 2 current openings. Kemi McShane appointed to the remaining term of Phil Pope (2022). Martha Pofit will be stepping down in August. Slate at Annual Meeting for membership vote: Frank Callahan, Ed Laird, Nancy Liberatore, Mary Jo Teetor, Kemi McShane 2023-2026. Jim asked for a motion, Frank made the motion, Lisa seconded, all in favor, motion passed. Nominating Committee set with Slate, but will still have 2 openings to fill - remaining term (2023) for Martha, and remaining term for Rob Goldman (2023).

Boat Parade: Jerrremy Jones, 15 boats registered so far, pictures will be posted online for voting. Set date is July 2, 2022 at 1:00pm. Fireworks set for July 2, 2022 at 10:00 PM on LSC sponsored by Rick Roberts.

Annual Meeting: John Belnavis, July 23, 2022, dinner at LSC CC, menu has 3 food choices and will have online RSVP and menu selection and payment. Jerremy will provide an updated slide presentation for the meeting, committees will report on their topic area. Meeting starts at 6:00 PM with dinner to follow. John handled arrangements with the CC. The LSCA will pay a facility fee to LSC CC for the use of the facility. Jim asked for a motion to pay an appropriation fee of $300.00, motion passed.

Grants: Martha Pofit, discussion regarding the Libraries Loves Lakes program held July 3, 2022 at the Wells Lake Park at 10:00 AM. Displays and presentations from the Wells and Poultney Libraries, LSCA, the Conservation Fund, Greeter Program, Castleton University, the Wells Historical Society, PMRNCD, and Eric Hanson from Vermont Ecostudies will take place. At 11:00 there will be 3 boats to take boat tours of the Lake. This is an educational grant from LCBP.

July 14, 2022 at 5:30 at the Wells Lakeside Park, the Watershed Action Plan will have a stakeholder outreach meeting & presentation.

LSCA is known to deliver on our responsibilities to the grants received, but have many more competitors. To secure a grant requires to file all documents, get contracts, oversee work, get it, manage it, and report it.

Old Business: Jerremy Jones, spoke about FOVLAP, and the transfer of lakestcatherine.com to the LSCA. On letter to F&W, board felt response received did not address our concerns, a reply was created to invite F&W to a meeting to discuss. Ed Laird reported on the land donation, moving forward, an appraiser has been secured to appraise the property.

New Business: Jerremy Jones, East Poultney Day mid August, proposed purchasing tent, banner, and table throw for events. Will follow up with board on costs.

Motion to adjourn meeting: 11:18 am

Next meeting: July 23, 2022 at 8:30 AM LSC CC.

The 2022 LSCA Annual Meeting & Dinner

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 01:03:48 GMT

Hello LSC.

We'd like to invite you to the 2022 Lake St. Catherine Association Annual Meeting & Dinner at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club on Saturday, July 23rd, beginning at 6 PM.

We'll also have a special guest: loon biologist Eric Hanson from Vermont Ecostudies will be giving a presentation on loons!

We are looking forward to seeing you!

At approximately 7:30, dinner will be served. If you'd like to stay for dinner, the LSC CC has provided the menu below.

Dinner options:

$20 - Chicken Marsala, rice pilaf, mixed vegetable, salad
$22 - Baked Salmon, rice pilaf, mixed vegetable, salad
$25 - Prime Rib, baked potato, mixed vegetable, salad

- Includes cake and coffee.

Please RSVP for the meeting by clicking here to register. You will be able to indicate the selection of dinner(s) you'd like to reserve. You can pay online with a credit card or with cash at the door. Paying online adds $1 to each dinner to cover transaction fees. Thank you.

Libraries Love Lakes Event On LSC

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 11:53:20 GMT

Hello LSC - we hope you are enjoying your 4th of July weekend!

This morning was the Libraries Love Lakes event at the Wells Lakeside Park.

We'd like to thank everyone who attended, volunteered, and contributed this great event!

Our presenters included:

Wells Village Library
Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA)
Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund (LSCCF)
Castleton University
Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD)
LSCA's Greeter Program
LSCA's Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) team
Wells Historical Society
Loon Biologist Eric Hanson from Vermont Center for Ecostudies

Thank you also to our Pontoon Boat Captains Owen, Dawn and Mark for taking attendees on a quick tour of the lake, and thank you to the Town of Wells for the use of the park today.

The lake-related learning will continue at the Wells Village Library, as a new section of the library called the 'Lake St. Catherine Collection' will be open to the public soon. More details on this soon.

Finally, a big thank you to the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) for funding this day, and and the new section of the library through an Education & Outreach grant!

More photos from the day can be viewed on our Facebook page by clicking here.

The Results Of The 10th Annual Boat Parade Are...

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 03 Jul 2022 00:37:09 GMT

Good evening LSC - here are your winners of the 10th Annual LSCA Boat Parade! (222 votes!)

Most Patriotic:

1st Place: Boat #6 - God Bless America - Adam Wunderlich

Runner up: Boat #18 - Patriotic - Ryan Bagley

Funniest:

1st Place: Boat #7 - Monster Mash - The Ramirez Family

Runner up: Boat #13 - Groovin On The Lake - Mike & Chris Gay

Most Original:

1st Place: Boat #12 - RMS Titanic - Goldman Family

Runner Up: Boat #10 - Lake Saint Catherine Fire Boat - Wysolmerski Family

Best Overall:

1st Place: Boat #3 - Moana - Megan Frueh

Runner Up: Boat #4 - Pirates Secret - Mary Papasso

Special ⭐️ to Boat #1 - Libraries Love Lakes!

Thank you to all who participated - what a great parade - we hope everyone enjoyed it!

We'll do it all again next year.

> Thank you to Karen Velsor for allowing us to use her photos to announce the winners!

Vote For Your Favorite Boats - 10th Annual Boat Parade!

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 02 Jul 2022 17:58:00 GMT

We hope you enjoyed the 10th Annual LSCA Boat Parade!

Vote for your favorites! https://forms.gle/phv7K16K4anMyXSF7

Poll will close at 8 PM.

(Sorry, some of the photos are dark)

If you have any photos from the parade, please post them!

Thanks to everyone who participated, and all those that cheered them on!

Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan - Stakeholder Meeting

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 16:49:01 GMT

Hello LSC.

We'd like to invite you to join us - the Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA), and our partners the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRD), Castleton University, and Fitzgerald Environmental Associates to a very important meeting to discuss the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan on Thursday, July 14th at 5:30 PM at the Wells Lakeside Park on Little Lake.

The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) describes the purpose of a Watershed Action Plan as:

A Lake and Watershed Action Plan (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?'

One of the first steps in this 3-year process is to hold a meeting with Lake St. Catherine stakeholders to describe what LWAPs are, to outline our work plan, to discuss how the Lake St. Catherine watershed will be assessed, and to inform you on how you can help and participate in planning for the future of Lake St. Catherine.

We are proud to have earned this grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program to fund the Lake St. Catherine LWAP, and we look forward to putting in the good, hard work it will take over the next 3 years and beyond.

For the preservation, protection and maintenance of our beautiful Lake St. Catherine - we hope you will join us.

Thank you!

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees - 5/28/22

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 11:35:13 GMT

On Saturday, May 28th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their first meeting of the 2022 season. Meeting minutes compiled by Jerremy Jones.

Attendance: Jim Canders, Ed Laird, John Belnavis, Mary Jo Teetor, Jerremy Jones, Frank Callahan, Jeff Crandall, Martha Pofit, Nancy Liberatore. Online: Michael Gay, Rob Nesbit. Absent: Bob Williams, Lisa Micich.

Call to Order: President Jim Canders called the meeting to order at 8:40.

Public Comments: None.

President’s Opening Comments: Jim discussed the amount of work needed to be completed this season, noting there are 2 current openings, and upcoming retirement from the board.

Approval of Meeting Minutes: A motion was made to accept the minutes of the last Board Meeting of the LSCA in August, 2021. Motion passed.

Treasurer’s Report: Mary Jo presented the 2022 budget. Discussion followed. A few budgeted items were updated from estimated costs to actual costs. A motion was made to accept the report. Motion passed.

Milfoil Management: Jeff Crandall, the herbicide treatment is Monday, June 20, 2022. 2 small sites on the Big Lake (~9 acres), 1 area in Little Lake (~35 acres), 13 sites for the DASH program. DASH cost will increase this season, budget adjusted. Mailed notifications were sent, postings were made on our website and social media pages, emails were sent, and posting of the notification signs was completed on May 20, 2022. The spring plant survey was completed on May 16, 2022 by SOLitude and our DASH team. A discrepancy on our contract with SOLitude, Jeff will follow up. Discussed the misinformation being posted online about LSC, ProcellaCOR and milfoil causing confusion as a result of the LBA applying for a permit. Concern about safety on treatment day were discussed. It was decided to reach out to the Game Warden to ask for coverage on the day of the treatment.

Boat Launch Greeter Program: John Belnavis reports that the Greeter Program is underway for the season at the boat launch in Wells and at the State Park in Poultney. A few of our Greeters from years past have moved away, so we are a few short this season. We’ll advertise that we have openings.

Publicity / Membership: Jerremy Jones, Newsletter available today - will be emailed to members and posted on our sites, printed copies to Wellsmere Farm, Trustees will take a stack to hand out. Constant communication with the lake community through website, Facebook, Front Porch Forum. Membership is strong, starting to pick up again as folks start heading back to the lake. Goal is 400 for 2022, at 314 currently.

Lake Safety: Frank Callahan, Placement of the markers & buoys for the season. Three boating courses scheduled in June and July. 24 signups so far.

Nominating Committee: 2 current openings can be appointed, one retirement in July. Looking for new potential Trustees.

Boat Parade: Jerremy Jones, Boat Parade is Saturday, July 2nd at 1 PM. Registration is open, a few folks have registered. We’ll follow the model from previous years, photos will be taken at the starting line, an online poll will be posted so folks can vote.

Annual Meeting: John will work with the LSCCC to arrange for the Annual Meeting on Saturday July 23, 2022 at 6 PM. Dinner options and costs TBD. Will discuss presentation at next meeting. Will start promotion when dinner options are available. Look at inviting speakers?

Grants: Martha Pofit, Outlined all the grants the LSCA is working on this year, Libraries Love Lakes, LSC Watershed Action Plan, Lake Wise, Stormwater Master Plan, will need help administering, as Martha is stepping down at the end of July.

Old Business: Jerremy Jones, Discussed his appointment to the board of the Federation of Lakes and Ponds (FOVLAP). He is currently working on the website committee as they are currently working to redo their website. Ed Laird, Outlined the land donation to the LSCA, working with owner and Nancy Liberator to sell the property. Motion made to have title search completed. Motion passed. Nancy donating her time to the sale.

New Business: Jerremy Jones, Discussed a draft of a proposed letter to be sent to Shawn Good at Vermont Fish & Wildlife to voice our concerns about descriptions of LSC, characterizations made about our milfoil control efforts, and conclusions made in a recent Bass report that he wrote about LSC. A motion to send the letter was made. Motion passed. The letter will be sent on Tuesday, May 31st.

Motion for adjournment 10:55 AM.

Next meeting: June 25, 2022 at 8:30 AM LSCCC.

Schedule A Dockside Chat With The LSCA For The 2022 Season

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 10:30:21 GMT

Hello LSC.

Our 'Dockside Chats' program is back this season.

Back in 2020 when COVID canceled our Annual Meeting & Dinner, we started Dockside Chats to be able to have safe, face-to-face meetings with lake property owners so you can have an opportunity to discuss lake issues with the LSCA.

This program has been very popular over the last 2 years, so we are doing it again here in 2022.

An LSCA Trustee will hop on their boat or Sea•Doo, or their kayak or paddle board and head over to your dock so you, and possibly your invited neighbors can ask us questions, and we can tell you about all the important lake programs this season.

If you'd like to schedule a Dockside Chat, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org and include some dates and times that would work for you. We'll get right back to you to set up your Dockside Chat.

We look forward to seeing you!

Vermont DEC Wastewater Workshop At LSC

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 16:20:31 GMT

Septic systems are not usually a topic of polite conversation but we’re here to change that! Living around Lake St. Catherine, we understand the value of good water quality. As residents, there are many things that we can do to protect Lake St. Catherine, and proper maintenance of septic systems is one important way that homeowners can do just that.

Please join us for a "Wastewater Workshop" and learn about care and maintenance of your septic system on Friday, July 8th from 10 AM - 12 PM at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club.

State of Vermont, Department of Environmental Conservation Wastewater Workshop:

Discover how onsite wastewater systems work and the various kinds of systems installed in Vermont. Understand how to maintain a system and the regulatory framework for on-site wastewater systems and potable water supplies. Learn how to identify permit and approval issues particularly ones that may occur when buying and selling property. Become familiar with online resources for permits and property owners and answers to site-specific questions.

Our presenter:

Cristin Ashmankas, M.S.

Cristin Ashmankas is an Environmental Analyst with the State of Vermont’s Department of Environmental Conservation, Drinking Water & Groundwater Protection Division. In this role, she works with engineers, designers, and the public in permitting wastewater, potable water, and ensuring compliance. Prior to joining the State, she was a high school STEM teacher and a college professor of physical science. She has been a geological and environmental consultant for various organizations and governmental agencies. Cristin holds a M.S. from the University of Rhode Island in Geological Oceanography, specializing in climate change in the Arctic and natural disasters, and a B.S. from Eckerd College in Physics and Marine Geophysics, specializing in Baffin Bay hydrology. She grew up in Massachusetts, mainly Cape Cod, but has come to call the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont home.

We hope to see you there!

Poultney Recreation Offering Lots Of Summer Activities In 2022

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 16:51:46 GMT

The Town of Poultney's Summer Recreation program has a lot of activities to offer kids of all ages this year.

Activities include: outdoor adventures, crafting fun, sports camps, make believe and kinder camps.

You can read all about the available activities on the Poultney Recreation website, or in their Poultney Summer Rec 2022 PDF brochure.

Also in the brochure, they are promoting events and activities for all ages taking place in Poultney this summer. Activities include events at the Poultney Public Library, on Lake St. Catherine, at Stone Valley Arts - and many more.

Finally, included in the brochure is a page dedicated to the 4th of July activities taking place in Poultney on Monday, July 4th, beginning at 8 AM.

Check it out!

Libraries Love Lakes Event At Lake St. Catherine

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 10:13:58 GMT

The Wells Village Library, the Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) and the Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund (LSCCF) have joined forces to bring the lake community a very exciting event!

On Sunday, July 3rd from 10 AM until 1 PM at the Wells Lakeside Park, the Libraries Love Lakes event will offer family-friendly opportunities for stewardship-based, hands-on, lake-related learning. Ecology-based topics like native flora and fauna, stormwater impacts and natural history are all on the agenda, including real-time water quality assessments in which guests can participate. There will be expert presentations and a limited number of pontoon boat tours.

The first 20 families to arrive will receive a lake-themed kit replete with on-topic books and activities (one kit per family).

Presenters include:

• Wells Village Library
• Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA)
• Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund (LSCCF)
• Castleton University
• Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD)
• LSCA's Greeter Program
• Wells Historical Society
• Poultney Public Library
• Loon Biologist Eric Hanson from Vermont Center for Ecostudies

Those who plan to attend are encouraged to pre-register for the event by filling in this short form: https://lakestcatherine.org/LLL. You may also phone Wells Village Library at 802-645-0611 to register.

This special lake celebration also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the nation's first comprehensive legislation protecting water quality.

After the event, the educational opportunities will continue at Wells Village Library. Librarian Gina Ellis has, through the LCBP grant, dedicated space and carefully-curated materials to Lake St. Catherine including pertinent information and activities to further advance lake-related learning.

Please direct all event-related inquiries to librarian Gina Ellis at 802-645-0611. You may also visit www.WellsVillageLibrary.com or follow updates on Facebook by following the Wells Village Library page as well as the Lake St. Catherine Association and Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund pages.

Thank You To Our 2022 Business Sponsors!

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 00:59:43 GMT

As many in our lake community make their way back to Lake St. Catherine for the season, we like to take a moment present our Sponsor Spotlight.

These 13 local businesses have supported the LSCA by becoming a Business Sponsor for the 2022 season. You can learn more about them here:

	A-1 Sewer & Drain Service www.septicservicerutlandvt.com Pumping, cleaning, pump service & repair, septic tanks, portable toilets. Phone: (802) 438-5722 Email: a1sewerdrain@comcast.net
	Bird Dog Home Inspection www.birddoghome.com Home & Septic Inspection Services Sewer scoping, water & radon testing, and infrared thermography Email: birddoghome@gmail.com
	Haun Welding Supply www.haunweldingsupply.com/ Household Propane and Cylinder Gas Delivery Phone: (518) 743-8944 Email: glensfalls@thehaunedge.com
	Lake St. Catherine Cottages www.lakestcatherinecottages.com Cottage Rentals 70 West Lake Road Phone: (802) 773-0100 Phone: (802) 645-0093
	Lake St. Catherine Country Club www.lakestcatherinecountryclub.com/ Golfing, Pro Shop, Bar & Grill Dinner Specials Fri & Sat Phone: (802) 287-9341 Email: lsccc@comcast.net
	Lakes & Homes Real Estate www.lakesandhomesre.com/ Years of expertise in Rutland County 2 locations: Bomoseen and Poultney Phone: (802) 671-8042 Email: lakesandhomesre@gmail.com
	Liebig Berries www.liebigberries.com PYO & Pre-Picked Blueberries, PYO Raspberries. Seasonal Sweet Corn. Phone: (757) 472-5753 Email: david.liebigberries@gmail.com
	Merritt Environmental Consulting www.merrittec.com Environmental consulting and oil tank removal services. Phone: (718) 344-0768 Email: cgm@merrittec.com
	New England Lakeside Realty www.vtlakeside.com Helping Families Find Their New Homes In Vermont's Lakes Region Phone: (802) 645-9001 Email: vtlakeside@comcast.net
	Rathbun's Maple Sugar House www.rathbunsmaple.com Maple Products, Pottery, Homemade Breakfast All Year: Sat & Sun 7AM-1PM Phone: (518) 642-1799 Email: info@rathbunsmaple.com
	VT Lakehouse www.vt-lakehouse.com Experience amazing lakefront views Daily and weekly rentals available FB: https://fb.me/vtlakehouse Email: info@vt-lakehouse.com
	Williams Hardware stores.truevalue.com/vt/poultney/13151/ Hardware, Housewares, Paint, Lumber, Rentals & More Since 1946 Phone: (802) 287-5791 Email: williamshardware@truevalue.net
	Woodard Marine www.woodardmarine.com Boating, Service, Rentals Located on Lake Bomoseen. Phone: (802) 265-3690 Email: info@woodardmarine.com

You can always view all of our Business Sponsors on the Sponsors page of our website here: https://lakestcatherine.org/sponsors

Thank you to all our Business Sponsors for your support!

The 10th Annual LSCA Boat Parade - Register Your Boat Now!

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 31 May 2022 16:12:57 GMT

Hello LSC - we hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend at the lake...

We'd like to let you know that the 10th Annual LSCA Boat Parade has been scheduled and is open for registration!

The 10th Annual LSCA Boat Parade will be on Saturday, July 2nd at 1 PM.

We all know how fun it is to watch the boat parade, but it's even more fun to be part of it!

As we did last year, we'll take photos of all participants, and we'll have a lake-wide online vote to decide the winner.

Our categories are:

Most Original
Most Patriotic
Funniest
Best Overall

Our 9th Annual Boat Parade winners, and current reigning champions are:

Most Patriotic:

Boat #19 - Laura Frost - Liberty

Funniest:

Boat #12 - Sarah Conine - Horsing Around With The Cows

Most Original:

Boat #2 - The Roth Family - Scooby Doo Mystery Machine

Best Overall:

Boat #10 - Tonia and Paul Ramirez - Sponge Bob

So, start thinking about your theme, and mark your calendars for July 2nd! Then, email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to register your boat.

Also, lake resident Rick Roberts has announced that his annual fireworks display will take place that evening, Saturday, July 2nd.

It's going to be a fun day!

LSCA's Boat Launch Greeter Program Begins 2022 Season

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 30 May 2022 10:07:07 GMT

Hello LSC.

Our Boat Launch Greeters started on Friday. They will be stationed at the boat launch in Wells and the State Park in Poultney checking boats before they enter LSC for aquatic invasive species (AIS) like zebra mussels, spiny waterflea, and asian clams - all of which are just a lake away.

They do a *GREAT JOB* of educating boaters about the dangers of inadvertently transporting invasive species into LSC via their vessel or trailer, and by removing any they find before they can get into the lake.

Our Greeters are on duty from Memorial Day through Labor Day - working on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They also cover holidays and fishing tournaments.

Please thank them for what they do for LSC when you see them!

You can read more about the invasive species we are working to keep out of the lake and the Greeter Program on our website here: https://lakestcatherine.org/boat-launch-monitoring-greeter-program

Also, we are looking to add to our staff for the season. Our Greeters are paid $15 per hour. No experience is necessary, training will be provided.

If you would like to join our Greeter team, please contact us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you!

The Spring 2022 Lake St. Catherine Association Newsletter

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 27 May 2022 16:22:31 GMT

Happy Friday LSC.

The Spring 2022 newsletter is here with lots of information about our plans for the season, and details on many of the events that will be taking place at or around the lake.

Also, your LSCA Trustee neighbors will have printed copies available around the lake over the weekend.

The digital version is now available online via our website through this link: Click here to view the Spring 2022 Newsletter, or click on the image below. When you click on the link for the newsletter, you will be able to view it on screen - and be able to zoom in or out using the controls in your browser window. Or, you can click the download button to save a copy to your computer to view with a PDF reader, and/or print a copy.

[Editors note: to those who pick up a printed copy, please excuse a few typos that we discovered after printing... they have been fixed in the digital version]

Milfoil Clean Up Community Day Kickoff - June 5th

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 22 May 2022 14:54:03 GMT

Good afternoon LSC.

Two components of our Milfoil Control Program are education & outreach and volunteer milfoil clean up. In 2 weeks, we hope you'll join us to learn how you can help to stop the spread of milfoil in Lake St. Catherine.

On Sunday, June 5th at 8 AM, we hope to see you at the Wells Lakeside Park for the Milfoil Cleanup Community Day kickoff.

We'll discuss the Milfoil Control Program for the season, then volunteers that would like to participate can head out onto the lake in kayaks, boats, canoes, and SUPs to scoop up floating milfoil and other detached plants and place them on the drop off float that has just been set up in the Channel south of the bridge:

Thank you to Dawn and Joel for allowing the float to be anchored in front of their property, and thank you to Captain Stew for towing the float into place - and tying proper knots to secure it in place.

The float is not pretty, but we think MacGyver would be proud of our use of barrels, shipping pallets, rope, landscaping fabric, and our trusty Swiss Army Knife to create it.

You can read a summary of last year's effort here: "Weed Cleanup In The Channel & Little Lake - Thank You!".

Feel free to start scooping and dropping off. We'll keep an eye on the float, and will remove the collected milfoil and other detached plants as needed. The float will stay in place until the fall.

Everyone around the lake can contribute to the Stop The Spread of milfoil effort. Here are some best practices:

As a general rule, get as much milfoil out of the lake as possible. Let it dry out on land and dispose of it as you would yard waste.
Don’t drive through milfoil patches with your boat which will create fragments.
If you have milfoil on your prop, don’t just reverse and drive away, please remove it from the lake.
If you have milfoil growing in your dock or swimming area, pull it out by the roots and remove it from the lake.
If you see milfoil floating anywhere in the lake, near your dock, or along your shoreline, remove it from the lake.
Obey boating regulations by traveling at no-wake, 5 MPH speeds within 200’ of the shoreline.

Let us know if you have any questions at info@lakestcatherine.org.

We hope to see you on June 5th!

3 Free Boating License Classes For 2022

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 21 May 2022 13:16:16 GMT

Each season, the LSCA offers FREE safe boating courses to help boaters satisfy the requirements by the state of Vermont. All boaters born after January 1st, 1974, must be certified to operate a power boat in Vermont waters. The certificate received by passing this class is good in all 50 states. This year, we are offering 3 classes, all are from 4:30 - 8:30:

• June 22 & 23, Poultney Fire Department

• June 27 & 28, Wells Village School

• July 5 & 6, Mettawee Community School

To register, please call LSC Boating Safety Chair Frank Callahan at 802-645-9136.

Classes are limited to 25 participants per class, and lesson materials are for 6th grade and above reading levels.

LSCA Announces Plans For Our 2022 Milfoil Control Program

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 20 May 2022 13:30:10 GMT

Hello LSC.

We’d like to take some time to talk about Eurasian watermilfoil (milfoil, EWM, Myriophyllum spicatum) - what it is, what it does when introduced into a lake, and why we work to control it in Lake St. Catherine. We’ll also detail our Milfoil Control Program for the 2022 season.

> What is milfoil?

Eurasian watermilfoil is not native to North America but originates from Europe, Asia and northern Africa. As an aquatic invasive species (AIS) to this continent, Eurasian watermilfoil has no natural controls (insects, bacteria, fungi) to keep its growth in check. Milfoil stems can reach the surface in up to 20 feet of water, growing up from the lake bottom each year from a fibrous root system. Milfoil grows and spreads extremely quickly, forming dense surface mats.

Milfoil reproduces by the breaking off of fragments which can drift away, sink, develop roots, and grow into plants. A fragment just a few inches long is capable of starting a new plant. This fragmentation occurs both naturally and as a result of human activity. Within a lake, wind and waves may break plants loose, allowing them to drift into new locations and root. Boating activity through milfoil beds also contributes to the fragmenting and spread of milfoil plants.

Milfoil was introduced into Lake St. Catherine in the early 1970s, and it quickly spread around the lake. With milfoil increasingly becoming an issue, in 1979, the LSCA purchased a mechanical harvesting machine (many lake old-timers will remember “Hungry Harvey”). This was the only form of milfoil “control” at the time. After many years of using harvesting machines, it was determined that the cutting of the milfoil was actually contributing to its spread around the lake because of the fragmentation created, and other control options were explored.

> What impact does milfoil have on a lake, and why does it need to be controlled?

From USGS.gov:

“Eurasian water-milfoil competes aggressively to displace and reduce the diversity of native aquatic plants. It elongates from shoots initiated in the fall, beginning spring growth earlier than other aquatic plants. Tolerant of low water temperatures, it quickly grows to the surface, forming dense canopies that overtop and shade the surrounding vegetation (Madsen et al. 1991). Canopy formation and light reduction, are significant factors in the decline of native plant abundance and diversity observed when Eurasian water-milfoil invades healthy plant communities (Smith and Barko 1990; Madsen 1994).”

From the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP), milfoil can:

Decrease native plant diversity by out-competing native aquatic plants
Decrease light penetration, habitat complexity and oxygenation
Increase sedimentation, nutrient loading, and accelerate eutrophication
Affect PH and temperature levels

When milfoil was introduced into Lake St. Catherine, it quickly spread throughout the littoral zone of the lake (the area of the lake that supports rooted aquatic vegetation), out-competing our native plants, and impacting the health of the lake.

Here are some images from Little Lake taken in early June of last year. Because of its shallow depth, the whole of Little Lake is a littoral zone. You can see how dense the milfoil can grow, and how it had taken over Little Lake:

> What does the Lake St. Catherine Association do to control milfoil?

The LSCA’s Milfoil Control Program consists of four components:

‘Stop The Spread’ education and outreach. Our ‘Stop The Spread’ campaign educates boaters and property owners on best practices to limit the spread of milfoil.
Volunteer milfoil cleanup. Throughout the season, we organize volunteers to collect floating milfoil from the lake and deposit it at designated drop off points. The milfoil is then picked up from the points and disposed of. We also encourage boaters and property owners to remove any milfoil they see in the lake.
DASH - Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting. Our DASH crew hand-pulls milfoil by the roots from the lakebed which is then suctioned up through a tube to a catch table on a boat. Milfoil is then placed in 17.5 gallon buckets for transport.
Herbicide spot treatments with ProcellaCOR EC. In order to maximize our DASH crew’s time, effectiveness, and amount of acres covered, one of our control methods includes spot treatments of the herbicide ProcellaCOR EC.

These efforts have resulted in the lowest percent of milfoil cover and frequency of occurrence at our 199 GPS data points in the lake since the mid-2000s. Also, and just as importantly, we have seen many species of our native aquatic plants like Water stargrass, Tape grass, Thin-leaf pondweed, Illinois pondweed, Common waterweed, and Robbins’ pondweed have all increased in frequency of occurrence at the data points.

This is exactly what we want to see!

It’s also important to note that our Boat Launch Greeter Program is a crucial part of invasive species prevention. Although we already have milfoil in Lake St. Catherine, other Vermont lakes do not. Our Greeters who are on duty at the Boat Launch in Wells, and the State Park in Poultney, check the boats and trailers to make sure they do not have milfoil on them when they leave. They also check boats and trailers entering the lake for other invasive species like zebra mussels, spiny waterflea, asian clams, and water chestnut which are only a lake away from LSC.

> What specifically will the Lake St. Catherine Association do this year to control milfoil?

We’ll start off the season with our educational “Stop The Spread” campaign, including some best practices specifically for Little Lake.

This is a list of our best practices to top the spread of milfoil:

As a general rule, get as much milfoil out of the lake as possible. Let it dry out on land and dispose of it as you would yard waste.
Don’t drive through milfoil patches with your boat which will create fragments.
If you have milfoil on your prop, don’t just reverse and drive away, please remove it from the lake.
If you have milfoil growing in your dock or swimming area, pull it out by the roots and remove it from the lake.
If you see milfoil floating anywhere in the lake, near your dock, or along your shoreline, remove it from the lake.
Obey boating regulations by traveling at no-wake, 5 MPH speeds within 200’ of the shoreline.

On Sunday, June 5th at the Wells Lakeside Park, the LSCA and LSCCF will have our Milfoil Cleanup Community Day kickoff. We’ll get together to talk about the Milfoil Control Program, and then head out on the lake and get to work. We’ll all head out onto the lake in kayaks, boats, canoes, and SUPs to scoop up floating milfoil and other detached plants and place them on the drop off float that will be set up in the Channel south of the bridge. At the end of the day, we’ll collect the milfoil from the float and dispose of it. The drop off float will stay in place after the Clean Up Day kickoff so volunteers can continue to remove milfoil from the lake for the rest of the season.

Next, on Monday, June 20th, 3 areas on the lake will be treated with ProcellaCOR EC. Please see the advisory:

On May 16th, biologists from SOLitude Lake Management and a member of our DASH team performed a milfoil survey. A comprehensive two day aquatic plant survey had been previously performed in late September 2021. Areas to be treated with ProcellaCOR and areas to be addressed with DASH have been identified, and a map showing these locations is attached below. There will be 3 spot treatments of ProcellaCOR totaling approximately 44 acres.

During and after the treatment, please be aware of the following lake water use restriction recommendations:

No use of Lake St. Catherine waters and water from the outlet stream FOR ANY PURPOSE including boating, fishing, swimming, domestic (household) use or irrigation, the day of treatment on:

Monday, June 20, 2022, beginning at 12 PM

Swimming/wading, boating, fishing and domestic (household) use may resume on:

Tuesday, June 21, 2022, beginning at 12 PM

USE of water from Lake St. Catherine FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES including for watering lawns, trees, or other plants may resume on:

Monday, June 27, 2022, beginning at 12 PM or earlier based on sampling results

Links:

- LSCA Permit Application
- Draft Permit
- SePRO ProcellaCOR® EC Specimen Label
- SePRO ProcellaCOR® EC Safety Data Sheet

The treatment will be funded by the remaining funds from last year’s fundraiser, and an equal contribution from the LSCA and LSCCF.

Then, beginning on July 1st, our DASH team will begin hand pulling milfoil by the roots from the lakebed and using a suction tube to deposit the milfoil into a catch basin on their boat for removal from the lake. Our DASH team will work throughout the summer at 11 locations totaling approximately 75 acres.

Here is the full management map for 2022 showing our DASH areas (green) and the spot treatment areas (red):

We are happy to report that we have received a $21,910 grant from the Vermont Department Of Environmental Conservation as part of their Aquatic Nuisance Control Grant-In-Aid Program (ANC). Funding for the ANC Grant-in-Aid grants comes from a portion of annual revenues from motorboat registration fees and federal funds.

These funds will help to partially fund both our Greeter Program and our DASH team this season.

> In Summary

The four components of our Milfoil Control Program have been very successful in both keeping the milfoil in check, and in allowing our native aquatic plants to thrive - creating a healthy ecosystem for LSC’s fish and wildlife, and a beautiful lake for all of us to enjoy.

You can read more about the LSCA working on numerous other water quality projects this year, and over the next several years, in our posting: “A Big Year For Lake St. Catherine”. This posting outlines our work on the LSC Stormwater Master Plan, the Lake Wise Program, the LSC Watershed Action Plan, and current and future water testing and measurement programs. These projects are being funded by grants totaling over $100,000, earned from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP), and will lead to water quality improvements for Lake St. Catherine, and additional clean water funding for future projects.

To our members, and all who love Lake St. Catherine, if you ever have any questions or concerns, reach out to us. We would be happy to discuss our Milfoil Control Program or any other lake related topic with you so we can address your questions or concerns, and provide you with factual information. Or contact us, and we’ll set up a Dockside Chat, and a LSCA Trustee will swing by your dock for a chat about the lake.

You can always reach us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

We hope you all have a wonderful summer at the lake!

Thank you for your support of the LSCA.

LSCA Receives $21,910 Grant For Aquatic Nuisance Control & Prevention

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 05 May 2022 16:09:30 GMT

Good afternoon LSC.

These funds will be used to help support our Greeter Program, and our Milfoil Control Program.

Greeter Program:

Our Greeters are hard working young adults who have been trained to identify aquatic invasive species (AIS) to stop them from entering LSC. 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.

Their duties include:

Approaching and interacting with boaters
Inspecting watercraft
Identifying and handling suspicious specimens
Collecting and reporting data
Distributing educational material on aquatic invasive species

Our Greeters are checking for many invasive species that are just a lake or two away from us. These invasives include zebra mussels, spiny waterflea, asian clams, water chestnuts and starry stonewort:

For reference, check out the Vermont DEC's "Gallery Of Invaders" for photos and descriptions of the aquatic invasive species that are currently found in Vermont and those threatening it.

Our Greeters are on duty at the Boat Launch in Wells and the State Park in Poultney from Memorial Day through Labor Day - working on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They also cover holidays and fishing tournaments.

Milfoil Control Program:

This grant will also support our Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) team.

Our DASH team will begin working on July 1st, and you’ll see them working throughout the summer. They hand pull the milfoil from the bottom of the lakebed by the roots and then suction the full plant to the surface for safe removal from the lake.

This past season, 146 buckets (17.5 gallon) were harvested. The DASH crew picked up an additional 21 buckets (not included in the 146 total) as part of the Community Day cleanup in the Channel & Little Lake back in July.

Here is a quick video of the guys hand-pulling milfoil:

Thank you to the Vermont DEC for their support of Lake St. Catherine!

Become A VIP - Vermont Invasive Patroller - For LSC

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 04 May 2022 12:00:32 GMT

Hello LSC - we have a great event to tell you about.

If you enjoy paddling on Lake St. Catherine and would also like to be part of an early warning system looking for invasive species, we hope you will join us!

Vermont Invasive Patroller Paddle Survey Training: Tuesday, August 9th from 10 AM - 1 PM.

Please join us and Vermont Lakes & Ponds Program staff at this free paddle session offered to train Vermont Invasive Patrollers (VIPS) to monitor lakes and ponds for invasive species, survey healthy native plant populations, and reduce the threat for invasive plant species introductions.

Early detection is vital to protecting Lake St. Catherine from harmful invasive plants and animals. Vermont Invasive Patrollers (VIPs) monitor water bodies for new introductions of invasive species and report their findings to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

If attending this paddle session, you must provide your own watercraft and other on-the-water equipment.

Registration is now open!

Click here to register.

This is a GREAT addition to our invasive species control and prevention initiatives which includes our Greeter Program. Our Greeters work at the Wells boat launch and at the State Park to inspect vessels before (and after) they enter Lake St. Catherine to check for aquatic invasive species (AIS) like spiny water flea, asian clams, zebra mussels, and other invasive plants and animals that are only a lake away from LSC. They will be on duty beginning on Memorial Day weekend.

We hope you'll join us on the paddle!

If you have any questions, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Libraries Love Lakes Event - Sunday, July 3rd

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 01 May 2022 15:05:20 GMT

Good morning LSC.

Last summer, Gina from the Wells Village Library reached out to the LSCA and LSCCF to discuss organizing a 'Libraries Love Lakes' event for Lake St. Catherine.

To help fund this exciting event, the LSCA applied for an Education & Outreach grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP), which we learned that we had earned earlier this year. Thank you LCBP!

Work has begun on on this event, which will take place on Sunday, July 3rd at 10 AM at the Wells Lakeside Park.

This family friendly event will include fun activities, presentations, and boat tours related to all aspects of the lake. Children will receive lake themed kits containing books, and science & creative activities for the day.

After the event, the educational opportunities will continue at the Wells Village Library. Gina has dedicated a section of the library to Lake St. Catherine with pertinent information and activities to further advance lake-related learning. Gina has identified a wide variety of lake-related materials to launch this section of the library which we will be able to purchase via the grant.

Books & activities for the event kits and the library section have started to arrive, and Gina has started to prepare for the new section of the library, the "Lake St. Catherine Collection".

We are all very excited for this event!

Once all the final details are set, we'll let you know all about this fun day at the lake and how to participate.

So, mark your calendar for Sunday, July 3rd for Libraries Love Lakes @ Lake St. Catherine.

Lake St. Catherine Country Club Offers Discount To LSCA Members

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 00:15:01 GMT

Hello LSC,

The Lake St. Catherine Country Club has been a Business Sponsor of the LSCA for many years. We thank them (and all of our Business Sponsors which you can see here) for their continued support!

The LSC CC recently reached out to us to let us know about a discount they will be offering current members of the LSCA this season.

LSCA members who present their LSCA Membership Card will be eligible for:

• 10% discount off daily rates
• Cart rental at membership rates: $12 for 9 holes, $20 for 18 holes

Thank you to the Lake St. Catherine Country Club for offering this discount to LSCA members!

There are 2 ways you can show your current LSCA membership to the LSC CC. You can either show them your digital membership card on your phone, or print out your membership card from our website, here's how:

Digital Membership Card On Your Phone

Right on the main screen of the app is blue button labeled "MY CARD". Clicking on this button will show your digital membership card, and it will list your renewal date. Current members will show that the renewal date is "1 Jan 2023".

Printing Your Membership Card

If you have issues with either method, please let us know so we can help you out.

Thank you to all our members, and to the Lake St. Catherine Country Club for offering them this discount.

Thank you for your support of the LSCA!

Green Up Vermont Day 2022 - Volunteer To Help Clean Up LSC And Wells & Poultney

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 09 Apr 2022 13:33:43 GMT

Hello LSC and residents of Wells & Poultney,

Saturday, May 7th is Green Up Vermont Day, 4 weeks from today.

Green Up Vermont is a state-wide volunteer cleanup day of Vermont's roads and waterways.

As Green Up Vermont's website says:

"We know it isn’t your litter but Vermont needs our help to be beautiful!"

We had a GREAT turnout last year, covering almost every road around the lake. This year, we are looking to have all the roads covered, and also expand to cover more roads in Wells & Poultney.

We'd like to thank the town of Wells for reaching out to partner on Green Up Vermont Day this year!

We'd like to see if we can get folks around the lake to volunteer to clean up an area, and we'll do our best to coordinate the efforts so we all know what areas are covered, and which areas need volunteers.

Bags are now available for pickup at the Wells & Poultney Town Halls.

Also, we will be hosting a brief kickoff to the day at the Wells Lakeside Park at 8 AM that morning. Please stop in to pick up Green Up bags and fuel up on coffee and muffins from the Wells Country Store to get energized for the day! Please let us know if you'll be joining us so we can get a count.

So, let us know if you'd like to participate and where you'll do your clean up, and we'll add your area to the map. We'll keep the map up-to-date on our Calendar, on the May 7th Green Up Vermont Day event. You can view that here: LSC Green Up Vermont Day Event.

Email us at info@lakestcatherine.org, or contact us on Facebook to volunteer for an area - and we'll add you to the map.

Let's all pitch in to get Lake St. Catherine ready for a great Summer!

Thank you.

2022 Green Up Vermont On LSC and Wells & Poultney map:

Participate In Local Water Quality Planning

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 23:51:36 GMT

Hello LSC.

Please join local partners for a kick-off meeting that describes how you can participate in local water quality planning.

This virtual meeting is taking place on Wednesday, April 20th from 5:30 - 6:30.

Angie Allen, a watershed planner with the state of Vermont’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), is presenting information about ongoing efforts and opportunities to participate in the basin planning process. Angie works in several watersheds in southern Vermont, but is focusing her talk on Basin 2 (Poultney Mettowee) and Basin 4 (tributaries that drain directly to South Lake Champlain). Basin 2 also contains Lake St Catherine, Lake Bomoseen, Lake Hortonia, Lake Beebe, Echo Lake, Sunrise and Sunset Lakes, Glenn Lake, and Burr Pond.

From the DEC's Tactical Basin Planning StoryMap website, a tactical basin plan is:

"Tactical Basin Plans (TBP) are strategic guidebooks for achieving watershed health. They identify surface waters that are in need of restoration and protection and outline a list of actions to achieve water quality goals. The plans also identify the partners and funding critical to implementing the actions."

The basin planning process includes 5 major steps:

Monitoring water quality
Assessing and analyzing water quality data
Identifying strategies and projects to protect and restore waters
Seeking public comment and developing the plan
Implementing and tracking plan priorities (which is ongoing throughout the planning cycle)

The last South Lake Champlain Tactical Basin Plan was published in 2017 (you can view that here). Angie will be reviewing the action items in the 2017 plan to see if they were completed and if they were successful. As part of this process, she will update the 2022 plan with new water quality goals and tasks for landowners, residents, associations, and local partners to implement.

The purpose of this kick-off meeting is to report on the status of surface waters in the watershed, share the overall planning timeline, and describe ways you can contribute and participate. In addition, there will be State program staff as well as Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) and Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC) staff online during the meeting to allow for a well-rounded discussion and to help answer questions.

As a shoreline homeowner, or someone who cares about Lake St. Catherine, your participation in this meeting is very much appreciated!

So, please join us on Wednesday, April 20th from 5:30 - 6:30 PM for this virtual meeting hosted via Microsoft Teams. Please feel free to share this link with others!

Meeting link: Southern Lake Champlain Tactical Basin Planning Meeting

Long-Time Former LSCA Trustee Harry Bingham Has Passed Away

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 16:51:12 GMT

Hello good folks in the LSC community. Unfortunately, we have some sad news to report to you today.

Long-time former Lake St. Catherine Association Trustee Harry Bingham has passed away.

Harry & Sylvia receiving the first Lake Wise Award on LSC for their property

You can read about Harry in his obituary appearing on the website of the funeral home here.

We were informed of Harry's passing by his wife Sylvia, who wrote:

"Of course I am greatly saddened with Harry's passing but I am also deeply grateful for the wondrous time Harry and I shared together. For forty-three years, he was my constant companion, support and adventuring buddy. Vacationing at Lake St. Catherine, on service projects or visiting friends and family, Harry's smile and warmth was a gift to us all. Though the light of his eyes has faded, his spirit lives on in the riches of family and friends that have been our life together.

If you want to make a gift in Harry's honor, please send it to your favorite charity- Harry would trust your judgment and be happy to be remembered."

LSCA President Jim Canders wanted to share these comments about Harry:

"It is very sad news to hear of Harry's passing.

He loved the lake and dedicated a great deal of time to work with the Board. Since Harry was an engineer his work was always very well organized.

Harry chaired the Lake Safety committee and established the 'Buoy Buddies'. These were volunteers from around the lake who would assist Harry in building, maintaining, and placing the buoys and markers to insure that boaters were aware of underwater obstacles. Harry told me one time that when he looked out on the lake from his place in Horseshoe Bay, the three cones to the south toward Atwater Bay, reminded him of the term the 'Bermuda Triangle'. He mapped out the location of the buoys and markers and registered this information with the State.

At the beginning of each season Harry contacted the State Police to lobby to have more frequent presence of Marine State Police on the lake during weekends through out the summer months. Since there were very few members of this special State Police Group, it was important to Harry to get his annual request in early. Harry was on a first name basis with the desk sergeant at the Rutland Barracks!

He and Sylvia were always willing to lend a hand to help with the lake. We all thank Harry for his years of hard work and service to Lake St. Catherine. Our sincere condolences to Sylvia and her family."

To send your condolences to Sylvia, her address is:

1001 S. Valley Forge Road WBC 212
Lansdale, PA 19446

The 2022 Lake Wise Program

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 16:08:35 GMT

Hello LSC property owners.

We are gearing up for the 2022 Lake Wise Program around Lake St. Catherine - and we are looking for property owners to sign up to participate this season.

In late January, we were informed by the Lake Champlain Basin Program that we had earned a grant in the amount of $24,970 for the 2022 Lake St. Catherine Lake Wise Program.

Lake Wise is a program developed by Vermont’s Lakes and Ponds Program to recognize outstanding efforts by homeowners who live along a lakeshore to protect the water quality and habitat along the shoreline and within the near-shore area of the lake. Four categories are assessed: The driveway and parking area, the structure (which includes roof, drainage, and septic), the recreation area (the lawn/footprint of non-natural, high-use yard areas), and the shoreline buffer area.

This year's project is entitled: “Creating a Critical Mass of Lake Stewards on Lake St. Catherine”, and will be implemented in partnership with the LSCA, the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District (PMNRCD) and new partner Castleton University.

Stormwater has a widespread environmental impact which makes it a growing concern in Vermont and Lake St. Catherine. In a statewide effort, towns and local organizations are working to implement large scale projects to help clean stormwater before it enters water bodies. Work is being done from the headwaters all the way down to the stream outlets. Excess nutrients in the water contribute to problems which affect both human and wildlife health including; lower oxygen levels in the water, toxic algae blooms, and excessive plant growth.

Shoreline property owners have the access and the ability to control what is happening directly at the lake's edge.

In fact, after this season, Lake St. Catherine will be close earning the Gold Lake Wise Award. Lakes that have 15% of their lakeshore properties as participants in the Lake Wise Program will earn the Gold Lake Wise Award.

Last year, Lake Wise focused on properties on Little Lake, and we had great participation and results. This year, we are focusing on "high impact properties". While all property owners on Lake St. Catherine are eligible to sign up for Lake Wise, this year, we are particularly looking for properties where Lake Wise could have a significant impact with the help of the program.

If you have a property with any of the following characteristics - WE WANT YOU:

A large amount of shoreline frontage
Your lawn goes right down to the lake
You have large areas of non-permeable surfaces
You're on the west side of the lake in zones of highest slope
You're the Channel and experiencing shoreline erosion
You live in zones where your neighbors are Lake Wise properties and can help us create entire Lake Wise neighborhoods

Enroll this month in the Lake Wise Program to receive complementary services, which could include: native buffer plantings, rain gardens, infiltration steps, erosion help, and other stormwater mitigation interventions this summer. These efforts help us all protect the lake from excessive nutrients that run across your property and into the lake which fuel milfoil growth and affect water quality.

Please contact us at info@lakestcatherine.org to sign up!

Together, we can maintain the pristine nature of Lake St. Catherine for years to come. Thank you for your stewardship and commitment.

Sincerely,

The Board of Trustees of the Lake St. Catherine Association

The 2022 Ice Out Champion Is...

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 23:30:44 GMT

Good evening LSC. We're calling it...

Most of the ice on the Big Lake went out on Saturday, and on the Little Lake more than a week before that.

The last of the stubborn ice disappeared early this afternoon in Lily Pond and Oxbow Bay, so we have checked your predictions, and we have a winner!

Your 2022 LSC Ice Out Champion is: Mary-Sue Reed.

Congrats Mary-Sue!

Honorable mentions to: Mary, Hannah, Kyle, Andrew, Owen (Jr & Sr), Autumn, Suzanne, and Wellsmere Farm who also guessed today.

Thanks to all 108 people who entered a guess - and thank you to all our Ice Spotters for sending in reports!

We have membership levels for everyone who loves LSC.

Thank you!

LSCA Supports Conservation Districts' FY2023 Funding Request

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 16:39:45 GMT

The LSCA was happy to sign on and support this funding request by Vermont’s Natural Resource Conservation Districts to the Vermont Legislature for the FY2023 state budget:

As is noted in the request:

"Conservation Districts are an unseen force that connects people, organizations and resources to steward our land and water resources for the future. District Managers are rooted in the communities they serve, and your favorite place has likely benefited from the work of the Conservation Districts. The work that Conservation Districts do in every corner of the state is becoming increasingly important, especially in light of the state’s clean water goals and Vermont’s Climate Action Plan. Their FY23 funding requests are critical for advancing state conservation goals.

Because of the important role Conservation Districts play, we want to ensure that all land owners and stewards and communities in Vermont have access to the technical assistance, project implementation and other critical support that Conservation Districts provide."

As you may know, the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) has been doing fantastic work around Lake St. Catherine over the years, and they have been a great partner for the LSCA as we work together on the Lake Wise Program, the Lake St. Catherine Stormwater Master Plan, and the upcoming Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan.

We appreciate the work our Conservation Districts do throughout Vermont, and we especially appreciate the work the PMNRCD does for Lake St. Catherine. We urge the Vermont Legislature to include the requested appropriation.

Thank you.

Milfoil Cleanup ‘Community Day’ 2022

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 16:10:32 GMT

Hello good folks of LSC.

As you may recall, back in July 2021, the LSCA and LSCCF organized a Milfoil Cleanup Community Day in the Channel & Little Lake.

Volunteers from all areas of Lake St. Catherine joined in on the kick-off day to collect all the detached and floating milfoil (and other detached and floating plants) to get them out of the lake and on to one of our 2 drop off points. At the end of the day, the LSCA’s Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) crew collected it all - 21 buckets (17.5 gallon) worth - and hauled it away. The collection points were left in place for the rest of the season, and Channel & Little Lake residents continued to deposit the milfoil. The LSCCF’s mechanical harvesting crew performed the subsequent pickups for the remainder of the season.

This effort was very successful in both removing detached milfoil and other detached plants from the lake, and in educating boaters and property owners on best practices to limit the spread of milfoil. You can read a summary of last year’s Milfoil Community Day here: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/10774108, and a summary of the season-long effort here: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/11122034.

We are now making plans for 2022, and we need your help.

We are looking to the lake community for a donation or loan of 2 floating platforms that can be used as drop off points.

If you can loan or donate a floating platform that you will not be using this season, please reach out to us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Preliminary plans for this season include a kick-off of Milfoil Cleanup Community Day on Sunday, June 5th at the Wells Lakeside Park (so save the date!). We’ll get together to talk about the program, and then head out on the lake and get to work! We do hope to get the platforms in place before June 5th so full-time LSC residents can get started volunteering as soon as they’d like. We’re sure the Channel Kayak Crew will be out there as soon as we can get the platforms set up.

So, mark your calendars, and please help us spread the word about our need for floating platforms for this program. If you can help us out, please let us know at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you!

LSCA Writes Letter Of Support For The Lake Wise Program

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 23:08:53 GMT

Hello LSC.

We'd like to let you know that the LSCA has written and sent a letter to Secretary Moore at the Agency of Natural Resources, State officials, and our representatives and senators to voice our concern that the position of the Lake Wise Coordinator in the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is being held open to accrue “vacancy savings”.

Back in December, the creator of the Lake Wise Program at Vermont Lakes and Ponds, Amy Picotte, retired after 31 years of service to Vermont and all of its lakes and ponds. You can read more about Amy's work on Lake Wise by clicking here.

We respectfully add our voice to request that the Lake Wise function at the state level be fully funded and receive continued investment.

Over the past three years, the Lake Wise Program on Lake St. Catherine has been extremely successful at both educating property owners about best practices for the lake's shoreline, and implementing stormwater mitigation projects on their properties. We have also seen a dramatic shift in interest in the preservation and protection of our shorelines to increase water quality by shoreline property owners. Property owners are reaching out to us for help at their shoreline, informing us of potential issues after storms, and inquiring about complying with the Shoreland Protection Act.

Photo Credit: PMNRCD

The 2021 Lake Wise Program at Lake St. Catherine resulted in:

24 property owners signing up for Lake Wise
20 assessments were completed
89 written recommendations were made to property owners
22 projects were implemented, including: vegetated buffer plantings, infiltration step installation, culvert stabilization efforts, and rain garden construction
340 feet of shoreline buffers were installed
412 native plants planted
40 live stake cuttings planted
4 Lake Wise Award winners (bringing our total on LSC to 16)

You can read the full text of our letter below.

If you'd like to participate in the Lake Wise Program this year, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to add your name to the list.

Thank you for reading.

Dear Secretary Moore:

The Lake St. Catherine Association is deeply concerned that the position of the Lake Wise Coordinator in the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is being held open to accrue “vacancy savings”, particularly at a time when federal resources coming into Vermont are providing substantial financial support to be able to efficiently continue funding the Lake Wise Program at DEC.

The Lake St. Catherine Association has assembled a series of important building blocks as a springboard to prepare us to be successful in launching our Watershed Action Plan over the next three years. These include: a state of the art herbicide program with dramatic results towards AIS reduction; a mature and robust Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting Program; a joint planning effort for AIS control and prevention; a Greeter boat inspection program with the highest standards and training, recently expanded for high traffic events; a valued partnership with the Lake St. Catherine State Park and a second site for education and inspections; a wildly successful Lake Wise program for pollution prevention with expansion in 2022; an emerging strategic partnership focused on Little Lake; a collaborative and healthy relationship with the Lakes and Ponds leaders at Vermont DEC.

The Lake Wise program at our Lake had been operated since 2019 in collaboration with the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District and has enjoyed three years of support from the Lake Champlain Basin Program. We have close to 60 properties that have undergone Lake Wise assessments and project implementation. In 2021 we had a targeted effort to help Little Lake and in 2022, we have a bold program to recruit the highest impact properties throughout the basin, as we seek to reduce phosphorus load via runoff across homeowner properties. We are thrilled that a new partner, the Natural Sciences Dept. at Castleton University will provide interns and program oversight and evaluation as we pursue gold level status for Lake Wise.

It is not an overstatement to note that none of this highly valuable work could have been achieved without the leadership of Amy Picotte and the commitment of Lakes and Ponds Division of DEC in encouraging Lakes such as ours to develop best management practices. The Lake Wise office has always been available to us, as we have matured in our understanding of pollution prevention. Amy met with us systematically to review our processes and protocols and we benefitted greatly from her insight as we elevated our performance in recruitment, program implementation and evaluation.

The return on investment of the Lake Wise program is clear to us now and we can ill-afford to have the program less than fully funded at DEC. We are leveraging its success to maximize our chances at developing a Watershed Action Plan over these next three years that we hope to be a template worthy of emulation. Each strategy must pull together whether water quality testing, tributary analyses, storm event evaluation, road protocols, patency of culverts, evaluation of forestry and wetlands. We recognize how much we need a liaison at the state level to teach us the best practices, lessons learned, mistakes and mid-course corrections essential to maximizing the contribution of Lake Wise to our overall watershed.

We respectfully add our voice to sincerely request that the Lake Wise function at the state level be fully funded and receive continued investment to experience growth to keep up with the need to look at the causal effects of both in-lake and watershed interventions. We rely on it and we thank you in advance for advocating for its support, as we work hard at the local level to make the most difference in distinguishing Vermont in addressing nonpoint source pollution.

Predict Ice Out Day 2022

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 17:04:47 GMT

Hello LSC fans!

With the crazy weather we've been having the last few days, it seems like a good time to ask: When will the ice go out on Lake St. Catherine in 2022?

...and who is ready for Spring, and preparing to have an excellent season at Lake St. Catherine this year?

It's time to start up #IceWatch2022!

Let's have some little fun and make some predictions for when the ice will go out.

Click here to make your guess.

- In 2021, with his guess of April 2nd at 2:30 AM, the 2021 LSC Ice Out Champion was Walter Huss.

- In 2020, with his guess of March 23rd at 3 PM, the 2020 LSC Ice Out Champion was Melvin Ohl.

- In 2019, with her guess of April 15th at 6 AM, the 2019 LSC Ice Out Champion was Judy Cummings.

The winner will be crowned "LSC 2022 Ice Out Champion" and will have bragging rights all year!

Make your guess - and good luck!

Note: By ice out, we mean when the Lake will be clear of ice. The ice in the bays can be stubborn! We'll be relying on our Ice Spotters around the lake for up-to-date reports on conditions - and we'll use those to make the call.

Wells & Poultney Vote To Provide Funds To The LSCA On Town Meeting Day 2022

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 05 Mar 2022 15:46:07 GMT

On Tuesday, March 1st, 2022, the residents of Wells and Poultney voted to provide $12,000 and $15,000, respectively, in support of the Lake St. Catherine Association's mission of the preservation, protection and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine.

We'd like to thank the good folks of both towns for their continued support.

These funds, along with membership dues and contributions, will help us direct and fund important programs that include (but are not limited to): keeping invasive species out of LSC (boat launch Greeter Program), Water Testing, our Milfoil Control Program, phosphorous, sediment, and pollution mitigation (Lake Wise Program, LSC Stormwater Master Plan), Lake Safety, and most importantly, the creation of the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan.

You can read more about all that the LSCA does for the benefit of Lake St. Catherine on our website.

Maintaining the lake costs approximately $125,000 annually. Grants, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.

It's going to be A Big Year For Lake St. Catherine in 2022, we hope to earn your support.

Thanks again to the residents of Wells and Poultney!

A Big Year For Lake St. Catherine

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 17:01:01 GMT

Hello LSC fans.

We'd like to take a moment to outline the work the Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) will be undertaking over the next three years as we continue our efforts to preserve, protect, and maintain our beautiful lake.

2022 will be a big year for Lake St. Catherine as HUGE water quality investments are made, future funding is planned for, and LSC's watershed is studied as never before.

Lake Watershed Action Plan

This past May, the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) awarded the LSCA, in partnership with the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District

(PMNRCD), a 3-year grant to develop a Lake Watershed Action Plan (LWAP) for Lake St. Catherine.

The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) describes a Lake Watershed Action Plan as:

A Lake and Watershed Action Plan (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 $38,224 awarded by the grant will allow the LSCA to hire and partner with lake experts to perform various in-lake and watershed based measurements, testing, and studies to identify current or potential future issues and design a comprehensive, long-term plan to address them.

Our Project Team will include a panel of water and lake experts, including: Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD), Fitzgerald Environmental Associates, Castleton University, and a limnologist.

This exhaustive study will assess areas around Lake St. Catherine including its: shorelines, roadways, tributaries, forests, wetlands, and in-lake.

The findings from the creation of the Lake Watershed Action Plan will guide our long term efforts to increase water quality in the lake, and will position Lake St. Catherine to secure future grants and Clean Water Funding to implement projects to benefit the lake.

Current & Future Water Quality Testing

Previous to beginning work on the LWAP, the LSCA and our partners have been involved in water testing in LSC for many years.

Lay Monitoring: For almost 40 years, the LSCA has been collecting data on LSC as part of the Vermont DEC's Lay Monitoring Program. Each week, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the LSCA collects a water sample from the Big Lake and Little Lake to be tested for phosphorus (nutrient) concentration, and chlorophyll-a (algae and cyanobacteria) concentration. A Secchi depth (water clarity) measurement is also taken.

LaRosa Partnership Program: The LaRosa Partnership Program helps watershed organizations and monitoring groups across Vermont implement new and/or ongoing monitoring projects for surface waters in need of water quality assessment by helping to alleviate the financial burden of laboratory analysis costs. In early December, in support of the upcoming LWAP, seven sites in the LSC watershed were nominated to participate in this program. The PMNRCD will be monitoring these sites which are in tributaries that flow into LSC. They will be working with Castleton University to analyze the data.

Next Generation Lake Assessment: The Next Generation Lake Assessment, a Vermont DEC program, is a comprehensive, quantitative survey of a lake's condition which began in 2010. A suite of physical, chemical and biological parameters are sampled at three areas: the deep open water ‘index site’, ten randomly distributed shoreland and littoral habitat sites, and the inlets and outlet. LSC was added to the 2023 list of lakes to be assessed.

Here are the parameters assessed as part of this program:

But that's not all. The Project Team has also discussed increasing testing by adding areas, increasing the frequency, and adding more parameters like chloride, dissolved oxygen, sediment testing, and exploring phosphorus budgets.

As a result of all these activities, the lake, and Lake St. Catherine watershed, will be studied at a level it never has before.

Lake St. Catherine Stormwater Master Plan

This winter, in partnership with the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District (PMNRCD), the LSCA applied with the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) for a "Clean Water and Healthy Ecosystems Projects Planning Grant" to fund the planning, prioritization, outreach, design, and budgeting of projects identified in the Lake St. Catherine Stormwater Master Plan (SWMP).

In early January, we were informed that we had earned part of a $100k grant being administered by the PMNRCD. $50,000 of this grant will be used directly for Lake St. Catherine to design Stormwater Master Plan Projects on LSC.

The goal of our approved grant in 2022 is to develop 10-12 projects identified in the Lake St Catherine Stormwater Master Plan to be ready for implementation during the first round of Clean Water Service Provider formula grant funds in 2023 and thereafter. Our Project Team, consisting of the LSCA, PMNRCD, local partners, and the selected consultant, will identify a list of high and medium priority projects and develop 30% conceptual designs for those that rank within the top 10-12. Included with the conceptual designs will be detailed budget estimates, anticipated permitting needs, and preliminary landowner agreements or letters of interest.

You can read more about the SWMP, and view an interactive map with the identified sites by visiting our Stormwater Master Plan page.

Lake Wise

In late January, we were informed by the Lake Champlain Basin Program that we had earned a grant in the amount of $24,970 for the 2022 Lake St. Catherine Lake Wise Program.

The goal of the Lake Wise program, from the Lake Wise website:

"The goal of Lake Wise is to establish a new normal, a new culture of lakeshore landscaping that is proven to help protect the lake. A property that earns the Lake Wise Award will represent a 'model' shoreland property. The Lake Wise Award certifies a property is well managed, using shoreland Best Management Practices, and is maintained to care for the lake."

Stormwater has a widespread environmental impact which makes it a growing concern in Vermont. In a statewide effort, towns and local organizations are working to implement large scale projects to help clean stormwater before it enters water bodies. Work is being done from the headwaters all the way down to the stream outlets. Excess nutrients in the water contribute to problems which affect both human and wildlife health including; lower oxygen levels in the water, toxic algae blooms, and excessive plant growth.

Shoreline property owners have the access and the ability to control what is happening directly at the water's edge.

Actions now will promote a healthy lake environment that will continue to support swimming, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing in the future.

This is such an important program for long term health of Lake St. Catherine, and we can all pitch in to make a difference.

If you are a LSC property owner who would like to be part of this program, please contact us at info@lakestcatherine.org so we can add you to our 2022 list. We’ll then contact you in the spring to set up an appointment.

Just these projects alone total over $113,000 in water quality investments for Lake St. Catherine for 2022. These investments will lead to water quality improvements for LSC, and future funding for projects identified during the creation of the LWAP.

We'll also administer our recurring yearly projects & initiatives, including: our boat launch monitoring Greeter Program, teaching two free boating license classes, placement and maintenance of the buoys and markers around the lake (Lake Safety), our Milfoil Control Program, organization of volunteer opportunities around the lake like Green Up Vermont Day and Milfoil Cleanup Community Day, the annual LSCA Boat Parade, and Dockside Chats with LSCA Trustees.

Education & Outreach

Finally, we’d like to highlight one additional fun project for 2022, which is a great partnership with our local community. Gina from the Wells Village Library reached out to the LSCA and LSCCF to discuss organizing a 'Libraries Love Lakes' event for Lake St. Catherine. Libraries Love Lakes is an outreach project which pairs public libraries with lake scientists to provide collaborative programming emphasizing the importance of lakes in our everyday lives.

Gina provided a detailed outline of her ideas for the event, and using this outline, we submitted a comprehensive proposal for a grant with the Lake Champlain Basin Program, which we are happy to report, has just been awarded.

Pending planning and approvals, preliminary ideas include the event taking place in July at the Wells Lakeside Park. This family-friendly event will include fun activities, presentations, and boat tours related to all aspects of the lake. The grant also includes additional funding for continuing lake-related learning at the Wells Village Library. Gina has identified a wide variety of books to launch this new section of the library. We’ll announce details of this inaugural Libraries Love Lakes event when they are finalized.

2022 Is Going To Be A Big Year For Lake St. Catherine

We hope you find our efforts for the benefit of Lake St. Catherine worthy, and we hope to earn your support this year!

Please join us.

Click here to renew or become a member of the LSCA.

Thank you.

LSCA Awarded 2 More Grants From The LCBP!

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 22:15:51 GMT

More exciting news to share with you LSC!

The LSCA has been notified that we have earned 2 more grants from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) which will benefit Lake St. Catherine.

Education and Outreach

Back in June of 2021, Gina Ellis, Librarian at the Wells Village Library reached out to the LSCA and LSCCF to discuss organizing a 'Libraries Love Lakes' event for Lake St. Catherine.

From their website, Libraries Love Lakes:

"...is an outreach project which pairs school and public libraries with lake scientists to provide collaborative programming emphasizing the importance of lakes in our everyday lives."

After an initial meeting, and numerous email exchanges, it was decided that we'd collectively work to put together a Libraries Love Lakes event at the lake in 2022.

Later in November, the LCBP announced an "Education and Outreach" implementation grant, which we thought would be very helpful to support the fun and educational Libraries Love Lakes event at the lake.

Gina provided a detailed outline of her ideas for the event, which included books, and numerous activities for the day. Using this outline, we were able to craft our grant application and submit a comprehensive proposal.

We are very excited to announce that we have earned this Education and Outreach grant of $9,191 which will fund this fun-filled, family friendly, Libraries Love Lakes event at the lake!

The LCBP informed us that our proposal "received strong peer reviews" and that the "reviewers were supportive of funding this project which provides some interesting deliverables including the unique Libraries Love Lakes approach."

Pending planning and approvals, preliminary ideas include the event taking place in July at the Wells Lakeside Park. The event would include fun activities, presentations, and boat tours related to all aspects of the lake. Children will receive kits containing books, and science based activities for the day.

After the event, the educational opportunities will continue at the Wells Village Library. Gina will be dedicating a section of the library for the LSCA with pertinent information and activities to further advance lake-related learning. Gina has identified a wide variety of lake-related books to launch this section of the library which we will be able to purchase via the grant.

This event also coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the the Clean Water Act, and supports the LCBP's Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of the Lake Champlain Basin.

We'll let you know when we have the full details of the event and when the date is scheduled.

We are very excited to have earned this grant to support Gina's vision for the Libraries Love Lakes event - which we hope will become a yearly event!

Organizational Support

We were also happy to learn that we have earned an Organizational Support grant to help fund the subscription to cloud-based project management software.

The LSCA will be managing numerous projects in 2022, most importantly, the creation of the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan. This software will allow us to manage these important lake projects and collaborate with our parters on tasks, timelines, and documents, keeping us organized and on schedule.

Thank you LCBP!

We are very thankful for our partnership with the Lake Champlain Basin Program. This year, we will be working on projects related to 5 grants earned from LCBP, including: The Education and Outreach and Organizational Support grants mentioned above, the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan, the Lake St. Catherine Lake Wise Program, and a Clean Water and Healthy Ecosystems Projects Planning grant which will be used to design projects around the lake in support of the Lake St. Catherine Stormwater Master Plan.

We'll keep you up-to-date on all these projects throughout the year.

LSCA Awarded $25k For The 2022 Lake Wise Program!

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 17:01:37 GMT

We are excited to report that the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) has awarded the Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) a grant in the amount of $24,970 for the 2022 Lake St. Catherine Lake Wise Program!

The goal of the Lake Wise program, from the Lake Wise website:

"The goal of Lake Wise is to establish a new normal, a new culture of lakeshore landscaping that is proven to help protect the lake. A property that earns the Lake Wise Award will represent a 'model' shoreland property. The Lake Wise Award certifies a property is well managed, using shoreland Best Management Practices, and is maintained to care for the lake."

Stormwater has a widespread environmental impact which makes it a growing concern in Vermont. In a statewide effort, towns and local organizations are working to implement large scale projects to help clean stormwater before it enters water bodies. Work is being done from the headwaters all the way down to the stream outlets. Excess nutrients in the water contribute to problems which affect both human and wildlife health including; lower oxygen levels in the water, toxic algae blooms, and excessive plant growth.

As a shoreline property owner, you have the access and the ability to control what is happening directly at the water's edge.

Actions now will promote a healthy lake environment that will continue to support swimming, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing in the future.

This is such an important program for long term health of Lake St. Catherine, and we can all pitch in to make a difference.

- You can read more about the Lake Wise Program on Lake St. Catherine by clicking here. This page includes a map of the Lake Wise Award winning properties on Lake St. Catherine.

In 2021, the LSCA earned the same grant from LCBP to perform Lake Wise assessments, and to help property owners with projects on their land to mitigate stormwater runoff into the lake. In 2021, four properties won the Lake Wise Award! You can read about the 4 properties that earned the Lake Wise Award in 2021 by clicking here. This brings the total Lake Wise Award winning properties on LSC up to 16!

Property owners that participated in Lake Wise but did not qualify for the Award can continue to work on their shorelines with the LSCA and PMNRCD to raise their assessment score. Three of the four award winners in 2021 had their initial assessment done in 2020. After some projects were implemented this year, their properties qualified, and they are now award winners. To date, 57 properties have participated in the Lake Wise Program, and have at least received an initial assessment.

Some stats from the 2021 program:

24 property owners signed up for Lake Wise
20 assessments were completed (some assessments are awaiting property owner input)
89 written recommendations were made to property owners by PMNRCD staff
22 projects were implemented, including: vegetated buffer plantings, infiltration step installation, culvert stabilization efforts, and rain garden construction
340 feet of shoreline buffers were installed
412 native plants planted
40 live stake cuttings planted
4 Lake Wise Award winners!

...and we are ready to do it again this year!

The LSCA would like to help all Lake St. Catherine property owners implement best practices to mitigate stormwater on their properties, and help them to earn the Lake Wise award. If you would like to have your property assessed, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

The 2022 LSCA Membership Drive Is Underway!

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 12:30:33 GMT

Hello good folks of LSC.

Greetings from a frozen Lake St. Catherine & Happy New Year!

It's that time of year again... As the Lake St. Catherine Association heads into its 69th year, we are asking for your support for the 2022 season.

What does the LSCA do? Well, you can start here by checking out our 2021 Year In Review.

Your membership dues and contributions help to fund many of the services provided by the LSCA:

Maintaining & purchasing navigation and shoreline protection buoys throughout the lake.
Testing the water for E coli, phosphorus (nutrient) concentration, chlorophyll-a (algae and cyanobacteria) concentration, and Secchi depth (water clarity).
Conducting 2 free boat-safety courses that are state mandated for all persons born after January 1, 1974 (look for an announcement in the Spring for dates).
Greeter Program: Inspecting boats wishing to enter the lake for aquatic invasive species (AIS) to keep them out of the lake.
Controlling milfoil.
Working with the state to solve the problems of silting and impacts of phosphorus and other sources of pollution. We are now accepting requests from property owners to participate in Lake Wise in 2022 - email us to sign up.
Long-term planning for the future of the lake by beginning a 3 year process to create a Watershed Action Plan for Lake St. Catherine.
Maintaining "welcome" signs and gardens.
Liaising with other lakes in order to exchange information.
Sponsoring the annual fun-filled July 4th Boat Parade.
Disseminating information to our membership and the lake community through newsletters, emails, website & social media postings, and other local publications.
Organizing funding through membership fees, donations and grants from the State of Vermont, Poultney and Wells, and environmental groups.
Representing you to state and local governments to protect your rights and the lake in general.
Protecting the value of your property by maintaining the beauty, access, and safety of the lake.

There are two easy ways to renew or become a member of the LSCA.

Soon, you will be receiving a mailing from us that contains the 2022 Membership Form. You can also download a copy by clicking here: 2022 LSCA Membership Form PDF. Just print and fill out the form, then mail it in with your check to:

Lake St. Catherine Association
PO Box 631
Wells, VT 05774

[Please note: our long time treasurer Elaine Bagley retired from the board last year. Please be sure to send all correspondence to our PO Box address. We thank Elaine for her years of service to the LSCA & Lake St. Catherine!]

Or, you can renew or become a member on our website. If you were a member in 2021, click here to renew, or click here to become a new member - and you can pay your dues online with your credit card. If you were a member last year (whether you paid by check or online by credit card), the website has an account ready for you. If you don't remember your password, or have never logged in, please click here to set or reset your password.

If you are a business in the Lake St. Catherine community, we have a Business Sponsor Membership we'd like to tell you about. The Business Sponsor Membership includes:

A listing on our ‘Sponsors’ page on lakestcatherine.org with your logo, a link to your web or Facebook page, including a brief description of your business and services.
The posting of your events and special occasions to our Events & LSC Community Website Calendar.
A posting on our Blog and Facebook page about your business as a ‘Sponsor Spotlight’ feature.
A posting for your business in our Spring and Fall newsletters. Newsletters will be made available to the community in both printed and digital versions.

Thank you to our Business Sponsors! Please click on the Sponsors page of our website to check them out.

Upon receiving your membership contribution, we will mail you your receipt, a '2022 Member' sticker for your LSCA window card (or a card & sticker for new members), and a 4" x 4" LSC sticker for your car. We will also continue Elaine's practice of including handwritten thank you notes in your membership package.

We are happy to report that in 2021, we had 372 paid members, which includes 10 Business Sponsors. The average contribution of our members was $202 - THANK YOU! Your membership dues and additional contributions over and above our base $100 membership level are crucial to funding our important lake programs. As always, we ask you to help us to spread the word by discussing the LSCA with your neighbors. We are hoping to get our membership to over 400 this year.

We will continue to work hard for Lake St. Catherine to earn your support.

Thank you for your support of the LSCA!

- The Trustees of the Lake St. Catherine Association

If you ever have any questions about your membership or Lake St. Catherine, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

LSCA To Receive $50k To Develop Stormwater Projects Around LSC

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 12:26:13 GMT

In partnership with the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District (PMNRCD), the LSCA applied with the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) for a "Clean Water and Healthy Ecosystems Projects Planning Grant" to fund the planning, prioritization, outreach, design, and budgeting of projects identified in the Lake St. Catherine Stormwater Master Plan (SWMP).

We are very happy to report that as part of a $100k grant being administered by the PMNRCD, $50k of this grant will be used directly for Lake St. Catherine to design Stormwater Master Plan Projects on LSC.

In 2018 and 2019, extensive field work by the PMNRCD and Fitzgerald Environmental Associates (FEA) took place in the LSC watershed. The goal was to identify sources of increased stormwater runoff and associated sediments and nutrients flowing into the lake. Phosphorus reducing projects are of particular importance given the water quality concerns within the watershed. The work involved identifying sources of stormwater, prioritizing sources based on various environmental, economic, and social criteria, and designing projects to mitigate those sources.

Below is a map of the Stormwater Master Plan locations. Orange check icons indicate a completed project, green construction icons indicate a project that has been designed and implementation is underway or about to begin, and yellow dot icons indicate potential future project locations. Use the + / - on the map to zoom in and out. Click on an icon to see a description of the issue, the proposed intervention, and a photo of the area.

All of the Lake St. Catherine Stormwater Master Plan documents can be viewed by clicking here, and you can read more about the SWMP for Lake St. Catherine by click here to view our Stormwater Master Plan webpage.

While we'll continue to work with lakeshore property owners on Lake Wise projects which are focused on individual properties on the parcel level, SWMP projects can involve larger areas that may include a combination of public and private lands.

The goal of these SWMP projects are to limit stormwater carrying phosphorus, nutrients, sediments, and pollutants into the lake as we work to continue to improve water quality.

In the coming months, we'll get to work setting up public meetings will be set up to discuss what projects should be prioritized and designed, and partnering with an engineering firm to design the projects. We'll keep you up-to-date as meetings are scheduled.

LSCA 2021 Year In Review

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 14:04:08 GMT

Hello LSC.

At the end of each season, we like to take some time to present a recap of the work performed by the LSCA for Lake St. Catherine on behalf of the lake community and our membership. What you’ll read below are summaries of the projects and activities. We encourage you to read through our website Blog to read the detailed accounts.

It was another busy year! We’ll do our best to recount the year chronologically for you.

Are you sitting comfortably?

Here is our 2021 Year In Review.

Membership

First, a sincere THANK YOU to everyone who was able to contribute to the LSCA and become a member this year. We are all still dealing with the impact of the pandemic in our daily lives, so we truly appreciate your support again this year.

We had a great membership drive this year. As of this writing, we have 372 members who contributed $75,186, giving us an average donation of $202.12. These stats represent the highest number of members and dollars contributed that we’ve received in many years.

Can we reach 400 members next year? This will be our ambitious goal as we continue to reach out to LSC property owners, and hope to expand our reach with membership levels for family members of property owners, renters, and those who use the lake for recreation.

We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank long-time LSCA Treasurer and Membership Committee member Elaine Bagley who retired from the board in August. Our members know Elaine would send you your membership package when you renewed each year, including her very popular hand-written thank you notes. The new Membership Committee members will work to continue this practice. Please note that all correspondence with the LSCA, including contributions and membership dues should be mailed to PO Box 631, Wells, VT 05774.

We hope to earn your support in 2022 as we launch our Membership Drive in early February of 2022.

Little Lake Fundraiser

Throughout 2020, the LSCA and LSCCF had been working together to discuss the best ways to mitigate the persistent and intensifying problem caused by the invasive weed Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM, milfoil). This resulted in a 3-year plan to get milfoil under control in Little Lake.

In mid March, the LSCA and the LSCCF launched a fundraiser in support of this plan. Year 1 of the plan included a 70 acre milfoil treatment in Little Lake using the herbicide ProcellaCOR which was estimated to cost $36,000. The LSCA and LSCCF each agreed to contribute $12,000 for a total of $24,000. This left $12,000 to cover the full cost of the treatment.

The lake community immediately stepped up to support this plan, and in just over a week, we exceeded the $12,000 goal in donations. In fact, we raised $17,200! At that time, this meant that we had $5,200 already collected to support year 2. However, after the final costs came in, it was determined that the Little Lake treatment cost $31,240. This means that we actually have $6,786.67 in reserve to support year 2. You can view the project page here (it will be updated soon).

The treatment was very successful, and we were so happy to see and hear the comments about how good Little Lake looked this summer. All the details about the Little Lake treatment and our lake-wide milfoil control efforts are included below in the Milfoil Control section.

Thank you for your support of this plan for Little Lake! The LSCA and the LSCCF will begin work on year 2 soon. We’ll keep you up-to-date on the plans as they become available.

Little Lake Webinar

Just over a week after the Little Lake fundraiser launched, the LSCA and LSCCF hosted a webinar for the lake community to discuss the 3-year milfoil control plan for Little Lake, and to introduce the expansion of the Lake Wise Program into Little Lake. Representatives from both groups presented the plans for both projects and fielded questions from the attendees. We were also able to announce the great news that year 1 of the 3-year milfoil control plan had been fully funded. This webinar was recorded and can be viewed on our website Blog.

Volunteering Around LSC: Green Up Vermont Day, Lake’s End Dam Cleanup, Milfoil Cleanup Community Day

We’d like to thank all of the volunteers that participated in the various lake related activities this season! Here is a quick summary of the volunteer opportunities around Lake St. Catherine this year.

Green Up Vermont Day: Green Up Vermont Day is a state-wide volunteer cleanup day of Vermont's roads and waterways which takes place on May 1st. As Green Up Vermont's website says: "We know it isn’t your litter but Vermont needs our help to be beautiful!". We reached out to the lake community asking for volunteers to help clean up around LSC - and you stepped up! Teams and individuals volunteered to clean up sections around the lake, and with the exception of a stretch of Rt 30, the whole lake was covered! There were numerous filled green bags all around the lake when the day was done. Thank you to the town crews from Wells and Poultney for picking up the bags. We’ll do it again in May! Read the recap here.

Lake’s End Dam Cleanup: In early June, a resident from Wells sent in an email to the LSCA commenting on a large amount of debris being caught on the top of the dam. We sent out a note to the lake community asking for volunteers to meet at the dam on Saturday, June 13th to help get it cleaned up. It was so great to see folks from all around the lake come together to pitch in. We made quick work of the cleanup - with a truck loaded up to take to the transfer station, and all the lake neighbors got to meet and exchange stories about how much we love LSC. What a fun morning! We were also happy to see that volunteers continued to keep the dam clear of debris for the rest of the year! Read the recap here.

Milfoil Cleanup Community Day: In early July, as part of our milfoil control efforts, the LSCA and LSCCF announced that they had been planning for a 'Community Day' in the Channel and Little Lake areas to organize volunteers to collect all the floating milfoil they can find as an educational and hands-on 'Stop The Spread' event. On Sunday, July 25th, 2 drop-off points were set up so volunteers could collect milfoil by boat, kayak, or canoe and deposit the collected weeds at convenient locations. We then arranged for our diver assisted suction harvesting (DASH) crew to collect the weeds from the drop-off points for disposal. It was quite a haul - they filled (21) 17.5 gallon buckets! The drop-off points remained in place for the rest of the season, and volunteers continued to collect the floating weeds - and the LSCCF harvesting crew handled the pickups. Thank you to all the volunteers involved in this project! We hope to do it again in 2022 and start it much earlier in the season. Read the recap here.

The Lake Wise Program

It was another great season for Lake Wise on Lake St. Catherine!

Stormwater has a widespread environmental impact which makes it a growing concern in Vermont. In a statewide effort, towns and local organizations are working to implement large scale projects to help clean stormwater before it enters water bodies. Work is being done from the headwaters all the way down to the stream outlets. Excess nutrients in the water contribute to problems which affect both human and wildlife health including; lower oxygen levels in the water, toxic algae blooms, and excessive plant growth.

This season, the LSCA earned a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) to perform Lake Wise assessments, and to help property owners with projects on their land to mitigate stormwater runoff into the lake. The LSCA was happy to again partner with the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) on this project.

Although the Lake Wise Program is open to all LSC property owners, we decided that the 2021 program would focus on properties on Little Lake. In cooperation with the LSCCF, we began the outreach to the lake community to get folks excited and signed up for Lake Wise. On May 20th, the LSCA, the LSCCF and the PMNRCD held an informational Zoom meeting to discuss the Lake Wise Program on Lake St. Catherine. This webinar was recorded and can be viewed on our website Blog.

Some statistics for 2021:

24 property owners signed up for Lake Wise
20 assessments were completed (some assessments are awaiting property owner input)
89 written recommendations were made to property owners by PMNRCD staff
22 projects were implemented, including: vegetated buffer plantings, infiltration step installation, culvert stabilization efforts, and rain garden construction
340 feet of shoreline buffers were installed
412 native plants planted
40 live stake cuttings planted
4 Lake Wise Award winners!

Our 2021 Lake Wise Award winners are:

Andrew Gioulis - West Lake Road, Poultney
Barbara Gutheil - Ferncliff Road
Michael Marine - Channel Drive
Sue Williams - West Lake Road, Wells

Congratulations to this year’s Lake Wise Award winners! This brings the total Lake Wise Award winning properties on LSC up to 16.

All winners will be receiving the Lake Wise Award plaque that they can proudly display on their shoreline. Keep an eye out for them as you cruise around the lake next season.

The LSCA would like to help other Lake St. Catherine property owners implement best practices to mitigate stormwater on their properties, and help them to earn the Lake Wise award. To date, 57 properties have participated in the Lake Wise Program, and have at least received an initial assessment. If you would like to have your property assessed, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Watershed Action Plan

In our 2020 Year In Review, we told you about a grant that we applied for with the LCBP to help fund the creation of a Watershed Action Plan for Lake St. Catherine. In late May, we were thrilled to announce that our grant application had been accepted, and we began the process of creating a work plan.

From the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a Watershed Action Plan is described as:

“Watershed planning helps address water quality problems in a holistic manner by fully assessing the potential contributing causes and sources of pollution, then prioritizing restoration and protection strategies to address these problems.”

In partnership with the PMNRCD, the LSCA will use this 3-year grant to create a Watershed Action Plan for Lake St. Catherine. The $38,224 awarded by the grant will allow the LSCA to hire and partner with lake experts to perform various in-lake and watershed based measurements, testing, and studies to identify current or potential future issues and design a comprehensive, long-term plan to address them. The resulting plan will leverage current LSCA investments in water quality and pollution prevention, be driven by accepted best management practices, elevate under-assessed areas and gaps, and will identify issues, opportunities, and projects to guide locally-led water quality implementation work in the Lake St. Catherine watershed.

After many years of successfully managing individual lake programs which include: in-lake invasive species control (Milfoil Control Program), invasive species prevention (Greeter Program), and stormwater management (Lake Wise Program), the LSCA is now poised to integrate these programs into a broader watershed plan with a focus on the prevention of pollutant loads (phosphorus, nitrogen, sediments) that enter into the Lake from sources outside the waterbody. The LSCA plans to use the success of these building blocks to expand its work in the watershed and focus on prevention for the future.

A Project Team led by Trustees of the Association will engage the following partners:

Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District to do field work on the areas adjacent to the Lake to identify sources of pollutants and recommend 20 projects to address them.
The Natural Sciences Department at Castleton University to use its environmental chemistry lab with access to water sampling supplies and instrumentation; Castleton undergraduate students to conduct broader in-lake and in-flow tributary water sampling and analyze the impact of major storm events. Students will help literature review of best management practices for water quality to sample collection, to water analysis, to data analysis, to GIS modeling.
A Limnologist consultant and/or chemist will advise on lake nutrient cycling, lake functions, and assist with any in-lake studies, such as water chemistry, sediment testing, and measuring phosphorus concentrations.
A series of community Stakeholders will be actively engaged to evaluate their part in understanding and mitigating excessive phosphorus and erosion around the Lake. These include: The Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund; the Towns of Wells and Poultney, especially the road crews as well as zoning provisions; members of the Association and homeowners to enact prevention on their properties; the Vermont DEC who has agreed to co-sponsor an annual symposium on best practices; businesses and the lake community who use the Lake and surrounding area for recreation.

Work will begin in January!

Greeter Program - Boat Launch Monitoring

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.

Although we expanded monitoring hours at both the Fish & Wildlife boat launch in Wells, and at the State Park in Poultney, our Greeters inspected far fewer boats in 2021 as compared to 2020. We believe a number of factors led to the decrease. 2020 represented an all-time high in boat inspections, most likely due to the huge increase in folks looking to outdoor activities for fun. Also, as you may recall, many weekends experienced rainy weather, which limited the amount of boats being launched.

An interesting stat in the Greeter data this season was that the percentage of boats retrieved from the lake that had milfoil present dropped from 13% to 6% of boats. This was most likely due to the milfoil treatment in Little Lake and the work of the cleanup volunteers throughout the summer.

Our Greeter Program is partially funded by a grant from the Vermont DEC and contributions from our membership.

Thank you to our Greeter team! They work hard each season to keep AIS out of Lake St. Catherine.

Milfoil Control Program

This year, we expanded our program to include:

An educational campaign called, "Stop The Spread", and a community meeting at the Wells Lakeside Park to inform lake residents and boaters of best practices to limit the spread of milfoil.
Partnering with the LSCCF and arranging a 3-year plan to address the milfoil in Little Lake. Equal contributions consisting of donations from the lake community and funding from the LSCA and LSCCF paid for the ProcellaCOR treatment as part of the year 1 plan.
A Milfoil Cleanup Community Day in which volunteers collected floating milfoil and other weeds to deposit at drop-off points in the Channel and on Little Lake. This planned one day event in July extended throughout the rest of the season as boaters & kayakers continued to collect and deposit the weeds. The LSCA DASH team handled the Community Day pickup, and the LSCCF harvesting crew made the pickups for the rest of the season.

These efforts led to another successful year of milfoil control on Lake St. Catherine.

Back in 2001, 199 GPS points were plotted throughout Lake St. Catherine, and these points are evaluated for aquatic plants during each report. This is the 18th consecutive year a plant survey has been performed on Lake St. Catherine. You can see all the previous reports, dating back to 2004 in our Links & Downloads section.

The full report can be read here: 2021 - Aquatic Vegetation Management Report. We encourage you to take a few moments to read through the whole report.

Some information from the report:

Milfoil cover percent, which represents the abundance of milfoil in the lake, is at its lowest point for the entire lake since 2010 at 3%. For reference, before the whole lake treatment in 2004, the milfoil cover percent for the entirety of Lake St. Catherine was 49%.
Specifically in Little Lake in 2021, milfoil cover percent was at 5%, down from 36% in 2020.
Of the 199 GPS data points in Lake St. Catherine, 43 are in Little Lake. Milfoil frequency of occurrence (FOC) refers to the percentage of GPS points at which milfoil was found. In 2021 in Little Lake, milfoil frequency of occurrence was at 28%, down from 98% in 2020.
A potential treatment in Little Lake in 2022 is estimated at approximately 25 to 30 acres. For reference, the 2020 treatment area was 70.2 acres.
With the exception of a few GPS points in the Big Lake at which milfoil was found, only trace levels were seen (single stems).

Based on the data, and the results we've all seen throughout the whole of Lake St. Catherine, our Milfoil Control Program had a very successful year. The ProcellaCOR treatments were highly effective, our DASH team did another great job this year (read about the 2021 DASH efforts here), and you got involved as well by participating and volunteering to collect floating milfoil from July to September as part of our Milfoil Cleanup Community Day. We also heard numerous reports throughout the season of folks removing milfoil from their props, their shorelines, and if it happened to float by their dock.

For 2022, we hope to expand the volunteer milfoil cleanup program by beginning much earlier in the season. We have also applied for a grant which could fund the purchase of floating drop-off platforms and other equipment that would assist our volunteers. We should hear about this grant soon!

In early May, the lake will again be surveyed for milfoil growth. At that point, a final treatment map will be created which will show proposed spot treatment and DASH locations.

Drone Photos

On June 23rd and September 1st, a member of the LSCA took drone photos and video of Little Lake. The June photos were taken the morning after the treatment, and they showed us both the beauty of Little Lake and the dense milfoil cover under the surface. The September photos, taken 10 weeks after the June photos, showed us a dramatic difference in milfoil cover in Little Lake. You can view the photos and video on our website Blog here: June | September. Thank you to Andrew for your efforts to provide these photos for the lake community!

Sponsor Spotlight

We’d like to thank the 10 local businesses who were LSCA Business Sponsors in 2021!

Thank you: Haun Welding Supply, Lake Hill Compost, Lake St. Catherine Cottages, Lake St. Catherine Country Club, Lakes & Homes Real Estate, Merritt Environmental Consulting, New England Lakeside Realty, VT Lakehouse, Williams Hardware, Woodard Marine.

If you’d like to become a Business Sponsor in 2022, please let us know!

Meet & Greet With Our Game Warden Justin Turner

Early in the season, we were receiving reports of unsafe boating around the lake. So, we reached out to our Game Warden, Justin Turner and invited him to a Meet & Greet with lake residents. On Saturday, July 10th, Justin hosted a meeting at the Wells Lakeside Park.

Justin listened to everyone's concerns, and answered everyone's questions.

Residents described boaters speeding through the Channel causing potential safety issues with children swimming nearby and shoreline erosion. Also discussed were reports of jet skis being operated at high speeds too close to other boaters, and operating after sundown.

Justin explained that he can't be here as often as he'd like, and that the Wardens are understaffed. He informed the attendees that if they witnessed unsafe boating, and would like to report it, the could call him on his cell: 802-595-8754.

As a followup to this meeting with Justin, we reached out to Sergeant Trevor Carbo of the Vermont State Police who is in Special Operations, Recreation Enforcement with the attendees' concerns. Sergeant Carbo indicated that his department is also experiencing staffing issues. He noted that they are seeing an increase in reports of unsafe boating on all bodies of water in the state, fueled by a combination of increased interest in outdoor activities and inexperienced boaters. Sergeant Carbo stated that he would share our concerns with Fish & Wildlife, and that he'd also share our concerns with his department in the Rutland office so they can focus on these issues when they are here.

You can read more about LSC Lake Safety including Vermont and Lake St. Catherine specific boating rules on our Lake Safety page.

The 9th Annual LSCA Boat Parade

We had another great boat parade this year! It was a rainy day, but we were able to get the parade completed before the storms hit.

23 boats registered, 17 participated, and 185 people voted online for their favorite boats in our 4 categories: most patriotic, funniest, most original, best overall.

Our winners were:

Most Patriotic:

Boat #19 - Laura Frost - Liberty

Funniest:

Boat #12 - Sarah Conine - Horsing Around With The Cows

Most Original:

Boat #2 - The Roth Family - Scooby Doo Mystery Machine

Best Overall:

Boat #10 - Tonia and Paul Ramirez - Sponge Bob

Thank you to all who participated, to those who cheered from their boat and from the shore, and to everyone who voted! We are looking forward to our 10th year in 2022!

Boating Safety Classes

Frank Callahan, Trustee in charge of Boating Safety, conducted the 2 free courses - the first in late June in Wells, the second in early July in West Pawlet. 24 lake community members earned their license this year. We hope to be able to offer these classes again in 2022. Keep an eye out for an announcement in the spring.

Annual Meeting

On July 24th, the LSCA was so happy to be able to host an in-person Annual Meeting at the LSC Country Club this year. It was great to see everyone!

The LSCA Trustees gave their committee reports as part of the presentation, and then we had a great dinner with our lake neighbors.

You can see photos from the evening and view the full presentation here on our website Blog.

Dockside Chats

Dockside Chats began last year as a way to have safe, face-to-face interactions with members around the lake. We invited lake residents to schedule a Dockside Chat with a LSCA Trustee who would meet you at your dock to chat about the lake. These were very popular in 2020, so we continued the program this year. 10 Dockside Chats were scheduled this year. Let us know if you’d like to get a chat scheduled for next season by emailing us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

LSCA Newsletters

Our traditional Spring and Fall newsletters were posted digitally on our website, and printed copies were made available at Otto’s and the Wells Country Store. If you missed them when they were released, you can read them here:

Spring Newsletter

Fall Newsletter

Keeping You Up-To-Date Via Our Website & Facebook Pages

Grants

In May, when we were notified that we had earned the $38,224 grant to create a Watershed Action Plan for Lake St. Catherine, it was the largest grant the LSCA had ever received.

We are happy to report that we have just been informed that we have been awarded a $49,000 Clean Water and Healthy Ecosystems Projects Planning grant from the LCBP which will be used to fund the planning, prioritization, outreach, design, and budgeting of projects identified in the Lake St. Catherine Stormwater Master Plan (SWMP).

In 2018 and 2019, extensive field work by the PMNRCD and Fitzgerald Environmental Associates (FEA) took place in the LSC watershed. The goal was to identify sources of increased stormwater runoff and associated sediments and nutrients. Phosphorus reducing projects are of particular importance given the water quality concerns within the watershed. The work involved identifying sources of stormwater, prioritizing sources based on various environmental, economic, and social criteria, and designing projects to mitigate those sources.

While the previously mentioned Lake Wise projects are focused on individual properties on the parcel level, SWMP projects can involve larger areas that may include a combination of public and private lands.

50 sites were identified, and as of today, 4 have been implemented, and 2 others have been designed and are awaiting installation. Projects have recently been completed on North Street, Ferncliff, the boat launch in Wells, and at the Wells Lakeside Park. That leaves 44 others that need to be designed. This grant will allow us to hire a consultant to design these projects to prepare them for funding and implementation.

Other 2022 grants we have applied for:

A $25,000 Clean Water and Healthy Ecosystems Projects Small Implementation grant to fund Lake Wise from the LCBP
An Small Educational and Outreach grant (amount TBD) from the LCBP to help fund a Libraries Love Lakes event, including ongoing education at the Wells Village Library, in cooperation with the LSCCF and the Wells Village Library
An Organizational Support grant from the LCBP to help fund project management and organizational support software for the LSCA to be able to efficiently manage upcoming projects like the Watershed Action Plan
An Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) grant from the Vermont DEC to help fund our Greeter and DASH Programs
An Outdoor Conservation and Participation grant to help fund an expansion of our Milfoil Cleanup Community Day / Stop The Spread program by purchasing floating platforms and other equipment to be used by volunteers throughout the season to assist their milfoil cleanup efforts

We have been working hard over the fall to bring grant funds to Lake St. Catherine for 2022!

Thank You For Your Support

Thank you to everyone who supported us this year. We hope you have found our efforts in 2021 for Lake St. Catherine to be worthy.

2022 is going to be a busy year, and we cannot wait to get started!

We hope to earn your support again in 2022. Be on the lookout for our Membership Drive which will begin in early February.

Please keep yourself healthy and be well. We’ll see you at the lake soon,

- The Trustees of The Lake St. Catherine Association

Four LSC Properties Achieve Lake Wise Award In 2021

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 17:15:45 GMT

It was another great season for Lake Wise on Lake St. Catherine!

This weekend, the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) notified the four 2021 Lake Wise Award winners, congratulating them on this outstanding achievement for their lakeshore properties.

What is Lake Wise?

The goal of the Lake Wise program, from the Lake Wise website:

"The goal of Lake Wise is to establish a new normal, a new culture of lakeshore landscaping that is proven to help protect the lake. A property that earns the Lake Wise Award will represent a 'model' shoreland property. The Lake Wise Award certifies a property is well managed, using shoreland Best Management Practices, and is maintained to care for the lake."

Although the Lake Wise Program is open to all LSC property owners, we decided that the 2021 program would focus on properties on Little Lake. In cooperation with the Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund (LSCCF), we began the outreach to the lake community to get folks excited and signed up for Lake Wise.

Stormwater has a widespread environmental impact which makes it a growing concern in Vermont. In a statewide effort, towns and local organizations are working to implement large scale projects to help clean stormwater before it enters water bodies. Work is being done from the headwaters all the way down to the stream outlets. Excess nutrients in the water contribute to problems which affect both human and wildlife health including; lower oxygen levels in the water, toxic algae blooms, and excessive plant growth.

As a shoreline property owner, you have the access and the ability to control what is happening directly at the water's edge.

Actions now will promote a healthy lake environment that will continue to support swimming, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing in the future.

This is such an important program for long term health of Lake St. Catherine, and we can all pitch in to make a difference.

Lake Wise Awards

So, without further ado, our 2021 Lake Wise Award winners are:

Andrew Gioulis - West Lake Road, Poultney
Barbara Gutheil - Ferncliff Road
Michael Marine - Channel Drive
Sue Williams - West Lake Road, Wells

Congratulations to this year’s Lake Wise Award winners!

Lake Wise Program work continued late into the fall, so we were unfortunately unable to give the awards to the winners before the end of the season. We’ll reach out to winners in the spring to schedule the presentation of their award and to take a photo!

Lake Wise Work Completed On LSC In 2021

Photo: PMNRCD

Some statistics for 2021:

24 property owners signed up for Lake Wise
20 assessments were completed (some assessments are awaiting property owner input)
89 written recommendations were made to property owners by PMNRCD staff
22 projects were implemented, including: vegetated buffer plantings, infiltration step installation, culvert stabilization efforts, and rain garden construction
340 feet of shoreline buffers were installed
412 native plants planted
40 live stake cuttings planted
4 Lake Wise Award winners!

Photo: PMNRCD

Property owners that did not qualify for the Lake Wise Award this season can continue to work on their shorelines with the LSCA and PMNRCD to raise their assessment score. Three of the four award winners this year had their initial assessment done in 2020. After some projects were implemented this year, their properties qualified, and they are now award winners. To date, 57 properties have participated in the Lake Wise Program, and have at least received an initial assessment.

In Conclusion

This brings the total Lake Wise Award winning properties on LSC up to 16!

All winners will be receiving the Lake Wise Award plaque that they can proudly display on their shoreline. Keep an eye out for them as you cruise around the lake next season.

In October, we applied for a $25,000 Clean Water and Healthy Ecosystems Projects grant from the LCBP which we hope to earn to help fund the Lake Wise Program for 2022.

Make a positive impact on the lake and be Lake Wise!

Photo: PMNRCD

An Artist’s View Painted by Frances E. Wilson

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 14:35:21 GMT

Hi LSC.

Poultney resident Janice B. Edwards recently researched a painting of Lake St. Catherine, and the artist Frances E. Wilson who painted it. Reproduced below with Janice's permission is the story - we think you'll enjoy it.

History: Beautiful Lake Saint Catherine in Poultney and Wells, Rutland County, Vermont - An Artist’s View Painted by Frances E. Wilson
by Janice B. Edwards, December 7, 2021

Beautiful Lake St. Catherine located in both Poultney and Wells, Rutland County, Vermont is, and has been for centuries, an artist’s haven. It has been the inspiration of many artists through creative expressions with oil and water color paintings, pencil sketches, black and white as well as color photographs, music, poetry and written articles. And, in the 21st century, with digital photographs in websites and shared in many social media sources.

As a Vermont history buff, this researcher / writer’s article about Lake Saint Catherine focuses on Mrs. Frances E. Wilson, who created an artistic painting of this lake. This research began as a request from David Adams, a lake resident, who has obtained a painting entitled, “Lake Saint Catherine Near Poultney, Vermont Painted by Mrs. Frances E. Wilson”. David and his family’s interest is in confirming the location the painting’s view is of; to learn more about the artist who was believed to have been Mrs. Frances E. Wilson; and to try to determine the year the painting may have been created.

David and his family include multi-generational residents of Poultney and seasonal residents of Lake St. Catherine. This researcher / writer’s family does as well.

The painting’s location view:

David and his family have studied the painting’s view, and they have talked with other lake residents about it. They feel that the painting’s view is from the Ferncliff Road near the cottages named Ferncliff and Whippoorwill, which are located on the west side of the lake’s north end. The view’s focus is to the southeast across the lake towards the lands currently home to the Lake St. Catherine State Park as well as towards multiple Cones Point properties.

Together, we each would enjoy hearing from others who may own paintings by Mrs. Frances E. Wilson, as well as from the community with your thoughts about the location of the painting’s view.

This is the only identification on the back side of the painting.

This recent photo view by David’s family is of the area believed to be in the painting created by Mrs. Frances E. Wilson.

Mrs. Frances E. Wilson (1842 - 1914)

Mrs. Frances E. Wilson was Frances Elizabeth Herbert, born one hundred seventy nine years ago on July 10, 1842 in nearby Whitehall in Washington County, New York. Her parents were Robert and Hannah (nee Searl) Herbert, who were both also born in New York State. Frances had several brothers and sisters.

Historical records indicate that Frances could read and write, however, she did not have formal school education. Her father was a farmer and from her birth until 1863 Frances lived with them in Whitehall. The home was apparently near Hampton in Washington County because their postal address was Hampton.

On March 10, 1863, Frances married Ashley Wilson who was also born in Whitehall, New York. He was born April 19, 1839, the son of Squire and Rebecca Wilson. By 1870, Frances and Ashley Wilson were residents in Poultney. Throughout their married life, Frances was keeping house and her husband

worked as a carpenter. The couple did not have any children, however, in 1880, four-year old Mable was living with them. Mable was their adopted daughter.

On June 28, 1898, Mable married to Mr. Perry B. Wolcott. The marriage occurred at her parents’ home. The service was officiated by The Reverend E. H. Randall, pastor of St. John’s Episcopal Church. The wedding party consisted of a few friends. A news account relates that it was “… one of those pleasant affairs which we take delight in publishing, as indicating that this generation like all that have been before it has a just sense of the sacredness and importance of marriage vows, and recognizes wedded life to be an institution ordained of God.” The news account further stated that the wedding was “… arranged with respect to utmost simplicity [and that] there was none of that conventional formality which sometimes destroys the meaning of the occasion.” Following the 10 o’clock service, the couple took a train for Fair Haven, and there connected with a south-bound train of the D. & H.R.R.

Between 1863 and 1900, Ashley and France Wilson’s residences changed a few times, yet it appears they primarily lived in the west village area. By 1900, Ashley was then referred to as an architect, yet he also did not have any formal education.

In 1910 their home was on College Street about five structures northeast of the Mahar home. The Mahar home was the historic red brick house on the east side of College Street facing Moses Hall. It is between two white wooden houses. In 2021, the white house located on the corner of Main and College Streets is known as the Two Editor’s Inn. For many years, it was Carrigan’s Funeral Home. In 1910, Ashley and Frances Wilson have six roomers resident with them, each between the ages of 19 and 26 years. The roomers work in the shirt factory. The shirt factory was within easy walking distance of the College Street home in which they were roomers. The factory was located on the corner of Main and Maple Streets. In 2021, that factory property is occupied by the Stewart’s Bread & Butter Shop and its gas pumps. That corner property was originally site of the beautiful three-story Joslin Hall and the very fine F.B. Barrett & Co. store, a department store.

Mr. & Mrs. Ashley Wilson celebrated their golden wedding anniversary after having lived in Poultney forty-nine years. Throughout their lives, they were members of the Methodist Church, Hampton. The Methodist Church was a wooden structure located on the south side of Greenfield Lane in Hampton village near the road’s intersection with Route 22A across from County Route 18. Neither the church building nor the Greenfield Lane / Route 22A intersection mentioned exist in 2021.

Ashley Wilson died October 3rd, 1913, four months before his wife. His obituary provides significant insight into his life in the community, and because of that obituary details are shared herein.

The obituary stated that Mr. Wilson’s death “… was not unexpected as he had been in feeble health for several months, and was seldom seen on the street; but the passing of such a man as he could not be without a distinct feeling of loss not alone to his family, but to his neighbors and many friends as well. In his quiet and unassuming way he filled out his long life in works abundant and had a prominent place among men of affairs. In his chosen vocation of architect and builder he was foremost in the communities in which he moved, and the fruit of his endeavor survives him in many a structure, public and private, which do credit to his ability and good taste – notably the dwelling houses of E. R. Norton in Granville, and George Stannard in West Haven, Vt.

Mr. Wilson was self-made and yet well made. Chiefly from his own unaided effort came whatever success attended his earthly career. While a man of industry, he was never too busy to give a word of friendly advice or helpful suggestion to any who sought it; and in his employment of men he asked nothing from them that he would not require of himself. Faithfulness to this rule of action doubtless laid the foundation of many infirmities that vexed his declining years. It was his nature to do whatever needed to be done regardless of the difficulties that might stand in the way. He loved his business, and went about it with whole-hearted purpose and cheerful endeavor. His kindly disposition won for him numberless friends, and secured for him the respect of all who knew him. We sorrow for him yet hopefully; the righteous man shall doubtless receive a righteous man’s reward.”

Mr. Wilson’s funeral was largely attended by local people as well as many from other regions. Six nephews acted as bearers including Seymour Burdick of Rutland, Archie Burdick of Pawlet, Ashley S. Wilson of Middle Granville, and Ira, Chester and Warren Wilson of Poultney. He was buried at the Methodist Church’s Brick Church Cemetery, County Route 18 in Whitehall, New York.

Mrs. Frances E. Wilson died four months after her husband’s passing. She died at her College Street home after an illness of only a few days on February 23, 1914. Her cause of death was pneumonia. Her funeral was held at the home officiated by the Reverend E. H. Randall, assisted by H. P. Scratchley. The bearers were Warren Wilson, Ashley Wilson, Chester Wilson and Ira Wilson, nephews of her late husband. She was buried with her husband at the Methodist Church’s Brick Church Cemetery, Whitehall. She was survived by three grandchildren, two boys and a girl, the orphaned children of the couple’s adopted daughter. Mabel Wilson Wolcott died in North Dakota several years before her father’s death.

This 2021 researcher / writer has found an 1899 article about the inauguration of the Ferncliff property which was then owned and managed by Mr. N. Burdick. At the inauguration event, a largely attended concert and hop provided music by a seven piece orchestra from Albany, New York. Tables were laid for twelve people at each, and a splendid meal was consumed at midnight which everyone took part in.

Conclusion:

It appears to this researcher / writer that Mrs. Frances E. Wilson was a talented, self-taught artist, and that the painting in question is certainly the Ferncliff Road property previously discussed. It also appears from the obituary information that her husband’s Burdick relative was owner of that property in the end of the 1890’s / early 1900’s. Therefore, it is likely that Mrs. Wilson had many opportunities to visit it, to be inspired by the beauty and the time to create her views.

It is now one hundred seven years since the death of Mrs. Frances E. Wilson. Again, David Adams and this researcher / writer each would enjoy hearing from others who may own paintings created by the artist, Mrs. Frances E. Wilson. Should anyone have comments, please be in touch with Janice c/o email to – Cartreftaid@yahoo.com. Thank you very much.

2021 Aquatic Vegetation Management Report

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 22:12:07 GMT

This year, we expanded our program to include:

An educational campaign called, "Stop The Spread", and a community meeting at the Wells Lakeside Park to inform lake residents and boaters of best practices to limit the spread of milfoil.
Partnering with the LSCCF and arranging a 3-year plan to address the milfoil in Little Lake. Equal contributions consisting of donations from the lake community and funding from the LSCA and LSCCF paid for the ProcellaCOR treatment as part of the year 1 plan.
A Milfoil Cleanup Community Day in which volunteers collected floating milfoil and other weeds to deposit at drop-off points in the Channel and on Little Lake. This planned one day event in July extended throughout the rest of the season as boaters & kayakers continued to collect and deposit the weeds. The LSCA DASH team handled the Community Day pickup, and the LSCCF harvesting crew made the pickups for the rest of the season.

These efforts led to another successful year of milfoil control on Lake St. Catherine.

The full report can be read here: 2021 - Aquatic Vegetation Management Report. We encourage you to take a few moments to read through the whole report.

Some information from the report:

Milfoil cover percent, which represents the abundance of milfoil in the lake, is at its lowest point for the entire lake since 2010 at 3%. For reference, before the whole lake treatment in 2004, the milfoil cover percent for the entirety of Lake St. Catherine was 49%.
Specifically in Little Lake in 2021, milfoil cover percent was at 5%, down from 36% in 2020.
Of the 199 GPS data points in Lake St. Catherine, 43 are in Little Lake. Milfoil frequency of occurrence (FOC) refers to the percentage of GPS points at which milfoil was found. In 2021 in Little Lake, milfoil frequency of occurrence was at 28%, down from 98% in 2020.
A potential treatment in Little Lake in 2022 is estimated at approximately 25 to 30 acres. For reference, the 2020 treatment area was 70.2 acres.
With the exception of a few GPS points in the Big Lake at which milfoil was found, only trace levels were seen (single stems).

Based on the data, and the results we've all seen throughout the whole of Lake St. Catherine, our Milfoil Control Program had a very successful year. The ProcellaCOR treatments were highly effective, our DASH team did another great job this year (read about that by clicking here), and you got involved as well by participating and volunteering to collect floating milfoil from July to September as part of our Milfoil Cleanup Community Day (read about that by clicking here). We also heard numerous reports throughout the season of folks removing milfoil from their props, their shorelines, and if it happened to float by their dock.

In early May, the lake will again be surveyed for milfoil growth. At that point, a final treatment map will be created which will show proposed spot treatment and DASH locations.

We'll be sure to keep you up-to-date on our 2022 efforts as work continues over the winter and into the spring.

If you have any questions, please get in touch at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you for your continued financial and volunteer support as we work to keep milfoil under control in Lake St. Catherine! Let's keep working together!

Update: Injured Loon Finishes Rehab, Will Be Released

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 14:03:31 GMT

Back in mid October, we let you know about an injured loon that was captured in North Bay by Loon Biologist Eric Hanson from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) and was brought to Vermont Institute of Natural Science Center (VINS) in Quechee, VT.

The loon had been caught up in fishing line, and the hooks from a large lure had punctured her feet.

Later that evening, Eric sent us an update. He explained that he met the lead rehab person at VINS and they were able to remove the line and all of the hooks that had hooked into its feet. Unfortunately, it was determined that the loon has a broken toe, and infection is a concern. Eric noted that if the loon was able to elude the Wardens while impaired, it may be strong enough to survive at 90% at the ocean this winter.

A week later, we heard from Eric that he took the loon to Avian Haven in Maine for surgery on her feet. The surgery was performed, and Eric provided the following update from the folks at Avian Haven:

"We put her in the pool for about a half hour first thing this morning; she promptly swam underwater laps, seemingly with the same ease as previously. So far, so good!"

Eric noted that parts of 2 of her toes and some webbing had to be removed during the surgery (you can see in the photo below). Even if she can swim at 70-80%, she may be OK to release. If so, she'll receive a USFWS band. But, they'll need to see how the following week would play out for her.

We've just received a new update from Eric, and he's told us that the loon in now healthy enough to release! She will be banded and released next week.

Finally, Eric noted that this is a good educational opportunity to spread the word to reel in when loons are nearby.

Thank you to everyone involved to help give this loon a chance.

If you'd like to support Eric and the VCE for their outstanding efforts efforts, you can:

-Donate to the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE): https://vtecostudies.org/give/, or

- Purchase one of their Vermont Loon Conservation Project shirts, which you can see here: https://www.bonfire.com/vermont-loon-conservation-project/

Injured Loon Captured, Taken To VINS

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 15:57:31 GMT

Hello LSC.

We'd like to tell you about a loon rescue that took place on Wednesday on Lake St. Catherine.

Last weekend, a loon that appeared in distress was seen in North Bay. It was initially thought that the loons legs were tangled with weeds, and Loon Biologist Eric Hanson from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies was contacted.

On Monday afternoon, the loon was seen again, and fishing line and a fishing lure (4" or so) could be seen wrapped around its legs impairing its ability to do normal activities. Eric was contacted again with an update, and our Vermont Fish & Wildlife Game Warden Justin Turner was called.

On Tuesday, Justin and his partner attempted to capture the loon, but were unsuccessful. Although its legs were tangled, it was still able to elude their attempts to safely capture it.

On Wednesday, Eric came down from Craftsbury, VT to attempt to capture the loon. When he arrived, the loon was was located near shore and appeared exhausted. Thankfully, Eric was able to safely capture it:

You can see how the line had tangled around its legs:

Eric was then able to transport the loon to the Vermont Institute of Natural Science Center (VINS) in Quechee, VT. We had called ahead to make sure someone would be there to receive the loon.

We will keep you up-to-date as we learn more about its progress at VINS. Keep your fingers crossed!

We'd like to thank the Lake St. Catherine residents who noticed and reported the loon in distress, our Game Warden Justin Turner and his partner, Eric Hanson from VCE and the folks at VINS for their efforts to give this loon a chance.

Great work by everyone involved.

If you'd like to support the efforts of VCE and VINS, you can make a donation to them on their websites.

- Donate to the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE): https://vtecostudies.org/give/

- Donate to the Vermont Institute of Natural Science Center (VINS): https://vinsweb.org/donate/

We are so happy that the loon population has been increasing over the years, and as we've heard from discussions and online postings from you, we all love seeing and hearing them on the lake.

So, here are some tips to keep the loons safe and healthy from VCS and their publication, Vermont's Common Loon: A Guide For Boaters:

Respect: Enjoy loons from a distance through binoculars. When paddling, never pursue loons for a photo or closer look. A loon constantly swimming away from you is a stressed loon.

Avoid Nesting Areas: Not all nest sites are signed. Be aware of potential nests in marshes and on islands; be ready to paddle slowly away from a loon sitting on shore. If a loon leaves its nest, depart the area immediately; the loon will return once it feels safe.

Slow Down: Loon chicks can be difficult to see. If boating at high speeds, note where the loon family is and avoid that area. Please observe the “no wake speed” law within 200 feet of shorelines. Wakes from boats can flood shoreline nests and dislodge eggs, while speeding boats have been known to run over loons, injuring or killing them.

Get the Lead Out: Fish responsibly. Loons, like many birds, ingest small pebbles in order to help digest their food. Unfortunately, if the material they collect contains lead from sinkers or jigs, poisoning and death may result.

Reel In When Loons are Diving Nearby: Loons will take live bait and lures. Nearly 50% of loon deaths are caused by ingesting lead fishing gear or injury from fishing line entanglement and hooks.

Take Action: It is against the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act to harass migratory birds in the U.S. Please report any loon harassment to your local game warden or state police.

Plant Native Vegetation: If you own shoreline, let your lawn grow wild to create wildlife habitat. Leave woody debris and underwater plants for aquatic insects, fish, and loons. If you need a mowed area, keep it 15-20 feet from shore.

Enjoy: Vermont’s lakes and ponds can be home to both people and loons, if we treat loons with respect and are good stewards of forested shorelines and underwater habitat.

Thanks again for everyone involved in this effort. We are hopeful that the loon will be able to recover and make its way to the ocean for the winter, and we'll see it again at ice out in 2022.

LSCA Works To Bring Grant Funding To Lake St. Catherine For The 2022 Season

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 10 Oct 2021 19:00:50 GMT

Good afternoon LSC.

We'd like to tell you about some grants we have submitted to bring funds to Lake St. Catherine for the 2022 season, and a few other that we will be applying for soon.

Today, we applied for 2 grants through the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) totaling over $74,000 in potential funding:

Clean Water and Healthy Ecosystems Projects
Small Implementation Grant: Lake Wise

In partnership with the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District (PMNRCD) and Castleton University (CU), the LSCA applied for funding to continue our very successful Lake Wise Program on Lake St. Catherine.

The Vermont DEC’s Lake Wise Program encourages landowners to voluntarily implement lake-friendly practices on their property.

The Lake Wise Program was developed by Vermont’s Lakes and Ponds Program to recognize outstanding efforts by homeowners who live along a lakeshore to protect the water quality and habitat along the shoreline and within the near-shore area of the lake. Four categories are assessed: The driveway and parking area, the structure (which includes roof, drainage, and septic), the recreation area (the lawn/footprint of non-natural, high-use yard areas), and the shoreline buffer area. All categories are scored on their ability to slow, infiltrate and filter stormwater runoff which carries nutrients like phosphorus & nitrogen, sediments, and pollution into the Lake.

The goal of the Lake Wise program, from the Lake Wise website:

"The goal of Lake Wise is to establish a new normal, a new culture of lakeshore landscaping that is proven to help protect the lake. A property that earns the Lake Wise Award will represent a 'model' shoreland property. The Lake Wise Award certifies a property is well managed, using shoreland Best Management Practices, and is maintained to care for the lake."

Currently, 12 properties on LSC have earned the Lake Wise Award, with 1 award in 2019, and 11 in 2020.

24 new properties were assessed in 2021, and many stormwater infiltration projects were installed. The results of the assessments and the implementations are still being tabulated, but we are hopeful to be able to announce some awards soon!

The Lake Wise Program not only educates property owners around the lake about the issues stormwater can cause (carrying phosphorus, sediment, and pollutants into the lake), but it also implements stormwater infiltration projects on individual properties with native plantings, rain gardens, infiltration steps, etc.

This is a fantastic program that we hope to continue each season.

Clean Water and Healthy Ecosystems Projects
Planning Grant: LSC Stormwater Master Plan Project Design

In partnership with the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District (PMNRCD), the LSCA applied for funding for the planning, prioritization, outreach, design, and budgeting of projects identified in the Lake St. Catherine Stormwater Master Plan (SWMP).

In 2018 and 2019, extensive field work by the PMNRCD and Fitzgerald Environmental Associates (FEA) took place in the LSC watershed. The goal was to identify sources of increased stormwater runoff and associated sediments and nutrients. Phosphorus reducing projects are of particular importance given the water quality concerns within the watershed. The work involved identifying sources of stormwater, prioritizing sources based on various environmental, economic, and social criteria, and designing projects to mitigate those sources.

In the coming months, we will be applying for multiple aquatic invasive species (AIS) grants through the LCBP and the Vermont DEC to help fund our Boat Launch Greeter and Milfoil Control Programs.

We'll keep working for LSC over the fall & winter, and we'll keep you up-to-date with all the latest news.

Thank you for your support!

We hope you find our efforts worthy and we can earn your support - are you a member for 2021? Maintaining the lake costs approximately $125,000 annually. Grants, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and any contribution that you make may be tax deductible.

Weed Cleanup In The Channel & Little Lake - Thank You!

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 14:19:30 GMT

A good brisk morning to you LSC.

We'd like to do a quick recap of the floating weed cleanup efforts in the Channel & Little Lake this summer, say a few thank yous, and talk about keeping these efforts going next season.

In early July, as part of our milfoil control efforts, the LSCA and LSCCF announced that they had been planning for a 'Community Day' in the Channel and Little Lake areas to organize volunteers to collect all the floating milfoil they can find as an educational and hands-on 'Stop The Spread' event. Lake neighbors in the Channel informed us that they would like this effort to continue for the whole season, so arrangements were made to make this happen.

As we know, floating milfoil fragments will seed new plants - so it's very important to remove them from the lake. We also worked to educate residents on how they could help to 'Stop The Spread':

As a general rule, get as much milfoil out of the lake as possible. Let it dry out on land and dispose of it as you would yard waste.
Don’t drive through milfoil patches with your boat which will create fragments which can float away and seed new plants.
If you have milfoil on your prop, don’t just reverse and drive away, please remove it from the lake.
If you have milfoil growing in your dock or swimming area, pull it out by the roots and remove it from the lake.
If you see milfoil floating anywhere in the lake, near your dock, or along your shoreline, remove it from the lake.
Obey boating regulations by travelling at no-wake, 5 MPH speeds within 200’ of the shoreline.

Two weed drop-off points were set up, one in the Channel, and one in Little Lake. Volunteers were asked to scoop up and collect detached floating weeds and deposit them at one of the two drop-off points so they could be collected for disposal.

The kickoff event took place on Sunday, July 25th. That morning, volunteers from all around the lake came down to participate, filling up both drop-off points with weeds:

Drop-off point in the Channel

Drop-off point in Little Lake

Later that day, the LSCA's diver assisted suction harvesting (DASH) crew filled 21 buckets (17.5 gallon) full of weeds to haul away!

We are happy to report that these efforts continued throughout the season! Channel & Little Lake residents kept at it by loading up the drop-off points with weeds, and assisting the LSCCF's harvesting crew as they made regular pickups.

We have a lot of folks to thank for helping to make this project as success.

A sincere thank you to:

Heather from West Lake Road for loaning her float to be used as a drop-off point in the channel - her float was returned last weekend
Dawn and Joel for allowing the float to be anchored in front of their camp
Karla and Mike for allowing their dock in the Little Lake to be used as a drop-off point
The LSCA's DASH crew, Owen & Beck for the initial pickup on Community Day
The LSCCF's harvesting crew for the subsequent pickups through the Summer
The volunteers from Community Day, and the volunteers and Channel & Little Lake residents that worked all throughout the season to collect the weeds

This project was very successful, and we hope to continue, and expand it next year by starting it much earlier in the season.

If you can help by donating or loaning a float next season, please contact us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

We are very happy with our lake-wide milfoil control efforts for 2021, and we hope you are too. Our DASH team did great work again this year (read about that here), and year one of the 3-year milfoil control plan for Little Lake yielded excellent results. You can check out 'before' and 'after' drone photos by clicking those links (thank you to VT Lake House for taking these photos!).

Next Spring, we'll be reaching out to the lake community for donations to help fund year 2 of the plan which will be developed over the Winter and early Spring. We hope we can earn your support for the plan. You can read more about the 3-year plan and our 2021 fundraising efforts here: https://lakestcatherine.org/little-lake-milfoil-control

Soon, a comprehensive lake-wide aquatic plant survey will take place, and we'll have a full report to share with you in early November.

Thanks again to everyone working hard and participating in this lake-wide Milfoil Control Program. Our collective efforts are making a significant and measurable difference in the milfoil level of Lake St. Catherine!

Let's all plan on working even harder next year!

Thank you!

We hope you find our Milfoil Control efforts worthy and we can earn your support - are you a member for 2021? Maintaining the lake costs approximately $125,000 annually. Grants, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and any contribution that you make may be tax deductible.

Drone Photos Taken Of Little Lake On September 1st, 2021

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 11:45:14 GMT

Good morning LSC.

We'd like to share some drone photos and video of the Little Lake that were taken on 9/1/21 - 10 weeks after the milfoil treatment on June 22nd. A sincere THANK YOU to VT Lake House for taking these photos for us!

Back on June 30th, we shared the first set of drone photos taken of Little Lake which were taken the morning after the treatment. You can see those photos and video by clicking here: Google Drive folder, Drone Photos - 6-23-2021.

Little Lake Drone Photo - 9/1/21, photos by VT Lake House

You can view all of the new 'after' images and video taken on September 1st here: Drone Photos - 9-1-2021.

We think you'll notice a dramatic difference!

As we've seen during our observations, and we've heard from happy Little Lake residents, the treatment was very successful. We are so happy to hear the stories of folks skiing and tubing, and seeing Little Lake looking great!

This was a large undertaking by the LSCA and LSCCF both in preparation work and funding. There was also incredible lake community support with contributions to the fundraiser (you can read more about that here) and by those who worked throughout the summer to get milfoil out of the lake to help 'stop the spread' by scooping floating milfoil out of the lake (you can read about those efforts here).

While we've had a FANTASTIC result this season, this is just year 1 of a 3 year plan. Your support will be needed as we continue our battle to keep milfoil under control in Little Lake and the whole of LSC. If you have not become a member of the LSCA for 2021, please do! You can learn about becoming a member here. Your membership dues help fund our import Lake programs to fulfill our mission of the preservation, protection and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine. We'll also be looking to the lake community for support for the year 2 fundraiser which will kickoff early next Spring when the 2022 milfoil plan is finalized.

Finally, at the end of the month, a comprehensive, lake-wide aquatic plant survey will take place which will outline the results of our LSC milfoil control efforts, and the state of other aquatic plants. You can view the past 17 aquatic plant survey reports by visiting our website's Links & Downloads section. We'll share this report with you as soon as it's available in early November.

Thanks again to VT Lake House for taking the 'before' and 'after' photos and video for us, and thank you to everyone in the lake community that helped make the year 1 treatment of Little Lake a success!

Let's all work together and have another successful year of milfoil control in 2022.

Thank you.

2021 End Of Season DASH Report

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 12:32:15 GMT

Last week, our Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) crew completed their contracted hours for the season, and they have provided us their report.

Owen & Beck - Lake St. Catherine Association DASH crew

This season, 146 buckets (17.5 gallon) were harvested. In 2020, 132 buckets were harvested. In 2019, 1,293 buckets were harvested. The DASH crew picked up an additional 21 buckets (not included in the 146 total) as part of the Community Day cleanup in the Channel & Little Lake back in July.

The most amount of milfoil that was removed in one area was from area I, across from the State Park. The milfoil density was very high in this very small .9 acre area, and 53 buckets were removed here. Second was area D, Atwater Bay with 37 buckets from 13.6 acres. Third was area N, Sandy Beach with 24 buckets from 8.2 acres. These 3 areas accounted for approximately 78% of the bucket count this season.

Owen & Beck also report that the lake is looking great, and milfoil areas and densities remain low. They have already generated a preliminary map for 2022, which we'll reference as we perform the Spring survey next May.

Here is a short video taken this season showing how the milfoil is hand-pulled:

Thank you to Owen & Beck for their great work again this season!

Because of their hard work, the spot ProcellaCOR treatments (and the treatment in Little Lake), and the efforts of all of you to get milfoil out of the lake to help to stop the spread, we believe we'll see in our Fall survey that milfoil levels will be at the lowest level we've seen in 15 years (since the full lake treatment in 2004).

Let's all keep up the good work!

Finally, a quick note on milfoil identification. Throughout the season, we receive calls and emails to report milfoil sightings - which is great. We will always investigate and take a look to see if there is a milfoil issue in the area reported. What we've found is that folks are frequently seeing Illinois Pondweed (Potamogeton illinoensis) and not milfoil.

This is Illinois Pondweed, which is a native aquatic plant for LSC:

This plant had a particularly good growing year. This plant will grow to the surface and the tip of the plant will grow slightly above the surface and you'll see the 'flower' above the water.

Our DASH crew is not permitted to remove this or any other native plant - they can only hand-pull milfoil.

However, Illinois Pondweed - or other native plants - can certainly become a nuisance in your dock or swimming area. If they are, you may rake or hand-pull these plants in your area to remove them. If you do, you should do your best to remove them by the roots, and ALWAYS remove them from the lake and get them on shore. Let them dry out and dispose of them as you would yard waste.

This is milfoil:

This is an invasive weed that the DASH crew is permitted to remove.

Thanks again to everyone working hard and participating in this lake-wide Milfoil Control Program. Our collective efforts are making a significant and measurable difference in the milfoil level of Lake St. Catherine!

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees - 08/28/21

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 16:19:53 GMT

On Saturday, August 28th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their fourth and final meeting of the 2021 season. Meeting minutes compiled by Kemi McShane.

Attendance: Jim Canders, Ed Laird, Elaine Bagley, John Belnavis, Mary Jo Teetor, Jerremy Jones, Frank Callahan, Bob Williams. Online/phone: Jeff Crandall, Martha Pofit, Nancy Liberatore, Lisa Micich, Kemi McShane. Absent: Michael Gay, Ken Abt, Rob Nesbit

Call to Order: President, Jim Canders called to order the meeting at 8:40 AM at the LSC CC.

Introduction: Jim Canders introduced Beck Sinclair to present on the work accomplished by the DASH team this 2021 season. Highest concentration of milfoil was at Location I, across from the State Park in the channel entering North Bay at Pine Point. North Bay had sparse density, and this area is projected for next year work, also Horseshoe Bay will be a priority. 92 acres in total was addressed by DASH. The maps used for location work areas will be provided to the Fall surveyors to help identify problem areas. 167 total buckets were removed - 53 in area I alone, 21 as part of the Community Clean Up Day. Less floating fragments this season as compared to the past. Noted not as much algae as well. It was requested that as the DASH team works around the Lake next season, to be aware of the roads, shorelines and run-off areas to help identify any areas that the Watershed Action Plan can potentially address. Many volunteers this year to scoop the weeds and pick up floaters to help contain the milfoil. Beck was thanked for the hard work that DASH performs for the lake.

Secretary's Report: motion made and second to accept the Secretary’s report as presented. Motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report: Discussion regarding the transition period as Elaine, our treasurer is retiring. A motion was made to accept the treasurer’s report as presented, second. Motion carried to accept the treasurer’s report.

LSCCF Annual Meeting Report: Jerremy gave a brief report on the meeting he attended last week. There was a general sense of contentment with the collaborative efforts of the 2 groups, and discussion of the success of the treatment. All of our joint initiatives were mentioned, Lake Wise, ProcellaCOR, Community Day weed cleanup. The LSCCF also discussed their individual efforts, finances, bylaws, etc. A motion was made to respond to the LSCCF’s request to include the LSCA in a letter to Misha and the DEC as a supporter of leaving the aeration system in place for ‘emergencies’. Misha sent a request to the LSCCF asking them to remove the system. After discussion, the board concluded that they wanted to remain neutral and consistent with our previous stance as the LSCCF went through the aeration permit process which was to remain neutral, to neither support or oppose the permit, and to accept the DEC's position when reached. A motion was made to that effect. Motion seconded, voted all in favor. Motion carried.

Milfoil: Jeff Crandall reports the herbicide treatment in the LL was very successful. He was told people were waterskiing in the LL again. 70 acres were treated in the LL. Discussion regarding where potential problem areas are around the locations where the Lake is spring feed, such as Endless Brook / Pine Point. Jerremy requested year end aquatic plant report to be available by first week of November.

Water Quality: Mary Jo reports no documented issues this summer, even with recent storms and runoffs. No identification of E Coli, but test kits are available if needed.

Greeter Program: John reports Greeters not seeing milfoil coming out of the Lake like in previous years. Tracking of hours for the survey to be sent to the State. Needs to track data for grants and payments. John noticed the statements of invasive species posted at the boat launch and questioned how to remove that information if not applicable today (water chestnuts)?

Publicity: Jerremy has the Fall newsletter to distribute and will post to our website for online access and email to members. Also available at Otto’s and WCS.

Lake Safety: Frank said the new buoys finally arrived in time for next year. Volunteers to place buoy in Halls Bay in place.

Nominating Committee: Bob Williams reports we have 13 active members. The Association needs 1 person for a 1-year term and 1 person for a 3-year term, to be appointed by Jim per the bylaws. Bob thanked our retiring Trustees: Kemi McShane, Elaine Bagley, and Ken Abt for their years of service to the board and LSC.

Membership: Elaine explained the different stages for the mailings for the membership committee to perform. February membership drive kickoff mailing, postcard reminders, online registration, maintaining and updating the data to keep members contact information current. Bookkeeping of the dues and donations. LSCA has 362 members to date. 40 members from last year have not rejoined, MJ stated this may be due to property transfers. Membership expires January first of each calendar year. A motion was made to have MJ and Jerremy handle the financial plan for bookkeeping and data process in the transitional period. The motion was second, with no further discussion, motion carried.

Grants: Martha reports that Lake Wise saw a lot of interest this summer season. Will be submitting a 3-year work plan for the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan in collaboration with the PMNCRD that will include, organizing, analyzing, identifying, goal setting, prioritizing with the LCBP and DEC on future projects around the Lake. A motion was made to have the president be able to call additional board meetings as need. It was seconded, voted on and motion carried.

Old Business: East Poultney Day was attended by Jim and Jerremy. Lots of support for the LSCA was received from the community.

New Business: The LSCA received notice of a potential land from the Warwicks. A $50.00 donation was received from them, and the offering of a parcel of land on the Lily Pond and a parcel of land in Poultney. Discussion ensued regarding acceptance of this generous donation. A motion was made to do our due diligence and review the legality, tax liability, marketability, etc. before accepting the donation of the land to the LSCA. The motion was seconded and without further discussion, motion carried. MJ, Nancy and Ed will work cooperatively on researching the necessary information.

Next scheduled Board meeting: May 28, 2022 at 8:30 to be held at LSCCC.

Election of Officers:

Recording Secretary - no one elected, position open

Treasurer - Mary Jo Teetor, motion, seconded, carried

Vice President - Martha Pofit, motion,seconded, carried

President - Jim Canders, motion, seconded, carried

Motion: Corporate resolution to amend the banking signature card to include, Jim Canders, Mary Jo Teetor, Jerremy Jones. Two signatures are required on a check written for any amount above $1,000.00. Seconded, carried

Motion for adjournment made, seconded, and carried.

Meeting adjourned at 11:07 AM

LSCA Receives Grant-in-Aid To Prevent Introduction And Combat Invasives

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 16:08:15 GMT

The Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) is pleased to announce grant funding from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation's Grant-in-Aid Program on two fronts for a total of $21,695.00. The Aquatic Invasive Species Grant-in-Aid is an important piece of funding that the LSCA utilizes to manage milfoil and educate the public on water quality issues and invasive species threatening the health and balance of the lake.

Our Greeter Program is stationed at the Fish and Wildlife boat access in Wells. Our greeters welcome boaters at the launch to inspect boats and trailers for any signs of invasive species, particularly the introduction of milfoil and zebra mussels. They also educate people on other threats that might be in other waters that could be transported if a boat was recently in another body of water. Boats are also inspected and any fragments of weeds are removed from boats and trailers so they will not be transported to other lakes. It is highly encouraged to wash your boat as well as clean, drain, and dry bilges and engine intakes before traveling from one lake to another. In addition, in partnership with the Lake St. Catherine State Park, our greeter station at the park is also operating this year as well. These important grant dollars make it possible for the LSCA to expand its program to monitor as many boats as possible coming and going from Lake St. Catherine.

A portion of the grant also contributes to support our Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) Control Program which focuses on the in-lake methods used to combat the invasive milfoil and monitor the water body for signs of any other threats of non-native species. The LSCA uses an integrated, multi-faceted approach to management which includes DASH (diver assisted suction harvesting), diver hand pulling, and spot herbicide treatment.

The most recent success of the program has led to a greatly reduced population of milfoil in the Little Lake. This expansion of the program is part of a 3-year program the Lake St. Catherine Association planned with participation from the Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund (LSCCF) to focus on areas that have been unable to benefit from the treatment program over the past several years. The Little Lake program received support funds from the LSCA, LSCCF, and individual donations through a fundraising campaign, to successfully treat 40% of the Little Lake with ProcellaCOR.

We would like to thank the Town of Poultney and Wells, as well as the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) for their support and partnership in the successful application and administration of the grants as well as the peripheral programs that enhance the Lake St. Catherine environment for all to enjoy.

The LSCA Fall 2021 Newsletter

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 28 Aug 2021 16:00:45 GMT

Hello LSC!

We'd like to let you know that the LSCA Fall 2021 newsletter is now available.

The Fall issue has an update on Little Lake, lots of recaps of events since the Spring issue - including the Boat Parade & Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner - and a large section is devoted to explaining the large grant we've received to create a Lake Watershed Action Plan for Lake St. Catherine.

In an effort to save on printing and mailing costs, we've decided to only print a short run of copies and distribute them to Otto's Cones Point General Store and the Wells Country Store. If you'd like a printed copy, please feel free to pick one up when you are out and about (available now). Thank you to Otto's and WCS!

Also, your LSCA Trustee neighbors will have printed copies available around the lake.

The digital version is now available online via our website through this link: Click here to view the Fall 2021 Newsletter, or click on the image below. When you click on the link for the newsletter, you will be able to view it on screen - and be able to zoom in or out using the controls in your browser window. Or, you can click the download button to save a copy to your computer to view with a PDF reader, and/or print a copy.

Have You Renewed Your Membership For 2021?

As we near the end of the season, we'd like to ask our members to check to see if they renewed their membership for 2021.

According to our records, we have over 40 members who were members last year that have not yet renewed for 2021.

You can renew or become a member on our website. If you were a member in 2020, click here to renew, or click here to become a new member - and you can pay your dues online with your credit card. If you were a member last year (whether you paid by check or online by credit card), the website has an account ready for you. If you don't remember your password, have never logged in, or if you have not logged into the new website launched in December, please click here to set or reset your password.

Thank you for your support of the LSCA!

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees - 07/24/2021

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 16:31:59 GMT

On Saturday, July 28th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their third meeting of the 2021 season. Meeting minutes compiled by Kemi McShane.

Attendance: Jim Canders, Nancy Liberatore, John Belvavis, Ed Laird, Mary Jo Teetor, Jerremy Jones, Frank Callahan, Bob Williams, Elaine Bagley, Martha Pofit, Ken Abt (online), Jeff Crandall (online). Absent: Rob Nesbit, Kemi McShane.

Call to Order: President Jim Canders called the meeting to order at 8:05 AM. Minutes compiled by Jerremy Jones.

Previous meeting minutes approved.

Annual Meeting, John: LSC CC can offer the same dinners as 2019 meeting, a buffet selection of chicken or fish with sides or a prime rib dinner. Jerremy will start working on the presentation, setting up RSVPs through the website.

Greeters, John: Program running well, Greeters doing a great job at boat launch and State Park. Greeters went around Little Lake for the Stop The Spread handout. Will also cover the rest of the lake.

Milfoil Control, Jeff: Got the F&W Greeter permit for the boat launch, one is not needed at the State Park. DASH - 92 acres, will start July 1st for full operations, currently hand-pulling. ProcellaCOR treatment occurred on June 22nd in Halls Bay, and in Little Lake.

Little Lake Meeting, Jerremy: Meeting on June 19 at Wells Lakeside Park. Members of LSCCF, LSCA, Wells Select Board, and members of the lake community attended. We detailed the 3 year plan and discussed the Stop The Spread handout. The meeting was mostly positive, then veered off of that positivity when the Q&A started. We did receive some nice feedback from some attendees. Jim offered a motion for $425 to cover the cost of the handouts, approved. Also discussed was a meeting called by the Wells Select Board on June 23rd, attended by Jim, Frank, and Jerremy. Members of the LSCCF were also in attendance. Topics discussed: the 3-year Little Lake milfoil control program, and the working relationship between the WSB, LSCA, and LSCCF.

Treasurer’s Report, Elaine: Financial report presented and approved. To date, 341 members. Donations coming in from happy users of the lake. 990 filed, motion to pay preparer, approved. Elaine summarized closure and setup of new accounts as was discussed last meeting.

Water Quality, Mary Jo: Lay monitoring taking place as usual. Will contact town to order E. coli testing kits.

Publicity, Jerremy: discussed recent coverage of the award of the watershed action grant in local papers, recent community volunteer events, website and Facebook always updated with latest lake and LSCA news.

Lake Safety, Frank: 2 upcoming boating license classes, many reservations for both, might add a third, TBD. Buoys and markers out, the one in Halls Bay went missing soon after it was placed. More have been ordered. Discussed reports of unsafe boating, extend an invite to our Game Warden to speak at annual meeting.

Grants, Martha: discussed kickoff of Lake Wise, LCBP’s State of the Lake report, and clean water funding, the Watershed Action Plan.

Nominating, Bob: 4 open spots, 1 to be appointed, 3 for election at annual meeting. Idea to create ‘Wanted’ posters to be used as ice-breakers to speak with residents about joining the LSCA. Current Trustees will canvas their areas to speak with potential candidates. Jerremy will create the poster and email to Trustees.

New Business: Sign up for East Poultney Day? Yes, Jerremy will get us signed up. Wells Variety Day, per Nora at Wells Town Hall, will not be happening.

Motion for adjournment, approved.

Milfoil Cleanup Community Day Recap

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 21:44:02 GMT

Hello LSC.

We got lucky with the weather, and the Milfoil Cleanup Community Day, organized by the LSCA and LSCCF was able to go ahead as scheduled for 9 AM this morning.

Multiple boats, kayaks & canoes were out there scooping up all the milfoil & floating weeds we could find in the Channel and Little Lake.

THANK YOU to all our volunteers!

After the collection was done, the LSCA's diver assisted suction harvesting (DASH) crew came down to pickup all the collected weeds so they could be hauled away for disposal.

They filled up 21 buckets (17.5 gallon) to take away!

Our DASH crew: Owen & Beck (and Arlo in the middle):

The guys picking up at the Little Lake drop-off point - thanks for volunteering your dock Karla & Mike:

Then it was off to clean up the floating dock:

Thanks again to Heather for loaning us this floating platform for this project.

The good news from today was that there was not a lot of floating milfoil to be found. While an occasional milfoil stem was found, the plants were almost all detached natives.

Since milfoil fragments can seed new milfoil growth, it was GREAT to see so little floating milfoil in the Channel and in Little Lake today.

The milfoil treatment in Little Lake was very successful, so we are off to a good start in year 1 of the 3 year plan. You can read more about the 3 year milfoil plan for Little Lake here: https://lakestcatherine.org/little-lake-milfoil-control

You can also read a brief 1 month post treatment report that was included in our presentation at the Annual Meeting & Dinner last evening. You can view that slide presentation here: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/10773287

We'll do a cleanup day again next year, and we'll try to do it earlier in the season. Also, these 2 drop-off points will stay in place for the season, and will be monitored for pickups. So, please continue to use them!

Thank you to all involved!

2021 LSCA Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner Recap

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 12:00:45 GMT

Hello LSC.

Last evening, the LSCA held our 2021 Annual Meeting & Dinner at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club.

The LSCA Trustees gave their committee reports as part of the presentation, and then we had a great dinner!

Our presentation is attached below:

Thank you so much to our attendees (we had a full house!) - it was GREAT to see everyone in person.

We'd also like to thank the staff at the LSC CC who did a great job for us.

If you have any questions or comments about the presentation, we'd like to hear from you. Let us know at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Here's a photo gallery from the evening:

Click here to view all the photos in the gallery.

We hope you enjoyed the evening!

Thank you.

Meet & Greet With LSC Game Warden, Correspondence With Vermont State Police

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 16:15:24 GMT

Hello LSC.

We have heard recent reports about unsafe boating issues around the lake, including speeding in the Channel and unsafe jet ski operation.

So, last Saturday, we invited the Lake St. Catherine Game Warden, Justin Turner, to a Meet & Greet with the lake community. We had a great turnout with a great mix of folks from all areas around LSC, including Rutland-Bennington state house district Representative Sally Achey.

Justin listened to everyone's concerns, and answered everyone's questions.

Some ideas that were discussed included:

Outreach to the Vermont State Police Marine Division
Increased presence by the Game Warden and Vermont State Police
During visits by Justin or VSP, prioritize speeding and unsafe boating issues
A 'citizens patrol' in which we employ someone with enforcement capabilities
Adding a speeding warning sign to the Fish & Wildlife Boat Launch in Wells
Asking our Boat Launch Greeters to mention the no wake rule in the Channel when completing the vessel inspection and/or pointing out the speeding warning sign
Timing visits by the Warden or VSP to coincide with high traffic days, fishing tournaments, etc.
Justin explained how residents can be an 'expert witness' of unsafe boating by taking a photo or video and capturing or noting their registration number - and then reporting it to him
Residents felt that issuing tickets with a fine would deter unsafe boating

Justin made it clear that he heard everyone's concerns.

Justin explained that he can't be here as often as he'd like, and that the Wardens are understaffed. Justin's coverage area includes 9 towns: Arlington, Sunderland, Sandgate, Manchester, Rupert, Dorset, Pawlet, Danby and Wells. Although his area does not include Poultney, he is responsible for all of Lake St. Catherine.

We thank Justin for his time to speak with us last weekend.

As a followup to this meeting with Justin, we reached out to Sergeant Trevor Carbo of the Vermont State Police who is in Special Operations, Recreation Enforcement with the attendees' concerns.

In correspondence with Sergeant Carbo, he indicated that his department is also experiencing staffing issues. He noted that they are seeing an increase in reports of unsafe boating on all bodies of water in the state, fueled by a combination of increased interest in outdoor activities and inexperienced boaters.

He also let us know that the idea of a hired citizen patrol with enforcement capabilities would not be possible. State statute, hiring, training requirements, insurance and liability concerns would make this idea prohibitive.

Sergeant Carbo stated that he would share our concerns with Fish & Wildlife, and that he'd also share our concerns with his department in the Rutland office so they can focus on these issues when they are here.

If you witness unsafe boating, and would like to report it, please call Justin on his cell: 802-595-8754.

You can read more about LSC Lake Safety including Vermont and Lake St. Catherine specific boating rules on our website here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-safety

Thank you.

Milfoil Cleanup 'Community Day' & Milfoil Updates

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 04:25:09 GMT

Hello LSC.

We'd like to announce a milfoil cleanup 'Community Day' in the Channel and Little Lake on Sunday, July 25th, and give you an update on our Milfoil Control efforts so far this season.

Milfoil Cleanup 'Community Day': Members of the LSCA and LSCCF have been planning for a 'Community Day' in the Channel and Little Lake areas to organize volunteers to collect all the floating milfoil they can find as an educational and hands-on 'Stop The Spread' event to benefit the lake on Sunday, July 25th, beginning at 9 AM. We have been informed that neighbors in the Channel would like this to expand past a single day event, to become a season-long effort - which is FANTASTIC - and we have made arrangements to make this happen.

A very generous member of the lake community from West Lake Road (thanks Heather!) has loaned a floating platform so it can be used as an easily accessible drop-off point in the Channel. This platform was installed in the Channel this weekend:

If you are heading towards the Little Lake from the bridge, this platform is set up in front of the last camp on the left (thanks Dawn & Joel!) in the Channel before getting to Little Lake. That's Dawn on her kayak testing it out.

Also, very generous Little Lake residents on Clayton Tract (thanks Karla & Mike!) will make one of their docks available as a drop-off point in the Little Lake.

The orange dots on the map on the left indicate where the designated drop-off points are.

We'll be asking volunteers to get out on the Channel and on the Little Lake to collect all the floating milfoil they can find and deposit it on one of our 2 drop-off points. Then, the Lake St. Catherine Association's DASH team will come down and pickup the collected milfoil for disposal.

After this initial milfoil cleanup Community Day, the two drop-off points will stay in place, and weekly pickups will be made. The milfoil will be collected and delivered to the DASH team for disposal.

Thank you to all the volunteers who have gotten us this far - the project has been planned and a workflow is in place.

Now we need you!

So, we hope to see you out there on the lake in your kayak, on your boat or SUP, or in or on any other kind of floating craft you can bring to be ready to do some milfoil scooping!

We'll provide additional details as we get closer to the event. Mark your calendar for Sunday, July 25th! Thanks.

ProcellaCOR treatment: As you know, 3 areas were treated for milfoil this year: Halls Bay, a small area north of the Channel, and an area of Little Lake.

Based on the reports we've received from many of you, and our own observations, the treatment has been very effective. In Little Lake, you can actually see the line where the treatment area ends (see the map on the left).

This does not mean that the work is done for the season.

We still need your help to make sure these excellent results are not squandered.

It's up to all of us to stop the spread of milfoil.

We recently posted the document "What You Can Do To Help Stop The Spread Of Milfoil" which outlines the best practices that you can follow to help to stop the spread. The LSCA Boat Launch Greeters have also been handing this flyer out around the lake, so you may have already received a printed copy.

We hope you can follow these best practices which apply lake-wide. There are also Little Lake specific best practices for 2021:

Please help to do your part.

The treatment in Little Lake this season is part of a 3-year plan to help get milfoil under control there. In March, the LSCA and LSCCF reached out to the lake community and launched a fundraiser to help pay for this plan. Within just a few weeks, we reached our goal of $12,000, which covered a third of the $36,000 estimate. The LSCA and LSCCF each contributed $12,000 to cover the full amount of the year 1 treatment.

Donations have continued to come in, and we have currently raised over $5,000 to be used for year 2. You can contribute to the 3-year Little Lake plan, and read more about it by clicking here: https://lakestcatherine.org/little-lake-milfoil-control.

Soon, there will be a 1 month post treatment survey, and in late September, there will be a detailed lake-wide aquatic plant survey (you can see our 17 years of aquatic plant surveys on LSC by clicking here). Using the data and information collected from these surveys, a plan of action will be created for year 2.

Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH): As you can see in the flyer image above which includes the map of LSC, the areas highlighted in green are designated to be worked on by our DASH team. They hand pull the milfoil from the bottom of the lakebed by the roots and then suction the full plant to the surface for safe removal from the lake.

The divers started hand pulling milfoil in the designated areas in late June, and were able to begin full operations using the suction equipment on July 1st. They will continue working throughout the summer.

The DASH team is reporting that the milfoil they are seeing in their work areas on the Big Lake have low / sparse milfoil density, and plants are single strands with small root masses.

Each Monday, we'll post an update as to where the DASH team will be working during that week.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to these milfoil control efforts this season. Many in our lake community have made donations, and many are putting in the work to get as much milfoil out of the lake as they can.

If we are all pitching in, we can collectively make a huge impact - please speak to your neighbors and help to get the word out.

Let's do this!

Thank you.

The Results Of The 9th Annual Boat Parade Are...

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 04 Jul 2021 12:08:54 GMT

We got in the 9th Annual Boat Parade, right before the rain started.

Thank you to all who participated, to those who cheered from their boat and from the shore, and to everyone who voted.

We hope you enjoyed it!

The votes are in, and we have our winners...

Most Patriotic:

Boat #19 - Laura Frost - Liberty

Runner up:

Boat #20 - Chris Conte - Patriotic

Funniest:

Boat #12 - Sarah Conine - Horsing Around With The Cows

Runner up:

Boat #4 - Laurie Miller - America Runs On Dunkin'

Most Original:

Boat #2 - The Roth Family - Scooby Doo Mystery Machine

Runner up:

Boat #21 - The Bilotta Family - Summer Camp

Best Overall:

Boat #10 - Tonia and Paul Ramirez - Sponge Bob

Runner up:

Boat #2 - The Roth Family - Scooby Doo Mystery Machine

Vote For Your Favorite Boats From The 9th Annual LSCA Boat Parade

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 03 Jul 2021 19:09:43 GMT

Hello LSC! We got in the 9th Annual Boat Parade, right before the rain started. Thank you to all who participated, and to those who cheered from their boat and the shore. We hope you enjoyed it!

Now it's time to hear from you. You can vote for your favorite boats in our four categories: Best Overall, Funniest, Most Patriotic, Most Original.

Vote here: https://forms.gle/wgoAnYLenXJ2LNvN7

Voting will be open until 8 PM, with the winners announced soon after.

Thank you to all! Have a safe and fun 4th.

Meet & Greet With LSC Game Warden - Justin Turner

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 18:55:20 GMT

Hello LSC.

We are aware of the recent reports of unsafe boating incidents around the lake.

We have invited our Game Warden Justin Turner for a Meet & Greet to talk about lake safety and to answer your questions.

Please join us at the Wells Lakeside Park at 9 AM on Saturday, July 10th.

Thank you!

2021 LSCA Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 21:15:24 GMT

We'd like to invite you to the 2021 Lake St. Catherine Association Annual Meeting & Dinner at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club on Saturday, July 24th, beginning at 6 PM.

We are looking forward to seeing you!

At approximately 7:30, dinner will be served. If you'd like to stay for dinner, the LSC CC has provided the menu below.

Dinner options:

$18.00 per person: Buffet Dinner to include Chicken Francaise, Baked Haddock, and sides.
$30.00 per person: Prime Rib Dinner.

- Includes cake and coffee.

Please RSVP for the meeting so the chef can be prepared for the number of meals to prepare by clicking here to register. You will be able to indicate the selection of dinner(s) you'd like to reserve. You can pay online with a credit card or with cash at the door. Paying online adds $1 to each dinner to cover transaction fees. Thank you. Please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org with any questions.

Click here to RSVP!

Drone Photos Taken Of Little Lake On June 23rd, 2021

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 16:50:49 GMT

Good afternoon LSC.

We'd like to share some drone photos and video of the Little Lake that were taken on 6/23/21, the morning after the milfoil treatment. A sincere THANK YOU to VT Lake House for taking these photos for us.

These photos show us both the beauty of Little Lake and the dense milfoil cover under the surface.

In late August, we'll revisit these areas with the drone to see the effect of the milfoil treatment from this arial perspective. We'll also have a 1 month survey performed in mid-July, and there will be a comprehensive, lake-wide aquatic plant survey that will take place in September (you can view the past 17 aquatic plant survey reports by visiting our website's Links & Downloads section. We'll share these reports with you as soon as they are available.

We also hope that you are helping to do your part as well.

We recently posted "What You Can Do To Help Stop The Spread Of Milfoil" which outlines the best practices that you can follow to help to stop the spread. You can view that here: https://lakestcatherine.org/blog/10670190

If we are all pitching in, we can make our lake-wide milfoil control efforts a success.

To view the full set of photos and the video, please click here to go to the Google Drive folder, Drone Photos - 6-23-2021.

Thank you!

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees - 06/26/2021

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 16:42:14 GMT

On Saturday, June 26th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their second meeting of the 2021 season. Meeting minutes compiled by Jerremy Jones.

Call to Order: President Jim Canders called the meeting to order at 8:05 AM.

Previous meeting minutes approved.

Water Quality, Mary Jo: Lay monitoring taking place as usual. Will contact town to order E. coli testing kits.

Grants, Martha: discussed kickoff of Lake Wise, LCBP’s State of the Lake report, and clean water funding, the Watershed Action Plan.

New Business: Sign up for East Poultney Day? Yes, Jerremy will get us signed up. Wells Variety Day, per Nora at Wells Town Hall, will not be happening.

Motion for adjournment, approved.

Sponsor Spotlight: Thank You To Our 2021 Business Sponsors

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 20:35:21 GMT

Hello LSC.

We'd like to take a moment to thank our 2021 Business Sponsors:

Merritt Environmental Consulting

Environmental consulting
and oil tank services.

Phone: (718) 344-0768

Email: cgm@merrittec.com

Lake St. Catherine Cottages

Cottage Rentals
70 West Lake Road

Phone: (802) 773-0100

Phone: (802) 645-0093

Lake St. Catherine Country Club

Golfing, Pro Shop, Bar & Grill
Dinner Specials Fri & Sat

Phone: (802) 287-9341

Email: lsccc@comcast.net

Lake Hill Compost

LSC's local food scrap collection
and composting service.

Phone: (518) 955-0466

Email: gregobrienvt@gmail.com

Williams Hardware

Hardware, Housewares, Paint, Lumber,
Rentals & More Since 1946

Phone: (802) 287-5791

Email: williamshardware@truevalue.net

VT Lakehouse

Experience amazing lakefront views
Daily and weekly rentals available

FB: https://fb.me/vtlakehouse

Email: info@vt-lakehouse.com

New England Lakeside Realty

Helping Families Find Their New
Homes In Vermont's Lakes Region

Phone: (802) 645-9001

Email: vtlakeside@comcast.net

Woodard Marine

Boating, Service, Rentals
Located on Lake Bomoseen.

Phone: (802) 265-3690

Email: info@woodardmarine.com

Lakes & Homes Real Estate

Offering years of expertise
in Rutland County

Phone: (802) 671-8042

Email: lakesandhomesre@gmail.com

Haun Welding Supply

Household Propane and
Cylinder Gas Delivery

Phone: (518) 743-8944

Email: glensfalls@thehaunedge.com

All have made a $200 contribution to the Lake St. Catherine Association for the 2021 season - thank you for your support!

You can find them listed on the Sponsors page our our website, and they are listed in our Spring and Fall newsletters.

If your business would like to be a Business Sponsor, you can fill out our online membership form here: Become A Member, or you can print and mail in this 2021 Membership Form.

Thanks again to our 2021 Business Sponsors - and all who have contributed this season to help us fulfill our mission to preserve, protect and maintain Lake St. Catherine.

2021 Milfoil Treatment Completed

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 11:45:17 GMT

Good morning LSC.

The milfoil treatment was successfully applied yesterday.

Recreational and household use can resume today. Using the lake water for irrigation can resume next Tuesday.

Our DASH crew has started hand-pulling, and will begin full DASH operations on July 1st.

To view the DASH and ProcellaCOR areas, please click here to view the map.

Now, we are asking you to help make these efforts a success by following these best practices to stop the spread of milfoil:

As a general rule, get as much milfoil out of the lake as possible. Let it dry out on land and dispose of it as you would yard waste.
Don’t drive through milfoil patches with your boat which will create fragments which can float away and seed new plants.
If you have milfoil on your prop, don’t just reverse and drive away, please remove it from the lake.
If you have milfoil growing in your dock or swimming area, pull it out by the roots and remove it from the lake.
If you see milfoil floating anywhere in the lake, near your dock, or along your shoreline, remove it from the lake.
Obey boating regulations by travelling at no-wake, 5 MPH speeds within 200’ of the shoreline.

Little Lake specific tips:

We ask that you voluntarily avoid boating through the untreated and unharvested area of section H.
Please use the navigation channels that will be created by the combination of the treatment and harvesting - indicated by the green arrows in the image below.

Please check out our "Stop The Spread Of Milfoil" flyer for more detailed information.

If we are all pitching in, we can collectively make a huge impact - please speak to your neighbors and help to get the word out.

Let's do this!

Thank you.

What You Can Do To Stop The Spread Of Milfoil

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 18:04:48 GMT

Hello good folks of LSC.

Each season, the LSCA outlines our plan to control the invasive weed Eurasian Watermilfoil (milfoil) in LSC. Milfoil is a non-native plant that grows very quickly, at at rate much faster than our native aquatic plants, crowding them out. It spreads very easily via fragmentation, and small pieces can seed new plants. Large patches of milfoil impair recreational activities, and can constrict water flow.

As many of you know, for over a year, the Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) and the Lake St. Catherine Conservation (LSCCF) have been working on a 3-Year Milfoil Control Plan for Little Lake.

In early March, we announced the plan, and kicked off a fundraiser. We launched this webpage (https://lakestcatherine.org/little-lake-milfoil-control) to tell you about the plan and collect donations. Just a few weeks after the fundraiser was launched, we had reached our $12,000 goal, and have collected an additional $5,200 which will be applied to year 2. The LSCA and LSCCF are both contributing $12,000 each in year 1 to fully cover the $36,000 estimate for the 2021 treatment of Little Lake. Please keep an eye on the website linked above as it will be updated with information as we evaluate the treatment's effectiveness throughout the season.

The treatment will take place this Tuesday, June 22nd. You can read more about the 2021 treatment by clicking here.

Thank you to all who contributed, and who continue to contribute. Fundraising will be very important to help fund year 2.

LSCA & LSCCF Meeting At The Wells Town Park

Today, both groups held a meeting at the Wells Town Park to discuss the plan, and to kick off our outreach and education plan to boaters and property owners to outline actions you can take to stop the spread of milfoil.

Thank you to all who attended, the Presidents and board members of both the LSCA and LSCCF, and the Wells Select Board. We also thank the Delaney Committee for the use of the Wells Town Park.

This document, "Stop The Spread Of Milfoil" was handed out and discussed at the meeting. Click the link to download a copy.

The handout includes a description of what milfoil is, specific things you can do to help stop the spread of milfoil, lake-wide milfoil control efforts, and Little Lake specific recommendations for 2021.

Help To Stop The Spread Of Milfoil

Here are the things YOU CAN DO to help stop the spread of milfoil, which are all applicable lake-wide. All require a bit of elbow grease on your part, but if we are all contributing, it can make a big difference around the lake.

As a general rule, get as much milfoil out of the lake as possible. Let it dry out on land and dispose of it as you would yard waste.
PLEASE don’t drive through milfoil patches with your boat which will create fragments. Fragments can easily seed new plants.
If you do have milfoil on your prop, don’t just reverse and drive away, please remove it from the lake.
If you have milfoil growing in your dock or swimming area, pull it out by the roots and remove it from the lake.
If you see milfoil floating anywhere in the lake, near your dock, or along your shoreline, remove it from the lake.
Obey boating regulations by travelling at no-wake, 5 MPH speeds within 200’ of the shoreline and marked areas.

Little Lake Specific Best Practices For 2021

We ask that you voluntarily avoid boating through the untreated and unharvested area of section H.
Please use the navigation channels that will be created by the combination of the treatment and harvesting - indicated by the green arrows in the image on the left.
Throughout the summer, in addition to maintaining the navigational channels, the LSCCF’s harvesting crew will also be working diligently from the bridge south to collect floating milfoil

The volunteers that make up the LSCA and LSCCF can only do so much. We have invested many hours in the planning, and we now are investing lots of money funded by the generous contributions of the towns and from our members to execute the plan.

So, we are now asking for your help to stop the spread of milfoil by following the best practices listed above.

This needs to be a lake-wide effort with everyone pitching in.

Let's do this!

Thank you.

If you have any questions, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

2021 Milfoil Treatment - 1 Week From Today

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 16:20:35 GMT

Good afternoon LSC. 2 reminders for you today.

1) We are 1 week away from the milfoil treatment which will take place next Tuesday (June 22nd).

During and after the treatment, please be aware of the following lake water use restriction recommendations:

NO USE of Lake St. Catherine waters and water from the outlet stream FOR ANY PURPOSE including boating, fishing, swimming, domestic (household) use or irrigation, the day of treatment on:

Tuesday, June 22, 2021, beginning at 9 am

Swimming/wading, boating, fishing and domestic (household) use may resume on:

Wednesday, June 23, 2021, beginning at 9 am

USE of water from Lake St. Catherine FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES including for watering lawns, trees, or other plants may resume on:

Wednesday, June 29, 2021, beginning at 9 am or earlier based on sampling results, please refer to the website below for results

Please refer to www.solitudelakemanagement.com/vermont for additional information and updated water use advisories and recommendations.

Along with the herbicide treatment, areas have been selected for DASH. DASH is an acronym for Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting. This process involves scuba divers using suction hoses powered by a surface compressor to selectively remove milfoil from the lake bottom. They will be working throughout the season to remove milfoil by the roots in these designated areas.

Here is a map of the treatment areas for ProcellaCOR (red & blue) and DASH (green):

2) The LSCA and LSCCF will be holding a Milfoil Control Meeting At The Wells Town Park this Saturday at 10AM to discuss our joint milfoil control plans for Little Lake - and milfoil control efforts lake-wide. We'll outline what we are doing, what *YOU CAN DO* to help to stop the spread of milfoil, and we'll take your

Finally, we are still accepting donations for the joint LSCA and LSCCF 3-year milfoil control plan to help fund year 2. You can view information about the 3-year plan and make a donation on this page: https://lakestcatherine.org/little-lake-milfoil-control

We hope to see you Saturday at the Wells Town Park at 10AM!

Volunteers Help To Clear Debris From The Dam At Lake's End

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 19:07:19 GMT

Earlier in the week, we sent out a request for volunteers to meet up on Saturday the 12th to help clean up debris caught on top of the dam at Lake's End.

It was so great to see folks from all around the lake come together to pitch in. We made quick work of the cleanup, and all the lake neighbors got to meet and exchange stories about how much we love LSC. What a fun morning.

THANK YOU to all our volunteers!

Check out the full photo gallery on Facebook.

- Shannon Rangecroft

Milfoil Control Meeting At Wells Town Park - Saturday, June 19th @ 10AM

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 11:58:23 GMT

The LSCA and LSCCF will be holding a lake community meeting at the Wells Town Park on Saturday, June 19th at 10AM.

Representatives from both organizations will discuss the joint plan for Little Lake, which will include a treatment with ProcellaCOR and mechanical harvesting.

We'll also discuss lake-wide milfoil control efforts, answer your questions, and outline what you can do to help maximize prospects for success.

If you'd like to learn more about this joint project (or make a donation), please visit: https://lakestcatherine.org/little-lake-milfoil-control

We hope to see you there!

2021 LSCA Boating Safety Classes - Get Your Boating License!

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 00:43:00 GMT

Get your boating license!

The Lake St. Catherine Association is pleased to provide two FREE boating safety courses this season.

The first will be held on June 28th and 29th from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Modern Woodmen of America Hall, 10 Main Street in Wells.

The second will be held on July 5th and 6th from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Mettawee Community School, 5788 VT-153 in West Pawlet.

Anyone born after January 1st, 1974 must successfully complete an approved boating safety education course to legally operate any motorized vessel - including personal watercraft.

Frank Callahan, Trustee in charge of Boating Safety, will be conducting the courses.

Space is limited to 24 attendees, so please call 802-645-9136 or email Frank at frank.callahan@lakestcatherine.org to register. In 2019, both classes filled up to capacity very quickly, so please call to schedule as soon as you can.

For additional information about boating in Vermont, check out the online Handbook of Vermont Boating laws and Responsibilities.

Are you a member yet? Maintaining the lake costs approximately $125,000 annually. Grants, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and any contribution that you make is tax deductible.

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees - 05/29/2021

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 05 Jun 2021 12:23:41 GMT

On Saturday, May 29th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their first meeting of the 2021 season. Meeting minutes compiled by Kemi McShane Bostock.

Call to Order: President Jim Canders called to order the 2021 Board of Trustees of the Lake St. Catherine Association at 8:08 AM on Saturday, May 29, 2021 at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club. Some attended on-line or by phone due to the pandemic. Roll call was made, and present were Officers- President- Jim Canders, Vice President- Martha H. Poffit, Treasurer- Elaine Bagley (online), Secretary- Kemi McShane Bostock ( By phone call), Milfoil Management- Jeff Crandall, Water Quality – Mary Jo Teetor, Publicity – Jerremy Jones, Lake Safety- Frank Callahan, Trustee- Nancy Liberatore, Trustee- Ken Abt (online), Greeter Program Management- John Belnavis, Trustee- Ed Laird. Absent: Nominating Committee – Bob Williams, Trustee Rob Nesbit.

Introduction statement – President, Jim Canders welcomed the Board of Trustees to the May 29th, 2021 meeting of the LSCA. The meeting was held in person since the COVID pandemic requirements had been lifted and the State of VT was permitting large group gatherings to take place.

Approval of Meeting Minutes- A motion was made to accept the minutes of the last Board Meeting of the LSCA on August, 2020 as written. Jeff second and all VOTED in favor.

Treasurer’s Report – Elaine budget summary, Year-end reporting for 2020. The Solitude budgets. Motion made to accept the two budgets and second and all VOTED in favor. Presentation of current chart/Budget Assumptions vs. Actual. Filing of 990EZ. Martha presented the 2021 current budget and included the grants received, which included the Little Lake. Income received from 317 members. Increased membership from the property owners on the Little Lake. Motion made and seconded to accept the Treasurer’s report as presented. All voted in favor.

Annual Meeting- John will contact the LSCCC to arrange for the Annual Meeting on Saturday July 24, 2021.This meeting will be “In Person”.

Legal discussion lead by Ed Laird on the Conflict-of-Interest policy, let the minutes reflect “any relationship that would be considered in conflict with the work of the Association,” there are rules and regulations and the LSCA is in conformity with the IRS. filing of the I-90, government mandatory 501C for grants. Also let the minutes reflect that due to possible cybersecurity threats, two LSCA accounts transferred, closed, and new accounts were created (Checking and Savings). The accounts were not impacted, but out of an abundance of caution, these steps were taken. Ed made a motion to approve, John second, all voted in favor. We are looking into cybersecurity insurance. It was noted that the LSCA website does not store any credit card data.

Milfoil Management- Jeff Crandall, the Herbicide treatment is June 22, 2021. The sites for the Little Lake are established for treatment. Identified 14 sites for the DASH program. Posting of the notification signs was completed by May 21, 2021. Mary Jo Water testing after treatment locations designated in instructions from Kara Silwoski, from Solitude Lake Management. Prepared for the June 22, 2021, treatment, Spring plant survey from May 19, 2021. Involved were Jim, Jerremy and Kara. Boat launching monitoring John Belnavis- the Greeter training program is virtual, the locations of the Greeter program is at the Boat launch in Wells, and at the State Park boat launch.

Water Quality- Mary Jo – the 2021 season water monitoring, recreational water, and location site. Continue to educate the public to follow rules for the preservation of the Lake but can see inconsistent practices.

Publicity- Jerremy updates of the website, Facebook, and Newsletter. Discussed the watershed action plan reporting in the Rutland Herald. Just keep getting the word out.

Lake Safety- Frank- Placement of the Markers. Two boating courses scheduled for June and July.

Nominating Committee- Bob- in his absence Jim reports the LSCA is in need of multiple trustees, Possible nominees? There are 4 openings.

Membership Committee- Need a chairperson.

Grants- Martha updated the Board regarding the partnership between the LSCA and the PMNRCD. Lake St. Catherine is recognized for implementing best management practices and is seen as a model to follow. Lake Wise has 21 sites in 2021 and 14 are on the Channel in the Little Lake. Received a grant for the Watershed Action Plan. Funding opportunities with the Lake Champlain Basin Program. LSCA is proactive and works collaboratively with the State and the Governor’s long-term goals.

New Business- Mary Jo handed out timesheets to track work hours for the grants related to AIS that started in January 1, 2021.

Old Business- Boat Parade- Kemi- Saturday July 3, 2021 at 1:00. Virtual judging/voting, no prizes, same route, and same 4 categories for judgement.

Next meeting June 26, 2021 at 8:30 AM LSCCC.

The 2021 LSCA Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner Will Be In-Person

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 30 May 2021 20:01:05 GMT

Hello again LSC.

We'd like to let you know that the LSCA Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner will be held in-person at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club on Saturday, July 24th ay 6 PM. Please save the date!

Dinner options and meeting information will follow soon.

We are looking forward to seeing you!

The 9th Annual LSCA Boat Parade - Register Your Boat Now!

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 30 May 2021 18:44:34 GMT

Hello LSC - we hope you are keeping warm during this unusually cool weekend...

Let's think about warm Summer weather, shall we?

We'd like to let you know that the 9th Annual LSCA Boat Parade has been scheduled and is open for registration!

The 9th Annual LSCA Boat Parade will be on Saturday, July 3rd at 1 PM.

We all know how fun it is to watch the boat parade, but it's even more fun to be part of it!

As we did last year, we'll take photos of all participants, and we'll have a lake-wide online vote to decide the winner.

Our categories are:

Most Original
Most Patriotic
Funniest
Best Overall

If you'd like to register your boat, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org with your name and phone number. We'll get you signed up and will reply back with your boat number.

Our 8th Annual Boat Parade winners, and current reigning champions are:

Most Patriotic:

Boat #8 - The Dunbar Family - "Party Like A Patriot"

Funniest:

Boat #9 - The Lutz & Harris Families - "Fowl Play"

Most Original:

Boat #14 - The Mroz Family - "Ice Cream Boat"

Best Overall:

Boat #1 - The Conine Family - "Ski School"

So, start thinking about your theme (and warmer weather), and mark your calendars for July 3rd! Then, email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to register your boat.

Memorial Day Weekend 2021

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 29 May 2021 12:24:42 GMT

As we arrive at Memorial Day weekend, and the 'unofficial start of summer', we hope that you'll have a fun and safe season at the Lake. Please be kind and respectful of each other and our beautiful lake.

We also hope that you will take a moment on Monday to remember and honor those who have died while serving our country.

Thank you.

LSCA's Boat Launch Greeter Program Kicks Off 2021 Season

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 28 May 2021 16:20:59 GMT

Good chilly afternoon LSC...

Our Boat Launch Greeters started today. They will be stationed at the boat launch in Wells and the State Park in Poultney checking boats before they enter LSC for invasive species like zebra mussels, spiny waterflea, and asian clams.

Our Greeters are on duty from Memorial Day through Labor Day - working on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They also cover holidays and fishing tournaments.

Please thank them for what they do for LSC when you see them!

You can read more about the invasive species we are working to keep out of the lake and the Greeter Program on our website here: https://lakestcatherine.org/boat-launch-monitoring-greeter-program

The Lake St. Catherine Association Awarded Its Largest Grant Ever To Create A Watershed Action Plan

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 26 May 2021 11:05:56 GMT

The Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) is excited to announce that we have earned a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) to create a Watershed Action Plan for Lake St. Catherine.

What is a lake watershed action plan?

From the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a Watershed Action Plan is described as:

“Watershed planning helps address water quality problems in a holistic manner by fully assessing the potential contributing causes and sources of pollution, then prioritizing restoration and protection strategies to address these problems.”

What was the Lake St. Catherine Association awarded a grant to do?

Lake Champlain Basin Program has awarded the Lake St. Catherine Association in partnership with the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) a 3-year grant to develop a Watershed Action Plan. The $38,224 awarded by the grant will allow the LSCA to hire and partner with lake experts to perform various in-lake and watershed based measurements, testing, and studies to identify current or potential future issues and design a comprehensive, long-term plan to address them. The resulting plan will leverage current LSCA investments in water quality and pollution prevention, be driven by accepted best management practices, elevate under-assessed areas and gaps, and will identify issues, opportunities, and projects to guide locally-led water quality implementation work in the Lake St. Catherine watershed.

Isn’t the Lake St. Catherine Association already doing its part in improving water quality?

Yes, after many years of successfully managing individual lake programs which include: in-lake invasive species control (Milfoil Control Program), invasive species prevention (Greeter Program), and storm water management (Lake Wise Program), the LSCA is now poised to integrate these programs into a broader watershed plan with a focus on the prevention of pollutant loads (phosphorus, nitrogen, sediments) that enter into the Lake from sources outside the waterbody. The LSCA plans to use the success of these building blocks to expand its work in the watershed and focus on prevention for the future.

Why is this grant so important?

Lake St. Catherine is located in the South Lake drainage area of the Lake Champlain Basin, which feeds high levels of phosphorus to the South Lake Basin of Lake Champlain. A primary focus of this project is reducing phosphorus to waterways.

The Lake Champlain Basin Program spent the past year evaluating proposals that could drive down the excessive amount of phosphorus in Lake Champlain. Excessive phosphorus fuels the growth of plants and algae and creates an unhealthy ecosystem that is unsustainable.

Sources of phosphorus surrounding Lake Champlain come from roads, parking lots, lawns, and agricultural and logging operations. Other phosphorus sources include eroding stream channels which alone is responsible for 20% of excessive phosphorus load. Changes in forests also accounts for another 16%. The South Basin of Lake Champlain which also houses Lake St. Catherine, has been given a goal to reduce overall phosphorus load by 20%. Lake St. Catherine’s proposal was successful within the context of a highly competitive process throughout both New York and Vermont.

Who will be involved in the development of our Watershed Action Plan?

A Project Team led by Trustees of the Association will engage the following partners:

Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District to do field work on the areas adjacent to the Lake to identify sources of pollutants and recommend 20 projects to address them.
The Natural Sciences Department at Castleton University to use its environmental chemistry lab with access to water sampling supplies and instrumentation; Castleton undergraduate students to conduct broader in-lake and in-flow tributary water sampling and analyze the impact of major storm events. Students will help literature review of best management practices for water quality to sample collection, to water analysis, to data analysis, to GIS modeling.
A Limnologist consultant and/or chemist will advise on lake nutrient cycling, lake functions, and assist with any in-lake studies, such as water chemistry, sediment testing, and measuring phosphorus concentrations.
A series of community Stakeholders will be actively engaged to evaluate their part in understanding and mitigating excessive phosphorus and erosion around the Lake. These include: The Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund; the Towns of Wells and Poultney, especially the road crews as well as zoning provisions; members of the Association and homeowners to enact prevention on their properties; the Vermont DEC who has agreed to co-sponsor an annual symposium on best practices; businesses and the lake community who use the Lake and surrounding area for recreation.

What will happen at the end of the grant in 2024?

Using the data and information collected about the Lake St. Catherine Watershed, the Project Team will create the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan. This plan will identify “Opportunities For Action” and the strategies, interventions, and projects to best address them.

What can I do specifically to support this effort?

Although we have been steadily working our way towards 50% of Lake St. Catherine property owners joining the LSCA, we know we can do better, and there is room to grow. We all benefit from the work of our Trustees, our volunteers, and from the financial contributions of property owners, renters, and those who come to Lake St. Catherine for recreation. Now is the time to become a yearly member and show your long-term support of the LSCA, and in turn, Lake St. Catherine.

If you have not become a member yet this year, please visit our website: www.lakestcatherine.org. It will show that you are a serious participant in the future of the Lake, as someone who appreciates the relationship between Lake quality and property values, and that you care about our watershed. It will also will add credibility to our applications for future funding by demonstrating that our lake community is invested in maintaining and improving the Lake St. Catherine Watershed.

If you love Lake St. Catherine, and you have not become a member of the LSCA yet, this is your year to do so! Let’s all show our neighbors, our Trustees, our funders, and future generations that we are all stewards of our beloved Lake St. Catherine.

The Lake Wise Program On Lake St. Catherine

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 23 May 2021 22:48:06 GMT

Hello LSC.

On Thursday, May 20th, the Lake St. Catherine Association, the Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund and the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District held an informational Zoom meeting to discuss the Lake Wise Program on Lake St. Catherine.

The Vermont DEC’s Lake Wise Program encourages landowners to voluntarily implement lake-friendly practices on their property.

The goal of the Lake Wise program, from the Lake Wise website:

"The goal of Lake Wise is to establish a new normal, a new culture of lakeshore landscaping that is proven to help protect the lake. A property that earns the Lake Wise Award will represent a 'model' shoreland property. The Lake Wise Award certifies a property is well managed, using shoreland Best Management Practices, and is maintained to care for the lake."

Lakeshore properties that exemplify thoughtful, ecologically-minded development are proudly awarded a Lake Wise Award. The Lake Wise Award certifies that a property is managed in a manner that preserves fish and wildlife habitat, protects water quality, and maintains a shoreline's natural stability. Any lakeshore landowner can participate in the Lake Wise Program, including towns, state parks, businesses, and private homeowners.

You can view the video of the presentation and discussion on YouTube:

If you'd like to participate in the Lake Wise Program on LSC, or if you have any questions, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

You can read more about Lake Wise on LSC here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-wise-program

The LSCA Spring 2021 Newsletter

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 23 May 2021 12:26:48 GMT

We'd like to let you know that the LSCA Spring 2021 newsletter is now available.

Also, your LSCA Trustee neighbors will have printed copies available around the lake.

The digital version is now available online via our website through this link: Click here to view the Spring 2021 Newsletter, or click on the image below. When you click on the link for the newsletter, you will be able to view it on screen - and be able to zoom in or out using the controls in your browser window. Or, you can click the download button to save a copy to your computer to view with a PDF reader, and/or print a copy.

HAVE YOU BECOME A MEMBER IN 2021?

Our 2021 Membership Drive is underway, and membership mailings have gone out. You can also download a copy by clicking here: 2021 LSCA Membership Form PDF. Just fill out the form and mail it in to our Treasurer Elaine with a check for your dues.

Or, you can renew or become a member on our website. If you were a member in 2020, click here to renew, or click here to become a new member - and you can pay your dues online with your credit card. If you were a member last year (whether you paid by check or online by credit card), the website has an account ready for you. If you don't remember your password, have never logged in, or if you have not logged into the new website launched in December, please click here to set or reset your password.

Upon receiving your membership contribution, our treasurer Elaine will mail you a hand-written thank you note, a receipt, a LSCA window card and a LSCA can koozie.

LSCA Announces 2021 Milfoil Treatment

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 19 May 2021 16:00:07 GMT

On Tuesday, June 22nd 2021, Lake St. Catherine will be treated for milfoil. Please see the attached advisory notice and map.

In cooperation with Misha Cetner from the Vermont Department Of Environmental Conservation and SOLitude Lake Management (SLM), the Lake St. Catherine Association would like to inform the community that the lake will be treated for milfoil on Tuesday, June 22nd, 2021.

On May 13th, biologists from SLM and LSCA Trustees visited the lake to perform a milfoil survey. They have identified areas to be treated with ProcellaCOR and areas to be suction harvested.

During and after the treatment, please be aware of the following lake water use restriction recommendations:

• NO USE of Lake St. Catherine waters and water from the outlet stream FOR ANY PURPOSE including boating, fishing, swimming, domestic (household) use or irrigation, the day of treatment on:

Tuesday, June 22, 2021, beginning at 9 am

• Swimming/wading, boating, fishing and domestic (household) use may resume on:

Wednesday, June 23, 2021, beginning at 9 am

• USE of water from Lake St. Catherine FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES including for watering lawns, trees, or other plants may resume on:

Wednesday, June 29, 2021, beginning at 9 am or earlier based on sampling results, please refer to the website below for results

Please refer to www.solitudelakemanagement.com/vermont for additional information and updated water use advisories and recommendations.

Here is a map of the treatment areas for ProcellaCOR (red & blue) and DASH (green):

The milfoil located in the green DASH areas is very sparse.

Links:

- LSCA Permit Application
- Draft Permit
- SePRO ProcellaCOR® EC Specimen Label
- SePRO ProcellaCOR® EC Safety Data Sheet

If you have any questions about the upcoming milfoil treatment, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

3-Year Little Lake Milfoil Control Plan

The treatment in Little Lake represents the first year of our 3-year plan to help control milfoil in Little Lake. In partnership with the Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund (LSCCF), we have been conducting a fundraiser to help fund this plan. To date, we have raised over $17,000. While we have enough funds to cover projects costs this year, we'll need to continue to fundraise for 2022. We hope you can help support this joint venture to control milfoil in Little Lake. To learn more about the plan, or to make a donation, please visit the project page here: https://lakestcatherine.org/little-lake-milfoil-control

Have You Become A Member In 2021?

Upon receiving your membership contribution, our treasurer Elaine will mail you a hand-written thank you note, a receipt, a LSCA window card and a LSCA can koozie.

Thank you for your support of the LSCA!

Lake Wise Program - Informational Zoom Meeting, May 20th @ 7 PM

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 07 May 2021 16:10:37 GMT

Hello LSC property owners,

We'd like to let you know that the LSCA, LSCCF, and the PMNRCD will be holding an informational Zoom meeting on the Lake St. Catherine Lake Wise Program on Thursday, May 20th at 7 PM.

The goal of the Lake Wise program, from the Lake Wise website:

"The goal of Lake Wise is to establish a new normal, a new culture of lakeshore landscaping that is proven to help protect the lake. A property that earns the Lake Wise Award will represent a 'model' shoreland property. The Lake Wise Award certifies a property is well managed, using shoreland Best Management Practices, and is maintained to care for the lake."

In partnership with the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) and property owners around the lake, the Lake Wise program was a huge success in 2020! 11 properties earned the award last year, bringing the total on LSC to 12.

A Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) grant helped to fund both property assessments, native plantings, and stormwater runoff projects on individual property owner’s shorelines.

In late 2020, the LSCA again applied for a LCBP grant to expand the Lake Wise Program into Little Lake. We received the good news that we had earned this grant, and a joint committee between the LSCA and the LSCCF was created to get this program started in Little Lake in 2021. While our 2021 program is focused on the Little Lake, this program is open to ALL Lake St. Catherine property owners.

Our goal is to earn another 10 awards in 2021, and get our first for a Little Lake property owner.

To date, we've heard from 18 property owners that are interested in Lake Wise this year, and the Lake Wise team will be reaching out soon to these folks to set up an appointment at their property.

If you'd like to learn more about the Lake Wise program - and how you can help improve the health and water quality of Lake St. Catherine, we like to invite you to our presentation.

Lake Wise Informational Zoom Meeting:

Thursday, May 20th at 7 PM

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88550183782?pwd=YUpSZ2tQOEJxeUZDY2cvSTg2ZG1Zdz09

This meeting will also be recorded and posted on YouTube, so if you are unable to attend that evening, you'll still be able to view the presentation soon after.

We hope you can join us!

If you have any questions, or if you would like to sign up for Lake Wise, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank You To Our Green Up Vermont Day Volunteers!

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 02 May 2021 11:19:07 GMT

Good morning LSC.

Please join us in thanking all the volunteers who helped clean up litter around Lake St. Catherine yesterday as part of Green Up Vermont Day!

MANY bags of litter have been cleaned up around the lake, and from what we've heard, folks had a great time getting out and about to help get LSC ready for the Summer.

Here are some reports from our volunteers:

Melissa Liebig said:

"We had a blast at green up day today! We left 2 bags at 94 vantage point. And 1 further north by camp Sagamore. We met up with Sue and Jeff King, Jill O’Brien, Sue Caizza, Becky Raub, Ashleigh Raub and her dog Brodie and 'greened up' together!"

Laura Clark said:

"Six bags , Aaliyah was a Champ !"

Mary Papasso said:

"I hope you are enjoying this sunny day! I had a huge clear bag half filled! We will bring home and dispose. Have a great day!"

Shannon & Paul Rangecroft said:

"Thanks for organizing this fabulous effort. It’s evident by the number of green bags around the lake...that it was very worth while!!"

Corrine and Jonathan Benn got creative and performed cleanup by bike & kayak:

...and even the doggos helped out! Here's Brodie and Boone:

Many folks around the lake were involved in this effort - and some will still be out over the next few days to continue the clean up.

You can view all the photos that we received on our Facebook page here.

THANK YOU!

Green Up Vermont Day 2021 - Volunteer To Help Clean Up LSC

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 17 Apr 2021 15:19:20 GMT

Hi all,

Saturday, May 1st is Green Up Vermont Day, 2 weeks from today.

Green Up Vermont is a state-wide volunteer cleanup day of Vermont's roads and waterways.

As Green Up Vermont's website says: "We know it isn’t your litter but Vermont needs our help to be beautiful!"

To start us off, our household crew will take Cones Point, Sandy Beach, Ranny Road, and Route 30 from Cones Point to Ranny Road. We'll also paddle the included shoreline areas (see map below).

So, let us know if you'd like to participate and where you'll do your clean up, and we'll add your area to the map. We'll keep the map up-to-date and post it on our Calendar, on the May 1st Green Up Vermont Day event. You can view that here: LSC Green Up Vermont Day Event.

Email us at info@lakestcatherine.org, or contact us on Facebook to volunteer for an area.

We'll be in touch with the Towns of Wells and Poultney to see what supplies may be available (bags and gloves), and where collected trash should be taken.

Let's all pitch in to get Lake St. Catherine ready for a great Summer!

Thank you.

The 2021 LSC Ice Out Champion Is...

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 18:58:29 GMT

Walter Huss! Congrats Walter.

The last of the stubborn ice disappeared overnight, so we have checked your predictions, and we have a winner!

Honorable mentions to: Brad, Jennifer, Amanda, Ben, and Stew who also guessed today. Thanks to all who participated - and thank you to all our ice spotters for sending in reports!

Walter has bragging rights for the year, and joins our Ring Of Ice Out Champions from previous years:

2020: Mel Ohl, March 23rd at 3 PM
2019: Judy Cummings, April 15th at 6 AM

We have membership levels for everyone who loves LSC. Thank you!

Recording Of LSCA / LSCCF Joint Webinar On Little Lake Projects

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 12:00:38 GMT

Hello LSC.

Last evening, the LSCA and LSCCF held a joint webinar to discuss the 2 Little Lake projects we will be working on together this year, Lake Wise and Milfoil Control.

We gave a presentation describing both projects, and then we answered questions from attendees.

You can view the recording here:

You can also read more about these projects, and learn how you can help by making a donation, signing up for Lake Wise, and working to get milfoil out of the lake by visiting our project page here: https://lakestcatherine.org/little-lake-milfoil-control

We hope you can make a donation to help support this effort - and we hope you'll do what you can while at the lake to make these projects a success.

If you have any questions, or would like to sign up to participate in Lake Wise, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you for your support!

Little Lake Fundraiser Update - Year 1 Goal Reached!

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 11:30:05 GMT

Good morning LSC. We have some exciting news to share.

On Sunday, March 14th 2021, the LSCA and LSCCF kicked off a joint fundraiser to help collect donations to help fund our 3 year Little Lake milfoil control plan.

That morning, we launched a webpage to explain our two joint Little Lake projects for 2021, Lake Wise and Milfoil Control, and to track and accept donations.

We estimate that year 1 of the 3 year milfoil control plan will cost $36,000. The LSCA and LSCCF each pledged to contribute $12,000 each ($24,000 in total), and look to the lake community for contributions to cover the remaining $12,000.

We are happy to report, that in just over a week, we have raised over $16,000!

This is AMAZING.

Thank you to the lake community for your generous support!

We have fully funded Year 1, and we have applied the funds collected over the Year 1 goal to Year 2:

As Spring rolls in, and folks start arriving to open up their camps, we will continue to reach out and fundraise for this project throughout the season.

If you have not yet contributed to this important project that will help Little Lake - and the whole of Lake St. Catherine, we hope you'll take a moment to read through the plan and consider making a donation.

You can read about the projects for Little Lake in 2021, track our fundraising progress, and make a donation here: https://lakestcatherine.org/little-lake-milfoil-control

Also, this evening at 7 PM, we'll be hosting an informational Zoom webinar to give a short presentation about these projects, and to take your questions.

Registration is required to attend. You can sign up here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_r7MZm6tWS-m_EzCgxFov9A

Thank you for your consideration and support!

Joint LSCA / LSCCF Little Lake Webinar - 3/24 @ 7 PM

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 21:15:11 GMT

Hello LSC.

This Wednesday, March 24th at 7 PM, the LSCA and LSCCF will be holding a joint Zoom webinar to let you know about two projects for Little Lake this year: Lake Wise and Milfoil Control.

The agenda:

Introductions
Lake Wise Expansion Into Little Lake
Three-Year Milfoil Control Program In Little Lake
How You Can Help Contribute To Make These Plans A Success
Other 2021 Initiatives By LSCCF, LSCA
Q & A

We plan to keep the slide presentation focused and brief, then we'll take your questions.

To attend the webinar live, you need to register via this link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_r7MZm6tWS-m_EzCgxFov9A

You can also read more about these projects, and make a donation to the Little Lake fundraiser to help fund these projects by clicking here: https://lakestcatherine.org/little-lake-milfoil-control/

We hope to see you Wednesday!

Predict Ice Out Day 2021

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 20 Mar 2021 00:40:17 GMT

Hello LSC fans!

When will the ice go out on Lake St. Catherine in 2021?

...and who is ready for Spring, and preparing to have an excellent season at Lake St. Catherine this year?

It's time to start up #IceWatch2021!

Let's have some little fun and make some predictions for when the ice will go out.

Click here to make your guess.

- In 2020, with his guess of March 23rd at 3 PM, the 2020 LSC Ice Out Champion was Melvin Ohl.

- In 2019, with her guess of April 15th at 6 AM, the 2019 LSC Ice Out Champion was Judy Cummings.

The winner will be crowned "LSC 2021 Ice Out Champion" and will have bragging rights all year!

Make your guess - and good luck!

Please fill out the form below to make your guess.

Note: By ice out, we mean when the Lake will be clear of ice. We'll be relying on our Ice Spotters around the lake for up-to-date reports on conditions - and we'll use those to make the call.

LSCA and LSCCF Announce Joint Projects & Fundraiser To Help Little Lake

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 13:00:56 GMT

INTRODUCTION

Hello to everyone in the Lake St. Catherine Community. We have some exciting news to share with you and a request for your help!

Over the past year, the Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund (LSCCF) and Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) have been working together to discuss the best ways to mitigate the persistent and intensifying problem caused by an invasive weed - Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM, milfoil) - found throughout the lake, but especially in Little Lake. EWM significantly degrades the natural habitat of our lake and impacts accustomed uses of boating, swimming, fishing and other activities.

BACKGROUND

Last fall, we announced that our two organizations will work together in 2021 and beyond to treat the Little Lake with a new herbicide that has shown excellent results in reducing EWM here and in many other lakes around the country. For the past two years, the LSCA has been using this new, highly targeted herbicide called ProcellaCOR in the Lily Pond and the Big Lake with excellent results. Currently, there is less milfoil in our control areas than at any time since at least 2006. In 2021, the LSCA will primarily rely on the diver assisted suction harvesting (DASH) program to address small areas of milfoil in our current control areas. At the same time, the LSCCF will continue its harvesting program to maintain navigational channels throughout Little Lake.

THE PLAN

Although this plan is focused on Little Lake, it will be a benefit to the whole of Lake St. Catherine, and we hope to receive contributions from everyone who cares about LSC. Our mutual goal is to get Lake St. Catherine as close to EWM-free as is possible in the next few seasons. EWM spreads quickly, re-roots easily and is carried across our lake by boat props, water currents and other means. No area in the lake is immune from EWM when another area suffers from it. Working in concert with the DEC, we have developed a 3-year treatment plan to gain control over the milfoil throughout the Little Lake. At this juncture, the DEC allows a maximum of 40% of Little Lake to be treated in any one calendar year. Working with lake management contractor SOLitude Lake Management and the DEC, in year one, we have selected the northern third of the Little Lake and the complete east and west shorelines to the southern end of Little Lake as the best parts of the lake to treat in 2021 for the greatest reduction of milfoil. This creates an 'M' shape, as depicted in the image to the right. After evaluation of effectiveness, we'll formulate a plan for 2022, and if necessary, 2023.

We are tentatively scheduled to treat the lake on Tuesday, June 22nd. More details will be forthcoming as we get closer to the date.

LAKE WISE

Another program the LSCA and the LSCCF will be working on together this year is Lake Wise. The Lake Wise Program was developed by Vermont’s Lakes and Ponds Program to help and encourage lakeshore owners to make their property lake-friendly by keeping pollution, sediments, phosphorus, and nitrogen carried by stormwater runoff out of the lake. Our goal is to both educate and help property owners make their shorelines beautiful and lake-friendly.

Over the past 3 years, the Lake Wise Program has worked with camp owners to improve many Lake St. Catherine properties. So far, 12 of these Lake St. Catherine properties have earned the Lake Wise Award. We're working to increase this number every year.

We'd like to have 10 Little Lake property owners participate in Lake Wise this year. There is no cost to participate. Using a grant earned through the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP), we have funds to help property owners with plantings and other stormwater mitigation projects. Let us know you'd like to participate by emailing us at: info@lakestcatherine.org.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Donate to the cause: First, we need your financial assistance. The three-year program to treat Little Lake could potentially cost up to $90,000, and $36,000 specifically in 2021.

The LSCA and LSCCF have pledged to each fund a third of the cost for a total of $24,000 in year 1, so we still have a gap to close. This is where you come in. We ask that you consider a donation to support this three-year plan. We have already received generous donations from several lake residents totaling $3,300, but we need to raise at least $12,000 to make this program a reality in 2021.

Any donation is welcome. You can make a donation below, and also come back to this page at any time to see the progress towards our goal. If you'd prefer to make a donation by check, please make it out to the Lake St. Catherine Association and send it to LSCA Treasurer, Elaine Bagley at 48 West Mountain Road, Bernardston MA, 01337. Please also include a note that the donation is for the Little Lake Milfoil Control Plan. Donations made are tax deductible. We also encourage you to check with your employer - many employers have a matching program for charitable contributions would could double your donation!
Become a Member of LSCCF and the LSCA: Both of our groups rely on membership dues to fund lake management programs each season. LCSA: Become A Member, LSCCF: Join Us!
Get Involved: There is much that every homeowner and area resident can do to help the Lake – from stormwater management on your property (consider having the Lake Wise team come to your property), to milfoil collection from your dock, on your shorefront, or off your boat prop. If we are all working together to remove milfoil from the lake, we can collectively make a significant difference by limiting the milfoil's ability to spread.
Learn More: The LSCA and LSCCF will be holding a Zoom Webinar Meeting on March 24th at 7 PM. Representatives from both groups will give a short presentation about our plans, and we'll then take your questions. This session will be recorded and posted on this page as soon as possible after the meeting.

To sign up for the Zoom Webinar, click here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_r7MZm6tWS-m_EzCgxFov9A

Thank you again for all your support in the past and consideration for the future!

Please reach out and share your thoughts, questions, or comments to the LSCCF: contact@lakematters.com or the LSCA: info@lakestcatherine.org.

DONATION GOAL

With the LSCA contributing $12,000 and the LSCCF contributing $12,000, we will be working to collect donations from the lake community of at least $12,000 to fully fund the costs for year 1.

Donations collected over and above $12,000 this year will be saved and used to help fund the plan in year 2.

IN SUMMARY

We hope you'll consider visiting the Donation Page by clicking here to make a contribution. We'd also like to hear from Little Lake property owners who would like to participate in Lake Wise this season (everyone around the lake is invited to participate as well) - email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to sign up. We also hope you'll sign up to attend our Zoom Webinar on March 24th at 7 PM (click here to sign up) to learn more about these efforts.

We hope you can contribute to support this important plan for Little Lake and the whole of Lake St. Catherine.

The 2021 LSCA Membership Drive Is Underway!

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 13:14:23 GMT

Hello good folks of the lake community.

Greetings from (a frozen) Lake St. Catherine. We hope you and your loved ones are staying warm and healthy this winter.

It's that time of year again... As the Lake St. Catherine Association heads into its 68th year, we are asking for your support for the 2021 season.

All things considered, we a very successful year in 2020. We invite you to read our 2020 Year In Review for all the details, including some initial plans for the upcoming season. We hope you find our efforts worthy, and can support us for the 2021 season.

Membership dues and contributions help fund many of the services provided by the LSCA:

Maintain and purchase navigation & shoreline protection buoys throughout the lake.
Test the water for E coli, and water clarity.
Administering free boat-safety courses that are state mandated for all persons born after January 1, 1974.
Greeter Program: Inspecting boats wishing to enter the lake for aquatic invasive species (AIS) - like milfoil, zebra mussels, spiny waterflea and asian clams - to keep them out of the lake.
Controlling milfoil (and other invasive species) and maintaining native weeds at tolerable levels.
Working with the state to solve the problems of silting and impacts of phosphorus and other sources of pollution. Let us know if you'd like to participate in the Lake Wise program in 2021.
Maintaining "welcome" signs and gardens.
Liaising with other lakes in order to exchange information concerning problems.
Sponsor the annual fun-filled July 4th Boat Parade.
Disseminate information to our membership and the community through newsletters, website, and other local publications.
Organizing funding through membership fees, donations and grants from the State of Vermont, Poultney and Wells, and environmental groups.
We represent you to state and local governments to protect your rights and the lake in general.
We protect the value of your property by maintain the beauty, access, and safety of the lake.

There are two easy ways to renew or become a member of the LSCA.

Soon, you will be receiving a mailing from us that contains the 2021 Membership Form. You can also download a copy by clicking here: 2021 LSCA Membership Form PDF. Just fill out the form and mail it in to our Treasurer Elaine with a check for your dues.

Or, you can renew or become a member on our website. If you were a member in 2020, click here to renew, or click here to become a new member - and you can pay your dues online with your credit card. If you were a member last year (whether you paid by check or online by credit card), the website has an account ready for you. If you don't remember your password, or you have never logged in, or if you have not logged into the new website launched in December, please click here to set or reset your password.

We'd also like to encourage you to check with your employer to see if they have an Employer Matching Gift Program for charitable donations. Many generous businesses will match contributions made by their employees through these programs. So, take a look - you may be able to double your contribution!

We have simplified our membership levels this year:

Cottage Owner, $100: For LSC property owners with a dwelling, $100 per cottage.

Business Sponsor, $200: (details below)

Unimproved Lot Owner, $50: For LSC property owners without a dwelling.

Supporter Of LSC, $35: For those of you who love LSC but are not a property owner. Includes family members of property owners, renters and those who use the lake for recreation.

Both on our website and on our printed membership form, you will have an opportunity to add an additional contribution above the membership level if you'd like to increase your support to the LSCA for 2021:

If you are a business in the Lake St. Catherine community, we have a Business Sponsor Membership we'd like to tell you about. The Business Sponsor Membership includes:

A listing on our ‘Sponsors’ page on lakestcatherine.org with your logo, a link to your web or Facebook page, including a brief description of your business and services.
The posting of your events and special occasions to our Events & LSC Community Website Calendar.
A posting on our Blog and Facebook page about your business as a ‘Sponsor Spotlight’ feature.
A posting for your business in our Spring and Fall newsletters. Newsletters will be made available to the community in both printed and digital versions.

Your membership and the dues and contributions we receive allow us to accomplish our work. Maintaining the lake costs approximately $125,000 annually. While we do receive annual grants from Poultney, Wells, and the State, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding.

Upon receiving your membership contribution, our treasurer Elaine will mail you a hand-written thank you note, a receipt, a LSCA window card and a LSCA can koozie.

We are happy to report that in 2020, we had 346 paid members, which includes 10 Business Sponsors with an average contribution of $150. Thank you to all of our members! Your membership dues and additional contributions over and above our base membership levels are crucial to funding our important lake programs. As always, we ask you to help us spread the word by discussing the LSCA with your neighbors, your friends & family, and your renters. We will continue to work hard for Lake St. Catherine to earn your support.

Thank you for your support of the LSCA!

- The Trustees of the Lake St. Catherine Association

If you ever have any questions about your membership or Lake St. Catherine, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Happy New Year!

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 16:11:20 GMT

Happy New Year LSC!

We hope you've found that our efforts in 2020 for Lake St. Catherine have been worthy. It’s been a difficult year, but we are proud of what we were able to accomplish under the circumstances. As we look forward to 2021 - with new projects, and new partnerships - we promise to continue our work for the betterment of Lake St. Catherine.

Thank you to everyone who supported us this year. We hope to earn your support again here in 2021.

Please keep yourself healthy and be well. We hope to see you at the lake soon.

Our 2021 Membership Drive will kickoff in early February, but If you'd like, you can renew at any time on our website by clicking here.

If you are a new member, you can join by clicking here.

Thank you!

Lake St. Catherine - New Year's Day, 2021

LSCA 2020 Year In Review

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 17:00:00 GMT

Hello LSC.

At the end of each season, we like to take some time to present a recap of what we’ve done for Lake St. Catherine on behalf of the lake community and our membership.

It was a year like no other, filled with uncertainty.

As the COVID-19 pandemic progressed, we wondered if we’d be able to perform any of our planned lake management projects this year. We were extremely concerned about the safety of our contractors, our Greeters, our volunteers, and our Trustees (and our families and friends). Would we lose a large portion of our funding? Even if we had sufficient funding, would we be able to safely perform the tasks needed to implement our lake management programs?

Our best laid plans at the beginning of the year were upended as we began to hear about grants that we had earned possibly being canceled - and some of them were. Tough decisions were made and we revised our budget to prioritize our programs and projects that would have the most impact for LSC. Thankfully, most of our canceled grant funding was reinstated, and we were able to safely implement the majority of our 2020 plan.

This is certainly not the year we planned for, but we were happy with what we were able to accomplish.

So, please get comfortable, grab a beverage - and take a few minutes as we take you through the season.

Here is our 2020 Year In Review.

Grants

As we headed into 2020, we were energized by knowing we had earned Lake St. Catherine approximately $65,000 in grants from the State Of Vermont and the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) to help fund projects like the Greeter Program, our Milfoil Control Program, and Lake Wise. As mentioned previously, some of these were canceled when COVID-19 hit, but were thankfully reinstated. In April, the LCBP announced an emergency relief funding grant to help organizations like the LSCA deal with current expenses during the pandemic - which were happy to earn. We have already submitted a number of grant proposals for 2021.

Membership

As anticipated, membership was down this year. We know and understand that many businesses were impacted by the pandemic, and some of you were laid off or lost hours at your job. A sincere THANK YOU to everyone who was able to contribute to the LSCA and become a member this year.

Many of you renewed your membership or joined as soon as our 2020 Membership Drive kicked off in early February - which was very helpful as pandemic was looming.

We ended the season with 346 members, down slightly from 350 last year. While we came close to matching our 2019 total, we had previously increased our membership numbers, year-over-year the past 3 years.

We hope to break the 350 mark in 2021 as we continue to reach out to LSC property owners, and hope to expand our reach with membership levels for family members of property owners, renters, and those who use the lake for recreation.

We hope to earn your support for our 2021 as we launch our Membership Drive in early February of 2021.

Communicating With The Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund (LSCCF) On The Health Of Little Lake

In mid February, we posted a paper on our website addressing a series of statements, postings, newspaper articles, and reports on the situation in Little Lake concerning sediment and milfoil issues (you can read it here). We felt that important information about these issues were not being communicated to the lake community and we made the decision to respond to the statements, postings, and newspaper articles while providing information from a Vermont DEC report, and our own aquatic plant surveys. We also proposed the outline of a 3 year plan to address the milfoil issue and proposed ideas to work on interventions in the watershed to combat problems that are contributing to sediment issues.

The purpose of our paper was to inform the lake community and to present the data and conclusions from the DEC report and our plant surveys, while offering potential solutions. However, the LSCA and the LSCCF have not seen eye-to-eye on lake management in Little Lake for many years, and some interpreted our paper as negative or as an attack. This was certainly not our intent, and it was unfortunate some were upset by it. But, it did get people talking, and it eventually led to a series of meetings between the LSCA and the LSCCF.

In late February, a Little Lake property owner reached out to both groups and graciously hosted a meeting to discuss Little Lake issues. The discussion became contentious at times, but concluded with an agreement to keep talking - and we did. Both groups kept in touch via email and phone conversations. These discussions led to setting up a moderated, joint meeting between the LSCA, LSCCF, the Vermont DEC, and Michigan based limnologist Jennifer Jones which took place online in late August (you can view a recording of that meeting here). A few weeks before this meeting took place, board members from both groups took a boat tour of Little Lake to assess and discuss the current conditions there.

The joint meeting was productive, and discussions continued, leading to another online meeting in late October. At this meeting, the LSCCF presented a 3 year, 6 point plan which outlines the lake management tools they will be pursuing for the next 3 years in Little Lake. You can view this on their website.

We presented our 3 year plan to help control milfoil in Little Lake, and our ideas to help with sedimentation issues by initiating projects in the watershed. We also briefly discussed our ambitious plan to begin work on a 10 year Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan. A detailed announcement about this new partnership with the LSCCF can be read here.

Finding agreement on both milfoil control and watershed management tools, we’ve agreed to work together on these two initiatives beginning in 2021.

A few weeks ago, board members from each group held an online kickoff meeting to discuss watershed projects and expanding the Lake Wise program to Little Lake. Then, this past weekend, board members held an online kickoff meeting to discuss the plan for milfoil control in Little Lake next season.

This is fantastic news for Little Lake and the whole of Lake St. Catherine.

There are three very important ways you can help to support these plans.

Donate to the cause. We haven’t yet finalized how we'll fundraise to help cover the 3 year Little Lake milfoil control plan, but we are going to need your financial support. Soon, we’ll let you know how you can make a contribution to specifically help fund this program over the next 3 years.
Get involved. Along with your financial support, there is a lot you can do as an individual to support these programs. To help support watershed programs on the lake, learn about best practices for your lakeshore property to limit the nutrients, sediments and pollution that enter the lake. Sign up to have your property to be assessed for Lake Wise in 2021. The LSCA and the PMNRCD will help you create a beautiful, lake-friendly shoreline. To help support the milfoil control program, learn to identify what milfoil looks like and do what you can to get every piece you can find out of the lake. If you see it growing near your dock or swim area, pull it out by the roots and get it out of the lake. If you see a piece or a patch floating by, scoop it out of the lake. If you see some washed up into your shoreline, clear it out. Place it on land to dry out and dispose of it like you would yard waste.
Become a member. Both the LSCA and the LSCCF rely on membership dues to fund lake management programs each season. As property owners, and as people who love LSC, we need to all contribute to help keep LSC clean and beautiful.

Boat Launch Monitoring - Greeter Program

Our Greeters have been trained to identify invasive species (like spiny waterflea, asian clams, water chestnut, starry stonewort and zebra mussels) 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.

Heading into 2020, our plan was to again expand our Greeter Program monitoring hours (over the previous year), and expand the Greeter Program to the Lake St. Catherine State Park using funds earned from grants from the LCBP and the State of Vermont. At one point, 2 of 3 of these grants were canceled. But, we decided we needed to move ahead with our initial plan and launched a scaled back pilot program at the State Park.

We felt it was important to get the Greeter Program started at the State Park as it has been estimated that 1,800 vessels are launched there each season. So, in mid July, our State Park Greeter Program pilot began, even though we had lost the funding earmarked for this expansion. Then, in early August, we received the good news that the Watershed grant was reinstated.

These efforts resulted in a whopping 33% increase in the number of boats inspected in 2020 as compared to 2019!

We hope to again expand Greeter monitoring hours in 2021.

Milfoil Control

Our diver assisted suction harvesting (DASH) team began their work on June 27th. This season, the DASH team worked in 10 areas, totaling 38.7 acres. This represents a 42% reduction in the amount of acres that were DASH'd in 2019.

In these DASH areas, the milfoil was very sparse. Although they worked approximately the same amount of hours as in 2019, they only harvested 132 buckets (17.5 gallons per bucket) of milfoil. In 2019, 1,293 buckets were harvested. This is excellent news, and an amazing statistic.

You can view our 2020 results and the aquatic plant survey by clicking here.

8th Annual Boat Parade

As with our other lake activities, we were concerned about putting on the Boat Parade this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We wanted to continue this yearly tradition, but we wanted to make sure that we could do it safely.

The first change was to not ask our local business to donate prizes this year. Many were - and still are struggling - so we asked the lake community to support those local businesses that donated prizes in 2019. They are: Lake St. Catherine Country Club, Full Belly Deli of Poultney, VT, New England Lakeside Realty Inc., Edwards Market, The Wells Country Store, Otto's Cones Point General Store, The Gold Trout, Pine Grove Diner, The Barn Restaurant & Tavern, The Pawlet Station, Village Yarn Shop, Rebecca J. Thomas, Inc. dba Country Horizon Realty, MacDaddy's Car Hop, Stewart's Shops, Williams Hardware, Wellsmere Farm, CBH Business Services, Everyday Flowers.

Next, we removed the judging stations and instead decided to post an online poll asking the lake community to vote for your favorite boat in each of our 4 categories: Most Original, Most Patriotic, Funniest, Best Overall. Photos were taken of all participants during the parade, and the online poll was posted.

After the vote was tallied, we had our 4 winners:

Most Patriotic: Boat #8 - The Dunbar Family - "Party Like A Patriot"

Funniest: Boat #9 - The Lutz & Harris Families - "Fowl Play"

Most Original: Boat #14 - The Mroz Family - "Ice Cream Boat"

Best Overall: Boat #1 - The Conine Family - "Ski School"

We hope you enjoyed the parade this year!

Annual Meeting

Each July, we look forward to getting our membership together for our Annual Meeting & Dinner at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club. The LSCA Trustees present reports from their committees, and we get to share an excellent dinner with our lake neighbors.

It was very disappointing that we were unable to do that this year.

But, we still had a lot of important information to share with our membership and the lake community, so we held a Virtual Annual Meeting on July 25th. Previous to the meeting, we solicited questions from the membership and the lake community that we could answer during the meeting.

All of our Trustees joined a Google Meet, and we recorded our presentation and posted the video on our YouTube channel. You can view that recording by clicking here.

We are keeping our fingers crossed that we can have an in-person Annual Meeting & Dinner next summer.

Dockside Chats

One of the grants we earned had an education component which would have resulted in small community meetings around the lake. We had plans to set up small ‘neighborhood’ designations for areas around the lake and have a captain in each area to speak with their neighbors to have discussions about lake issues. The captains would set up small meetings with interested neighbors and a LSCA Trustee would attend to talk about the lake and answer questions.

Obviously, COVID-19 made this project impossible to begin in 2020. But, with this project being canceled and the Annual Meeting going virtual, we wanted to find some way to have safe face-to-face interactions with members. So, we came up with Dockside Chats.

Our idea was to have a LSCA Trustee visit you at your dock via the lake and have a socially distanced chat about the lake. We advertised this on our website and Facebook pages asking interested members to write into our email address (info@lakestcatherine.org) to schedule a chat.

We are glad to say this was a popular program with about 15 Dockside Chats scheduled. We hope to do it again next year - along with our neighborhood program.

Lake Wise

WOW - what a year for Lake Wise! Eleven properties on Lake St. Catherine earned the Lake Wise Award in 2020.

2020 Lake Wise Award winners, The O'Connells - West Lake Road

The goal of the Lake Wise program, from the Lake Wise website:

"The goal of Lake Wise is to establish a new normal, a new culture of lakeshore landscaping that is proven to help protect the lake. A property that earns the Lake Wise Award will represent a 'model' shoreland property. The Lake Wise Award certifies a property is well managed, using shoreland Best Management Practices, and is maintained to care for the lake."

In partnership with the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) and property owners around the lake, the Lake Wise program was a huge success in 2020.

A LCBP grant helped to fund both property assessments, native plantings, and stormwater runoff projects on individual property owner’s shorelines.

Building on the work in 2018 and 2019 led to the success of the program in 2020 - and this brings the total Lake Wise properties on LSC to 12.

Our goal is to earn another 10 awards in 2021, and get our first for a Little Lake property owner.

As we were preparing this report, we received word that a LCBP grant we applied for to expand the Lake Wise program into Little Lake in 2021 was awarded! We are excited to expand this program into Little Lake and work with the LSCCF on implementing it.

Newsletters

Our traditional Spring and Fall newsletters were posted digitally on our website, and printed copies were made available at Otto’s.

Spring Newsletter
Fall Newsletter

New Website

In early December, we launched our new website at lakestcatherine.org. Our previous website served us well for 4 years, but it was time for a refresh.

We still have some work to do, but you'll immediately notice a new design, updated pages, new pages, and lots of new photos and content.

Along with the new look, and all the new LSC related information we've added, there are a bunch of new features we'll be able to offer members and visitors. We'll continue to update the site over the winter, and we'll let you know as we roll out these new website features.

Please check it out and let us know what you think.

As always, our Blog and Facebook pages will be constantly updated with the latest LSC information and news - so please check those often.

Looking Ahead To 2021

We’ve touched upon a few of these above, but we’d like to briefly summarize our ambitious plans for 2021.

2021 Membership Drive: We’ll be working hard to get back on track with our membership by increasing the total number of members, and the dollars raised over our recent previous highs in 2019. We’ve made it even easier to renew or become a member on our new website. We’ve simplified membership levels and added the ability for members to include an additional contribution in the amount of their choosing during the process which we hope the lake community will take advantage of. We will also reach out to seasonal renters, family members of property owners, and recreational users of the lake with our new ‘Supporter of LSC’ level of membership. We’ll kick off the 2021 Membership Drive in early February.
Lake-Wide Milfoil Control Efforts: Planning and meetings are already taking place to prepare for our milfoil control efforts in Lake St. Catherine in 2021. Along with planning to continue our yearly DASH and ProcellaCOR milfoil control program, members of the LSCA and the LSCCF have been discussing expanding the program to include a ProcellaCOR treatment in Little Lake next year as part of a 3 year plan. This is excellent news for the Little Lake and the whole of Lake St. Catherine. Members from both boards will be meeting soon to discuss our joint fundraising efforts. We’ll let you know about the treatment and how you can contribute to its success when those plans are finalized. We’ll be soliciting donations from the lake community and educating you on what you can do in the lake and on your shorelines to make this 3 year plan a success. We hope you’ll be able to contribute to this plan to help Little Lake.
Lake Wise: We are very excited to have earned another LCBP grant to fund our Lake Wise Program in 2021. This year, we’ll again partner with the PMNRCD and are happy to be working together with the LSCCF to expand the program into Little Lake. Lake Wise is such an important program for Lake St. Catherine. As a property owner on the lake, our collective efforts to make our shorelines lake friendly will have a huge impact on water quality. Our properties are the last line of defense to keep stormwater runoff from depositing sediments, pollution, and weed growing nutrients into the lake. If you’d like to be part of the Lake Wise Program in 2021, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.
Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan: This fall, the LSCA, with the support of the PMNRD and the Vermont DEC, applied for a LCBP grant to help fund the research and the development of a Watershed Action Plan for LSC. From the EPA, a Watershed Action Plan is described as, “Watershed planning helps address water quality problems in a holistic manner by fully assessing the potential contributing causes and sources of pollution, then prioritizing restoration and protection strategies to address these problems.” We hope to begin the multi-year process of creating the LSC Watershed Action Plan in 2021 which we anticipate will lead to a 10 year plan.
Greeter Program: We continue to hear reports of aquatic invasive species (AIS) establishing themselves in lakes that are in the vicinity of Lake St. Catherine - this is why the Greeter Program is so important. Our plan in 2021 will be to again (for the 3rd year in a row) expand the hours worked by our Greeters, along with a full season of checking vessels at the LSC State Park.

Thank You For Your Support

We hope you find that our efforts in 2020 for Lake St. Catherine have been worthy. It’s been a difficult year, but we are proud of what we were able to accomplish under the circumstances. As we look forward to 2021 - with new projects, and new partnerships - we promise to continue our work for the betterment of Lake St. Catherine.

Thank you to everyone who supported us this year. We hope to earn your support again in 2021.

Please keep yourself healthy and be well. We hope to see you at the lake soon.

Happy Holidays,

- The Trustees of The Lake St. Catherine Association

LSCA Membership Directory And App

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 14:12:07 GMT

Hello LSC.

This morning, we'd like to let you know about a feature of our new website - a Membership Directory and an app for your phone or tablet.

Membership Directory

After you have set up your account on the new website (you can start that process by clicking here), you can update your profile for the Membership Directory.

First, log into the site and select 'Membership Profile' from the 'Membership' menu. You will see a page that has this information:

Click on the grey 'Edit profile' button and you can add information to your profile like a Bio, the name of your cottage, and a photo. Make sure you hit the 'Save' button after you make any changes.

Next, you can decide what information you'd like listed about yourself in your entry for the Membership Directory. To do that, click on the 'Privacy' link. You will then see a list of 'Details to show'. Click on the grey 'Edit profile' button on this page and you will see this:

You have full control over what information is displayed in your profile listing in the Membership Directory. If you want to show a line of information, select 'Anybody' or 'Members'. If you would prefer to not show a line of information, click the 'No access' button. Be sure to again click the grey 'Save' button to save your changes.

After making and saving edits, you can view what will be shown on your profile listing in the Membership Directory by clicking on the 'My directory profile' link.

The default settings for your entry will only show your name - you will need to add information to your profile, and then decide what you'd like to share.

For example, I have added a photo, a Bio, my email address, and our camp name & address - and then I made those viewable in the directory. You can see what a profile looks like by clicking the link on my name under the title of this blog post.

You can view or search the directory by clicking on Membership Directory under the Membership menu. You must be a member and logged into the site to view this page.

Other features available here include an area where you can create a photo album, see tickets for events you have registered for (hopefully we'll be able to use that feature in 2021!), and listings of your transactions on the new site like membership payments and donations.

Website Companion App For Your Phone Or Tablet

Our new site has a companion app that you can download for your iOS or Android based phone or tablet.

The app is named for the company that hosts our new website, Wild Apricot - the app is called 'Wild Apricot For Members'. You can install it by using the links below:

Apple App Store - Wild Apricot For Members
Android Google Play Store - Wild Apricot For Members

After installing on your device, you can log in with the username and password you use for the new website.

In the app, you'll be able to search the Membership Directory, make edits to your member profile, view upcoming events, and renew your membership.

We hope you'll enjoying using these new features - and that you'll have some fun setting up your membership profile!

If you have any questions or issues, please send us an email at info@lakestcatherine.org so we can help you out.

We hope you are enjoying the new site!

2020 Aquatic Vegetation Management Report

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 17:31:13 GMT

Each season, the LSCA implements a milfoil control program to keep milfoil in check using a combination of spot herbicide treatments and DASH (Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting).

In late September, our contractor SOLitude Lake Management performed a comprehensive lake-wide aquatic vegetation survey to both evaluate the performance of our milfoil control efforts, and to assess the overall state of aquatic plants in Lake St. Catherine.

This is the 17th consecutive year a plant survey has been performed on Lake St. Catherine. You can see all the previous reports, dating back to 2004 in our Links & Downloads section.

The report can be read directly here: 2020 - Aquatic Vegetation Management Report.

From the report:

"Controlling areas of dense EWM growth and maintaining it at non-nuisance levels has been the focus of recent EWM management efforts at Lake St. Catherine. The ProcellaCOR herbicide treatment this year effectively and selectively controlled EWM where used... This strategy coupled with focused DASH efforts proved to be successful in maintaining control of EWM frequency of occurrence and percent cover in both the Main Basin and Lily Pond."

Please take a look.

If you have any questions, please get in touch at info@lakestcatherine.org.

LSCA Awarded Grant For Lake Wise Program Expansion In Little Lake, Partners With LSCCF

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 23:00:00 GMT

We are excited to report that the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) has awarded the Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) a grant in the amount of $19,920 for the expansion of our Lake Wise Program into Little Lake!

The project is entitled: “Lake Wise Project Implementation on Little Lake in the Lake St. Catherine Watershed”, and will be implemented in partnership with the LSCA, the Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund (LSCCF) and the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District (PMNRCD).

The goal of the Lake Wise program, from the Lake Wise website:

"The goal of Lake Wise is to establish a new normal, a new culture of lakeshore landscaping that is proven to help protect the lake. A property that earns the Lake Wise Award will represent a 'model' shoreland property. The Lake Wise Award certifies a property is well managed, using shoreland Best Management Practices, and is maintained to care for the lake."

In 2020, the LSCA earned the same grant from LCBP to perform Lake Wise assessments, and to help property owners with projects on their land to mitigate stormwater runoff into the lake. Then, the LSCA partnered with PMNRCD on this project and began the outreach to the lake community. This effort, combined with the efforts in 2018 and 2019 resulted in 11 lake properties winning the Lake Wise Award in 2020.

The Liberatores, Oxbow Bay: One of 11 properties to earn a Lake Wise Award in 2020 on LSC

Stormwater has a widespread environmental impact which makes it a growing concern in Vermont. In a statewide effort, towns and local organizations are working to implement large scale projects to help clean stormwater before it enters water bodies. Work is being done from the headwaters all the way down to the stream outlets. Excess nutrients in the water contribute to problems which affect both human and wildlife health including; lower oxygen levels in the water, toxic algae blooms, and excessive plant growth.

As a shoreline property owner, you have the access and the ability to control what is happening directly at the water's edge.

Actions now will promote a healthy lake environment that will continue to support swimming, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing in the future.

This is such an important program for long term health of Lake St. Catherine, and we can all pitch in to make a difference.

If you are a Little Lake property owner who would like to be part of this program, please contact us at info@lakestcatherine.org so we can add you to our 2021 list. We’ll contact you in the spring to set up an appointment. We are also accepting requests for ANY property owners on LSC. If you’d like to be part of the Lake Wise program, we want to hear from you.

Next year, our overall goal is to earn 10 Lake Wise Awards for property owners, with at least one of those being the first for Little Lake.

The LSCA is very happy to be working together with the LSCCF on this important project for Little Lake in 2021. This project represents just one of the two initiatives that the LSCA and the LSCCF will be working together on in 2021. Soon, we’ll have additional information to share on the second joint project, milfoil control in Little Lake.

So, send us an email at info@lakestcatherine.org and we’ll get you signed up for 2021. Thank you!

LSCA Launches New Website

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 15:51:21 GMT

Hello LSC.

We are excited to announce that we have launched a newly designed and updated website at www.lakestcatherine.org.

We still have some work to do, but you'll immediately notice a new design, updated pages, new pages, and lots of new photos. Thank you to everyone who had contributed photos for the new site! We did our best to incorporate as many as we could.

Along with the new look and all the new LSC related information we've added, there are a bunch of new features we'll be able to offer members and visitors. We'll continue to update the site over the winter, and we'll let you know as we roll out these new website features.

For example:

Members can upload a photo and type up a bio for their entry in the online LSCA Membership Directory.
Members will be able to download an app for your phone or tablet (iOS and Android). In this app, you can view the member directory, see your membership status, renew your membership, and view your new digital LSCA Membership card.
Becoming a member, or renewing your membership online is much easier now. We've been able to consolidate the membership level choices, and after you have selected the membership level, if you'd like - you'll have the opportunity to add an additional contribution to the LSCA in the amount of your choosing. This will be ready to roll as we head into the new year and launch our 2021 Membership Drive.

Soon, current members will receive an email from the new site with instructions on how to set up your account. Your membership record from the old site was imported into the new one, you'll just need to set a password. Keep an eye out for that later today. If you'd like to become a new member, please wait a few days as our payment processing will be added early this week.

As always, our Blog and Facebook pages will be constantly updated with the latest LSC information and news - so please check those often.

While we've done our best to test drive the new site looking for issues or typos, we may have missed some. If you come across anything that is not working properly, or if you see a typo, or if you have any issues setting up your new site account, please let us know.

We'd also like to know what you think of the new site! Let us know here: info@lakestcatherine.org. We hope you enjoy the new site.

Thanks for your support of the LSCA!

LSCA & LSCCF Announce Joint Plans For Little Lake In 2021

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 22:00:49 GMT

Hello to everyone in the Lake St. Catherine community. We have some exciting news to share with you today.

Over the past year, the Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) and the Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund (LSCCF) have been communicating and meeting to discuss the health of Little Lake.

As you may have seen, back on August 25th, we held a joint meeting to discuss potential interventions for Little Lake. You can view a recording of that meeting here. We are happy to report that productive discussions between our two groups continued after this meeting. This culminated in an agreement to work together on projects to help address milfoil and sediment issues in Little Lake.

We’d like to tell you about them, and also let you know how you can help - because we will need your support to make them happen.

During a joint meeting held on October 21st, the LSCCF presented a 3 year, 6 point plan which outlines the tools they will be pursuing for the next 3 years in Little Lake. You can view this on their website.

Finding agreement on both milfoil control and watershed management tools, we’ve agreed to work together on these initiatives beginning in 2021.

Watershed Management

As the lakeshore around Little Lake has been developed over the past 50 years, it has suffered from cultural eutrophication (excess nutrients and sediments from human activity entering the lake). Watershed projects will help mitigate inflows of nutrients (phosphorus), sediments and pollution caused by stormwater runoff. Reducing phosphorus and sediments will limit the amount of nutrients available for weeds to grow, and the amount of muck that settles on the bottom. These watershed projects are designed to keep new nutrients and sediments from entering Little Lake and adding to the existing sediment levels.

In 2021, the LSCA will again be applying for the Lake Champlain Basin Program’s Pollution Prevention grant. We earned this grant last year and used it to promote the Lake Wise Program on Lake St. Catherine.

The goal of the Lake Wise program, from the Lake Wise website:

"The goal of Lake Wise is to establish a new normal, a new culture of lakeshore landscaping that is proven to help protect the lake. A property that earns the Lake Wise Award will represent a 'model' shoreland property. The Lake Wise Award certifies a property is well managed, using shoreland Best Management Practices, and is maintained to care for the lake."

In 2020, this program resulted in 9 property owners winning 11 Lake Wise Awards for their properties on Lake St. Catherine. This is an outstanding achievement. These properties are models for all of us to follow as we work on making our individual properties lake friendly.

The LSCA worked closely with the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) performing property assessments and working with the owners to implement stormwater mitigation measures on their lakeshore. Some of these measures included rain gardens, shoreline buffer plantings, infiltration steps and other water diversion and infiltration techniques.

This year, we’d like to expand the Lake Wise Program into Little Lake. In the grant application we will submit next week, we are happy to be partnering with the LSCCF to help make this program a success in Little Lake. We’ll work together on outreach to Little Lake residents, and the PMNRCD will again perform assessments and work with Little Lake property owners to help them make their property Lake Wise.

While our focus in 2021 will be on Little Lake, we will continue this program lake-wide to help property owners all around Lake St. Catherine to earn this award. It may take a few years to earn this award after your initial assessment as you and the PMNRCD put in the work on your property. This year, we found that properties that were initially assessed in 2018 or 2019 were able to earn the award in 2020 as they and the PMNRCD implemented Lake Wise techniques. So, year-over-year follow up is a key component of this program.

With this in mind, our goal with the Lake Wise program in 2021 is a successful launch in Little Lake, winning at least 10 Lake Wise awards for Lake St. Catherine as a whole and at least our first on Little Lake.

If you would like to work to make your property Lake Wise, please contact us so we can add you to our list for a visit in 2021. We hope to hear from folks all around LSC, but especially on Little Lake! You can email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to get on the list for 2021.

Another important watershed project is underway on Lake St. Catherine. In late 2019, the PMNRCD completed a stormwater master plan for the lake. This study inventoried 50 locations around the lake that were determined to be nutrient and sediment inputs from stormwater runoff. Six of these projects were selected to kick off the program in 2020, and plans were engineered to fix them. Four of the six initial projects are located around Little Lake, and two of these projects will be breaking ground soon. You can read the Stormwater Master Plan here.

Please check out this interactive map of Lake St. Catherine that has both the Stormwater Master Plan locations and the Lake Wise award winners plotted.

Milfoil Control

For the past two years, we’ve been using a new, highly targeted herbicide called ProcellaCOR. It has been highly effective in controlling the milfoil levels in our treatment areas (Big Lake, Lily Pond). It has been so successful that based on preliminary results of our fall survey, next year, we are projecting to not use herbicides in the Big Lake for the first time since 2006. This is an incredible result.

After reviewing the results of the first ProcellaCOR treatment in 2019, we saw a real opportunity to significantly reduce the amount of milfoil in LSC. At that time, we decided to set a goal to get the milfoil level down to a point that our primary control method would be our diver assisted suction harvesting (DASH) team. Learn more about our DASH team by clicking here. Achieving this goal would allow us to redirect funds to other important lake programs like improving water quality, watershed management and invasive species prevention. However, to achieve this goal, we’d need to address the largest source of milfoil in LSC, Little Lake.

Beginning next season, we’ll initiate a 3 year plan using ProcellaCOR to gain control of milfoil in Little Lake. In year one, we’ll treat up to 40% of the milfoil which is approximately 71 acres. The year one treatment has been estimated to cost more than $30,000. If we project out the cost over the 3 year plan, the total cost could be approximately $80,000. However, that is subject to change. After year one, we’ll evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment, and make a plan for year two based on those results. It is possible that we won’t need to treat as large an area in year two or three which would decrease the total cost over the 3 year plan.

While this plan is targeted to help improve the milfoil conditions in Little Lake, it is a benefit to the whole of Lake St. Catherine. Milfoil fragments make their way from Little Lake, through the Channel via wind and boat traffic. We’ve found that this milfoil ends up seeding new milfoil growth in the Channel, near the Sunken Island, Forest House Bay and Halls Bay. Successful treatments in Little Lake would result in the lowest overall milfoil levels in Lake St. Catherine since 2006.

We are happy to have the backing and financial support from the LSCCF for this plan to begin in 2021.

How You Can Help

There are three very important ways you can help to support these plans.

Donate to the cause. We haven’t yet finalized how we’ll fundraise to help cover the 3 year Little Lake milfoil control plan, but we are going to need your financial support. Soon, we’ll let you know how you can make a contribution to specifically help fund this program over the next 3 years.
Get involved. Along with your financial support, there is a lot you can do as an individual to support these programs. To help support watershed programs on the lake, learn about best practices for your lakeshore property to limit the nutrients, sediments and pollution that enter the lake. Sign up to have your property to be assessed for Lake Wise in 2021. The LSCA and the PMNRCD will help you create a beautiful, lake-friendly shoreline. To help support the milfoil control program, learn to identify what milfoil looks like and do what you can to get every piece you can find out of the lake. If you see it growing near your dock or swim area, pull it out by the roots and get it out of the lake. If you see a piece or a patch floating by, scoop it out of the lake. If you see some washed up into your shoreline, clear it out. Place it on land to dry out and dispose of it like you would yard waste.
Become a member. Both the LSCA and the LSCCF rely on membership dues to fund lake management programs each season. As property owners, and as people who love LSC, we need to all contribute to help keep LSC clean and beautiful.

Summary

The LSCA and the LSCCF have agreed to work together on milfoil control and watershed management programs in Little Lake in 2021 and beyond. We’ll be looking to the lake community for your involvement and financial support to make these programs a success.

Lake St. Catherine is one body of water, from Lily Pond to Lake’s End. A healthy Little Lake is a benefit to all LSC property owners, regardless of where your property is. Let’s all work together in support of Little Lake, and in turn, all of Lake St. Catherine.

We’ll have information on our joint fundraising effort soon. We hope you will support these efforts.

Thanks for reading LSC.

We hope you agree that these are significant steps forward for Little Lake.

We welcome your comments. Contact us any time at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you.

New Game Warden For Lake St. Catherine

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 13 Sep 2020 16:00:30 GMT

Good afternoon LSC.

We’d like to let you know that we have a new Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department Game Warden that will be patrolling Lake St. Catherine.

For the past few years, our Warden was Dustin Circe. He has transferred to cover an area north of Montpelier. We thank him for his years of service to our area and LSC.

Our new Warden is Justin Turner who resides in Arlington. His coverage area includes 9 towns: Arlington, Sunderland, Sandgate, Manchester, Rupert, Dorset, Pawlet, Danby and Wells. Although his area does not include Poultney, he is responsible for all of Lake St. Catherine.

Justin cannot be on the lake every day, but we can all be his eyes and ears working to keep LSC safe.

If you witness an unsafe boating incident or a violation, you can:

Take a video
Take photos
Take note of their registration number
Take note of a description of the vessel and the individual
Take note of the camp they return to
Take note of the date & time and location

Then, call Justin to report it so he can investigate - he can be reached on his cell at: 802-595-8754.

Justin, welcome to Lake St. Catherine. We look forward to seeing you on the lake!

As a reminder, here are the Vermont rules for unlawful operation of a vessel.

Vermont law states that these dangerous operating practices are illegal:

Careless and Reckless Operation of a vessel or the reckless manipulation of water skis, a surfboard, or a similar device is operating in a manner that causes danger to the life, limb, or property of any person. Examples of illegal, reckless operation are:

Boating in restricted areas without regard for other boaters or persons, posted speeds and wake restrictions, diver-down flags, etc.
Boating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Failing to follow the navigation rules
Weaving through congested waterway traffic
Swerving at the last possible moment in order to avoid collision
Causing danger or damage from the wake of your vessel
Chasing, harassing, or disturbing wildlife with your vessel

Overloading is loading the vessel beyond a safe carrying capacity, taking into consideration the weather and other operating conditions.

Improper Speed or Distance is not maintaining a proper speed or distance while operating a vessel or while towing a person on water skis or any similar device. Specifically, the following actions are illegal:

Operating a vessel (except sailboards) at greater than “no wake speed” within 200 feet of:

- The shoreline
- A person in the water
- A canoe, rowboat, or other vessel
- An anchored or moored vessel with a person on board
- An anchorage or dock

Operating a vessel at speeds of five miles per hour or greater within 200 feet of a marked swimming area
Operating a vessel at speeds that may cause danger, injury, or damage. Be aware of and obey all regulatory markers, including areas marked as “no wake”

Note: “No Wake Speed” means operating your vessel at a speed at which the vessel does not produce a wake, not to exceed five miles per hour.

Many more rules and regulations for boating in Vermont can be found here, in the Vermont Boating Laws And Responsibilities Handbook.

Next, let's review the Lake St. Catherine specific boating rules that are in place, under Vermont Statute 10 V.S.A. § 1424, (effective November 17, 1980, amended January 1, 1995):

Water-skiing is prohibited in the following waters:

All portions of Lily Pond and the channel connecting Lily Pond and Lake St. Catherine
All portions of the channel connecting Little Lake and Lake St. Catherine

The operation of vessels powered by motor at speeds exceeding five miles per hour or in such a manner as to cause a disturbing wake is prohibited in the following waters:

All portions of Lily Pond and the channel connecting Lily Pond and Lake St. Catherine
All portions of the channel connecting Little Lake and Lake St. Catherine
Forest House Bay - defined for purposes of this rule as those waters south and southwest of a straight line between the southerly corner of Camp 102 and the northeasterly corner of Camp 110A
Hall’s Bay - defined for purposes of this rule as those waters north and northeast of a straight line between the southerly corner of Camp 224 and the northerly corner of Camp 207
Horseshoe Bay - defined for purposes of this rule as those waters west of a straight line between the easterly corner of Camp 38 and northerly corner of Camp 46A
Oxbow Bay - defined for purposes of this rule as those waters west of a straight line between the northerly corner of Camp 21 and the northerly corner of Camp 36

With regard to Forest House Bay, Hall’s Bay, Horseshoe Bay, and Oxbow Bay:

It is permissible for a boat to start and return to its own dock at speeds in excess of five miles per hour for purposes of water-skiing. In starting, the boat must head directly out of the safety zone. In returning, the boat must go directly to its dock at the lowest speed necessary to sustain the skier

For purposes of this regulation only:

The term “channel” as used in the rules above shall mean those waters within and contiguous to Lake St. Catherine which are less than 400 feet in width and which serve to connect that lake with Lily Pond or Little Lake.
The use of personal watercraft at speeds not exceeding five miles per hour is allowed on Little Lake and Lily Pond for purposes of obtaining access to, and returning from, Lake St. Catherine.

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees - 08/29/2020

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 16:01:54 GMT

On Saturday, August 29th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their fourth and final meeting of the 2020 season.

The Trustees gave their reports on many topics - Click here to see the full meeting agenda. Meeting minutes compiled by Kemi McShane Bostock.

August 29th 2020 Meeting of the Lake St. Catherine Board of Trustees

Google Meet - Online Meeting, 8:30 AM

Meeting Called to Order by President, Jim Canders at 8:35 AM.

Attendance: Jim Canders, Jeff Crandall, Elaine Bagley, Ken Abt, John Belnavis, Martha Pofit, Frank Callahan, Bob Williams, Kemi McShane, Ed Laird, Nancy Liberatore, Jerremy Jones, Mary Jo Teetor

Absent: Rob Nesbit

Meeting Called to Order at 8:35 AM

Opening statement by President, Jim Canders. President Canders thanks Owen and Beck for the DASH work for this season, and the Greeters from the Boat Launch and State Park Greeter Program.

Beck Sinclair reports on the 2020 season for the DASH season at LSC. He stated that he emailed a map of the final treatment to the trustees. He provided a financial invoice and stated not completed all the work in Halls Bay and thanked the Board for the 7-day extension to complete the work in Bay. Beck and Owen have worked the DASH program for the past 7 years and he believes the lake is in the best shape that he has seen it. He is seeing little milfoil and believes this is from the balanced approach of DASH, herbicide and due diligence from the lake residents. The collection of milfoil buckets is down 90% - they collected 132 buckets in total.

Jeff Crandall stated the future treatment map may contain Halls Bay, along Route 30, the Sunken Island and the Channel as milfoil is coming from LL into those areas.

Beck: not seeing any growth in Atwater Bay, Oxbow Bay and Horseshoe Bay.

Jeff: last year floating milfoil fragments saw a lot of them and not seeing any this season.

Beck: North Bay is mostly seeing native plants

Martha: thanked the DASH team for all their hard work, important message to address the Channel, and remind the LL that all the hard work and strides in the Big Lake can be compromised because milfoil is traveling up the Channel and into the Big Lake. It is a cause and effect situation and compromises our success and has a direct impact on the work already done.

Beck: he can provide pictures and videos of the diving work to show milfoil collected around a raft in the Channel and how the DASH team saw lots of floating milfoil there. The wind, boats, and water currents bring large mats of floating milfoil up into the Channel and then it flows into the Big Lake.

Martha needs this information to show evidence to support the grant writing that she is involved in.

Jeff: wants all this information included in final report to document the progress for the 2020 season.

Beck: can provide maps and pictures

Martha: for grant writing purposes need entire buckets collected, time spent, and square footage and density of time spent working the lake. This contribution is valuable to support the grant.

Beck: the final report is 132 buckets in 2020. Will calculate the square footage as the hose line extension and covering the area DASHed.

Beck explained how the DASH team did hand picking in the low dispersed areas. It allowed them to move quickly as opposed to dragging the hose and moving the boat within a 50-foot radius. Would hand pull and place into a bag and bring to boat. Helpful in Channel and allowed them to cover more area.

Martha: The Greeters program shows data that more milfoil is leaving LSC than is entering the lake. Not a good position to be in.

Beck: Recommends signage and awareness pamphlets to distribute to educate people. Overall, the DASH team is well received and residents like the work that is being done by the DASH team.

Martha: Any sighting of Zebra Mussels? (Beck: no) Lake Dunmore has them at the boat launch and LSC needs to be in the prevention mode. Working on a grant and need a baseline established. Due to COVID, state did not allow informational pamphlets to be distributed, but have them ready for nest year.

Beck: Owen and Beck available to remove the buoys as made a GPS map for finding the markers and anchors.

Frank- appreciates the extra help in this Fall. The buoys are kept at people’s property for easy removal and installation. Some are stored at Frank’s.

Beck- will collect and store where wanted.

Jim: Harry and Sylvia Bingham initiated the buoy program. Jim thanked Beck for the in-depth report and excellent work on the Lake this 2020 season.

Beck: asked about the contract for the next 2021 season?

Jeff: need to have the Fall survey to determine the sights to be treated. And based on this year’s final report.

Discussion took place regarding the joint meeting between the LSCA and the LSCCF on Tuesday, August 25, 2020. Present at this virtual / recorded meeting were: 5 LSCA trustees, 6 board members of the LSCCF, 4 VT DEC members, Dr. Jennifer Jones and moderator, Gary Kupferer. Jerremy outlined the follow up plan from this meeting. The DEC will meet with the LSCCF in the next few weeks to discuss the permits that the LL wants to put in place. Jerremy discussed with Rick on a plan to get back in touch with the LSCCF to help the LL next year. It will be necessary for the LSCA to have financial support from the LSCCF to treat the LL with ProcellaCOR. Jerremy believes this was a positive meeting, moving forward to collaborate with the LSCCF. The LSCA will write a grant to help LL and also use the tools the LSCA already has in place for assistance: such as The Lake Champlain Basin watershed funding, The Lake Wise project, as they can focus on the LL. This program help educate LL residents (and all LSC residents) to see how shoreline and property management contributes to storm water run-off that contributes to sedimentation. Concern was voiced about the sedimentation issue in the LL. THE LSCCF was promoting the scientist, Jennifer Jones for the aeration project.

Discussed ongoing concerns over the use of harvesting and the efficacy and safety of aeration.

Jerremy discussed a future meeting with the LSCCF after they meet with the DEC in early September.

Business meeting began at 9:42

Recording secretary’s Report: correction of trustees in attendance for the July 25, 2020 virtual meeting. Motion made to accept the report as presented, seconded and so moved.
Treasurer’s Report: Report posted; Elaine Bagley stated that the insurance was paid for the year. Pay checks are in good order. Has sent multiple reminders to outstanding members, with no response. 34 non-paying members from last year. John requested that the Greeter’s program manager, Marsha Baker McNally be reimbursed for the purchases totaling $300.00 for supplies for the Greeters. Jim asked for a motion to reimburse Marsha, Elaine made a motion to allocate the money and Martha seconded it. Motion carried to pay Marsha. Jerremy outlined projected income and expenses. Jerremy asked if it was appropriate to purchase a gift in recognition of the joint meeting moderator, Gary Kupferer. There were 4 meetings prior to the Tuesday night joint meeting. It was discussed that it would not be appropriate to give him a gift card without the LSCCF involved in it as well. Jerremy will contact Rick from the LSCCF and see if they too would like to contribute and thank Gary for his time. Motion was made to accept the Treasurer’s report, approved.
Milfoil Control: Jeff Crandall reported the 3 sites were treated with ProcellaCOR, Lily Pond, North Bay and South of the bridge in the Channel. DASH program addressed all sites. The team requested an extension to complete the work in Halls Bay. Referred to the map, main presence is in Halls Bay, Forest House Bay and up from the Channel to the Sunken Island. Milfoil fragments are floating up from the LL and rerooting/regrowth. Next year 2021 SOLitude survey may not need to treat in the Big Lake and the focus can be the LL. Next year 2021, LSCA can keep the DASH program busy in the main lake. DASH can not work in the LL as it is difficult to see what the team is doing. Discussion about how well ProcellaCOR has worked in combination with DASH over the past 2 seasons.
Greeter Program: John Belnavis reported that at the State boat launch there is a bulletin board for signage and information to be distributed to the public. It needs to be updated. The State Park opened late this season and at that time the LSCA did not have the funds to support the second Greeter site there. Money was allocated and we did in fact establish the Greeter Program at the State Park. August 14, the grant for funding the Greeter’s was received and the Greeter’s work hours and increased days of the week was increased. The State Park closes on Labor Day. John will breakdown the hours worked at each location and the staff will be returning next year. The State Park staff reported the numbers are down at the State Park this year. Discussed any evidence of the freshwater jellyfish in LSC as has been seen in Lake Bomoseen. John reported that last 2 years, average of 150 boats leaving LSC with milfoil, most likely because of location of boat launch to LL. Need to get these numbers down.
Publicity: Jerremy Jones reports that the Fall Newsletter will be completed and distributed for the Labor Day weekend. To date the LSCA has 343 paid members. Discussion about creating a calendar for next year to sell to generate monies for the LSCA. A local photographer has offered to supply the photos and the LSCA would produce the calendars. They could be purchased from the website, from local stores. We would include the business sponsor on the calendar. Another idea was to make postcards from the photos to sell. It was the general consensus that these would sell and benefit the Association.
Lake Safety- Frank Callahan: He thanked everyone for all the help this 2020 season. He was disappointed that he was not able to hold the classes for the boating safety. He was restricted to class size due to the COVID virus.
Nominating Committee- Bob Williams: LSCA has 14 trustees. It is a strong hard-working group. One position is open and actively looking for someone to join the Board. Discuss inviting folks to sit in on a meeting so can get a sense of the dynamics of the LSCA work.
Boat Parade- Kemi McShane : looking forward to next year’s parade. Ideas to consider: Parade leader to lead procession around lake. Keep voting on-line for a community vote. Poll regarding soliciting prizes, enter a boat in the Poultney 4th of July Parade. Ask the local photographers to take pictures to post. Music onboard the lead boat to announce the parade. Request Stewart’s ice cream cards for children. If do have sponsors for parade, will Nancy elicit these from our local sponsors? Open to ideas and suggestions regarding the boat parade.
Annual Membership Meeting- July 25,2020 Our first virtual meeting. Takes advanced planning and hoping can meet in person next year 2021. 200 people watched on YouTube and 150 people watched on Facebook. Will record the meeting regardless as it was well received.
Grants- Martha Hicks Pofit: Lake Champlain Basin Program will host a workshop in September. Lake Wise- 32 people contacted us for assessment, 23 assessments done on properties, 11 properties received the Lake Wise award. The grant for 2021 will be focused on property with a wide-open lawn- will be a big outreach program. VT DEC LSCA overall watershed improvement plan to take advantage, involved parties will be the Highway department, DASH, Lake Wise, and the Stormwater Master Plan.
Old Business: 1. FOVLAP- benefit of working with them supported by the State water quality. Conflict of interest policy- Ed Laird with current trustees to review and sign, 501C3 organization language from the IRS, LSCA has to follow. MJ questioned if we need to sign in May? Ed- stated the minutes to reflect a review of the funding sources / the grant sources. The board satisfied with the Conflict of Interest Policy. Great visibility with the State, LSCA seen as stewards of the lake.
New Business: Elaine requested a vote to purchase can koozies to be the gift for membership next year. Frank made motion was made to purchase the can koozies, Ed seconded the motion, all in favor- the motion was passed. A comment was made on a sewer issue on the Lake and the Public Health Officer will be reviewing the situation. The election of officers was presented and a motion was made to elect the following officers: Recording Secretary- Kemi McShane, Treasurer- Elaine Bagley, Vice President- Martha Hicks Pofit, President- Jim Canders. A motion was made and seconded to accept the slate of officers. President Jim Canders thanked everyone for the hard work that was done this 2020 season. He called for the Adjournment of the meeting, a motion was made and seconded. All in favor to adjourn the meeting at 11:03 AM

Respectfully submitted, Kemi McShane Bostock, Recording Secretary

Eleven LSC Properties Achieve Lake Wise Award In 2020

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 06 Sep 2020 21:13:19 GMT

WOW - what a day on the Lake!

This morning, members of the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) and the Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) visited all the 2020 Lake Wise Award winners to recognize this outstanding achievement for their lakeshore properties.

The goal of the Lake Wise program, from the Lake Wise website:

This season, the LSCA earned a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) to perform Lake Wise assessments, and to help property owners with projects on their land to mitigate stormwater runoff into the lake. Then, the LSCA partnered with the PMNRCD on this project and began the outreach to the lake community.

Stormwater has a widespread environmental impact which makes it a growing concern in Vermont. In a statewide effort, towns and local organizations are working to implement large scale projects to help clean stormwater before it enters water bodies. Work is being done from the headwaters all the way down to the stream outlets. Excess nutrients in the water contribute to problems which affect both human and wildlife health including; lower oxygen levels in the water, toxic algae blooms, and excessive plant growth.

As a shoreline property owner, you have the access and the ability to control what is happening directly at the water's edge.

Actions now will promote a healthy lake environment that will continue to support swimming, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing in the future.

This is such an important program for long term health of Lake St. Catherine, and we can all pitch in to make a difference.

So, without further ado, our 2020 Lake Wise Award winners are:

The Herricks - Cones Point

The Conines - Cones Point

The O'Connells - West Lake Road (south)

The Pofits - West Lake Road (south)

The Liberatores - Oxbow Bay

The Crandalls - West Lake Road (west) + 2 other properties

The Michels - Ferncliff Road, North Bay

The Dankowskis - Ferncliff Road, North Bay

The Smith-Pliners - Parks Drive, lower Channel

Thank you to all the winners for the work they have put into their property to become Lake Wise. Their properties represent a model of what all LSC lakeshore owners should strive for, as they are both beautiful and lake friendly.

All winners will be receiving the Lake Wise Award plaque that they can proudly display on their shoreline. Keep an eye out for them as you cruise around the lake.

This brings the total Lake Wise properties on LSC up to 12 (the Binghams were awarded it last year).

The LSCA and the PMNRCD would like to help other Lake St. Catherine property owners earn the Lake Wise award. If you would like to have your property assessed, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Make a positive impact on the lake and be Lake Wise!

The LSCA Fall 2020 Newsletter

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 13:28:19 GMT

Hello good folks of the Lake St. Catherine community.

We'd like to let you know that the LSCA Fall 2020 newsletter is now available.

In an effort to save on printing and mailing costs, we've decided to only print a short run of copies and distribute them to Otto's Cones Point General Store. If you'd like a printed copy, please feel free to pick one up when you are out and about (available now). Thank you to Otto's!

Also, keep an eye out for our Boat Launch Greeters on Saturday... They will be walking around the lake handing out printed copies of the newsletters.

The digital version is now available online via our website through this link: Click here to view the Fall 2020 Newsletter, or click on the image below. When you click on the link for the newsletter, you will be able to view it on screen - and be able to zoom in or out using the controls on the bottom of the screen. Or, you can click the download button in the top right corner to save a copy to your computer to view with a PDF reader or print a copy.

We hope you'll enjoy this edition of the LSCA newsletter.

We welcome your comments: info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you for your support!

In other news...

- On Tuesday, August 25th, the LSCA, the LSCCF, Dr. Jennifer Jones of Restorative Lake Sciences and the Vermont DEC held a meeting to discuss potential solutions to address Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) and sediment levels in the Little Lake. The recording of that meeting is now available to view on YouTube by clicking here. Our two groups will post our thoughts and comments about the meeting soon, but we'd like to give you the opportunity to view the video first. Both the LSCA and the LSCCF welcome your comments.

- Have you watched the recording of our Virtual Annual Meeting? You can view it on YouTube by clicking here.

- For all the latest news on Lake St. Catherine, please follow us on Facebook, or keep an eye here on our Blog. Thank you!

Recording Of Joint LSCA / LSCCF Little Lake Meeting

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 29 Aug 2020 22:00:37 GMT

On Tuesday, August 25th, the LSCA, the LSCCF, Dr. Jennifer Jones of Restorative Lake Sciences and the Vermont DEC held a meeting to discuss potential solutions to address Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) and sediment levels in the Little Lake.

The recording of that meeting is now available to view on YouTube here:

Our two groups will post our thoughts and comments about the meeting soon, but we'd like to give you the opportunity to view the video first.

Both the LSCA and the LSCCF welcome your comments.

We'd like to thank all the panelists for their participation, our moderator Gary Kupferer, and the Town of Wells for hosting some of our participants.

Finally, we'd like to let the lake community know that the LSCA and the LSCCF have plans to meet soon to discuss this meeting and the next steps for implementing solutions to help Little Lake. We will discuss your comments or questions at that time, so please feel free to send them in to us or post them here.

Thank you.

Jim Canders, President, Lake St. Catherine Association
David Emmons, President, Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees - 07/25/2020

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 16 Aug 2020 13:38:27 GMT

On Saturday, July 25th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their third meeting of the 2020 season.

The Trustees gave their reports on many topics - Click here to see the full meeting agenda. Meeting minutes compiled by Kemi McShane Bostock.

July 25th 2020 Meeting of the Lake St. Catherine Board of Trustees

Google Meet - Online Meeting, 8:30 AM

Meeting Called to Order by President, Jim Canders at 8:32 AM.

Attendance: Jim Canders, Elaine Bagley, Jeff Crandall, Bob Williams, Jerremy Jones, Ken Abt, Ed Laird, Kemi McShane, Mary Jo Teetor, Martha Hicks Pofit, John Belnavis, Nancy Liberatore

Absent: Frank Callahan

Jerremy Jones commented on his recent discussion with the LSCCF representative, Rick Newell, regarding the progress on the talks for the joint meeting Tuesday 8/25/20. This will be a virtual meeting. Gary Kupferer will moderate the joint meeting. An announcement went out. Four representatives from the DEC will attend. RLS limnologist Jennifer Jones will present her position on aeration. The panels will present their findings, there will be a question and answer period.

Mary Jo discussed the meeting with Oliver regarding the Clean Water Act. Grant for roads, stormwater projects. Grant tied into the watershed for the Lake. Rutland Regional Planning Commission involved. 50 projects identified by the PMNRCD as potential storm water projects around LSC. Grant received for $27,696 for the Greeters program & milfoil control.

Recording Secretary’s report - Kemi McShane Bostock - June 27, 2020. Minutes posted on screen. Motion to accept the minutes as submitted - second, Elaine. All approved the minutes.
Treasurer’s Report- Elaine Bagley - 332 members, 114 paid over the $100.00 amount. Martha explained the Pollution Grant - outreach Like Wise. Money came in and paid Martha, donating back to LSCA, net positive. $60,000.00 in membership dues. 5,000.00 short of projections this year and hope that the General membership meeting will stimulate increase in membership. Motion made to accept the Treasurer's report - second - all in favor - Treasurer's report approved as submitted. Ken asked the question “how many members are residents of the Little Lake?” 20 LL members not including the Channel.
DASH Program & Herbicide Treatment: 6-24-20 - Jeff Crandall: Big Lake in great condition - DASH - 10 sites. Large patches of milfoil from the Little Lake drifting into the Channel where we treated. Estimated cost to treat the LL with ProcellaCOR in year 1, $32,000. Allowable treatment area, 40%. Have a 3-year plan. Need the backing of and the financial support from the LL property owners. The Greeter program has a record of the milfoil on the boat props leaving the lake at the boat launch.
Greeter’s Program: John Belnavis- Fish and Game Boat Launch - Seeing increase in milfoil coming out of the Lake - not so much coming into the Lake. 1,300 boats inspected this season. 2020 State Park greeter’s program opened this year. LSCA has a great relationship with the State Park. Projected to inspect 300 boats this year. 7 more weekends left. State Park opened late this year due to the COVID virus. Boat launch: 1800 boats last year, projecting 2200 boats this year - 22% increase this year. Sat/Sun 4th of July 180 boats compared to last year was 132 boats. 6 more fishing derbies.
Publicity- Newsletter/Membership- Jerremy Jones- Preparation for the General Membership Meeting as it is set up as a virtual meeting.

The meeting was adjourned to prepare for the annual meeting recording.

Minutes respectfully submitted by the recording Secretary, Kemi McShane Bostock

Milfoil Control Program: August 1st 2020 Progress Report

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 13:41:17 GMT

Hello LSC.

We'd like to give you an update from our DASH team on their progress as they hand pull milfoil in our control areas.

The DASH team continues to report the lack of milfoil seen in our control areas. To illustrate this observation, the DASH crew has harvested 53 buckets (buckets are 17.5 gallons) of milfoil from the completed areas (B, C, D, F, G, H, I). Last year, 1293 buckets were harvested. This is excellent news, and an amazing statistic.

The LSCA DASH team at work

Currently, the DASH team is working in the Channel, north of the bridge. After completing the Channel, they will move on to complete the remaining areas: K & L, and J (Halls Bay).

Before beginning their work in the Channel, they conducted a survey to look for milfoil and they also scanned the lake bed for zebra mussels. No zebra mussels were found. Here is a quick video they recorded so you can see what they see as they work:

The divers also help us during the season to move, place and repair safety buoys around the lake.

A big THANK YOU to our DASH team for their continued good work for LSC!

Sponsor Spotlight: Thank You To Our 2020 Business Sponsors

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 16:44:55 GMT

Hello LSC.

We'd like to take a moment to thank our 2020 Business Sponsors:

Bear Construction

New Construction, Renovations,
Siding, Roofing, and Decks

Phone: (802) 688-6112

Email: bearconstruction1315@gmail.com

Lake St. Catherine Cottages

Cottage Rentals
70 West Lake Road

Phone: (802) 773-0100

Phone: (802) 645-0093

Lake St. Catherine Country Club

Golfing, Pro Shop, Bar & Grill
Dinner Specials Fri & Sat

Phone: (802) 287-9341

Email: lsccc@comcast.net

Temblor Creative Group

A Full Service, Full Energy
Marketing & Design Agency

Phone: (802) 558-7507

Email: web@temblorcreative.com

Williams Hardware

Hardware, Housewares, Paint, Lumber,
Rentals & More Since 1946

Phone: (802) 287-5791

Email: williamshardware@truevalue.net

VT Lakehouse

Experience amazing lakefront views
Daily and weekly rentals available

FB: https://fb.me/vtlakehouse

Email: info@vt-lakehouse.com

New England Lakeside Realty

Helping Families Find Their New
Homes In Vermont's Lakes Region

Phone: (802) 645-9001

Email: vtlakeside@comcast.net

Woodard Marine

Boating, Service, Rentals
Located on Lake Bomoseen.

Phone: (802) 265-3690

Email: info@woodardmarine.com

Lakes & Homes Real Estate

Offering years of expertise
in Rutland County

Phone: (802) 671-8042

Email: lakesandhomesre@gmail.com

Haun Welding Supply

Household Propane and
Cylinder Gas Delivery

Phone: (518) 743-8944

Email: glensfalls@thehaunedge.com

All have made a $200 contribution to the Lake St. Catherine Association for the 2020 season - thank you for your support!

You can find them listed on the Sponsors page our our website, and they are listed in our Spring and Fall newsletters.

If your business would like to be a Business Sponsor, you can fill out our online membership form here: Become A Member, or you can print and mail in this 2020 Membership Form.

Thanks again to our 2020 Business Sponsors - and all who have contributed this season to help us fulfill our mission to preserve, protect and maintain Lake St. Catherine.

LSCA Receives 2020 Grant-In-Aid To Prevent Invasives

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 16:29:03 GMT

After a long delay due to pandemic and funding concerns the Lake Association is pleased to announce the finalizing of grant funding from the Department of Environmental Conservation Grant-In-Aid on two fronts. The Aquatic Invasive Species Grant in Aid is an important piece of funding that the Lake St. Catherine Association utilizes to manage milfoil and educate the public on water quality issues and invasive species threatening the health and balance of the lake.

At total of $27,696.00 for two programs has been awarded for the 2020 season.

The first grant is for the Greeter Program stationed at Fish and Wildlife boat access in Wells. Our greeters welcome boaters at the launch to inspect boats and trailers for any signs of invasive species, particularly the introduction of milfoil and zebra mussels. They also educate people on other threats that might be in other waters that could be transported if a boat was recently in another body of water. Boats are also inspected and any fragments of weeds are removed from boats and trailers so they will not be transported to other lakes. It is highly encouraged to wash your boat as well as clean drain and dry bilges and engine intakes before traveling from one lake to another. In addition we are happy to have the opportunity this summer to open a new station in partnership with the Lake St. Catherine State Park this year as well. These important grant dollars make it possible for the Lake Association to expand its program to monitor as many boats as possible coming and going from Lake St. Catherine.

The second grant if for Eurasian Watermilfoil Management. This grant supports the in lake methods used to combat the invasive Eurasian Water Milfoil and monitor the water body for signs of any other threats of non-native species. The association uses an integrated multi-faceted approach to management which includes DASH (diver assisted suction harvesting), hand pulling, and spot herbicide treatment. The most recent success of the program has led to a greatly reduced population of milfoil in the main lake. The expansion of this program is planned for 2021 to focus on areas that have been unable to benefit from the program.

We would like to thank the Town of Poultney and the Town of Wells as well as the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District for their support and partnership the successful application and administration of the grants as well as the peripheral programs that enhance the Lake St. Catherine environment for all to enjoy.

View The 2020 LSCA Virtual Annual Meeting Recording

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 25 Jul 2020 22:32:42 GMT

Hello LSC.

A few weeks ago, we let you know that the 2020 LSCA annual meeting would be going 'virtual' due to the current COVID-19 situation.

We thoroughly enjoy getting the membership together to talk about the lake and then share a nice dinner together. But, our first priority has to be the safety of all involved. This was a disappointing decision, but it was the right one.

This morning, we recorded the Annual Meeting, and it's now available for you to watch on YouTube.

We hope you'll sit down and watch at your convenience.

It's chock full of information about LSC, our work for the lake this season, and a few flubs we hope you can endure.

All the Trustees did a great job on their reports - we hope you can take some time to watch the video.

Click here to vote: https://forms.gle/bY5ih6uuGsmWqmr46

The vote will be open until 8/8/2020 at 5 PM.

After watching the Annual Meeting recording, please let us know if you have any questions by emailing us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Finally, we'd still like to have safe face-to-face interactions with our membership this season. We have started a program called “Dockside Chats”. A LSCA trustee would schedule a time to meet you (and possibly your neighbors) at your dock to have a quick chat about the lake. Email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to schedule a Dockside Chat.

Thank you for your support of the Lake St. Catherine Association!

Are you a member yet? Maintaining the lake costs approximately $125,000 annually. Grants, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and any contribution that you make is tax deductible.

If you prefer contributing by check, our 2020 Membership form can be downloaded here.

LSCA & LSCCF Announce Joint Little Lake Meeting And Discussion

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 25 Jul 2020 00:07:25 GMT

The Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) and the Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund (LSCCF) would like to inform the lake community about a joint board meeting meeting to discuss issues and opportunities, as well as a path forward, to address Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) and sediment levels in the Little Lake St. Catherine. These two problems in Little Lake are significant.

Our goal for this meeting is to reach clarity about the problems and to find the best solutions so we can quickly take action to remediate them.

Meeting Details

On Tuesday, August 25th at 6 PM, a virtual, joint meeting will take place between the LSCA, the LSCCF, limnologist Jennifer Jermalowicz-Jones from Restorative Lake Sciences in Michigan, and Misha Cetner, Laura Dlugolecki, Oliver Pierson, and Zapata Courage from the Vermont DEC. This panel discussion will be led by professional moderator Gary Kupferer.

The format for this meeting and discussion will be:

Opening statements by the LSCA and LSCCF
A 20 minute presentation by Jennifer Jermalowicz-Jones
A 20 minute presentation by the Vermont DEC
A 60 minute question and answer session between all panelists
Closing statements by the LSCA and LSCCF

During the 60 minute Q&A, panelists and board members will take turns asking questions of each other. The first 20 minutes of the meeting will be dedicated to allowing the invited scientists to ask each other questions. The LSCA and the LSCCF will also be soliciting questions from the lake community that will be asked during the final 40 minutes of the Q&A.

Meeting Topic

There is a debate amongst the parties on the best course of action to reduce excess vegetation including EWM and organic sediments in Little Lake, and the efficacy of the tools proposed to achieve this. These tools include aeration with bioaugmentation (enzymes), herbicides, mechanical harvesting, diver assisted suction harvesting (DASH) and watershed management.

The LSCCF has invited limnologist Jennifer Jermalowicz-Jones from Restorative Lake Sciences who is a proponent of aeration with bioaugmentation (introducing enzymes to the lake) to discuss installations and the results of installing these systems in lakes.

The LSCA has asked the DEC to participate to discuss the findings in their 2019 paper entitled “Aeration As A Lake Management Tool And Its Use in Vermont” which concluded that the scientific literature does not support or recommend the use of aeration as a tool for managing muck or aquatic plants.

Jennifer Jermalowicz-Jones and the DEC representatives will each make a presentation, and then engage in a discussion about aeration and other lake management tools and topics.

We believe this exchange of ideas, scientific facts and real world experience shared by the parties in this meeting will advance our goal to get the right treatments in the Little Lake as quickly as possible for the betterment of the entire lake system. We will have the right leaders in the room representing the interests of the lake communities and noted experts in reversing the impact of invasive aquatic species and other lake encroachments.

How You Can Participate

This meeting will take place online via online meeting software on August 25th at 6 PM. The discussion will be recorded and then posted, in its entirety, to YouTube for the lake community to view at your convenience.

Although you will not be able to participate live in this discussion, we do want to hear from you so your questions can be answered during this discussion.

We have set up this online form for you to submit a question to be asked during the meeting. You can access that form by visiting this link: https://forms.gle/KX14jvzU2Vnidw1v8

Commitment of the LSCA & the LSCCF Boards

We are endeavoring to work together to help Little Lake. This meeting is a step forward towards that shared goal. Our hope is that this meeting will bring some clarity to the situation in Little Lake, and that it will set the stage for our two organizations to work together on solutions.

Make A Positive Impact On The Lake, Be Lake Wise!

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 22:09:40 GMT

Are you looking to take action and make a positive impact on the lake?

Help protect our valuable natural resource - Lake St. Catherine - through conscious decision making, and participate in the Lake Wise program!

Awards and certificates are given to properties that receive high scores during their assessment and demonstrate exemplary lake friendly living.

Your Essential Role Within The Watershed

As a shoreline property owner, you have the access and the ability to control what is happening directly at the water's edge.

Actions now will promote a healthy lake environment that will continue to support swimming, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing in the future.

Go Native!

Vegetated buffers are one way to help control the stormwater on your property while enhancing your shoreline with beautiful native plants.

Buffers help to filter runoff, infiltrate stormwater, stabilize the soil, and prevent bank erosion. The ideal natural buffer is made up of five layers of vegetation: canopy, understory, shrub, ground cover, and duff layer.

THINK Slow, Infiltrate, and Filter

As stormwater travels across impervious surfaces it carries with it pollutants such as; pesticides, herbicides, oils, road salt, sediment, and nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen. These pollutants have a negative impact on water quality and local wildlife.

Excess nutrients in the water contribute to problems which affect both human and wildlife health including; lower oxygen levels in the water, toxic algae blooms, and excessive plant growth.

The Lake Wise Program on Lake St. Catherine

In the fall of 2019, the LSCA applied for, and received a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program to perform Lake Wise assessments on LSC. This grant also includes funds to perform work on your property to help you achieve the Lake Wise award for your property! We are happy to be working with the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District on this important lake project!

Last year, the Binghams earned the first Lake Wise award on LSC:

The Binghams are holding the Lake Wise award sign that you can display on your property.

Let's work together to make your property Lake Wise!

We have 5 more assessment slots that we can schedule in 2020. If you would like to participate and have a Lake Wise assessment for your property, please contact us at info@lakestcatherine.org to schedule an appointment.

For more information about Lake Wise, please click here to visit the DEC’s Lake Wise website.

Schedule your Lake Wise assessment today!

LSCA Greeter Program Expanded To LSC State Park

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 16:45:19 GMT

The Lake St. Catherine Association is pleased to announce that the LSCA Greeter Program has been expanded to the Lake St. Catherine State Park.

In the fall, we applied for, and were awarded a Vermont Watershed grant to expand our Greeter Program to include the State Park. Each year, it's estimated that 1,800 vessels are launched into LSC from the boat launch there. Unfortunately, that grant was canceled due to the COVID-19 situation.

However, we felt it was worth launching a pilot program this year so funds were allocated to get it started.

Our Greeters will be stationed just past the main entrance booth on Fridays and Saturdays from 1:30 - 5:30. These two days and times represent the busiest check in times. This will allow vessels to be inspected as soon as they enter the State Park. Park visitors will also be educated on the dangers of transporting invasive species.

From left to right: Patrick Dundas, Lucas Milazzo and Amy Rohrman.

Patrick and Amy are supervisors at the park - and they have been very supportive of our Greeters.

Our Greeters have been trained to identify invasive species (like spiny waterflea, asian clams, water chestnut, starry stonewort and zebra mussels) to stop them from entering LSC. 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.

Finally, we'd like to thank Reuben Allen, Parks Regional Manager for his support with setting up this pilot program. We hope we will be able to expand our program at the State Park in 2021!

Milfoil Control Program: Mid-July 2020 Progress Report

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 12 Jul 2020 16:47:04 GMT

Hello LSC.

Our 2020 Milfoil Control Program is well underway - and we'd like to provide you an update.

ProcellaCOR Treatment

On Wednesday, June 24th, three areas on LSC totaling 18.3 acres were treated with ProcellaCOR (highlighted in red in the attached map). This represents a 52% reduction in the amount of acres that were treated in 2019. Two areas were in the northern end of the lake in North Bay and Lily Pond, the other area was in the Channel south of the bridge. The results have been excellent - as there is no milfoil to be found in these treated areas, 17 days post treatment. We were also very happy to speak with some property owners in the Channel to hear their positive comments and observations about the results.

Suction Harvesting

Our diver assisted suction harvesting (DASH) team began their work on June 27th.

This season, the DASH team will be working in 10 areas, totaling 38.7 acres (highlighted in red in the attached map). This represents a 42% reduction in the amount of acres that were DASH'd in 2019.

Our DASH team sent in this report on their work so far:

"We have already finished Locations C, D, G, and I. Today we started work at location B and have also put in two days of work at location K. All locations were found to have very low density milfoil, I will attach a few photos [see one of these underwater photos below] of what we are generally observing at most sites. We also have surveyed the lake and couldn't find any large milfoil patches, the first time I have ever seen this while working on Lake St. Catherine. Overall the status of milfoil growth in the lake is very low from our observations!"

>> Please note, our DASH team is referring to the areas of LSC that have been part of our Milfoil Control Program over the past several years.

See the attached treatment map to see the locations they are referring to.

Weed Identification

Each season, we receive questions about weeds, so we want to show you some photos so you can clearly identify them.

Here is an image referenced by our DASH team in their report above. It was taken in LSC and shows milfoil and other native plants. As the DASH team mentioned, the milfoil they are seeing is low density. In the image, we have highlighted the milfoil with orange arrows, and an orange rectangle:

Photo credit: LSCA DASH Team

Milfoil is an invasive species of plant that, by permit, we are allowed to address in LSC.

There is another weed in LSC that we receive a lot of questions about called Illinois Pondweed (potamogeton illinoensis). Based on the questions we've received, we know that it's sometimes confused with milfoil - even though they look very different.

This is Illinois Pondweed:

Photo credit: Peter M. Dziuk from the www.minnesotawildflowers.info website

This plant will grow to the surface and the stem at the top, called the flower, will extend past the waterline.

Illinois Pondweed is a native plant in LSC, so we are not allowed to treat or DASH it. Native aquatic plants are beneficial for the lake as they create a habitat in the lake ecosystem, cycle nutrients and can help with erosion control and repelling invasives.

Sometimes the pondweed can grow in your dock and swimming areas. You are permitted to hand-pull these weeds if they are a nuisance in these areas. If you do hand-pull any aquatic plants, PLEASE do not leave them in the water! Bring them on shore to dewater and dry out, then dispose of them as you would lawn waste.

We'd also ask that if you see floating weeds in the water, near your dock, or on your shoreline, please remove them from the water. This is ESPECIALLY important with milfoil! Even small fragments of milfoil can seed new beds of milfoil plants.

Looking Ahead

Our DASH team will continue their work into August, and we'll continue to provide you with updates as their work progresses.

We have already started discussing our milfoil control plans for 2021. As we've done since 2004, in October, we will perform a lake-wide plant survey which will evaluate our milfoil control efforts for 2020. This report will guide our plans for 2021. We'll share this report when it becomes available in November.

If you'd like to review the previous LSC Aquatic Plant Surveys, please click here to view them in the Downloads section of our website.

If you have any questions on our Milfoil Control Program, please email us: info@lakestcatherine.org.

2020 Treatment Map:

Are you a member yet? Maintaining the lake costs approximately $125,000 annually. Grants, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and any contribution that you make is tax deductible.

Schedule A Dockside Chat With The LSCA

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 11 Jul 2020 11:41:50 GMT

Hello LSC.

We are disappointed that we will not have an in-person Annual Meeting this year due to concerns over COVID-19.

But, we still want to have some face-to-face communication with the lake community in 2020...

So, we have an idea we are calling “Dockside Chats”. A LSCA trustee would schedule a time to meet you (and possibly your neighbors) at your dock to have a quick chat about the lake.

This will allow us to have safe and socially distant interactions with lake property owners so you can have an opportunity to discuss lake issues with the LSCA. We'll hop on our boat or Sea•Doo, or our kayak or paddle board and head over to your dock so you can ask us questions, and we can tell you about the important lake programs this season.

We had our first Dockside Chat yesterday, and it went very well! We think this will be a great way to speak with you about the lake during this unusual time.

We look forward to seeing you!

LSCA Announces Details Of 2020 Annual Meeting

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 12:44:16 GMT

Each July, the Lake St. Catherine Association holds their Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner to update the lake community on lake issues, to give you reports from our committees, and to discuss current and future initiatives for Lake St. Catherine.

However, due to the COVID-19 situation, we have decided that for the safety of everyone, we will conduct a ‘Virtual’ Annual Meeting this year to avoid a large gathering.

This is a disappointing decision, but it is the right one. We thoroughly enjoy getting the membership together to talk about the lake and then share a nice dinner together. But, our first priority has to be the safety of all involved.

So, we are preparing to have a virtual Annual Meeting.

The board is currently preparing our slide presentation which will be chock-full of information about our work this season. The board will then get together in an online meeting room, and we’ll narrate the presentation. This session will be recorded and then posted on YouTube on July 25th for you to be able to watch at your convenience.

We still want you to be part of the meeting!

At the end of our presentation during the Annual Meeting, we always open up the floor to take your questions. So, we have set up this online form so that you can submit a question that we can answer during the virtual meeting:

Submit your question by clicking here.

Or, you can email your question to info@lakestcatherine.org.

You can choose to include your name, or submit your question anonymously. Questions can be submitted until Friday, July 24th. At the end of the presentation, the board will answer your questions, and they will be included in the recording.

Another important part of the Annual Meeting is the election of trustees. This has traditionally been done by our Nominating Committee Chair Bob Williams announcing the slate of candidates and the assembled membership gives a collective “aye”. Since we cannot do that this year, we will post an online ballot so you can cast your vote. To vote, you need to be a member in good standing, so the ballot will ask for your name and email address. The candidates being put forth by the Nominating Committee are: Jim Canders, Jeff Crandall, Jerremy Jones, Martha Pofit, Bob Williams. Any additional nominations must be received by July 14th, and any candidate must be a member in good standing and give 10-days notification of his/her intent to run to the Nominating Committee. Information on voting will appear with the link to view the Annual Meeting recording.

Once the recording of the presentation is complete and available on YouTube, we will post the link on our website, on our Facebook page, and we’ll email it to all the email addresses we have on file.

Finally, we are looking at safe ways to have face-to-face interactions with our membership this season. We have an idea we are calling “Dockside Chats”. A LSCA trustee would schedule a time to meet you (and possibly your neighbors) at your dock to have a quick chat about the lake. More on this soon.

If you have any questions about the 2020 Annual Meeting, please let us know - you can email us at info@lakestcatherine.org. Thank you for your support of the Lake St. Catherine Association!

The LSCA Greeter Program Warns Of Zebra Mussels

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 13:46:29 GMT

We hope you all enjoyed the boat parade this year...

Did you happen to notice Boat #2, "Zebra Mussels - NOT In Our Lake!"?

We'd like to introduce you to the young adults participating on this boat - who are also the same hard working young adults that staff the boat launch as part of the LSCA Greeter Program.

From left to right: Brock Baker, Kate Hayes, Naomi Haviland, Levi Haviland, Lucas Milazzo.

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 appreciate your patience as you launch your boat so they can follow all the new safety guidelines.

Keeping invasive species out of LSC is extremely important - so for the past 2 years, we have worked to increase the days and hours that Greeters are are on duty at the boat launch.

The Greeters boat theme was designed to raise awareness of zebra mussels. Zebra mussels are an invasive, fingernail-sized mollusk that is native to fresh waters in Eurasia. Their name comes from the dark, zig-zagged stripes on each shell. Zebra mussels negatively impact ecosystems in many ways. They filter out algae that native species need for food and they attach to and incapacitate native mussels. Unfortunately, zebra mussels were recently discovered in Lake Dunmore, only 40 miles north of Lake St. Catherine.

We'd like to thank the Greeters for participating in the boat parade - but most importantly, we'd like to thank them for their work at the boat launch!

Finally, we'd like to thank their grandfather, Rod Willard for working the boat launch while the parade was going on. At 80 years old, he has proclaimed himself the oldest Greeter on duty in Vermont!

Rod Willard and his daughter, Marcia Baker.

So, a big thank you to all involved! Great job!

The Results Of The 8th Annual Boat Parade Are...

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 23:50:39 GMT

We hope you all enjoyed participating in, and watching the 8th Annual LSC Boat Parade!

The votes are in, and we have our winners...

Most Patriotic:

Boat #8 - The Dunbar Family - "Party Like A Patriot"

Funniest:

Boat #9 - The Lutz & Harris Families - "Fowl Play"

Most Original:

Boat #14 - The Mroz Family - "Ice Cream Boat"

Best Overall:

Boat #1 - The Conine Family - "Ski School"

Thanks for voting!

With our local businesses working as hard as they can to stay open, we did not ask for prize donations and sponsors this year. Instead, we ask that you do your best to support our sponsors from last year. They are:

Our 2019 sponsors:

Vote For Your Favorite Boats From The 8th Annual LSCA Boat Parade

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 21:00:19 GMT

Nicely done LSC!

The 8th Annual LSCA Boat Parade was a great success - thank you to all the participants and all of you cheering from your boats and from the shore.

Now it's time for you to place your vote!

Click the attached link to see all the photos of the boats and vote for your favorite in these categories:

Most Original
Most Patriotic
Funniest
Best Overall

Voting will be open until 7 PM tonight. We will announce the winners soon after.

Click here to vote: https://forms.gle/ona8cFbCBN4NJhkG8

We also hope you will consider supporting the LSCA's mission to preserve, protect and maintain Lake St. Catherine. Please click here to make a donation or click here to become a member.

Please spread the word - and get your votes in!

Thank you!

The Boats:

8th Annual LSCA Boat Parade Photo Gallery

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees - 06/27/2020

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 21:26:04 GMT

On Saturday, June 27th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their second meeting of the 2020 season.

The Trustees gave their reports on many topics - Click here to see the full meeting agenda. Meeting minutes compiled by Kemi McShane Bostock.

June 27th 2020 Meeting of the Lake St. Catherine Board of Trustees

Google Meet - Online Meeting, 8:30 AM

Meeting Called to Order by President, Jim Canders at 8:40 AM.

Attendance: Jim Canders, Elaine Bagley, Frank Callahan, Jeff Crandall, Bob Williams, Jerremy Jones, Ken Abt, Ed Laird, Nancy Liberatore, Kemi McShane Bostock, Mary Jo Teetor

Absent: Martha Hicks Pofit, John Belnavis, Rob Nesbit

Prior to the meeting:

MJ will comment on a virtual meeting with Oliver Pierson concerning his position on this year’s lake programs.

Jerremy will discuss the disposal of the conveyor at Wescott’s Garage and payment.

Jim Canders, President called the Meeting to order at 8:40 AM.

Jerremy comments on his work with the LSCCF (Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund) representative, Rick Newell about the potential LSCA/ LSCCF meeting. An outline / framework was established to manage the meeting. MJ recommended Gary Kupferer to be the moderator. He agreed to work for free for a non-profit organization. It was discussed with Rick about limiting the Q and A time. The Moderator would be in control and be able to mute the speaker if exceeded speaking timeframe.

Each group would invite scientific panelists to make a 20 minute presentation, then engage in a 60 minute alternating Q&A. The first 20 minutes would be reserved for the scientific panelists, then 40 minutes of open Q&A with panelists and board members. We will also solicit questions from the lake community to be asked and answered during this session.

MJ wanted to reach out to VT DEC - Misha to check and see if the format was OK. Misha is willing to attend the meeting, along with some colleagues to offer a critical view of aeration as a lake management tool to help Little Lake. Jennifer Jones is anticipated to be the invited panelist for the LSCCF offering her pro view on aeration.

The rules / outline will be run by Gary so he is comfortable with the format.

Board ok with the format to move forward to set a date for the meeting between the two groups. Have time to get comfortable with the technology and how to use it. Send a copy to Misha and establish who can attend. Hopefully get a meeting slated for late July / early August.

MJ meeting with Oliver Pierson, who is the new Lakes and Ponds manager. Discuss the funding and the AIS grant. See if the money is approved for distribution. Hilary has not heard and is too late to receive the money for the DASH and Greeters programs. Oliver wants mtg for storm water action plan and that is an important piece for future funding. Talk about dates for meeting, will be an hour long and will take Q&A.

Storm Water Action Plan: funding for AIS money could go elsewhere. Oliver oversees Misha and Hilary’s funding.

Oliver to be invited to the LSCA July meeting. Meet with him beforehand. Hope to set it up for Saturday, July 25th before our Board meeting.

Discussion for the Annual Virtual Meeting: voting issues, two-week advance notice for additions to the Slate of Trustees.

Bob discussed the incumbents’ as the Slate of candidates. Ed posted candidates for trustees to vote for and to contact Board if interested in running for the open slot. Jim, there is one position to be filled.

Hillary joined the meeting at 9:00. She discussed the storm water projects and wants Oliver to know the Action Plan is already in place and has received approval for 6 projects. Applying for funding to implement these projects. She itemized each project, the perspective plans and map, and the project design and the rationale behind each project.

Ferncliff Road- water crosses Rt. 30. There is instability and erosion into the Lily Pond. Goal to stabilize the area.

Ferncliff Road - Visible from the road, drainage from the yard, step pools (Dan Collins) before get to the Lake. Collects water from driveways, drainages from culverts on properties at Pope’s property.

State boat launch- wetlands coordinating with Fish & Wildlife. Design infiltration system in the parking area.,

Wells’ Town Park - erosion on properties to re-route the water at the entrance road to the Park. Collaborate with the Town as building a pavilion in the Park. Needs permits due to wetlands.

Lake Luccidian - sediment floods the road.

Quinn Cove - recreating drainage

Discussion of timeline for these 6 projects. Hope to accomplish all this summer; might have to wait on some for next year. Bob W. discussed the stormwater runoffs from the Butternut Hill Road from the condos and Gem Way.

Business Meeting began at 9:21

Secretary's Report: Minutes as presented, motion to approve the Minutes from May 23, 2020. Frank made motion, Second by Jeff. Any discussion? Vote all in favor? Opposed? Minutes from May 23, 2020 accepted.
Treasures’ Report: Current as of this date, June 27, 2020. Jim asked if the funds were available to pay the herbicide treatment invoice for $17,000.00. Questions. Motion to accept the Treasures’ Report as presented. Motion made by Frank, Second by MJ, Vote all in favor? Opposed? Accepted the June 27, 2020 treasures’ report.
DASH - Jeff recap of the ten sites that will be treated by DASH team. ProcellaCOR treatment took place on June 24, 2020. Discussion about the possibility to treat the LL next year, $32,000 for largest allowable treatment area of 40%. Would work to garner support for the treatment from LL folks including contributions. Frank: discussion about the weeds getting worse, Little Lake residents question why the LSCA doesn’t do anything to help. Jeff: addressing milfoil problem helps the entire Lake system.DASH - educate the whole community to help with milfoil. Discussion DASH team out on Lake today, first day out and Jerremy posted to remind boaters to give the team a wide berth for safety.
Greeter Program - written report submitted by Martha Hicks Pofit - Pollution Grant. Can’t meet face to face as a result of the COVID virus. Lake Wise projects to do. Stormwater Projects. Oliver meeting. AIS - and loss of funding. State Park - Greeters Program - establish a pilot program. Jeff discussion as to the deliverables- evaluate change. DASH to do work in the Channel. Greeters - John will know when the team is in the area. List of Fishing tournaments. Motion to accept the written report, MH made a motion, Second by Frank. Motion passed to allocate $2,000 for pilot program at State Park for Greeter Program. 1,800 boats launched there each season. All to accept the motion - all in favor - any opposed - Motion approved.
Publicity - Jerremy - Membership to date have 305 paid members. Posting reminders, at the end of last year had 350 paid members. Always trying to increase the membership. Working on the Fall newsletter. Lots of information regarding the work being done and how we are trying to reconnect with the LL.
Safety - Frank- Markers for the Lake; need 3 more buoys; Forest House Bay, Channel, and entrance to the North Bay. Boat safety course may be held this year, only allowing a small number of attendees.
Nominating Committee - Bob - discussion about lake resident serving on both the LSCA and LSCCF boards as a joint member. Ed raised the concern of a conflict of interest if a board member served on both boards. - would be competing for the same funding, and from the same municipalities. It was agreed that there is a conflict of interest to serving both on boards, funding issues and policies/philosophies. Jerremy to inform interested property owner.
Boat Parade - Kemi - unfortunately she was muted from the meeting so Jerremy reported for the Boat Parade. To date 9 boats registered. New guidelines to follow. No judges stand, no prizes to be awarded. Same format for the route, 4 theme categories, and this year pictures will be posted and a virtual vote will be held.
Annual Meeting is set up for July 25, 2020 and will be a virtual meeting. Will update our slideshow from last year with up to date information. There will be a slide show, it will be recorded and posted for viewers to watch on their own time, the meeting will be posted on YouTube, FB and our website. Questions will be solicited from membership and they will be answered in Q&A time during the presentation. The Slate of candidates will be posted and a voting procedure will be established. List of all events taking place on LSC will be posted. Jerremy working on the procedure to manage the virtual meeting. Ed reminded the Board of the by-laws with a to do list to check and follow the correct protocol. Bob discussed the concern for members only able to vote.

Old Business - Fireworks discussed. Will look into this and confirm date and time. Slated for July 3, 2020 late in the evening.

New Business - Frank has a 3D carving of the LSC map. Charlie Holcomb makes them. Possible item for a fundraising/raffle prize. Bob discussed concern for the confusion of the 911 numbers for the Lake. MJ stated that the municipalities are responsible to update the addresses and numbers. MJ reported that the heat wave and weather conditions caused a cyanobacteria bloom. People and animals should stay out of water when occurring. Jerremy reported on a SOLitude webinar.

A motion to adjourn the meeting was requested. Frank made a motion to adjourn the meeting Second by Jim, All in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 10:33 Saturday, June 27, 2020.

Minutes respectfully submitted by the recording Secretary, Kemi McShane Bostock

2020 4th Of July Fun On LSC

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 12:19:19 GMT

Hello LSC!

Well, we've all been through a tough Spring... Summer is here, and things are still uncertain as we have so many things to be worried and concerned about.

While all these concerns will still be with us after this weekend, hopefully we can all take a break and spend some time having fun as we celebrate Independence Day.

On Friday, July 3rd, lake residents Rick Roberts and Jack Williams will be putting on a fireworks display set to music. Rumor has it that they will be launching 1 hour's worth of fireworks in 30 minutes. The barge is set up on the east side of the lake, off of Cones Point by Route 30:

Thank you to Rick and Jack for their efforts!

Then on Saturday, July 4th, starting at 1 PM in Forest House Bay, the 8th Annual LSCA Boat Parade will make its way around the lake.

There is still time to register your boat if you'd like to participate - email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to register and get a boat number.

There will be some important changes this year due to the current COVID-19 situation:

1. There will be no prizes this year. With our local businesses working as hard as they can to stay open, we will not be asking for prize donations and sponsors this year. Instead, we ask that you do your best to support our sponsors from last year. They are:

Our 2019 sponsors:

Our winners will of course receive bragging rights for the rest of the season :)

2. We will not have judging stations for safety reasons. However, we will take photos of every boat, and we will post them online for the entire lake to vote on in an easy to use voting survey. We'll set a time range to cast your votes, and we'll announce the winners for each category that evening. Stay tuned for more details on how to vote on Saturday which we posted here on our website and on our Facebook page.

Parade route:

Please have a fun and safe 4th of July weekend at Lake St. Catherine. Be well, be kind, and be considerate of others on the lake.

Thank you.

Are you a member yet? Maintaining the lake costs approximately $125,000 annually. Grants, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and any contribution that you make is tax deductible.

2020 DASH Program Underway

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 27 Jun 2020 21:31:09 GMT

The Lake St. Catherine Association's 2020 diver assisted suction harvesting (DASH) program to control milfoil in 10 areas on the lake is underway!

After our successful milfoil treatment of 3 areas with ProcellaCOR on Wednesday, June 24th, our DASH team was ready to get to work on their part of our milfoil control program:

Owen reports that they have already finished location D, and are currently working at location K (DASH areas are highlighted in green):

You will see them working for the remainder of the summer. Please be sure to give them room so they can work safely!

Cyanobacteria Seen In Halls Bay Channel

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 21:33:54 GMT

On Thursday, June 18th, Cyanobacteria was found in the channel leading from Halls Bay.

The orange arrow below indicates the approximate location of the Cyanobacteria. Small spots were also seen south of that location in Halls Bay channel.

Here is a photo of the Cyanobacteria bloom - it looks like light blue paint on top of the water:

This bloom has since dissipated, but please be aware that small spots were still visible in Halls Bay channel.

Please keep pets and children out of the water in the channel.

As was the case in 2018, the conditions were perfect for it to bloom there: lack of rain, temperature, water depth and lack of water movement.

Additional information from the Vermont Department Of Health on Cyanobacteria can be read here: "CYANOBACTERIA (BLUE-GREEN ALGAE)". Please let us know immediately if you spot some.

From Vermont DEC:

"So long as there is visible cyanobacteria in the water, both in the inlet stream and anywhere along the lake shore where it empties into St. Catherine proper, everyone should be avoiding contact with them. Pets are also vulnerable, so owners should be keeping their pets out as well.

It is difficult to predict how long the bloom might persist in the stream. Lake surface blooms typically dissipate when wind and waves thoroughly stir the water. They can last for a matter of hours or for several days or weeks, depending on the conditions. Blooms in streams typically are moved out by increased flow. It doesn’t sound like you received much rain as a result of the storms earlier this week, so this bloom may persist until there is more water movement."

We will keep you informed with any updates. If you have any questions, please contact us: info@lakestcatherine.org.

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees - 05/23/2020

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 21:37:42 GMT

On Saturday, May 23rd, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their first meeting of the 2020 season.

The Trustees gave their reports on many topics - Click here to see the full meeting agenda. Meeting minutes compiled by Kemi McShane Bostock.

May 23rd 2020 Meeting of the Lake St. Catherine Board of Trustees

Google Meet - Online Meeting, 8:30 AM

Meeting Called to Order by President, Jim Canders.

Attendance: Ken Abt, Elaine Bagley, John Belnavis, Kemi McShane Bostock, Frank Callahan, Jim Canders, Jeff Crandall, Jerremy Jones, Ed Laird, Nancy Liberatore, Rob Nesbitt, Martha Pofit, Mary Jo Teeetor, Bob Williams.

Side note: A few technical difficulties occurred throughout the meeting but were resolved and the meeting was able to continue without interruption. Thanks to all the support provided by the knowledgeable trustees.

The meeting began with Martha providing the history of the grants and the PMNRCD connection to the LSCA. Martha outlined the grants as follows:

Context of work done since last August. Received $40,000.00 combination of four grants.

$14,000.00 received from the Greeter Program with the Watershed grant supporting 25% expansion of the program and allows us to increase the hours of operation. Especially important is the awareness of Zebra Mussels and preventing them from entering the Lake. The boat launch and the Channel are areas of concern. The DASH divers will inspect those areas. And will educate the LSCA about zebra mussels.

Smaller grants come and go and the purposes of grants change but we are developing plans for sustainability and attracting more people who support our cause. The Lake Champlain Basin has a database that has infrastructure to help communicate with its members.

Received new grant for emergency support for May, June and July to help with immediate bills. Can recast the budget to keep LSCA going.

Grant to expand the Greeter program to have a station based at the LSC State Park. Fish and Wildlife funded; until cancellation of the grant. Interested in having a pilot program at the State Park as it is opening on 6/26/2020. 1,700 boats are launched at the State boat launch and 1,800 are launched at the State Park launch area. In 2019 received $7,000.00, $5,500.00 in 2020 for the Greeter program from DEC.

She spoke about the Grant and organizing the Lake into neighborhoods and having a Zone Captain. The Zone captains would hold meetings. Residents could have their property assessed for storm water runoff, mitigate load of phosphorus entering the Lake. And property owners need to deter the runoff. Many of these things cannot be done this year in 2020. Hope to complete ten projects this season with 15 Lake Wise assessments to get done. Hillary was asked to get hand outs to distribute so the community is aware of the services/work that the PMNRCD provides.

There was discussion regarding properties on LSC that were under heavy construction and the lack of environmental curtains not in place. Ed Laird provided details regarding the new septic system being built at nearby property. It has been approved by the State and is a state-of-the-art septic system.

MJ and Martha mentioned their discussion with Oliver Pierson who is the new Lakes and Ponds Program Manager. There were questions regarding the ERP grants, watershed, and Aquatic nuisance grants. The philosophy hasn’t changed but financial support from the Fish and wildlife has gone away due to the COVID 19 virus of 2020.

Discussed the development of a watershed plan. Want the State to do prevention work for run off from roads and streams. Feed together with all our grants and can create an action fund. Our relationship with the PMNRCD helps the LSCA get together to where the Lake properties are assessed. Martha expressed how important our relationship is with the Lake Champlain Basin is as well.

Hilary joined the meeting at 9:10. Hilary gave a brief history of the PMNRCD and how important the LSCA relationship is with the PMNRCD. The District gives the Board a common base. It was established in 1940 and was quasi governed by the Federal government to assist the Natural Resource District. District is primarily an agricultural board that assesses lake property, forests and streams. The District is working with stormwater areas. *Phosphorus problem especially in Lake Champlain Basin from Vergennes to Dorset hoping to become a clean water provider. The District provides the distribution of funds by project identification so can fund projects through Act 76 signed by the Governor to get projects funded. The work plan is to complete all the tasks except for #2 that will not be able to be accomplished this season. The assessments and the implementations will take place in July and August. The LSCA should have smaller neighborhood meetings to educate the lake residents. A flyer will be available to distribute.

Questions from John B. regarding private road with runoffs? What can be done regarding this? Private driveways are an issue as well and as State does not have money for private roads as yet. A good example was provided by Ed L. on West Lake rd. has a huge run off even with the road work done on the culverts. There is a 5-degree slope and won't put coverage down. There is a discrepancy of riprap funding to infiltration steps for run-off. Amy Picotte at the State level has no funding for roads and the scale of the project. Shoreline projects a major issue. Smaller projects need support to the local road crews. Jeff C. spoke to the Town of Wells road crew leveled sapling trees and anything near the road was being cut down. The work on storm water needs to be met. Ken A. questioned how will measure the phosphorus level as that is the driving force along with the milfoil and nitrogen. How will measure the success coming from the State directive? Especially as the monitoring is cancelled with the Watershed funds cut. The Natural Resource Committee is concerned with Lake Champlain regarding the phosphorus levels as the State was sued and Julie Moore from the EPA got involved to clean up LC. Phosphorus levels travel through the water resources. MJ is following the stimulus to local municipalities with road funding. Grants had been funded by license plates. MJ and Hilary meeting with Oliver to get perspective. It was expressed the importance of the LSCA relationship is with the PMNRCD and both groups value the work that is done separately and jointly as been educating the area for 15 years. Nancy spoke about tree planting. Kemi confirmed the condo property to be done in June.

Ed L. discussed the virtual meeting regulations. VT not for profit organization law amended 2009- actions/debate are simultaneous = meeting going well = executive mtgs. Meets the requirements of the State. Subcommittees to request to establish mtg today within the authorization of the Board. How to manage administration work and allocating funds. Rob asked do we need to make a motion to form an executive sub-committee. Rob made the motion, Ken second it and it will be in the bylaws that VT law is allowing us to work remotely. An appointment of an executive committee needs a vote, discussion? All in favor? Opposed? No objections? Motion accepted and Jim thanks Ed for his time.

Recording Secretary’s report – last August 24, 2019 post the minutes on the screen and up for viewing. Any questions about the Minutes of August 24, 2019? No questions, John B. makes a motion to accept the minutes from August 24, 2019. Second by Jeff C., opposed, no objections, all in favor, motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report- posted on screen discussion followed: Jerremy reported the 2019 appeal of $21,000. Took in for appeal, the mailings brought $21,000.00 and $ 52,000 in dues. $141,000.00 income included grants and $140,000.00 expenses. $83,000.00 total in Savings/Checking. Received grants for 2019 and 2018 are now in the account. The fund balance = $117,000.00. Documents available to everyone just log into the account. Updates in real time, cash flow tab by month. $141,000.00 budget in 2019 broke even. Elaine to date $153,471.00. Jerremy 2020 budget not getting grants, pricing for Solitude- and the current budget. Elaine tracking dues differently this year to differential dues and contributions above dues as Donations.. 207 current members paid, still hoping to get to same number of members as last year (350). AIS grant $33,000.00 in 2019, only received funds for the Greeter Program in 2020. Warning signs for the milfoil treatment. Had to meet all our requirements on time. Signs will be posted by Monday. For 2020, $131,000. projected income. $111,000.00 projected expenses. Projected budget $19,487.00 positive. Solitude expenses are lower this year. $90,000.00 in the Bank. AIS 2019 grant received partial payment in 2019, balance in 2020 projected fund balance. John questioned receiving the allocated monies from the towns of Wells and Poultney? Jerremy stated not enough money to get all the projects done but all grants are in balance and we have to invoice all work done, fund balance will be tracked. Martha and MJ spoke to the town of Wells funding is a year behind, and hope the monies allocated from the two towns remain solid. Martha commented on receiving the notice of lack of AIS grant funding on Friday. Jim asked for a motion to approve the treasurer’s report. Jerremy made the motion, Jeff second, opposed? All in favor? Approved the Treasurer’s report as presented.
DASH and Herbicide Treatment: Jeff reported on the treatment map and the significant budget restraints, that the Spring survey revealed treatment areas have reacted very well. The Fall survey showed a decrease in milfoil. The Little Lake milfoil increase and an increase in the Channel. Will only treat 3 sites. The Channel- LCBP grant to allocate to DASH from the bridge out into Forest House Bay. The Lily Pond, North Bay and from the bridge towards LL, 18.3 acres for ProcellaCOR with a reduced cost of $25,000.00. DASH will do 10 sites. DASH. has the same contract $49,000.00 for 8 weeks of work. June – August approved by the State. July 1st to start and will try to move up that starting date. July 1st is coming from the Fish and Wildlife but might try to tailor it to DASH contract if starting date not moved up.
Greeter Program – Boat Launch and State Park : John reports that the program started on Friday, May 22, 2020. The training will be completed next week. Reviewed the COVID-19 safety protocols. Will be alert for the presence of Zebra mussels. There will not be a portable toilet this season. Discussed the fireworks display for Friday July 3, 2020. Will keep posted as the State open and if the permit is in place to hold this event. Motion made and second to accept the report from John, none opposed. Report accepted.
Publicity- Newsletter, Membership – Jerremy Spring newsletters available to pick up and distribute. Also posted on webpage. Have over 1,000 followers on FB and it is a good way to communicate. MJ commented on the publicity of Phil Pope and many have responded by making donations to the LSCA in his memory.
Lake Safety – Frank. John reported for Frank. The markers are at designated locations. Spoke of the speed on the Lake and will contact the Game Warden and ask how residents can monitor the activity on the Lake. Dustin can be contacted and he is aware of the activities on the lake.
Nominating Committee – Bob Review of the terms and trustees presently holding office. 2020 terms ending are: Jim, Jeff,Jerremy, Martha, and Bob. All stated will run again. 2022 terms are: Rob and his appointment went to Nancy, Ed, Mary Joe, Frank, Ken. Missing one trustee. 2021 terms are: Elaine, Ken, John, Kemi, and Rob.
Boat Parade – Kemi Discussion not having judges at the judge’s location for social distancing. NO prizes will be awarded as so not to solicit sponsors this year. Will have pictures posted for all to view and vote for the categories and will post the results. Will promote the past sponsors to support them.
Annual Membership Meeting and Dinner- July 27, 2020. John reports that the club will host it but not sure of the State’s protocols that must be in place. Jerremy will provide the membership a virtual meeting venue. Will set up a question and answer session by posting them and we can have the answers. MJ questioned how to meet the requirements for the voting? Ed stated the status simultaneous meeting is a way for people to vote online if we make it sequential. Example will post the slate of candidates. Bob gave an example vote for 5 nominate slate of 5, 10-day notification rule and get the ballot 10 days ahead of time. Discussion followed how to handle the virtual meeting requirements. A motion was made to make the Annual Membership Meeting a virtual meeting. Second, any opposed, none. Motion approved.
New Business

Bulleted items:

• Approval for a projector for the LSCA use. $500.00 approved to the purchase of the projector, to be in the 2021 budget. Motion made by Rob, second by MJ. No opposition. Approved to purchase the projector.

• Annual Fall Meeting with VT DEC Water Quality – Misha. Good rapport.

• Little Lake discussion – MJ, Jerremy, Jim were requested by 2 new home owners on the LL to attend a meeting with the LSCCF. Had a conversation about getting the LSCA back into the LL and the LSCCF’s aeration efforts. Tracking ProcellaCOR treatments in other Lakes. ProcellaCOR and DASH programs working and year after year there is a reduction in milfoil. Talked about aeration not working in LL, harvesting of milfoil and native plants only increases the milfoil and chokes out native plants. Summary of DEC paper and plant reports on our website. New residents on LL are interested and asked many questions. Misha indicated our permits are for the whole lake. The LSCCF has not responded to DEC questions on their permit. Discussion regarding getting the two groups together. It was decided to contact a facilitator to conduct the meeting, with both groups covering the cost 50/50. The facilitator needs to be neutral and outside LSC community. Zoom might be a good format for this meeting. Get info to Rick N. from LSCCF so we can move forward with the next meeting with the LSCCF. A motion was made by Rob and second by John . Ed rephased the motion to include the 50/50 cost for hiring the facilitator. Rob second the revised motion made by Ed, voted to pass the motion as discussed.

Motion to Adjourn the LSCA Board of Trustees meeting May 23, 2020 at 11:45, second. Approved.

Minutes respectfully submitted, Kemi McShane Bostock, Recording Secretary

Boating Safety On Lake St. Catherine

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 26 May 2020 21:41:16 GMT

Hello LSC.

Today, we'd like to take some time to discuss boating safety on Lake St. Catherine, as we've noted a recent increase in complaints and concerns passed along to the LSCA.

We'll review the general Vermont boating rules, the LSC specific boating rules, and provide you the information on how to report violations to the proper authorities.

To begin, here are the Vermont rules for unlawful operation of a vessel.

Vermont law states that these dangerous operating practices are illegal:

Boating in restricted areas without regard for other boaters or persons, posted speeds and wake restrictions, diver-down flags, etc.
Boating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Failing to follow the navigation rules
Weaving through congested waterway traffic
Swerving at the last possible moment in order to avoid collision
Causing danger or damage from the wake of your vessel
Chasing, harassing, or disturbing wildlife with your vessel

Overloading is loading the vessel beyond a safe carrying capacity, taking into consideration the weather and other operating conditions.

Operating a vessel (except sailboards) at greater than “no wake speed” within 200 feet of:

- The shoreline
- A person in the water
- A canoe, rowboat, or other vessel
- An anchored or moored vessel with a person on board
- An anchorage or dock

Operating a vessel at speeds of five miles per hour or greater within 200 feet of a marked swimming area
Operating a vessel at speeds that may cause danger, injury, or damage. Be aware of and obey all regulatory markers, including areas marked as “no wake”

Note: “No Wake Speed” means operating your vessel at a speed at which the vessel does not produce a wake, not to exceed five miles per hour.

Many more rules and regulations for boating in Vermont can be found here, in the Vermont Boating Laws And Responsibilities Handbook.

Next, let's review the Lake St. Catherine specific boating rules that are in place, under Vermont Statute 10 V.S.A. § 1424, (effective November 17, 1980, amended January 1, 1995):

Water-skiing is prohibited in the following waters:

All portions of Lily Pond and the channel connecting Lily Pond and Lake St. Catherine
All portions of the channel connecting Little Lake and Lake St. Catherine

The operation of vessels powered by motor at speeds exceeding five miles per hour or in such a manner as to cause a disturbing wake is prohibited in the following waters:

All portions of Lily Pond and the channel connecting Lily Pond and Lake St. Catherine
All portions of the channel connecting Little Lake and Lake St. Catherine
Forest House Bay - defined for purposes of this rule as those waters south and southwest of a straight line between the southerly corner of Camp 102 and the northeasterly corner of Camp 110A
Hall’s Bay - defined for purposes of this rule as those waters north and northeast of a straight line between the southerly corner of Camp 224 and the northerly corner of Camp 207
Horseshoe Bay - defined for purposes of this rule as those waters west of a straight line between the easterly corner of Camp 38 and northerly corner of Camp 46A
Oxbow Bay - defined for purposes of this rule as those waters west of a straight line between the northerly corner of Camp 21 and the northerly corner of Camp 36

With regard to Forest House Bay, Hall’s Bay, Horseshoe Bay, and Oxbow Bay:

It is permissible for a boat to start and return to its own dock at speeds in excess of five miles per hour for purposes of water-skiing. In starting, the boat must head directly out of the safety zone. In returning, the boat must go directly to its dock at the lowest speed necessary to sustain the skier

For purposes of this regulation only:

The term “channel” as used in the rules above shall mean those waters within and contiguous to Lake St. Catherine which are less than 400 feet in width and which serve to connect that lake with Lily Pond or Little Lake.
The use of personal watercraft at speeds not exceeding five miles per hour is allowed on Little Lake and Lily Pond for purposes of obtaining access to, and returning from, Lake St. Catherine.

Finally, we'd like to inform you on the best way to report violations that you witness.

This past weekend, we had a conversation with our Game Warden, Dustin Circe:

[Dustin Circe, pictured left. Photo credit: Vermont Game Warden Association's Facebook page]

Dustin's patrol area includes 6 towns: Wells, Poultney, Middletown Springs, Tinmouth, Pawlet, and Danby. He's on Lake St. Catherine two to three times a week.

While Dustin patrols LSC, he looks for things like fishing violations (while checking for licenses), unsafe boating (including checking for life jackets, boating while intoxicated) and littering. While it's not possible for Dustin to be on the lake every day, we can assist him in keeping LSC for everyone.

Dustin has outlined a few tips that are helpful if you witness a violation or an unsafe situation. The more detailed information you can provide, the better his investigation can be. If possible, try to:

Take a video
Take photos
Take note of their registration number
Take note of a description of the vessel and the individual
Take note of the camp they return to
Take note of the date & time and location

Then, call Dustin at (802) 793-6629 to report the incident so he can begin investigating using the information you provide.

Dustin explained that we can all be his eyes and ears around the lake helping to keep it safe.

So, let's all be considerate of others while sharing the lake, and let's all work together to keep everyone on Lake St. Catherine safe.

Thank you!

LSCA Announces 2020 Milfoil Treatment

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 24 May 2020 21:57:37 GMT

On May 13th, biologists from SLM and our DASH suction harvesting team visited the lake to perform a milfoil survey. They have identified areas to be treated with ProcellaCOR and areas to be suction harvested.

3 areas, totaling 18.3 acres will be treated with ProcellaCOR.

During and after the treatment, please be aware of the following lake water use restriction recommendations:

• NO USE of Lake St. Catherine waters and water from the outlet stream FOR ANY PURPOSE including boating, fishing, swimming, domestic (household) use or irrigation, the day of treatment on:

Wednesday, June 24, 2020, beginning at 9 am

• Swimming/wading, boating, fishing and domestic (household) use may resume on:

Thursday, June 25, 2020, beginning at 9 am

• USE of water from Lake St. Catherine FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES including for watering lawns, trees, or other plants may resume on:

Wednesday, July 1, 2020, beginning at 9 am or earlier based on sampling results, please refer to the website below for results

Please refer to www.solitudelakemanagement.com/vermont for additional information and updated water use advisories and recommendations.

Along with the herbicide treatment, 10 areas, totaling up to 38.7 acres have been selected for DASH. DASH is an acronym for Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting. This process involves scuba divers using suction hoses powered by a surface compressor to selectively remove milfoil from the lake bottom. They will be working throughout the season to remove milfoil by the roots in these designated areas.

As a comparison, last year, we treated 38.1 acres with ProcellaCOR and 65.8 acres with DASH for a total of 103.9 acres. Because of the success of our milfoil control program last year, we only need to address 57 acres - a 45% reduction.

Here is a map of the treatment areas for ProcellaCOR and DASH:

Treatment Notice:

Are you a member yet? Maintaining the lake costs approximately $125,000 annually. Grants, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and any contribution that you make is tax deductible.

Links:

If you have any questions about the upcoming milfoil treatment, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

The 8th Annual LSCA Boat Parade - Register Your Boat Now!

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 24 May 2020 21:49:54 GMT

Hello LSC.

We'd like to announce that we will have the 8th Annual Boat Parade this year!

It is scheduled for Saturday, July 4th, starting at 1 PM in Forest House Bay.

There will be some important changes this year due to the current COVID-19 situation:

Our 2019 sponsors:

Our winners will of course receive bragging rights for the rest of the season :)

2. We will not have judging stations for safety reasons. However, we will take photos of every boat, and we will post them online for the entire lake to vote on in an easy to use voting survey. We'll set a time range to cast your votes, and we'll announce the winners for each category that evening. We are looking for a volunteer that can take photos of all the boats as they start their course around the lake and be able to quickly transmit those to us so we can post them online for voting. If you can help us with this, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

As many other 4th of July celebrations are being canceled because of social distancing recommendations, we are happy to be able to safely continue this yearly tradition on LSC.

So, let's start planning for the 4th! To register you boat, please email us at at info@lakestcatherine.org. and please provide your name, phone number, and we'll reply back with your boat number for the parade.

Our categories:

Most Original
Most Patriotic
Funniest
Best Overall

Be well, and thanks for your support of the LSCA.

For inspiration, here are some of the boats from last year:

Best Overall Winner, 2019:

1st place: Boat #4 - Loon Pontoon, the Tardie family

2019 Boat Parade Video:

The LSCA Spring 2020 Newsletter

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 22 May 2020 14:05:37 GMT

Hello good folks of the Lake St. Catherine community.

We'd like to let you know that the LSCA Spring 2020 newsletter is now available.

The digital version is now available online via our website through this link: Click here to view the Spring 2020 Newsletter, or click on the image below. When you click on the link for the newsletter, you will be able to view it on screen - and be able to zoom in or out using the controls on the bottom of the screen. Or, you can click the download button in the top right corner to save a copy to your computer to view with a PDF reader or print a copy.

We hope you'll enjoy this edition of the LSCA newsletter.

We welcome your comments: info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you for your support!

In other news...

- As you will read in our newsletter, COVID-19 will have a significant impact on the LSCA's funding this season. We would hate to lose any ground in preserving and protecting our watershed, so we respectfully ask our members (and potential members) to please submit your dues as soon as possible so we can have a better idea of the funds we will have available for budgeting. We hope to earn your support in 2020.

- For all the latest news on Lake St. Catherine, please follow us on Facebook, or keep an eye here on our Blog. Thank you!

LSCA Will Not Receive Yearly State Grant For Milfoil Control

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 21 May 2020 22:11:33 GMT

Hello to all in the LSC community.

Last evening, we received official word that due to conditions created by the COVID-19 outbreak, we will not be receiving our Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) grant as part of the Grant-in Aid program run by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation's Agency of Natural Resources.

Based on last year, that represents approximately $27,000 that we will not receive in 2020 to help fund our milfoil control efforts which includes our DASH team (Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting), and ProcellaCOR spot treatments. This is a huge loss for Lake St. Catherine.

As part of this same grant, we will be receiving $5,573 in support of our Boat Launch Monitoring / Greeter Program.

We are now in the process of adjusting and updating our 2020 budget to accommodate the loss of this grant. We will need to make some difficult decisions on how to best use our available funding for the benefit of Lake St. Catherine.

We would hate to lose any ground in preserving and protecting our watershed, so we respectfully ask our members (and potential members!) to please submit your dues as soon as possible so we can have a better idea of the funds we will have available for budgeting in 2020. Additional contributions over and above our standard dues and donations would be extremely helpful at this time.

To all of our potential LSCA members out there in the lake community, we hope to earn your support in 2020.

Thank you to our members for your support as we continue to work to fulfill our mission of the preservation, protection and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

We'll have more updates for you this weekend, along with the release of our Spring 2020 Newsletter.

Becoming A Member:

- You can download a copy of our Membership Form by clicking here: 2020 LSCA Membership Form PDF. Just fill out the form and mail it in to our Treasurer Elaine with a check for your dues.

- Or, you can renew or become a member on our website - and you can pay your dues online with your credit card. If you were a member last year (whether you paid by check or online by credit card), the website has an account ready for you. If you don't remember your password, or never set one up, click on the "Forgot Username/Password?" link, and the site will send you an email with the information.

Thank you.

A LSC Blast From The Past - New York Times, 2001

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 07 May 2020 16:50:34 GMT

Hello LSC fans.

Occasionally, we come across a Lake St. Catherine reference in an old publication. They are an interesting snapshot from that time, so we like finding them, and then passing them along for all to enjoy.

This particular article, entitled "A Place Excused From Change: Recapturing Summers From The 50's" by Charles Strum, appeared in the Friday, August 31st edition of the New York Times.

It's an old newspaper scan, so the images are not great, but it's better than nothing... You can read the full text of the article (no images) by clicking here.

Scans from the paper (you can click on the scans to see a larger version):

You can read a previous "LSC Blast From The Past" by clicking here to see "A Family Kind Of Place - Lake St. Catherine's Appeal Spans The Generations" from Vermont Life Magazine.

The Importance Of The 2020 Census For Our Community

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 06 May 2020 16:54:13 GMT

Hello to all in the Lake St. Catherine community.

We were recently contacted by Peter Hathaway, the Rutland County rep for the 2020 Census. We discussed the importance of the 2020 census, and how low the response rate has been for our area.

On the importance of the 2020 Census from the 2020 Census website:

"School lunches. Plans for highways. Support for firefighters and families in need. Census results affect your community every day.

The results of the 2020 Census will help determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding flow into communities every year for the next decade. That funding shapes many different aspects of every community, no matter the size, no matter the location.

Think of your morning commute: Census results influence highway planning and construction, as well as grants for buses, subways, and other public transit systems.

Or think of your local schools: Census results help determine how money is allocated for the Head Start program and for grants that support teachers and special education.

The list goes on, including programs to support rural areas, to restore wildlife, to prevent child abuse, to prepare for wildfires, and to provide housing assistance for older adults."

The low response rate could be related to the amount of seasonal properties in our area. So, Peter asked if we could share the attached flyer:

So, we hope you can all take a moment to fill out the census questionnaire by clicking here: www.my2020census.gov. It is very important for our community!

Thank you.

COVID-19 Related Guidelines For The LSCA Boat Launch From Vermont Fish & Wildlife

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 16:56:36 GMT

Hello to all in the Lake St. Catherine community. We hope you are all staying healthy and well.

The LSCA was just provided the following information from the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department concerning the Governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order and how that may potentially impact boating activities this summer. The stay at home order was recently extended to May 15th.

The department’s Fishing Access Areas are open 24/7 as they always have been, but the public is reminded to practice safe social distancing and only recreate with people that you have been self-quarantining with.

Information from Vermont Fish & Wildlife:

"In order to comply with the Governor’s orders for maintaining essential services and reduce the potential spread of COVID-19, VFWD will not be providing portable toilet services, installing docks, or allowing Public Access Greeters. This will last until at least May 15th to keep the public and contractors safe and healthy during this pandemic.

To use the access areas safely, the public is reminded to practice social distancing and only recreate with people that you have been self-quarantining with. While using the fishing access areas, ANR asks residents to use the necessary precautions to help limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Don’t leave the house if you are feeling ill.
Only travel and fish with those in your immediate household.
Maintain at least a six-foot distance at boat ramps (about the length of a fishing rod when held out at arm’s length).
Avoid congregating in congested areas like fishing platforms, ramps and docks, and popular shore fishing locations like bridges or culverts.
Don’t pull your boat on shore next to another boat while loading and unloading.
Avoid unnecessary stops on the way to and from fishing or boating.

Residents are always asked to maintain on-going aquatic invasive species spread prevention measures to comply with the Aquatic Nuisance Species regulations (10 V.S.A. 1454). These regulations require persons to inspect their vessel, vessel trailer, motor vehicle and other equipment upon entering and departing a waterbody and to remove any aquatic plants, plant parts and aquatic nuisance species found on vessels or equipment.

The recreational boating season generally kicks off Memorial Day weekend and ANR is working to develop practical guidelines, potential training opportunities, and educational and informational signage to support invasive species spread prevention operations that will be available prior to that time. However, Special Use Permits and Public Access Greeter Programs are on-hold until further notice. Staff will continue to work with boaters and Public Access Greeter Programs to keep them updated to ensure a safe boating season."

The LSCA is committed to our Greeter / Aquatic Invasive Species Program. Keeping invasive species out of LSC is one of our top priorities. Over the past few months, we have been preparing our 2020 program - and we hope to be able to kick it off over the Memorial Day weekend.

We'll keep you up to date.

Be well.

COVID-19’s Impact On The Lake St. Catherine Association’s 2020 Budget

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 16:59:52 GMT

Hello to all in the Lake St. Catherine community.

First, we hope that you and your loved ones are staying safe and healthy during this COVID-19 pandemic. Please be sure to follow all CDC advice to keep yourself safe.

We’d like to take a few moments to inform you on how the COVID-19 pandemic will impact the Lake St. Catherine Association’s efforts for the 2020 season.

Over the Fall of 2019, the LSCA applied for numerous grants from various environmental agencies. In the late Winter / early Spring of 2020, we were very happy to learn that we were awarded 4 grants. However, we’ve recently received indications that these may be in jeopardy. Then, this week, we’ve learned that one has just been cancelled.

We are also very concerned that planned State and local government funding may also be pulled or reduced.

We are now in the process of adjusting and updating our 2020 budget to accommodate these uncertainties. We will need to make some difficult decisions on how to best use our available funding for the benefit of Lake St. Catherine.

During this uncertain time, the LSCA will continue to work on our important lake management programs, some of which include: stormwater runoff & pollution control, water testing, lake safety, milfoil control, boat launch monitoring (Greeter program) / aquatic invasive species education & prevention. You can learn about our efforts in more detail by clicking here to read our 2019 Year In Review.

With all this in mind, we would hate to lose any ground in preserving and protecting our watershed, so we respectfully ask our members to please submit your dues as soon as possible so we can have a better idea of the funds we will have available for budgeting.

We started our 2020 membership drive in mid February, and we are happy to report that we’ve had 204 members submit their dues so far - so we are off to a good start. Last year, we had 350 paid memberships.

Each season, we work to grow and expand our membership base, which we have done over the past 4 years. However, we realize this may be a difficult goal for 2020 as folks may be out of work, or worried about what the future will bring.

If you plan on becoming a member for 2020, please do so as soon as you can. It will be very helpful to know how much we will receive in membership dues as we continue to work on our 2020 budget.

You can also download a copy of the 2020 membership form by clicking here: 2020 LSCA Membership Form PDF. Just fill out the form and mail it in to our Treasurer Elaine with a check for your dues.

Or, you can renew or become a member on our website - and you can pay your dues online with your credit card. If you were a member last year (whether you paid by check or online by credit card), the website has an account ready for you. If you don't remember your password, or never set one up, click on the "Forgot Username/Password?" link, and the site will send you an email with the information.

To all of our potential LSCA members out there in the lake community, we hope to earn your support in 2020.

Thank you to our members for your support this season.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you.

Predict Ice Out Day 2020

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 11:21:45 GMT

Hello LSC fans.

I'm guessing we could all use a little distraction from current events... That, along with some open water appearing on the lake - makes it feel like a good time to start up #IceWatch2020.

So, let's try to have a little fun again this Spring and make some predictions for when the ice will go out.

Last year, with her guess of 4/15 at 6:00 AM, our winner - and 2019 LSC Ice Out Champion was Judy Cummings.

We called Ice Out a little early last year, and had to be corrected by many eagle-eyed ice spotters around the lake. We hope you'll share your ice reports again this year!

Make your prediction here: LSC Ice Out Prediction Form

The winner will be crowned "LSC 2020 Ice Out Champion" and will have bragging rights all year!

Make your guess - and good luck!

Long-Time Lake St. Catherine Association Trustee Phil Pope Has Passed Away

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 12:26:24 GMT

Hello good folks in the LSC community. Unfortunately, we have some sad news to report.

Long-time Lake St. Catherine Association Trustee Phil Pope has passed away.

You can read about Phil in his obituary appearing in the Rutland Herald by clicking here.

LSCA President Jim Canders wanted to share this comment about Phil:

"We all lost a true American and outspoken advocate for the health of Lake St. Catherine. As his obituary noted, he was a man for all seasons, Lake St. Catherine in the summer, salmon fishing in Alaska in the fall, a ski trip to the Western US during the winter and skiing at Bromley after he returned from his trip to the West. However, and most importantly to each of us, he was our friend. As a Board member, he held an unwavering concern for, and care of Lake St Catherine. He will be truly missed."

Other LSCA board members offered their thoughts and recollections of Phil:

- "He was a dedicated and valuable member who had determination and focus on stewardship of the lake for nearly 50 years."

- "What a full and joyful life..."

- "Phil Pope not only loved Lake St. Catherine, but he also worked hard as part of the Lake Saint Catherine Association to keep it special. What a great man!"

- "He and Polly loved LSC, and were dedicated to the health and beauty of the lake for so many years."

- "Phil was always a true Gentleman with a smile and warm greeting. He will be greatly missed."

Funeral services will be held at the First Congregational Church of Manchester at 2 p.m. on March 28, 2020. A gathering will be held at the church fellowship hall following the service. A brief graveside interment ceremony will be held on Aug. 1 in Poultney, with a celebration of life to follow at the Lake St. Catherine house.

We all thank Phil for his many years of dedication and hard work in service of the betterment of Lake St. Catherine.

We offer our sincere condolences to Phil's family.

Wells And Poultney Vote To Provide Funds To The LSCA On Town Meeting Day 2020

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 12:28:56 GMT

On Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020, the residents of Wells and Poultney voted to provide $12,000 and $15,000, respectively, in support of the Lake St. Catherine Association's mission of the preservation, protection and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine.

We'd like to thank the good folks of both towns for their support. These funds, along with membership dues and contributions, will help us direct and fund important programs that include (but are not limited to): milfoil control, invasive species control (boat launch Greeter program), water testing, pollution and phosphorous mitigation and water safety. You can read more about all that the LSCA does in the Our Purpose section of our site.

Thanks again to the residents of Wells and Poultney!

LSCA and LSCCF Sit Down For Little Lake Meeting

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 12:30:17 GMT

Hello LSC community,

We'd like to inform you about a meeting that took place Saturday afternoon between representatives of the Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) and the Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund (LSCCF) to discuss the future of Little Lake.

Last week, a Little Lake property owner reached out to both groups requesting a meeting between the two associations. We both accepted, and they graciously hosted the meeting at their Little Lake property which included our host, their neighbors, and 3 reps each from the LSCA and the LSCCF.

The LSCCF discussed their proof of concept dredging project, their mechanical harvesting plans, and their aeration permit that is under review by the DEC.

We discussed our thoughts on coming back into Little Lake with our milfoil control program in an effort to gain better control over milfoil lake-wide.

While the meeting became contentious at times, and we continue to have fundamental differences - by the end of the meeting, we were having a civil discussion. We both agreed to keep in touch, and to keep sharing information.

We'd like to thank our host and their neighbors for their efforts to set up this meeting to create a dialog between the LSCA and the LSCCF.

We hope this will lead to other opportunities to speak with Little Lake property owners. If you have any comments or questions, please reach out to us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you.

The 2020 LSCA Membership Drive Is Underway!

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 12:31:44 GMT

Hello good folks of the Lake St. Catherine community.

It's that time of year again... As the Lake St. Catherine Association heads into its 67th year, we are asking for your support for the 2020 season.

What does the LSCA do? Well, start here by checking out our 2019 Year In Review.

Your membership dues and contributions help fund many of the services provided by the LSCA:

Maintain and purchase navigation and shore line protection buoys throughout the lake.
Test the water for E coli, and water clarity.
Managing the free boat-safety courses that are state mandated for all persons born after January 1, 1974.
Greeter Program: Inspecting boats wishing to enter the lake for aquatic invasive species (AIS) to keep them out of the lake.
Controlling milfoi.
Working with the state to solve the problems of silting and impacts of phosphorus and other sources of pollution. Let us know if you'd like your property evaluated for the Lake Wise program in 2020.
Maintaining "welcome" signs and gardens.
Liaising with other lakes in order to exchange information concerning problems.
Sponsor the annual fun-filled July 4th Boat Parade.
Disseminate information to our membership and the community through newsletters, website, and other local publications.
Organizing funding through membership fees, donations and grants from the State of Vermont and Poultney and Wells.
We represent you to state and local governments to protect your rights and the lake in general.
We protect the value of your property by maintain the beauty, access, and safety of the lake.

There are two easy ways to renew or become a member of the LSCA.

Soon, you will be receiving a mailing from us that contains the 2020 Membership Form. You can also download a copy by clicking here: 2020 LSCA Membership Form PDF. Just fill out the form and mail it in to our Treasurer Elaine with a check for your dues. We'll also send you an email if we have your address on file.

Or, you can renew or become a member on our website. If you were a member in 2019, click here - and you can pay your dues online with your credit card. If you were a member last year (whether you paid by check or online by credit card), the website has an account ready for you. If you don't remember your password, or never set one up, click on the "Forgot Username/Password?" link, and the site will send you an email with the information.

If you are a business in the Lake St. Catherine community, we have a Business Sponsor Membership we'd like to tell you about. The Business Sponsor Membership includes:

A listing on our ‘Sponsors’ page on www.lakestcatherine.org with your logo, a link to your web or Facebook page, including a brief description of your business and services.
The posting of your events and special occasions to our Events & LSC Community Website Calendar.
A posting on our Blog and Facebook page about your business as a ‘Sponsor Spotlight’ feature.
A posting for your business in our Spring and Fall newsletters. Newsletters will be made available to the community in both printed and digital versions.

You can learn more about the Business Sponsorship by clicking on the 2020 LSCA Membership Form PDF.

Upon receiving your membership contribution, our treasurer Elaine will mail you a hand-written thank you note, a receipt, a LSCA window card and a stick-on card holder for your cell phone.

We are happy to report that in 2019, we had 342 paid members, which includes 9 Business Sponsors with an average contribution of $154. Thank you to all of our members! Your membership dues and additional contributions over and above our base $100 membership level are crucial to funding our important lake programs. In 2019, we increased our membership in both dollars and in individual contributors by around 12% each as compared to 2018. We hope to build on these numbers again in 2020. As always, we ask you to help us spread the word by discussing the LSCA with your neighbors. We will continue to work hard for Lake St. Catherine to earn your support.

We appreciate your support!

If you have any questions, please contact us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

LSCA Responds To Little Lake Misinformation, Proposes A Plan

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 12:38:33 GMT

Hello LSC.

Over the past year, you may have read numerous articles and opinion pieces in the Rutland Herald, read an online posting, or attended a meeting concerning conditions in the Little Lake. Unfortunately, many contained misleading information while failing to convey important facts. We feel it is necessary to respond. We also want to provide details of a multi-year plan to help improve conditions in Little Lake.

First, a little history.

What are the Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) and the Lake Saint Catherine Conservation Fund (LSCCF)?

We are the Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA), a Vermont not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, organized on August 31, 1953. For 66 years, we’ve been stewards of the lake by fulfilling our mission of the preservation, protection and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine. In the late 1970’s, we began lake-wide management efforts by directing and funding important programs that include (but are not limited to): milfoil control, invasive species control (boat launch Greeter program), water testing, pollution and phosphorous mitigation and water safety. We also fund one-time projects such as the clearing of the Lily Pond channel to restore connectivity from Lily Pond to the North Bay.

In 2009, the Lake Saint Catherine Conservation Fund (LSCCF) was formed by Little Lake property owners with a focus on Little Lake’s unique issues. They applied for and received a permit for an aeration experiment by installing a submersed diffused air aeration system which pumps oxygen into the lake. This system was presented as a way to help dissolve lake bottom muck (increasing water depth) and decrease Eurasian Watermilfoil (EMW, milfoil). The experiment began on July 30th, 2012. Earlier that year, on June 13th, 2012, the LSCA performed its last permitted milfoil control activities in the Little Lake so the experiment could be conducted.

Through the years since our last treatment in the Little Lake, the LSCA has been asked, “What do you do for the Little Lake?”. Our answer has been everything you have just read above. Everything we do is for the whole of Lake St. Catherine. We were asked to no longer perform lake management efforts in Little Lake by the LSCCF so they could conduct their aeration experiment. Because we have not been involved in the management of Little Lake since 2012, this has given some the impression that the LSCA is only concerned with the Big Lake. This is certainly not the case. All of our efforts are intended for the benefit of the entire lake.

With all this in mind, let’s address what’s been happening in Little Lake since 2012.

Introduction

What we present to you below will be based on studies, facts and years of data collection. We will not be pontificating our opinions or beliefs, only presenting conclusions based on the facts. Therefore, this information is being presented in a “just the facts” manner, and we ask that it be read with that tone in mind. We’re doing this to combat confusion and misinformation - and to make sure LSC property owners and local government officials are informed. Our goal is to make sure everyone who cares about the Little Lake and Lake St. Catherine as a whole will have all available information so we can work together on real solutions.

The LSCCF ran their aeration experiment in Little Lake from 2012 - 2018. In 2017, they also began a mechanical harvesting program that would cut and remove weeds using a mechanical harvesting machine (Note: The LSCA discontinued mechanical harvesting in 2004 because it was ineffective and caused milfoil to spread). During this time, the LSCCF has presented their own data to claim that the depth of Little Lake has increased and they maintained that the aeration was controlling milfoil. The LSCCF did not apply to renew their aeration permit for 2019, so the system was not in operation in 2019. The LSCCF also experimented with the use of weevils to control milfoil, which was unsuccessful.

Let’s look at a paper prepared by the Vermont DEC and the results of 17 years of Aquatic Vegetation Management Program reports which dispute the LSCCF’s claims.

The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation issues aeration report

In January 2019, the Vermont DEC released a report entitled, “AERATION AS A LAKE MANAGEMENT TOOL AND ITS USE IN VERMONT”. The information specifically about Little Lake begins on page 15. While we encourage you to read the full report, we’ll quote some of the important information here.

First, let’s start with the DEC’s description of aeration in the introduction of the paper (all bold emphasis is ours):

“In recent years, aeration has been marketed to lake managers as a tool that could potentially manage aquatic plants and accumulated organic material on a lake bottom, also referred to as “muck.” The proposed mechanism for muck control through aeration is to increase oxygen at the lakebed to encourage decomposition of organic sediments. Although there is a market for installing aeration systems for these uses and some experimental installations are in place in Vermont, the scientific literature does not support or recommend the use of aeration as a tool for managing muck or aquatic plants (Osgood 2015, Wagner 2015).”

From the DEC report, specifically about Little Lake (all bold emphasis is ours):

“To address their concerns about increasing organic sediment accumulation, the Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund (LSCCF) proposed to install a diffused air circulation (DAC) system throughout the lake. In 2011, a DAC system for the east side of the lake was authorized under a Lake Encroachment permit and later expanded and reauthorized in 2013. In 2015, the project was authorized to expand to the west side of the lake under another Lake Encroachment permit. The units in Little Lake were installed for the purpose of reducing organic sediment accumulation on the lakebed and approved under Lake Encroachment permitting as an environmental research project, which is a consideration of the public trust. This installation was viewed as a research project because there is a lack of evidence in the scientific literature that supports the use of aeration as a tool to reduce organic sediment accumulation.”

“Depth data was collected by LSCCF and the DEC; depth data varied greatly between the two groups. LSCCF provided depth data for 2012-2017 measured adjacent to diffusers as well as at four nearby water quality sites and two control sites. The LSCCF measured depth by pressing a pole attached to a square board down into the flocculant sediment (all data are calibrated to dam benchmark water level).”

“In 2017, the VT DEC recommended that LSCCF add sampling sites along transects between three diffusers and extending toward mid-lake to monitor the extent of the diffuser’s potential impact on lake depths. Depth data collected by LSCCF between June and October show increases in depth at each transect site varying from 0.5 to 0.7 feet, but overall depths were shallower (from 1.0 to 2.4 feet) moving away from the diffusers and did not increase from summer to fall. These depth measurements were taken by the LSCCF using the pole and board method. During a sampling visit in summer 2017, DEC recommended LSCCF adopt the use of a sludge sampler (“Sludge Judge”) they were testing to compare depth measurements between this measurement tool and the board and pole method. The sludge sampler may more accurately show the depth of settled solids. However, LSCCF provided no 2017 data using this method.”

“From the depth surveys conducted pre and post aeration installation by the VT DEC and others, there is no evidence to support that the use of the DAC system has altered the depth of Little Lake St. Catherine. Depths throughout Little Lake St. Catherine have remained relatively constant throughout the time depth sampling has occurred.”

“The LSCCF data shows significant depth increases in close proximity to the aeration diffusers. However, these depth changes were not observed from the bathymetric surveys conducted by the VT DEC. The fluid dynamics of organic sediments are poorly understood and small localized changes in depth are difficult to interpret. It is possible that the diffusers transport organic sediment away from their area of influence. Measuring depth using the sludge sampler will increase consistency and accuracy of data collection. The VT DEC recommends that the LSCCF use a standardized monitoring protocol for water quality data and for depth measuring so that the data may be better used for data assessment. Additionally, continuing to measure depths along a transect away from the diffuser will better characterize the effects of aeration.”

Also in the paper, the DEC included a results of a study involving Lake Apopka, a shallow (mean depth of about 5.2 feet), eutrophic lake in Florida (similar to Little Lake) that also ran an aeration experiment (all bold emphasis is ours):

“...96 aerators were installed in a 250-acre area of the lake for the purpose of decreasing organic sediment accumulation. Two applications of 1,000 pounds of microbes and 400 gallons of enzymes were added for bioaugmentation to speed up the decomposition process. It was anticipated that the installation of an aeration system would lead to increased water clarity, increased dissolved oxygen concentration, reduction of cyanobacteria, reduction of the decomposed organic muck layer on the lake bed, and a reduction of nutrient concentrations in the water column and the sediments. In an independent review of the experimental installation, University of Florida researchers saw no detectable differences in water chemistry between treatment areas and control samples.”

Then concluding:

“In 2017, the Harris Chain of Lakes Restoration Council, the governing body overseeing the restoration of Lake Apopka and other geographically related lakes, made an official recommendation in their 2017 Annual Report to the Florida Legislature to no longer support aeration projects as part of the overall restoration efforts. The Council determined that aeration to control sediment accumulation did not work to expectations, and that the aerators were likely transporting flocculant sediments around the lakebed, rather than oxidizing the sediments.”

Again, we encourage you to fully read the report.

17 years of lake-wide aquatic vegetation surveys

Each season, the LSCA contracts with SOLitude Lake Management to perform spring and fall aquatic vegetation surveys. Beginning in 2001, 199 total data points were mapped out using GPS on Lily Pond, Big Lake and Little Lake. These points are returned to each season to survey for aquatic plants and the reports are generated. All the reports dating back to 2001 can be viewed on our website in the Downloads section.

Let’s look at the data from the Little Lake from the past 10 years. In the following list of data points and charts, milfoil frequency of occurrence refers to the distribution of milfoil at the Little Lake data points, milfoil cover percent refers to the abundance of milfoil in Little Lake, total plant cover percent refers to the abundance of all weeds in Little Lake, and the plant biomass index is defined as:

0: No biomass; plants generally absent

1: Low biomass; plants growing only as a low layer on the sediment

2: Moderate biomass; plants protruding well into the water column but generally not reaching the water surface

3: High biomass; plants filling enough of the water column and/or covering enough of the water surface to be considered a possible recreational nuisance or habitat impairment

4: Extremely high biomass; water column filled and/or surface completely covered, obvious nuisance conditions and habitat impairment severe

The data for the Little Lake:

The charts for the Little Lake:

As you can see in the data, and plotted in the charts, all four data points are trending up (see the lightly shaded trendlines plotting through each color on the chart). This data shows that while the LSCCF was conducting their aeration experiment and mechanically harvesting and removing weeds in Little Lake, milfoil frequency of occurrence, milfoil cover percent, total plant cover percent and the plant biomass index are all trending up.

One note: you may have noticed the dip in 2016 and think that this may indicate that the aeration had some impact on weeds that year. But, as you’ll see in the data and chart below, there was a similar dip in the Big Lake that year. So, whatever conditions caused the weed decline, it was lake-wide.

The data for the Big Lake:

The chart for the Big Lake:

Summary and notes

To summarize, the conclusions reached by the DEC’s aeration paper and the historical plant data for Little Lake do not support the LSCCF’s claims of muck or weed reduction in Little Lake. Unfortunately, the aeration experiment did not work.

However, in October 2019, the LSCCF applied for a permit to expand on their existing aeration installation, which they expect will cost $400,000 over a 3 year plan.

One final note before moving on. Based on the data above, and the images shown below, you can see that the weed conditions of the Little Lake in 2019 without the aeration system running are comparable to the conditions in 2018 when it had been running. We mention this to dispute the commentary in this LSCCF video posted on July 24, 2019 (Video Link). As heard during the video commentary, the video was taken on July 4th, 2019.

Commentary from the video:

"July 4th, 2019. After 6 seasons of aeration, no aeration on in 2019, and this is what the lake looks like. I haven't seen this many plants at the surface of LL since 2010, 2011, before aeration."

Clearly the intent was to create a narrative that the Little Lake was in its current state (in the video taken on July 4th, 2019) due to lack of aeration in the 2019 season. At most, the aerators could have only been on for approximately 3 months that season, as ice-out was mid-April.

It is important to note that the video does not show the condition of Little Lake to be any different from the fall of 2018.

The following photos were taken in June of 2018, near aerators that have been running the longest on Little Lake, on the east side.

The thick beds of healthy milfoil surround the aeration area and are growing to the surface. It can also be observed that the water displacement from the aerators are arcing the milfoil away from the aerator, allowing the plants to grow longer than just stopping at the surface.

From the video:

Proven results

Each season, the LSCA performs a milfoil control program to keep milfoil in the lake at manageable levels using, most recently, a combination of spot ProcellaCOR EC treatments, diver assisted suction harvesting (DASH) and hand-pulling. Using this proven, balanced approach, the LSCA has been able to keep milfoil under control in treated areas since 2004.

This season we were approved to use a new product called ProcellaCOR EC. As compared to the previous product used over the past few years (Renovate), ProcellaCOR EC allows us to use 200x - 400x less product, has significantly less water use restrictions, and it is highly targeted to milfoil - promising longer lasting results. For example, the recommended ProcellaCOR EC water use restrictions for the 2019 season were only the day of treatment for recreational use (vs. 2 days for Renovate) and 7 days for using lake water for irrigation (vs.120 days for Renovate).

Based on our ProcellaCOR EC and DASH results in 2019, and in consultation with the DEC and our lake management contractor SOLitude Lake Management, we have a real opportunity to knock back milfoil to levels not seen in the lake in many years.

Below is a chart showing the milfoil distribution in our treatment areas from the fall 2018 survey to the fall 2019 survey:

This is the result after one season of adding ProcellaCOR EC (treating only a small number of sites) to our milfoil control control program, again, in combination with our substantial DASH efforts.

The plan

Based on our 2019 results using a balanced combination of ProcellaCOR EC and DASH, we see an opportunity to significantly reduce the amount of milfoil in LSC to a level which would allow us to primarily focus on DASH and hand-pulling for our milfoil control efforts (our ProcellaCOR EC treatment involved only 5% of the Big Lake with excellent results). The LSCA is currently creating a multi-year plan to achieve this goal. But, for this to be possible, we need to address the biggest source of milfoil in LSC, the Little Lake. If left unchecked, the milfoil in Little Lake will continue to spread up the Channel and into the Big Lake, which will make it very difficult for the LSCA to achieve its objectives of both milfoil control and spread prevention. Treating selected portions of the Little Lake with ProcellaCOR EC as needed to gain control over the Little Lake’s milfoil over a several year period will be part of this multi-year plan.

What could this plan achieve?

Our plan sets a goal to reduce the amount of milfoil lake-wide to the point that we can primarily focus our control methods on DASH and hand-pulling. A volunteer milfoil spotting team would be formed to search for any milfoil plants at the beginning of each season, so the DASH crew can be used to remove them over the course of the summer. Property owners around the lake would work together to remove any floating milfoil they see on the lake or on their shoreline. Funds that are budgeted yearly for milfoil control can be reduced and redirected to other vitally important programs like aquatic invasive species prevention (Greeter Programs at boat launches), and pollution and phosphorus prevention through stormwater runoff mitigation projects (Lake Wise).

Then, specifically in Little Lake, the LSCA would fully support the DEC’s recommendations (from their aeration report):

“...continuing to work with local partners to implement watershed practices that address sedimentation may provide the clearest and most predictable path forward for addressing sedimentation concerns in Little Lake. Shoreline development, runoff from roads, and increased development pressure elsewhere in the watershed all contribute to sedimentation in Little Lake.

Aquatic invasive species and dense aquatic plant growth is an important issue affecting Little Lake and methods other than aeration may be more effective at addressing this issue.”

We also fully support the current efforts of the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) working on the LSC Stormwater Master Plan dealing with runoff issues, and their LEAP program which offers shoreline buffer plantings.

In principle, could you support a plan like this?

Our promise to you is that we will work hard to implement this plan and achieve these goals, while engaging LSC property owners (including those in the Little Lake) to participate.

What’s next?

The LSCA would like to hear from you.

In the spring, we will hold a meeting to present our detailed plan to all lake property owners and the lake community. When this meeting is scheduled, we’ll let you know all the details so you can attend.

But, spring is a few months away, and we’d like to hear what you think before the meeting. You can: email us at info@lakestcatherine.org, post your comments online, contact your LSCA trustee neighbor... let us know your thoughts.

If you disagree with this plan, or any of the information or data listed here, let’s discuss it. We can fully stand behind the science and the facts presented. Let’s talk about them.

If you like this plan, let us know and help us to spread the word and show your support. If you have questions, let us know - we will answer them for you.

The LSCA has been combating milfoil in Lake St. Catherine for 40+ years. We now have an opportunity to beat milfoil down to extremely low levels allowing us to primarily focus on DASH and hand-pulling for our control program and allowing for a larger portion of our budget to be reallocated to other important lake programs. We need to come together, work together, and make it happen.

LSCA Has Yearly Review Meeting With DEC

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 17:22:48 GMT

On Tuesday, January 6th, the Lake St. Catherine Association was happy to have the opportunity to update Misha Cetner from the Vermont DEC on our successful lake management efforts in 2019.

Presenting with our contracting partner, Marc Bellaud from SOLitude Lake Management, we first discussed our milfoil control program.

Using our balanced approach of spot herbicide treatments (using the new herbicide ProcellaCOR) and our hard-working DASH team (removing 1,293 buckets of milfoil), milfoil was successfully controlled in treatment areas. From our 2019 Aquatic Vegetation Management Report:

“Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM) distribution decreased significantly from 62% to 15% over last year’s frequency of occurrence and percent EWM cover decreased to 2%, at survey points within the Main Basin.

EWM control was excellent throughout treatment areas, with only other areas in the basin having any observed growth, most of which were at lower densities. This year’s spot-treatments and diver assisted suction harvesting (DASH) efforts were exceptionally effective but can only provide control to those areas while some EWM growth remains elsewhere in the basin.”

After reviewing the results of this first season of use, we are encouraged by ProcellaCOR’s effectiveness, and we hope this will allow us to continue to emphasize and expand our DASH milfoil control efforts while reducing our herbicide use.

This comparison of the fall milfoil surveys from 2018 to 2019 demonstrates how effective our milfoil control program was in 2019:

We also had the chance to discuss our other lake programs which include initiatives to decrease stormwater runoff bringing phosphorus and pollution into the lake and our invasive species prevention efforts (the Greeter Program at the boat launch).

It is extremely important to limit phosphorus from entering the lake. From the USGS.gov website:

“Phosphorus is a common constituent of agricultural fertilizers, manure, and organic wastes in sewage and industrial effluent. It is an essential element for plant life, but when there is too much of it in water, it can speed up eutrophication (a reduction in dissolved oxygen in water bodies caused by an increase of mineral and organic nutrients) of rivers and lakes. Soil erosion is a major contributor of phosphorus to streams. Bank erosion occurring during floods can transport a lot of phosphorous from the river banks and adjacent land into a stream, lake, or other water body.”

Limiting phosphorus reduces nutrients for weeds and reduces the chances of having a cyanobacteria bloom.

We are happy to be supporting the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District’s (PMNRCD) Lake St. Catherine Stormwater Masterplan as they begin implementing stormwater mitigation projects around the lake.

Each year, we also promote their Lake Education and Action Program (LEAP) program. The LEAP program works with lakeshore property owners to provide native buffer plantings, and apply other stormwater mitigation techniques like infiltration steps.

We also discussed our partnership with the PMNRCD in promoting the Lake Wise Program. From the Lake Wise website:

"The goal of Lake Wise is to establish a new normal, a new culture of lakeshore landscaping that is proven to help protect the lake. A property that earns the Lake Wise Award will represent a 'model' shoreland property. The Lake Wise Award certifies a property is well managed, using shoreland Best Management Practices, and is maintained to care for the lake."

This lead to the first Lake Wise Award being presented to a LSC property owner, The Binghams (you can read about that here).

If you are interested in having your property assessed for the Lake Wise program, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Our Greeter program is very important to the health of LSC. Greeters do not just check boats and trailers for milfoil - they are checking for many invasive species that are just a lake or two away from us. These invasives include zebra mussels, spiny waterflea, asian clams, water chestnuts and starry stonewort. For example, spiny waterflea were just found in Lake Champlain and zebra mussels were recently discovered in Lake Dunmore. Our Greeters are hard working young adults who have been trained to identify these invasive species to stop them from entering LSC. 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.

This season, we were happy to be selected for a grant from the Vermont DEC’s Watershed Grant Program for $4,942. This allowed us to expand our daily Greeter hours, add coverage for fishing tournaments and to further expand hours around holidays. This resulted in inspecting 1,779 boats, a 21% increase from 2018.

We were also able to report that we’ve received 2 grants from the Lake Champlain Basin Program to expand both our Greeter Program and our Lake Wise efforts in 2020.

As you can see, we had lots of excellent news to share with the DEC!

We’d like to thank Misha and Marc for their time.

While we had a great 2019, we will continue to work to build on these successes in our ongoing pursuit of our mission of the preservation, protection and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine.

We hope to earn your support in 2020. Thank you.

LSCA Awarded Two LCBP Grants!

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 17:27:59 GMT

We have some exciting news to share!

Last week, we were informed that the Lake St. Catherine Association had been awarded a Pollution Prevention grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program in the amount of $19,920. Two days later, we got the news that we'd also been awarded an Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Prevention grant in the amount of $14,141.

With the support of the Town of Poultney and Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District, LSCA Vice President Martha Pofit submitted applications for these grants in late October (note: we are waiting to hear about two other grants we have applied for). Thanks to everyone's hard work, a total of $34,061 in grants from the LCBP will be coming to Lake St. Catherine!

Here's Martha to tell you all about these grants for 2020:

LAKE ST. CATHERINE ASSOCIATION HONORED TO RECEIVE $19,920 FROM THE LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASIN PROGRAM….

THEN JUST TWO DAYS LATER, LEARNED IT ALSO WAS APPROVED TO RECEIVE $14,141 TO EXPAND OUR PROGRAM TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES. THE LSCA TRUSTEES ARE BEYOND THRILLED BY THESE EVENTS TO BENEFIT ITS MEMBERSHIP!

The Lake St. Catherine Association is proud to announce it has been chosen by the Lake Champlain Basin Program in 2020 to reduce phosphorus and silt entering the Lake from stormwater runoff.

In addition to the many activities already underway, a new program will appoint Lake ambassadors, named Neighborhood Captains, around the Lake to organize a gathering of neighbors to review the lessons learned from other homeowners in modifying their lakefront, paid in part or full from the grant. The number and intensity of spring storms has challenged homeowner properties and the grant is an opportunity to have an assessment with recommendations for enhancements that may range from plantings to drainage. The assessments would be performed by our partner, the Poultney-Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District in the spring and early summer, with residents eligible by the end of the summer for the prestigious Lake Wise Award. (Note: in 2019, long-time property owners the Binghams were the first LSC property to earn the Lake Wise Award. You can read their story here.)

Improving the Lake St. Catherine watershed is a multi-part program that involves pollution control, reduction in the spread of aquatic invasive species, fixing compromised culverts and road surfaces and re-diverting runoff away from the Lake. It will take the best efforts of the Towns, tactical basin partners, Lake Assns., businesses, Lake residents and the general public who have come to enjoy the amazing recreational opportunities of our beautiful Lake. The Lake St. Catherine Association has been working hard to secure funding for our long term strategy and has been successful in attracting grants, first from the Vermont Watershed Grant program in 2019 to expand our boat launch education and outreach program and now in 2020 from the distinguished Lake Champlain Basin Program local implementation grants.

In addition to the fabulous news on December 17th that we received the Pollution Prevention Grant, imagine our joy to learn on December 19th that we also were approved to receive $14,141 to implement the Lake St. Catherine Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Prevention’s higher level of performance, a two-pronged attack will be initiated in 2020: the Boat Launch Greeter Program expanding coverage hours during times of high boat traffic along with coverage of fishing tourneys, during the 4th of July week, expanding the overall program by 25% and creating a zero-tolerance for zebra mussels campaign. In addition to the Greeter program, there will be an examination and analysis of the Channel adjacent to the Boat Launch for harvesting by the Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) program to minimize AIS uptake upon boat retrieval, with a special protocol on zebra mussels given their emerging threat to Vermont Lakes in 2020.

All of grant-related activities have been made through voluntary efforts of the Lake St. Catherine Association Trustees. If we all work together, our beloved Lake St. Catherine will be protected and preserved both now and for the future. Many of you have already volunteered to help and if you also would like to be a Neighborhood Captain, and/or have a Lake Wise assessment of your property in 2020, please contact Lake St. Catherine Association Trustee, Martha Pofit, at: martha.pofit@lakestcatherine.org.

2019 Aquatic Vegetation Management Report

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 17:35:07 GMT

Each season, the LSCA implements a milfoil control program to keep milfoil in check using a combination of spot herbicide treatments and DASH (Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting). Then, in the late Fall, a comprehensive plant survey is performed to determine how effective our efforts have been.

The report can be read directly here: 2019 - Aquatic Vegetation Management Report. This is the 16th consecutive year a plant survey has been performed on Lake St. Catherine. You can see all the previous reports, dating back to 2004 in our Links & Downloads section.

From the report: "EWM (Eurasian watermilfoil) control was excellent throughout treatment areas... This year’s spot-treatments and DASH efforts were exceptionally effective..."

Please take a look.

If you have any questions, please get in touch at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 27 Nov 2019 17:38:23 GMT

Good day to you LSC fans.

On this Thanksgiving eve, we'd like to take a moment to thank our membership and the lake community for your support this season.

...and Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope you get to spend it with your family and friends.

LSCA 2019 Year In Review

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 17:39:43 GMT

Hello LSC fans. We hope you are enjoying the Fall.

We'd like to take a little time and recap the 2019 season - and look ahead to 2020. We'll try to retell the story of 2019 chronologically and keep it brief and to the point. So, grab your favorite beverage and give it a read.

Here we go...

- Membership

Our yearly membership drive kicked off in early February with mailings, emails and postings on our website and Facebook. We are happy to report that we had 342 paid members, which includes 9 Business Sponsors. This generated $52,550 in membership dues which gives us an average contribution of $154. Thank you to all of our members! Your membership dues and additional contributions over and above our base $100 membership level are crucial to funding our important lake programs. We are happy to report that we've increased our membership in both dollars and in individual contributors by around 12% each as compared to last year. We hope to build on these numbers again next year. As always, we ask you to help us spread the word by discussing the LSCA with your neighbors. We will continue to work hard for Lake St. Catherine to earn your support.

- Milfoil Control

Back in December of 2018, we applied for two new permits as part of our milfoil control program. We applied for a 5 year permit to treat milfoil with the new herbicide ProcellaCOR - and a 10 year permit to be able to perform DASH (Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting). While both permits were approved, we had to start almost a month later than we would have liked. The herbicide permit was not approved by the state until 5/10/19. There was then a 30 day comment period, then a 30 day notice period, which set the treatment date at July 10th. We did all we could to try to maintain the schedule that we've had in the past, but that was unable to happen this year because of the approval delay. We hope to get back to our usual schedule of an early June treatment date next year.

We are very happy with the results of the new herbicide ProcellaCOR. As compared to the previous herbicide (Renovate), ProcellaCOR allows us to use 200x - 400x less herbicide, has significantly less water use restrictions, and it’s is highly targeted to milfoil - promising longer lasting results. For example, the recommended water use restrictions this season were only the day of treatment for recreational use (vs. 2 days) and 7 days for using lake water for irrigation (vs. 120 days). We hope the effectiveness of ProcellaCOR will allow us to continue to emphasize DASH for milfoil control.

Our hard working DASH team also had a great season combating milfoil. They worked on 10+ locations around the lake and removed 1,293 buckets of milfoil by suction harvesting.

This balanced approach has kept the milfoil in treated areas in check for 15 years.

This season, we received many reports of milfoil in areas of the lake, asking if it will be addressed by our DASH team. We inspected all the areas being reported, and we discovered that many folks were confusing Illinois Pondweed with milfoil. Pondweed, which is considered native, cannot be removed by our DASH team. However, if you'd like to clear your swimming or dock area of pondweed - you are allowed to do so by raking or hand pulling. Please see the graphic below showing our 2019 treatment areas and the difference between milfoil and pondweed.

- Greeter Program

The Program, co-administered by DEC and the Department of Fish and Wildlife, distributes grant dollars for noteworthy local and regional water-related projects within Vermont.

All are encouraged to consider switching your current license plate to a Vermont Conservation license plate. Applications to do so can be found at here at the Conservation License Plate website. Currently, there are 3 plate options to choose from: Deer, Loon, Trout:

This is an extremely important program that helps to protect LSC!

- Lake Safety - Free Boating Classes

The LSCA provides two free boating safety classes each year - one in Wells and one in Poultney. Anyone born after January 1st, 1974 must successfully complete a boating safety class to be able to legally operate a motorized watercraft. This year, 25 people passed the course and received their boating license. If you'd like to earn your boating license next year, please keep an eye out for our announcement of the classes (usually taking place in June).

- 7th Annual Boat Parade

On Saturday, July 7th, we had 15 boats participate in the 7th Annual LSCA Boat Parade - and the creativity was on full display! We hope you enjoyed watching it - and we were thankful for all the participants and our sponsors.

Our Best Overall winner was the "Loon Pontoon":

You can read more and see photos & video in this 7th Annual Boat Parade recap.

- Membership & Donation Appeal

After preparing our 2019 budget, we projected that we'd have a shortfall of income (membership dues, grants, donations) to fully fund our programs this season. While we’ve been steadily increasing in both the number of members - and the total amount collected from membership dues, support from state and local governments has been decreasing.

Although we would be able to cover these expenses with funds from our savings, we decided to reach out to the lake community in an appeal to reach residents that had not paid their 2019 dues, and to ask for additional contributions from our membership. So, we sent out mailings, emails and postings on our website and Facebook pages explaining the shortfall. You can read that appeal here.

Well, you responded. Since the appeal began in mid July, we've added 40 members and received additional contributions totaling over $25,000!

In 2020, we will be working hard on initiatives to expand our membership base, generate additional contributions and win grant awards (more on that below).

- LSCA Annual Meeting & Dinner

We had a great turnout at the Annual Meeting at the LSC Country Club on July 27th. Trustees gave reports from their committees and answered questions from attendees. We then all enjoyed an excellent dinner with our lake neighbors.

You can read a full recap of the meeting, including our presentation in this Annual Meeting recap.

We hope you'll join us next year!

- The First Lake Wise Award on LSC

In early September, we and the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) were excited to announce that the first property on Lake St. Catherine has been selected for a Lake Wise award.

"The goal of Lake Wise is to establish a new normal, a new culture of lakeshore landscaping that is proven to help protect the lake. A property that earns the Lake Wise Award will represent a 'model' shoreland property. The Lake Wise Award certifies a property is well managed, using shoreland Best Management Practices, and is maintained to care for the lake."

On Friday, September 8th, representatives from the LSCA and PMNRCD gathered at Sylvia and Harry Bingham's camp on Peninsula Drive to present them with the Lake Wise award - the first awarded on Lake St. Catherine.

You can read more about the Binghams and the Lake Wise program in this posting: First Lake Wise Award On Lake St. Catherine.

19 properties were assessed in 2019 - and the LSCA and the PMNRCD will be working with these owners to help them earn the Lake Wise award for their property.

We'd like to help other Lake St. Catherine property owners earn the Lake Wise award. If you would like to have your property assessed, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

- Newsletters

You can view our two 2019 newsletters here:

• Spring 2019
• Fall 2019

- 2020

Plans are already underway to do it all again in 2020...

Also, we are currently in the process of applying for grants to: help fund our suction harvesting program, help fund and expand our greeter program, help fund LSCA organizational expenditures and create some education programs.

We hope to earn your support in 2020 - so keep an eye out for our Membership Drive to kick off in February.

To keep up-to-date on all LSC news, please bookmark our Blog, and like us on Facebook. We post all of the latest news on these sites. If you have any questions, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Finally, a HUGE thank you to our renewing members, our new members, our business sponsors, our volunteers and all who donated to help make this season a great success!

Lake St. Catherine Watershed Implementation Meeting

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 16:55:01 GMT

The Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) will be hosting a public meeting on Monday, September 23rd, 2019 at the Wells Town Office to discuss the stormwater assessment of Lake St. Catherine and Wells River.

Presenters Evan Fitzgerald of Fitzgerald Environmental Associates and Hilary Solomon of Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District will facilitate a discussion with all attendees on the stormwater assessment, and listen to recommendations on additional erosion or stormwater issues. They will also look for assistance to prioritize projects for implementation.

The public is cordially invited to attend, and your input is valued - we hope to see you there.

If you have any questions about this meeting, please contact us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

First Lake Wise Award On Lake St. Catherine

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 16:57:34 GMT

The Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) and the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) are excited to announce that the first property on Lake St. Catherine has been selected for a Lake Wise award.

The goal of the Lake Wise program, from the Lake Wise website:

"The goal of Lake Wise is to establish a new normal, a new culture of lakeshore landscaping that is proven to help protect the lake. A property that earns the Lake Wise Award will represent a 'model' shoreland property. The Lake Wise Award certifies a property is well managed, using shoreland Best Management Practices, and is maintained to care for the lake."

During the presentation of the Lake Wise award to the Bingham's, Hilary Solomon from the PMNRCD said:

"I am very pleased to present this LakeWise award to Sylvia and Harry Bingham. They have a lovely property with many natural features including a diversity of trees and shrubs; a very natural shoreline toward Oxbow Bay; nice gardens which also infiltrate stormwater, and a patio with areas between the stones to infiltrate water, as well. This summer, they added shrubs to both shorelines through the LEAP program, as they continue to build and maintain their plantings.

This property has been in the family since the 1960’s. The Binghams love to garden and Harry built the patio and the lovely stone walls. Their son David brought irises from his expansive garden back home and also helped with the gardening. From the short time that I have met them, it sounds as though they love their home on the lake and the time they get to spend here and they contribute in many ways to the health of the lake and the community of property owners around the lake. They have served in various capacities on the Lake Association and actively participate in community-building events.

Sylvia and Harry, I could not be more pleased to honor you with this plaque today. Your exemplary stewardship and your love for the lake is evident. Congratulations. And thank you for helping us as we take steps as a community to help maintain the water quality and wildlife on Lake St Catherine. The Association and the Conservation District are working with homeowners to assist them with wider, more natural buffers; less overall lawn area; no-mow zones; narrower paths to the lake; leaving duff and mulch in place; maintaining septic tanks and leach fields, and many other activities that should cumulatively help to maintain the high-quality characteristics that we all love about this lake. We hope to award many more plaques in the near future, and this is our first step toward that goal."

Congratulations to the Bingham's on earning the first Lake Wise award on Lake St. Catherine! We appreciate their continued efforts to maintain a lake friendly property which we hope will be a model for all property owners on Lake St. Catherine.

Vermont DEC Visits Lake St. Catherine For Lake Wise Assessments

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 17:00:52 GMT

Vermont DEC Officials visit Lake St. Catherine to learn of the great efforts homeowners have made to control runoff on their properties.

August 26th was an exciting day at the Lake, as we hosted Amy Picotte from Vermont DEC and most of the staff of the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District, who met with the first group of property owners along Lake St. Catherine to participate in the Lake Wise program.

The spring of 2019 was a particularly difficult one, with several storms that overwhelmed culverts and roads surrounding the Lake. It certainly brought attention to the role we all play in protecting the Lake from sediment and an overabundance of phosphorus that fuels milfoil and, potentially, toxic algae growth.

To recognize the good works of local Lake residents, the DEC has a program, called Lake Wise, that assesses lakeshore properties and recognizes optimum management for water quality through an award. If your shoreline qualifies, based on the assessment criteria, a LakeWise plaque is awarded to the property owner. If additional actions are needed, the Lake Wise program serves as a free assessment and consultation.

The Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District has been providing the assessments for Lake St. Catherine homeowners. They then work with partners and write grants, receiving funds to provide shoreline plantings, rain garden installation, and other implementation projects aimed at improving water quality in the lake. These programs, the Lake Education and Action Program (LEAP) for example, can be utilized after a Lake Wise consultation to help implement recommendations from the assessment.

It is so encouraging that there is a great deal of interest in becoming a Lake Wise property. If you would like to join in with local residents to have your property assessed, just contact us at: info@lakestcatherine.org. The LSCA is eager to have recognition for those of you who have added buffer zones, no mow zones, fertilizer-free lawns, infiltration steps, water-absorbent gardens and other creative ways to reduce runoff into our precious Lake. We hope you will consider becoming a LakeWise site and encourage your neighbors to do likewise. We look forward to hearing from you!

Photo participants, from left to right: Sadie Brown - Nursery Manager. Martha Hicks Pofit - Vice President of LSCA, Amy Picotte - Environmental Scientist - Vermont DEC, Hilary Solomon - Manager of PMNRCD, Ashley Leemans - PMNRCD staff

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees - 08/24/2019

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 02 Sep 2019 23:49:49 GMT

On Saturday, August 24th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their fourth and final meeting of the 2019 season.

The Trustees gave their reports on many topics - Click here to see the full meeting agenda. Meeting minutes compiled by Kemi Mcshane.

August 24th 2019 Meeting of the Lake St. Catherine Board of Trustees

Lake St. Catherine Country Club, 8:30 AM

Meeting called to order by President Jim Canders at 8:30 AM

Present: Ken Abt, Elaine Bagley, Kemi McShane Bostock, Jim Canders, Frank Callahan, Jeffrey Crandall, Jerremy Jones, Martha Pofit, Mary Jo Teetor, Bob Williams, Nancy Liberatore.

Absent- John Belnavis, Rob Goldman, Ed Laird, Phil Pope, Rob Nesbit.

Recording Secretary’s Report- Kemi McShane Bostock Minutes of the July 27, 2019 trustees meeting sent by email. Jeff made Motion made to accept the Minutes as written, second by Elaine. All voted in favor.
Treasure’s Report – Elaine Bagley. Updated constantly to date: 81,594.24 in checking and 70, 443.00 in Savings. 2019 appeal generated 20,00.00, 35 new members. Greeters program grant 27,000.00 plus 6,000.00(broken into 2 sections) Greeters and AIS. Discussion on how to keep donations coming in the future and how do we expand the membership. A motion was made to accept the treasure’s report as submitted, second all voted in FAVOR.
Report of Annual Meeting 2019- LSCCC likes the LSCA utilizing the facility. The annual dinner meeting was a success. Bob Williams was thanked personally by Jim Canders for the raffle donation.
Milfoil Management- Jeff Crandall. Presentation made by Beck from DASH program to report the outcome of this season’s work. They had a delayed start due to the permit process, reported removed 1,293 buckets of milfoil from LSC. Expressed concern for storm water runoff that increases additional nutrients into the lake and noticed floaters in the early Spring so was anticipating a difficult season but were able to work the areas designated for DASH. The milfoil had reached the surface. Saw lots of matted areas and pondweed. The herbicide treatment was very effective throughout the lake. Referred to the survey done by Solotude to designate the locations for the treatment areas. Two surveys are conducted in the Fall and Spring. The Fall survey evaluates the programs effectiveness in managing the milfoil. The Spring survey helps identify the areas the need treatment. The goal is to manage the milfoil with localized treatment with the herbicide and for DASH to supplement the milfoil management. Discussion followed on how to proceed in our milfoil treatment. Three points were outlined: 1. LSCA needs to follow formal case study to show scientifically based work. 2. LSCA needs to reach out to other lakes that use Solotude and compare results. 3. The Little Lake is a major concern and if applied these interventions how would these improve the Little Lake’s condition. DASH end date was August 15, 2019. The plant becomes brittle and not alive. It starts to mat and DASH was vacuuming the bottom of the Lake. All were concerned that this season was going to be bad but had amazing end results. DASH is hoping to start work next June not in July as its important to treat the milfoil early before the growing cycle begins.
Water Quality- Mary Jo Teetor- 2019 storms made water quality cloudy. Did 5-meter reading. Send samples to State. 9 samples from the Little Lake. No E. coli testing this summer. Lots of new rules from the State. Creating districts. Dealing with storm water projects, culverts, roads. Phosphorus a major concern. Overall water quality good, heavy rains creating problems as increases run off. Discussion to take samples from specific spots and take Spring phosphorus samples to have a base line. Lake Report Cards need to be more consistent. Discussed the meeting with the Commissioner of the DEC, Emily Boedecker, 8/15/19. Major concern is the phosphorous in the Lake. Encouraged the LSCA to contact the legislative representatives and include them in the discussion regarding the health of the whole Lake.
Publicity- Jerremy Jones- the presentation of the Fall newsletter. East Poultney Day was a successful event. Judy Leach has a morning talk show and would like to interview the LSCA on the radio.
Lake Safety- Frank Callahan- Removal of cones and buoys. Game Warden visually present to monitor lake safety.
Nominating Committee- Bob Williams- Contacted people interested in becoming a trustee. Need to reach out to them so can attend a meeting. Kemi McShane Bostock voted in for a two-year position. Nancy Liberatore appointed a 3 year position.
Membership- Elaine Bagley- reported on the results of the fund raising letter. Needs a chair person.
Government relations- Martha Pofit- LSCA & PMNRCD Partnership. Prepare for funding opportunities with the Lake Champlain Basin Authority. Need to develop LSC priority projects and Strategic plan. Late Fall meeting with the State.
Old Business- Boat Parade- needs committee, Wells Day- still a worthwhile event, East Poultney Day- needs a chairperson.
Lake Wise- Amy
Election: President – Jim Canders Vice president- Martha Pofit, Treasurer- Elaine Bagley, Secretary- Kemi McShane Bostock, Pass one ballot for all nominations motion made, second and all voted in Favor. Meeting adjourned by Jim Canders at 11:05 motion made and second- all voted in FAVOR.
Next meeting May 23, 2020 @ 8:30 am LSCCC

The LSCA Fall 2019 Newsletter

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 23:52:34 GMT

Hello good folks of the Lake St. Catherine community.

We'd like to let you know that the LSCA Fall 2019 newsletter is now available.

The digital version is now available online via our website through this link: Click here to view the Fall 2019 Newsletter, or click on the image below. When you click on the link for the newsletter, you will be able to view it on screen - and be able to zoom in or out using the controls on the bottom of the screen. Or, you can click the download button in the top right corner to save a copy to your computer to view with a PDF reader or print a copy.

We hope you'll enjoy this edition of the LSCA newsletter.

We welcome your comments: info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you for your support!

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees - 07/27/2019

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 23:55:38 GMT

On Saturday, July 27th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their third meeting of the 2019 season.

The Trustees gave their reports on many topics - Click here to see the full meeting agenda. Meeting minutes compiled by Kemi Mcshane.

July 27th 2019 Meeting of the Lake St. Catherine Board of Trustees

Lake St. Catherine Country Club, 8:30 AM

Meeting called to order by President Jim Canders at 8:00 AM

Present: Ken Abt, Elaine Bagley, John Belnavis, Kemi McShane, Jim Canders, Frank Callahan, Jerremy Jones, Ed Laird, Matha Pofit, Mary Jo Teetor, Bob Williams. Rob Nesbit via Google Meet

Absent: Jeffrey Crandall, Rob Goldman, Phil Pope

Recording Secretary’s Report - Minutes of the June 22,2019 meeting – Sent by e-mail approved.
Treasurers Report – approved
Annual Membership Meeting and Dinner LSCA July 27, 2019 @ 6:00pm Review of power point presentation – updated notes and discussion regarding the background of water quality.
Milfoil Management: Big Lake looks bad on the scorecard. The picture of the Lake looks divided into three sections: Big Lake, Little Lake and Lily Pond. Concerned that information is not reflecting the true present condition of the water quality of the Lake. The watershed management provides information regarding the Lake at it’s present state. Milfoil is gone by the Cones Point area of treatment. Will always have to spot treat, but are seeing good results with the treatment. The posting of the Lake treatment signs need to be collected. The Solitude treatment has produced good results. Collected 3 sets of samples, results from the Lab showed good results, all clear. 48 hours resolved out of Lake. Renovate had results in 2 weeks. The delayed timing for the Milfoil control was a delay in receiving the 5 year permit; a yearly review is required for updates of any changes. And to designate the areas of treatment. Monies received from the 2 grants $27,000.00 ( Watershed grant and aquatic nuisance grant) are designated into 2 categories: Milfoil Control and the Greeter program. Actually received more money, $32,000.00. Receiving the most money. DASH have a 10 year plan/permit. Have to contract on a yearly basis to update areas for treatment. DASH permit for 10 years. Has to be monitored for areas being treated and timing of treatment for fish spawning. Our Lake management approach is in the mainstream compared to other Lakes. Boat Launch Program: Greeter program has training and able to increased hours and monitoring the boats during heavy traffic times for launching of the boats. Educating the public regarding the invasive species located in the Lake and how to control transporting them in and out of the Lake.
Water Quality: Lake setting from big rains 5 meters reading. E-coli testing will get kits from the town of Poultney. Algae early on but Lake is in great shape. Water has been too cloudy to test due to heavy rains and run off. The lake is in the best shape as of now. Sandy Beach area milfoil just disintegrating. Sunken Island is being treated with the Suction program. They will be finishing their contract in August.
Publicity- update of presentation power point. Discussion as to how to increase out reach and how to generate new membership.
Lake Safety- reported results of licensing and how many are ticketed for non-licensure. The Game Warden is only assigned to LSC and checks boats for proper equipment and that the boat is in compliance with state regulations. Review of missing markers and the correct placement of markers. Found the anchor for the Sunken Island to be replaced.
Nominating Committee- Review of the Slate to be presented at the General Meeting. Discuss the need for new people to be involved and active in the LSCA. Can appoint from the floor if have only one nomination from the floor. See response from the general public membership. Rand’s position can be an executive appointment for the remainder of his 2 year term. Have 2 trustee positions to fill.
Membership- Appeal letter has generated an increase in membership. 326 participating members. Sent 42 postcards and 37 have responded from the mailing. Elaine reaches out personally to get people to respond to her mailings.
Government relations- good relationships with the towns of Wells and Poultney and the State.
Old Business- Hilary from Lake wise program educate caring for your property and has targeted certain areas on the Lake. Evaluated 30 propertied on the Lake to increase best practices and property management to decrease shoreline erosion and run off. Lake wise takes surveys and manages the information to show results and best practices utilized by property owners. 54 reservation s for tonight’s dinner meeting. John requested a $200.00 facility fee for the use of the LSCCC club house. Motion made and second , all in favor to allocate the money to pay the LSCCC. The Fund raiser raffle will be sold at the dinner meeting. Questioned how the LSCA will respond to our position regarding the Little Lake. Discussion followed how to resolve the conflict between the two areas and how to proceed. Questioned raised regarding the State Park and if they report on the conditions of the Lake and the flow of patrons to the Lake. LSCA is in touch with the State park, notifying them when the treatment dates are. Discussed the present position regarding the closing of GMC. How is the town of Poultney dealing with this situation? Grant writing- Martha is preparing for next year and how to position ourselves to get the most funding available. Elaine requested to redesign the membership card. And how to recognize the members who contribute more then just the membership dues. Do we have levels of contributions such as Gold, Silver and Bronze. How to acknowledge people’s contributions and how to increase membership donations.
Motion to adjourn meeting, second and all in favor. Meeting adjourned at 10:22. Respectfully submitted, Kemi McShane recording secretary.

An Update On Our Membership And Donation Appeal

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 23:58:20 GMT

Hello LSC fans - we have some great news to share with you about our membership and donation appeal.

A few weeks ago, we sent letters & emails and published postings on our website and Facebook pages detailing our projected budget shortfall for 2019. You can read that posting here. To summarize, we've projected that funding all the programs and services at the level we need to this season will result in a $30k shortfall. Fully funding our 2019 budget without raising additional funds would result in depleting almost half of our savings.

So, we decided that we needed to reach out to the lake community to try to reach non-members, asking them to join - and to our current members, asking if they could make an additional contribution this year to help us make a dent in our projected deficit... and you have responded.

Here is the great news: since our appeal began on July 17th - 21 new members have joined, and we've received just over $20k in membership dues and and donations!

This is amazing. In just over 2 weeks, you've helped us eliminate two thirds of our projected deficit.

Thank you.

We'd also like to thank you for all the kind words we've received... notes in sent in with donations and membership applications, emails, Facebook replies, face-to-face conversations around the lake and at the annual meeting. We appreciate them, and they certainly help to keep us motivated to fulfill our mission of the preservation, protection and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine!

We also hope that you can help us spread the word to your neighbors, friends and family. Let them know about the good work we do for the lake, and ask them to become a member, or make a contribution.

If you have not become a member yet, we hope to earn support.

Information on how to become a member or make a donation are listed below.

Finally, we also want to mention that we are not just relying on our membership for funding. In the Fall, we will be applying for approximately $50k in grants - and we are hopeful we receive some of those funds. We will also continue to work with State and local governments to increase and maintain our current funding levels with them.

Thank you for your continued support of the Lake St. Catherine Association!

Become A Member:

To become a member (or renew your membership), you can join on our website by filling out the form on our Become A Member page, using a credit card. Or, you can fill in this 2019 Membership Application and Donation Appeal form and mail it in with a check.

Make An Additional Donation In 2019:

There are a few ways you can make a donation to the LSCA. You can visit the Donation Page on our website, or click on the blue Donate button at the top of our Facebook page to make your donation by credit card. Or, you can fill in this 2019 Membership Application and Donation Appeal form and mail it in with a check.

2019 LSCA Annual Meeting Recap

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 00:03:36 GMT

Hello LSC fans.

We'd like to give you a quick recap of last night's Annual Meeting & Dinner.

Thank you to the Lake St. Catherine Country Club for again being our host, and preparing an excellent dinner for all attendees.

We'd also like to thank Williams Hardware in Poultney for donating a Grill Gazebo, which we raffled off to raise money for the LSCA.

We had a great crowd of folks interested in hearing about and discussing lake issues.

Thank you all for coming!

The trustees gave reports summarizing the good work of the LSCA this season - all in support of our mission to preserve, protect and maintain Lake St. Catherine.

Here is the presentation:

Some highlights:

• Ashley Leemans from the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) spoke about three important topics:

- LEAP - LEAP is a program that offers free plantings to help mitigate stormwater runoff into the lake from your property

- Lake Wise - Lake Wise is a State of VT program that awards lake property homeowners for having a lake friendly property. The PMNRCD will be providing Lake Wise assessments to LSC property owners over the next two years. Using a point based system, your property will be assessed for lake friendly best management practices. If your property meets the Lake Wise standard, you will be awarded a specially designed Lake Wise sign to proudly display on your property. If your property did not initially qualify, the PMNRCD will inform you on what to work on, and they will even offer assistance. If you would like to sign up to have a Lake Wise assessment for your property, please contact us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

- LSC Stormwater Masterplan - The PMNRCD has been working around the lake to identify problem areas where rain from storms bring nutrients and pollutants into the lake. A public meeting will be held to discuss the plan. Details of this meeting will be announced soon

• Mary Jo Teetor explained that the water clarity has been recovering steadily from the extremely wet spring that had a huge impact on the water. She also spoke about the importance of all lake property owners to make their property lake friendly. Here are a few documents that discuss best practices and outline the problems caused by runoff into the lake:

- Sharing The Edge - A Guide For Lakeshore Property Owners In Vermont

- Your Lake And You!

• Jim discussed our 2019 milfoil treatment program. This season, our 5 year herbicide treatment permit and our 10 year DASH (diver assisted suction harvesting) permit were both approved by the state. Beginning this season, we are using a new, highly effective and targeted herbicide called ProcellaCOR as part of our milfoil control program. This was applied on July 10th - and the results have been excellent. Our DASH team has also been hard at work, efficiently removing buckets of milfoil daily from many locations around the lake. You will see them working throughout the summer. Our goal is to maintain a balanced approach with herbicide and DASH to help control milfoil. This season, we are projecting approximately 2/3 DASH, 1/3 herbicide of the total acreage being treated for milfoil.

• Elaine updated everyone on our membership numbers. To date, we have 326 paid members, generating $51,300 in membership dues. Elaine then discussed our 2019 budget and the projected deficit. Pie charts can be seen in the presentation.

• Jerremy then described the appeal campaign we started a few weeks ago to try to address the budget shortfall. As we continue to receive less and less from State and local governments, we need to continually work to raise funds so we can maintain our programs. This year, we will be applying for $50k in grants from the Lake Champlain Basin Program - and we are hopeful to receive some of these funds. Two weeks ago, we sent letters to the lake community asking non-members to join and asking our members if they could make an additional contribution this season. Since the appeal started, we've had 14 new members join, collecting $6,070 in dues and donations, so we are off to a great start. We will continue to reach out to the lake community for additional members and donations. Please spread the word - and thank you for your support!

Other discussions included John's report about the boat launch and our Greeter Program, Kemi's report about the Boat Parade, and Frank's report on lake safety and the 25 new licensed boaters that passed the boating safety classes.

At the end of the trustee reports, Bob announced slate of 5 trustees to be reelected, which was approved. Bob also noted that the LSCA is seeking people interested in joining the board and becoming a trustee. If you'd like to actively participate in helping the LSCA fulfill its mission, please contact us to express your interest at info@lakestcatherine.org.

After a Q & A session, the meeting was adjourned - and it was time to eat! Thank you to everyone who pitched in the mad scramble to quickly change the dining room from stadium to dinner seating as the food was coming out of the kitchen.

We hope all who attended enjoyed our presentation and the dinner.

We had a delightful evening sharing a meal and speaking with all of our lake neighbors.

If you missed the meeting this year, we hope to see you next time.

If you have any questions about the meeting or the presentation, please contact us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you for your support of the Lake St. Catherine Association!

Sponsor Spotlight: Thank You To Our 2019 Business Sponsors

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 16:03:50 GMT

Hello LSC.

We'd like to take a moment to thank our 2019 Business Sponsors:

Bear Construction

New Construction, Renovations,
Siding, Roofing, and Decks

Phone: (802) 688-6112

Email: bearconstruction1315@gmail.com

Lake St. Catherine Cottages

Cottage Rentals
70 West Lake Road

Phone: (802) 773-0100

Phone: (802) 645-0093

Lake St. Catherine Country Club

Golfing, Pro Shop, Bar & Grill
Dinner Specials Fri & Sat

Phone: (802) 287-9341

Email: lsccc@comcast.net

Haun Welding Supply

Household Propane and
Cylinder Gas Delivery

Phone: (518) 743-8944

Email: glensfalls@thehaunedge.com

Williams Hardware

Hardware, Housewares, Paint, Lumber,
Rentals & More Since 1946

Phone: (802) 287-5791

Email: williamshardware@truevalue.net

Northshire Living

A complete kitchen & bath showroom,
home remodel, and interior design

Phone: (802) 367-3151

Email: office@northshireliving.com

New England Lakeside Realty

Helping Families Find Their New
Homes In Vermont's Lakes Region

Phone: (802) 645-9001

Email: vtlakeside@comcast.net

Woodard Marine

Boating, Service, Rentals
Located on Lake Bomoseen.

Phone: (802) 265-3690

Email: info@woodardmarine.com

Lakes & Homes Real Estate

Offering years of expertise
in Rutland County

Phone: (802) 671-8042

Email: lakesandhomesre@gmail.com

All have made a $200 contribution to the Lake St. Catherine Association for the 2019 season - thank you for your support!

You can find them listed on the Sponsors page our our website, and they are listed in our Spring and Fall newsletters.

If your business would like to be a Business Sponsor, you can fill out our online membership form here: Become A Member.

Thanks again to our 2019 Business Sponsors - and all who have contributed this season to help us fulfill our mission to preserve, protect and maintain Lake St. Catherine.

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees - 06/22/2019

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 16:12:50 GMT

On Saturday, June 22nd, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their second meeting of the 2019 season.

The Trustees gave their reports on many topics - Click here to see the full meeting agenda. Meeting minutes compiled by Kemi Mcshane.

June 22nd 2019 Meeting of the Lake St. Catherine Board of Trustees

Lake St. Catherine Country Club, 8:30 AM

Meeting called to order by President Jim Canders at 8:32AM.

Present: Ken Abt, Elaine Bagley, John Belnavis, Kemi McShane Bostock, Jim Canders, Jeffrey Crandall, Jerremy Jones, Mary Jo Teetor, Bob Williams.

Absent: Rob Goldman, Ed Laird, Martha Pofit, Phil Pope.

Recording Secretary’s Report: Minutes of the May 25, 2019 meeting approved.
Treasurers Report: reviewed budget and expenditures. Presented in the new format, that reflects the current budget and expenditures entered in the program. Elaine, Martha and Jerremy are continually updating the accounting to make the report current. Discussion ensued regarding the monies received by State in increments and is recorded accordingly. Grant monies received to fund the SOLitude, Greeters program, and the Suction Harvesting. Managing the water quality of the Lake requires monies to support the programs in place, need to have a membership drive, fund raising, educating the community to what is required to get the work done to maintain the Lake for recreational purposes. It was moved to accept the Treasurers report as presented but slate it for further discussion to make the adjustments that reflect the current budget and expenditures to date.
LSCA Annual Meeting and Dinner- Saturday July 27, 2019 6:00 Meeting and dinner served at 7:30. Venue- Lake St. Catherine Country Club. Menu- Fish, Chicken and pasta for $16.00, Prime Rib for $26.00. Meal includes coffee and cake. A power point presentation will be shown, any updates to be sent to Jerremy. Discussion revolved around the meeting format. It was decided not to have a presenter. It was stressed to educate the membership on the importance of the work being done and fiscal responsibility for that work. Appeal to the general membership to increase their donations to the Association, increase active participation in the LSCA and to discuss the future direction for LSC.
Milfoil Management- Received the 5-year permit, to be reviewed yearly to assess the designated treatment sites. DASH is a 10-year permit. State has mandated no treatments allowed before July 1st as it relates to the Fish and Wildlife concern for the nesting and spawning of the local fish. Language used to notify the community that the lake is being treated does not state that the Lake is closed.
Water Quality- Water quality poor currently due to heavy winter and increased amount of rain fall this Spring. Not scheduled any water testing as a result. So much runoff in Lake.
Publicity- Jerremy updating the information on the Milfoil page. Requesting pictures from 2003 that will show the weed infestation of the Lake before the LSCA began the treatments for managing the Lake. Wants to increased awareness of how far the LSCA has come in controlling the milfoil and improving the water quality of LSC. The update information will be in the Fall newsletter. Martha has a “Meet Your Neighbor” for the newsletter.
Placement of Markers- Requested Markers in the Stonehedge bay, the second Marker for the Sunken Island, and Forest House Bay. The Marker in Halls Bay needs to be moved and a Marker removed from the Channel. A request for more volunteers to distribute Markers was made.
Nominating Committee-Rob Goldman resigned as of today. He is still involved in setting up for East Poultney Day and being the lead boat in the 7th Annual Boat Parade. Rand’s position is still not filled. There will be a need for 4 trustees to fill the positions. The need to form committees for fundraising, membership, grant writing, and contacting the community as seeking new trustees. The importance of trustees with a history and knowledge base of what the LSCA has been working on to keep the Lake healthy is vital. Reaching out to State agencies and forming relationships is necessary. Newsletter needs to appeal to the membership explaining the importance of being involved in the LSCA, its mission and purpose. Post need for new trustees on the BLOG to elicit response from the membership.
Membership- Elaine has taken over the letter writing and post card mailings to target the members to send in dues. Again, discussion was for how to target and increase new members to be actively participating in the LSCA.
Government Relations- Martha resigned from the FOVLAP committee. Not aware of reasoning for her decision. She wrote a questionnaire for them.
Old Business- Boat Parade- committee formed to complete the job. At present only 6 boats registered. Prizes collected from local sponsors, judges contacted, and locations confirmed. A new location added this year at Wissahickon on West Lake Rd. Concern for continuing the boat parade if no participation or interest. Increase advertising the event, awareness of the wonderful sponsorship given. Wells Day July 13, 2019 and will check to see if Frank can still set it up and monitor tent. East Poultney Day August 10, 2019 to be manned by Rob Goldman. PMNCD was attended by Jim, and educated on the importance of shoreline planting, the LAKE scorecard. It is a good time to form important relationships with the State Agencies that make decisions regarding the well being of LSC. LSCA meetings are July 27, 2019 (Trustees and General Membership) and August 24, 2019.

President Jim Canders called for the meeting adjournment at 10:57. Motion for adjournment was made and seconded. Meeting adjourned at 10:57.

Infiltration Steps Workshop - The Results!

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 16:15:18 GMT

Hello LSC.

A few weeks ago, we told you about an upcoming workshop on installing infiltration steps on your property.

Infiltration steps minimize the potential for erosion and runoff. As a result, they prevent excess nutrients, sediments, and other pollutants from entering the lake.

It is extremely important that we ALL take a good look at our lakeshore property and mitigate potential areas of stormwater runoff into the lake. Stormwater runoff carries pollutants and nutrients that help to feed weed growth.

The Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District partnered with the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) for an educational opportunity on infiltration step installation. Justin Giebel, coordinator of the VYCC lead the installation and education of PMNRCD staff on this project.

The day started out with Justin leading the PMNRCD staff in an icebreaker which incorporated some safety, stretching and humor. Justin asked each member of the circle to lead the team in a warm-up stretch of their choosing, list a safety tip for the day, and then bestow a super power to the person on our left. The catch on the super powers? They had to have an inconvenient side effect. That lead to some funny exchanges as the crew got ready for the day ahead:

Everyone then got right to work:

Here is a time lapse video of the installation of the first 2 steps:

As they were working up to the 3rd step - a BIG problem presented itself:

A GIGANTIC rock. But, as you'll see in the photos below, a plan was created and implemented to accommodate the rock - and incorporate it into the design.

...and here are the results:

Before:

After:

There is now a safe way to walk into the lake AND infiltrate runoff water before it enters the lake!

Through Lake Education and Action Program (LEAP), the PMNRCD partners with homeowners along Lake Saint Catherine and Lake Bomoseen to provide education and promote good land stewardship practices to protect the water quality in the lake. The District combines forces with a team of Poultney High School student interns to provide native buffer plantings and invasive plant removal activities, complete educational surveys, and go door-to-door with information about a variety of water quality topics.

...and now they have added infiltration steps to their skill set!

If you are interested in installing steps or buffer plantings on your property through the PMNRCD LEAP Program, please contact Ashley Leemans, LEAP Coordinator at ashleemans@gmail.com.

An excellent job by all involved!

2019 Budget Shortfall: Membership & Donation Appeal

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 16:22:58 GMT

Hello Lake St. Catherine fans,

We are posting this message and sending letters to you today to inform you about a significant budget shortfall we are projecting for 2019.

Each year, the Lake St. Catherine Association works to raise money for our seasonal projects by securing grants from the State of Vermont, the Towns of Wells & Poultney and from environmental groups. We also reach out to lake property owners and the lake community to collect membership dues and donations.

This year, we are projecting taking in $111,112 in grants, membership dues and donations, and projecting $141,273 in expenses. This will result in a $30,000+ deficit, greatly reducing our savings from approximately $70,000 to $40,000. Please see the pie charts below for the breakdown of our income and expense projections for 2019.

While we’ve been steadily increasing in both the number of members - and the total amount collected from membership dues, support from state and local governments has been decreasing. For example, in 2019, we will receive approximately $7,000 less from the State of Vermont and $5,000 less from the Town of Poultney.

As of this writing, we have 302 paid members who have made contributions from $35 to $5,000, totalling $48,600. That’s an average contribution of $161. 85 members contributed more than the base $100. Thank you to all who have contributed to help support our mission to preserve, protect and maintain Lake St. Catherine.

However, consider that there are approximately 700 properties on the lake. That means that less than half (43%) of the lake property owners are contributing to help fund our collective efforts for the lake. If these 400 potential members joined with a $100 contribution, we’d be able to cover our budget shortfall in 2019. Although we will keep trying to reach out to those 400 potential members, we realize that it’s unrealistic to think we could get every one of them all to join.

Maybe you are one of these 400, and you have decided to not support the LSCA. Maybe you don’t like that we spot treat the milfoil with herbicide each year, or maybe you have another reason. Well, as part of our milfoil control program, we also employ a very dedicated and hard-working dive team that swims down to the lake bottom to hand pull milfoil and remove it from the lake (this is called DASH, diver assisted suction harvesting). As part of our long term plan, and as we have for several years, we’ve been increasing our acres of suction harvesting and decreasing the acres of herbicide spot treatments. Support our dive team and help support the lake.

We also employ a dedicated team of young adults that work in our Greeter Program at the Lake St. Catherine boat launch. Lakes within driving distance of LSC contain invasive species that we DO NOT want to be introduced into our lake. These include: zebra mussels, spiny waterflea, starry stonewort and asian clams. The Greeters inspect boats entering and leaving LSC, educating boaters on these invasive species and how to make sure their boat or trailer does not carry an invasive hitchhiker to another lake. Support our Greeters and help support the lake.

We test the water for E coli and water clarity, we offer two free boating safety courses each season so boaters can get their license, we purchase and maintain navigation and shore line protection buoys throughout the lake, we organize the annual boat parade, we work with environmental groups to work on runoff issues around the lake, we share lake news with the community through our website and Facebook pages - and we collect membership dues and write and apply for grants to help fund all these projects.

If you love Lake St. Catherine as we do, we hope you can find at least one of these initiatives that you can support, and you’ll become a member, make an additional contribution for 2019 or make a donation.

More Information:

Why are you writing to me?

This posting is an appeal to the lake community to help us reduce the projected $30,000 deficit for the 2019 season.

We will continue to spread the word about what we do for the lake and try to reach the 400 property owners that we wrote about on the previous page. They are all potential members. If you are one of them, please join us!

But, we are also appealing to our current members. Can you help us by making an additional contribution this year?

What other means does the LSCA have to raise funds other than membership dues and donations?

Last year, we wrote 4 grants to apply for funds totalling $50,000 from the Lake Champlain Basin program. Although we were not awarded any of the grants, we learned a lot about the process and we’ll be ready to apply for them again this year with a better understanding of what will be needed to earn them.

We are also searching for additional grants from other agencies and organizations that we can apply for.

Why is there such a large projected budget shortfall this year?

Our state and local government support has been declining each year. As state and local budgets decrease, these decreases get passed down to supported organizations. We mentioned some examples of these decreases on the previous page for 2019, but here are a few more: in 2016, the State of Vermont granted us $50,000. This year, it will be $27,000. In years past, the Town of Wells granted us $20,000, now it’s $12,000.

We are certainly very thankful for the continued support from the State of Vermont and the Towns of Wells and Poultney, their budget crunches have an impact on us. We need to work to raise additional funds to cover these cuts or we will not be able to maintain the standard of milfoil control that we’ve set over the past 15 years. We cannot let that happen.

Also, costs have increased.

This year, we will be using a new, highly effective and milfoil targeted herbicide called ProcellaCOR. As compared to the herbicide we have used for the past five years (Renovate), with ProcellaCOR, we’ll use 200x to 400x less herbicide, the recommended water restrictions for recreation and household use are just limited to the day of treatment and may resume the next day, and lake water may be used for irrigation after 1 week (it was 90 days) - and it will be more effective in taking out problem areas of milfoil. However, it’s more expensive.

We also want to keep our dive team in the lake, removing as much milfoil as they can throughout the season.

What can I do to help?

If you are not a member, please become one. See the below on how to do that.

If you are already a member this year, please consider making an additional contribution to us this season.

Please, spread the word about the Lake St. Catherine Association. Speak to your neighbors - ask them if they are members. Tell them about all the good work we do for the lake, and ask them to support us like you do.

Become A Member:

Make An Additional Donation In 2019:

Projected 2019 Income:

Projected 2019 Expenses:

Thank you for your continued support of the Lake St. Catherine Association.

Reminder: LSC Milfoil Treatment - Wednesday, July 10th

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 16:28:57 GMT

UPDATE: All 2019 recommended water use restrictions have been lifted. - 7/18/19

On May 16th, biologists from SLM and our DASH suction harvesting team visited the lake to perform a milfoil survey. They have identified areas to be treated with the aquatic herbicide ProcellaCOR and areas to be suction harvested.

This season, the LSCA needed to apply for a new 5 year permit for milfoil treatment, which we did in December of 2018. This new permit was not approved by the state until 5/10/19. There was then a 30 day comment period, then a 30 day notice period, which set the treatment date at July 10th. We did all we could to try to maintain the schedule that we've had in the past, but that was unable to happen this year because of the approval delay.

5 areas, totaling 38.1 acres will be treated with the new herbicide: ProcellaCOR. As compared to the previous herbicide, Renovate, ProcellaCOR is highly selective to milfoil, much less is used during the application, and the water use restrictions are significantly reduced.

During and after the treatment, please be aware of the following lake water use restriction recommendations:

• NO USE of Lake St. Catherine waters and water from the outlet stream FOR ANY PURPOSE including boating, fishing, swimming, domestic (household) use or irrigation, the day of treatment on:

Wednesday, July 10, 2019, beginning at 9 am

• Swimming/wading, boating, fishing and domestic (household) use may resume on:

Thursday, July 11, 2019, beginning at 9 am

• USE of water from Lake St. Catherine FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES including for watering lawns, trees, or other plants may resume on:

Wednesday, July 17, 2019, beginning at 9 am or earlier based on sampling results, please refer to the website below for results

Please refer to www.solitudelakemanagement.com/vermont for additional information and updated water use advisories and recommendations.

Along with the herbicide treatment, 15 areas, totaling up to 65.8 acres have been selected for DASH. DASH is an acronym for Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting. This process involves scuba divers using suction hoses powered by a surface compressor to selectively remove milfoil from the lake bottom. They will be working throughout the season to remove milfoil by the roots in these designated areas.

Here is a map of the treatment areas for ProcellaCOR and DASH:

Treatment Notice:

Are you a member yet? Maintaining the lake costs approximately $125,000 annually. Grants, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and any contribution that you make is tax deductible.

Links:

- LSCA Permit Application
- Draft Permit
- SePRO ProcellaCOR® EC Specimen Label
- SePRO ProcellaCOR® EC Safety Data Sheet

If you have any questions about the upcoming milfoil treatment, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

The Results Of The 7th Annual Boat Parade Are...

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 07 Jul 2019 16:35:28 GMT

Nicely done LSC - you did it again! Another creative and fun boat parade!

...and we were able to just sneak it in before that quick but powerful thunderstorm came through.

We had 22 boats registered this year, but there were a few no-shows and a few cancellations (probably due to the weather) - so we had 15 boats parading around the lake this year.

Thank you to all who participated, all who volunteered, all of our sponsors - and to everyone cheering from their boats or from the shore. We hope you all enjoyed the parade!

Now, let's get to the winners... The judges cards have been tallied, and here are the results:

Best Overall:

1st place: Boat #4 - Loon Pontoon, the Tardie family

2nd place: Boat #3 - The Water Wagon Returns, the O’Connell family

Most Original:

1st place: Boat #19 - Harry Potter Hogwarts, the Roth family

2nd place: Boat #6 - Gilligan’s Island, the Copeland family

Funniest:

1st place: Boat #9 - Let’s Get Flocked Up, the Dunbar family

2nd place: Boat #22 - LSC Floating Zoo, the Bagley family

Most Patriotic:

1st place: Boat #18 - Patriotic Boat, the Caswell family

2nd place: Boat #10 - 4th of July Fun on LSC boat number 10, the Bergner family

Boat Parade Video:

Again, thank you to all involved - we hope everyone enjoyed the parade this year!

Our sponsors:

Infiltration Steps Workshop On LSC - July 10th

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 16:45:26 GMT

Hello LSC.

We'd like to let you know about an upcoming workshop on installing infiltration steps at your lakeshore property. Infiltration steps minimize the potential for erosion and runoff. As a result, they prevent excess nutrients, sediments, and other pollutants from entering the lake.

On Wednesday, July 10th 2019, Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District will be partnering with Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) for an educational opportunity on infiltration step installation.

Photo Credit: awwatersheds.org

Justin Giebel, coordinator of the VYCC will be leading the installation and education of PMNRCD staff and any other interested parties.

This workshop will be taking place at 396 Cones Point Road, Poultney, VT at 9:30AM.

If interested in attending or installing steps through the PMNRCD LEAP Program, please contact Ashley Leemans, LEAP Coordinator at ashleemans@gmail.com.

You can learn more by reading this Vermont DEC Lake Wise publication on infiltration steps.

2019 LSCA Annual Meeting & Dinner - July 27th

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 30 Jun 2019 16:48:23 GMT

Hello LSC.

We'd like to invite you to the 2019 Lake St. Catherine Association Annual Meeting & Dinner at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club on Saturday, July 27th, beginning at 6 PM.

At approximately 7:30, dinner will be served. If you'd like to stay for dinner, the LSC CC has provided the menu below.

Dinner options:

• $16.00 per person: Chicken Francaise, Baked Haddock, Pasta Dish, Cake, Coffee

• $26.00 per person: Prime Rib Dinner

Please RSVP for Dinner to get numbers for the chef: call Mary Jo Teetor, 802-287-5836 or ferncliff@comcast.net

We hope to see you there!

Great Prizes For The 7th Annual Boat Parade!

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 16:50:45 GMT

Good Sunday to you LSC fans.

We are less than two weeks away from the 7th Annual Boat Parade - and we are looking to register more boats to participate!

We'd like to thank our sponsors that have donated some EXCELLENT prizes for the winners this season.

Prizes have been donated by:

WOW!

Thank you to these local businesses for supporting the Boat Parade!

If you'd like to participate in the parade - and get your chance win one of these great prizes, please contact Kemi Mcshane at 802-342-8065 or k.mcshane56@gmail.com to register your boat.

Poultney Recreation Offering Lots Of Summer Activities In 2019

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 16:57:57 GMT

The Town of Poultney's Summer Recreation program has a lot of activities to offer kids of all ages this year.

Activities include: outside adventures, nature exploration, craft camps, sports camps, theatre & make believe and kinder camp.

You can read all about the available activities on the Poultney Recreation website, or in their Poultney Summer Rec 2019 PDF brochure.

Also in the brochure, they are promoting events and activities for all ages taking place in Poultney this summer. Activities include events at the Poultney Public Library, at the Poultney Historical Society, on Lake St. Catherine and at Stone Valley Arts - and many more.

Finally, check out the all-day 4th of July celebration, beginning at 8AM on Thursday, July 4th with the Martin Devlin Memorial Fun Run and ending with fireworks at dusk. See the flyer below for more info.

Register Your Boat For The 7th Annual Boat Parade

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 16:59:59 GMT

Registration is underway for the Lake St. Catherine Association's 7th Annual Boat Parade!

Saturday, July 6th at 1 PM.

Sure, its fun to watch the Boat Parade... but it's even more fun to be in it!

[Overall 1st Place winner 2018: Lake St. Catherine Welcomes Back The 'Bald" Eagles - Pofit Family]

It's time to come up with some creative ideas for your boat theme or decorations... and your creativity will be rewarded.

How?

Fabulous prizes, of course!

Prizes are awarded for the top 2 boats in each of these categories:

Most original
Most patriotic
Funniest
Best overall

Plus, all kids that participate get a free ice cream coupon from Stewart's Shops!

To join in on the parade, please contact Kemi Mcshane at k.mcshane56@gmail.com, or call her at 802-342-8065 to register your boat today.

Are you a member yet? Maintaining the lake costs approximately $125,000 annually. Grants, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and any contribution that you make is tax deductible.

LSCA Announces 2019 Milfoil Treatment

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 16:13:05 GMT

UPDATE: All 2019 recommended water use restrictions have been lifted. - 7/18/19

During and after the treatment, please be aware of the following lake water use restriction recommendations:

• NO USE of Lake St. Catherine waters and water from the outlet stream FOR ANY PURPOSE including boating, fishing, swimming, domestic (household) use or irrigation, the day of treatment on:

Wednesday, July 10, 2019, beginning at 9 am

• Swimming/wading, boating, fishing and domestic (household) use may resume on:

Thursday, July 11, 2019, beginning at 9 am

• USE of water from Lake St. Catherine FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES including for watering lawns, trees, or other plants may resume on:

Wednesday, July 17, 2019, beginning at 9 am or earlier based on sampling results, please refer to the website below for results

Please refer to www.solitudelakemanagement.com/vermont for additional information and updated water use advisories and recommendations.

Here is a map of the treatment areas for ProcellaCOR and DASH:

Treatment Notice:

Links:

- LSCA Permit Application
- Draft Permit
- SePRO ProcellaCOR® EC Specimen Label
- SePRO ProcellaCOR® EC Safety Data Sheet

If you have any questions about the upcoming milfoil treatment, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees - 05/25/2019

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 09 Jun 2019 16:18:00 GMT

On Saturday, May 26th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their first meeting of the 2019 season.

The Trustees gave their reports on many topics - Click here to see the full meeting agenda. Meeting minutes compiled by Kemi Mcshane.

May 25th 2019 Meeting of the Lake St. Catherine Board of Trustees

Lake St. Catherine Country Club, 8:30 AM

Meeting called to order by President Jim Canders at 8:32AM.

Present: Jim Canders, Mary Jo Teetor, Elaine Bagley, Kemi McShane, John Belnavis, Frank Callahan, Jeff Crandall, Jerremy Jones, Ed Laird, Martha Pofit, Bob Wiliiams.

Absent: Ken Abt, Rob Goldman, Rob Nesbit, Phil Pope.

Guest speaker, Owen Teetor reported the present status of the Lake, Jeff distributed a survey map of the Lake with the proposed locations for the ProcellaCOR treatment sites. The divers have not gone in the water but did a search of the areas and there is sporadic growth; stated better than 6 years ago. The Sunken Island is targeted for treatment. The red highlighted areas on the survey map will be the designated treatment spots. Concentrating on these areas to monitor the growth. The divers plan to get into the water soon for a accurate reading of these areas. Jeff spoke of a fixed contract with Owen and Beck so have a fixed schedule and fixed cost. Have to manage the costs as we have a budget for treating the Lake. The divers know the Lake and the problem areas and can identify the species located in the areas. Martha questioned how to measure the number of weeds harvested and Frank questioned the approval of the permit. Jeff stated the permit is on file and we have a tentative approval for the permit, have a waiting period to receive the permit form the State. Discussion followed regarding the increased amount of run offs from the roads and driveways this Spring. The run off has makes the Lake murky, delaying the weed growth, but will produce algae. Jerremy requested pictures of the suction harvesting to advertise the work that the suction harvesting crew is doing. Martha spoke of the Lake’s score card and how LSC is ranked in the State. It is important to improve the ranking by identifying the number of plant species are in the Lake. The Greeters are identifying other plants and Solitude is recording their findings as well.

Hilary from PMNRCD spoke on the benefits of buffer gardens and infiltration steps so water can flow through them. A Lakewise workshop in July will cover septic, storm waters, the water shed and erosion issues that impact the water quality, and buffer planting. A committee or group of neighborhood leaders to provide outreach for the Lake would increase the knowledge base and educate people on the programs and projects that are addressed at the Lake. Frank raised the issue of property owners putting in a culvert with no permit and septic issues and running into the storm drains. Association can organize a group to work with Hilary. LEAP has funding to provide plantings. The transition for is difficult as a result of GMC closing. There is no contract in place between LSCA and LEAF. Ed proposed work forward in “good faith” finish the work, as backlog of getting contract out with a stop in cash flow. Martha numbers shows trend going in the other direction. More groups are applying for more money and there is more money going out and the groups are being awarded less money. MJ reiterated the programs LSC has is 20% matched as opposed to the 50% funding we used to receive from the State. Getting deliverables in the past. Kim told are behind, contract out late. Josh left and not replacing personnel and business office is having trouble. Jim stated to get together and move forward with the troubled areas. Martha discussed the clean water funding and the relationship with Hilary. VT required 2.3 billion over 20 years. More money to positioning our Lake to get money from the government proposal. It passed both houses, advocate together to get ourselves a full partnership to get the money. Hilary all funding to regional planning committee strong group working region. Capacity to use the funds for storm water projects. DEC 200-300 projects in watershed to keep sediment out of the Lake. Little Lake would be a good spot to concentrate on. Capacity up for people to implement work and apply for funds. Need a point person to oversee the work. Everyone is over worked. There is no funding for private roads or driveways and these are major problems. Conservation issues- no one helps with driveways. Need technical assistance, must keep trying with prevention treatments in focus on storm water projects. Pervious asphalt view on it versus hard pack material. More work on maintaining – engineers working on pervious. Jerremy stated funding 6% rooms and meals tax, 7 million the last page of Martha’s repot. Martha storm water project locked into it being the roll of the municipality to address- the municipality can get funds if do the work. 3 billion dollars distributed to different projects. 2 day application, get contract need help oversight and the LSCA can help coordinate.

Business meeting called to order at 9:24.

Recording Secretary’s report – Minutes of the August 25,2018 meeting approved. Frank made motion and John second. Old business, Bob- stated missing a trustee. Minutes on e-mail
Treasurer's report- Jerremy, Martha, and Elaine had a special meeting to get the new format established for the treasurer's report. Jerremy set up a power point presentation of the treasurer's report. It was demonstrated how the report can be automatically changed as entries are made to the report. This format is a live report google will update automatically. Can budget for income and expenses. It can show how much money we really have; shows the cash flow. Questioned the group – $111,000.00 to work with, what is our tolerance? Can generate new revenue through grants. How can we nickel and dime our expenses to lower our costs? Jeff, what is the % of property owners contribute to dues? How can we increase our membership? 286 active members- discussion for target mailings to give money to the LSCA. How can we increase the membership from the Little Lake? Bubblers not being supported by the State, State is pushing PREVENTIVE approach. Solitude budget 60,000.00 more expensive proposal. Fixed contract with Owen and the suction harvesting. $49,000.00. Looking at herbicide versus suction harvesting, can’t pay per diem have to have a bottom line. New herbicide long term basis, not do secondary sights and lower costs. Valid budget $75,000.00. Accounting wise, long term budget hold company more accountable, more expensive in the early years, lower the budget, keep Owen, DASH program, keep them motivated- 50/50 harvesting approach. A new harvesting method that contains the seeds and weeds. Little Lake needs to get a better harvester. SOLITUDE- not so much water treatment, state pushing water treatment expensive and that needs to be cut back on the testing. New herbicide only requires one day water restriction. New product- FDA told them state wants a baseline- how long do we have to keep testing. Discussion followed on the line by line report. How to create capital expense, line of credit. SOLITUDE come back with same cost- not seeing saving over the next 3 years. Long run, stay on top of milfoil issue, increase membership and dues and donations. SONAR letter distribution mailings to increase contributions. There is a need to generate more income. Waiting for approval of the new herbicide. Research states about new herbicide. People want to know the new herbicide greatly improves results with short term restriction. Provide a slide presentation at meeting to make people aware. Ed – responsibilities to disclose change of accounting measure, cash accounting versus accurate accounting for a non-profit. How to thank people for their contributions; list of Gold, Silver and Bronze contributors. Gifts to send out to people. Separate voluntary contributors versus membership dues. Make a separate line item to track. Motion made and second to accept the treasurer's report.
Annual meeting and Dinner LSCA July 27,2019. John stated format to remain the same as last year. Meeting at 6:00 and dinner to follow at 7:30. Andy is cooking, and the menu will be chicken, fish, pasta and prime rib. Advertise for the dinner meeting and allow for 60-80 people. Distribute notice around the Lake. John will get menu from Andy; the time dinner is to be served. Jerremy will have a power point presentation.
Milfoil management- Jeff reported the permit is in hand, will be finalized if not opposition. Treatment date late June early July before July 4th. Discussion with Owen and Beck for the mailings to the public. Allowed to give notice through e-mails. Discussion regarding jumping the gun to get the permit but won’t have the 30-day notice period. Confusion about the new permit; it is a 5-year permit but have to have yearly approval. DASH sights to be specifically approved. 2 permits on website under new DASH. Boat launch monitoring application submitted not received a letter back. Approved. DEC – not renew Little Lake permit for aeration as it is not improving Little Lake condition. Questioned if Little Lake has the weed harvesting permit, requesting a worker to operate the harvester. Martha, 10,000.00 15,000.000 20,000.00 Wells budgeted $ to an ineffective program. The LSCA need to approach Wells select board to discuss the LSCA work on maintaining the Lake and the water quality. Increase Little Lake membership and try to involve more people. After the treatment of the Lake try to get together with the Wells select board and get on the agenda. Poultney select board also needs to be approached to discuss the work being performed on the Lake.
Boat launch monitoring – John stated that Martha was able to secure more money. 7:00 need to have Greeters available as fishermen get there early. Able to increase the program by 25%. Have 8 fishing tournaments scheduled for the Lake this year. State park has two new managers, will make them aware of the boats coming into the Lake through the state park. Provide them with a package of information to distribute. Last year inspected 1409 boats. AIS present at launch, and the Greeters picked off 12 boats with milfoil. 161 milfoil on boats in August. Boat wash station, the state will give us to wash every boat coming out of LSC. New proposal no expense to us. Can’t use lake water even if its heated to 180 degrees. Fish and Wildlife needs to give us permission Martha $5000.00 grant to poll other lakes for best practice. Fill tanks deal breaker lack of water since we are infected with milfoil. MJ future do we need a boat wash. Martha evidence based boats coming out or bringing the weeds into lake. How can we get a decontamination station. Decline for boat wash.
Water quality- Mary Jo. No discussion
Publicity- Jerremy. Newsletter distributed around the Lake. Good viewers on Facebook. Only one call for the boat safety course. And have trifold brochures to distribute.
Lake safety- Frank. 2 missing markers need to be picked up. Stewart take over Horseshoe Bay. John helped distribute markers.
Nominating Committee- Bob. Need new trustee. Suggested to approach residents on the Little Lake.
Membership – Elaine. A June mailing will go out to remind people to pay the dues.
Government- Phil. Martha spoke regarding distributing a package of information the the Wells select board prior to the night of the event. It was dominated by the Lake Conservation group. Trying to reallocate resources back to LSCA. MJ Poultney did not give us $5,000. As has cut funds. The town of Poultney upset about the closing of GMC.
Old Business- Martha and Jim work on grants. Simplify the application process. Pay us for what the LSCA is already doing. $50,000.00 funding out there trying to increase revenue.

Boat Parade: need someone to manage the boat parade, slated for July 6,2019.

Saturday, July 6, the fireworks will be held. Rick Roberts asking for contributions.

Wells Day: July 13 – Frank sets up will need assistance manning the booth.

East Poultney Day: August 10,

Nominating Frank, Ed, Rob, Mary Jo, Phil for re-nomination for the position of trustees. Lake residents were recommended for trustees.

Adjournment- 11:06 Meeting called for adjournment by President, motion made by Frank and second by Jeff. All in favor

Become A Cyanobacteria Monitor

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 16:20:39 GMT

Hello LSC.

We'd like to let you know about a program created by the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds (FOVLAP) to monitor for cyanobacteria on all VT Lakes & Ponds.

So, we are looking to connect with folks from Lake St. Catherine and other local water bodies to attend a class presented by FOVLAP to teach you how to become a cyanobacteria monitor. You do not need a boat, or any special equipment.

From the Vermont Health & The Environment website on Cyanobacteria:

"Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are naturally found in fresh water in the U.S. and in Lake Champlain and other Vermont waters. Some types of cyanobacteria can release natural toxins or poisons (called cyanotoxins) into the water, especially when they die and break down."

You can click here to learn more about Cyanobacteria.

Last season, there was a brief bloom of Cyanobacteria that appeared in the channel from Halls Bay. The bloom was quickly identified and the Vermont DEC dispatched a crew to contain it.

If you would be interested in attending this presentation, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org. If we have enough interest, FOVLAP will schedule the seminar. It would be great to have residents around the lake trained in identifying Cyanobacteria so any possible future blooms can be quickly identified and contained.

Info about the program can be seen in the image below.

Thank you!

The LSCA Spring 2019 Newsletter

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 25 May 2019 16:23:39 GMT

Hello good folks of the Lake St. Catherine community.

We'd like to let you know that the LSCA Spring 2019 newsletter is now available.

The digital version is now available online via our website through this link: Click here to view the Spring 2019 Newsletter, or click on the image below. You will be able to read through the newsletter and/or save a copy to your computer.

We hope you'll enjoy this edition of the LSCA newsletter.

We welcome your comments: info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you for your support!

2019 LSCA Boating Safety Classes (FREE!)

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 14 May 2019 16:27:43 GMT

The Lake St. Catherine Association is pleased to provide two FREE boating safety courses this season.

The first will be held on June 12th and 13th from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Poultney Volunteer Fire Department on Beaman Street.

The second will be held on July 8th and 9th from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Wells Village School on Route 30.

Anyone born after January 1st, 1974 must successfully complete an approved boating safety education course to legally operate any motorized vessel - including personal watercraft.

Frank Callahan, Trustee in charge of Boating Safety, will be conducting the courses.

Space is limited to 24 attendees, so please call 802-645-9136 or email Frank at frank.callahan@lakestcatherine.org to register. Last season, both classes filled up to capacity very quickly, so please call to schedule as soon as you can.

For additional information about boating in Vermont, check out the online Handbook of Vermont Boating laws and Responsibilities.

2019 Independence Day Events On Lake St. Catherine

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 09 May 2019 16:34:25 GMT

Hello LSC fans...

We have some exciting news - we'd like to let you know about the 7th Annual Boat Parade and when the LSC 4th of July fireworks will light up the sky.

7th Annual Lake St. Catherine Boat Parade:

This year, the Boat Parade will take place on Saturday, July 6th at 1 PM. Prizes are awarded for:

Most Original
Most Patriotic
Funniest
Best Overall

Please note: we are looking for a new Boat Parade Coordinator. Lila Burgner started the Boat Parade 7 years ago, and she has decided to 'retire'. If you'd be interested in coordinating the Boat Parade this year, please contact us!

Here's our Best Overall winner from last year:

Fireworks:

Lake resident Rick Roberts has informed the LSCA that his fireworks display will occur on Saturday, July 6th. This year, the fireworks will launch from the east side of the lake, near the mouth of Hall's Bay from a barge. Rick asks that boats give the barge a 150 yard perimeter.

Rick personally organizes and funds this annual fireworks display for us all to enjoy - please consider making a contribution to Rick. Thanks Rick!

A photo from last year's display by Ben Nicolson Photography:

What a photo!

So, mark your calendars for Saturday, July 6th for the Boat Parade and the Fireworks display!

Erosion Workshops, A Septic Conference & Greeter Training

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 16:37:01 GMT

We'd like to let you know about some upcoming workshops, conferences and trainings - all on the topic of keeping our lakes healthy.

Public Access Greeter Trainings

LSCA trustees and our crew of Greeters will be attending the May 18th workshop at the Castketon Community Center.

Each season, our Boat Launch Greeters attend this training session so they can provide invasive species education and watercraft inspections to boaters as they enter and leave Lake St. Catherine. Each season, the LSCA funds the Boat Launch Greeter program from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend.

In early 2019, the Watershed Grant program recognized the Lake St. Catherine Association’s “Greeter” program at the State’s boat launch by awarding us with a $5,000 grant. The LSCA will use the this funding to expand the aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention program to keep invasive species out of Lake St. Catherine.

This workshop is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

Additional dates & info:

Septic Solutions Conference

On May 9th, from 8:30 AM - 3 PM at the UVM Davis Center in Burlington, VT - the Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District will hold a Septic Solutions Conference.

Topics will include: Septic 101, septic regulations for shorelines, septic financing and innovative and alternative systems.

It is extremely important that septic systems on the shoreline are working properly. If your system is in need of replacement, this looks to be an excellent conference to attend.

This workshop is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

Additional info:

Summer Erosion Control Workshops

These training workshops are for professionals working in soils, erosion control, water quality, public works, engineering, roads, planning and consulting.

Sediment is the world’s #1 pollutant. During storms, disturbed soils erode and wash into streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands, threatening drinking water, fish and wildlife, and recreational uses.

This workshop teaches techniques for preventing and controlling erosion and supports a favorable quality of life in Vermont.

The first workshop will be on June 11, 2019 at Lake Eden in Eden, VT. The second will be on June 12, 2019 in Richmond, VT.

These workshops requires a $30 registration.

Additional info:

LSCA Pleased To Receive A 2019 Watershed Grant To Support Greeter Program

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 16:40:17 GMT

Since its creation in 1998, the Vermont DEC’s Watershed Grant Program’s primary focus has been to support watershed-related education and recreation and directly protect and restore Vermont’s watersheds.

In 2019, the Watershed Grant program recognized the Lake St. Catherine Association’s “Greeter” program at the State’s boat launch. Entitled “Taking the Lake St. Catherine Greeter Program to the Next Level of Performance through Evidence-Based Decision-Making”, The Association will use the $5,000 full funding of the outreach grant to expand the aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention program to keep invasive species out of Lake St. Catherine.

Specifically, the grant will expand the AIS Prevention Program (Greeter Program / Boat Launch Monitoring), through a 25% increase in hours, a special focused pilot study on July 4th weekend, to initiate outreach through a dialogue with Lake St. Catherine State Park on common goals and protocols, and a structured review of best practices and outcomes, for consideration of the feasibility of a pressurized decontamination station.

The Public Access Greeters perform a variety of inspections and decontaminations: visual and tactile inspection, removal of organic material, boater remove the bilge plug until drained, and distribute educational materials. In 2018, over 800 watercraft were inspected.

The Greeter Program is not only aimed at preventing the introduction of invasive species to Lake St. Catherine, but also at education and community building. It is an opportunity to interact with boaters, gain trust, and provide information on how to safely enjoy the Lake.

Half of the proceeds derived from the sale of Vermont Conservation License Plates go towards funding the Vermont Watershed Grants Program.

The Program, co-administered by DEC and the Department of Fish and Wildlife, distributes grant dollars for noteworthy local and regional water-related projects within Vermont.

If you know of a conservation-minded student who would enjoy working at the boat launch this summer, kindly contact LSCA Board Member John Belnavis at: john.beinavis@lakestcatherine.org.

The Board of Directors of the Lake St. Catherine Association sincerely thanks the Vermont DEC for supporting its efforts to protect Lake St. Catherine, now and in the future.

Predict Ice Out Day 2019

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 16:45:34 GMT

Hello LSC fans.

With the recent warm weather, I'm sure we've all been thinking about Spring.

So, we decided to have some fun while we wait. Based on an idea posted on our Facebook page (thanks Derric), we've decided to have an Ice Out prediction contest.

When do you think the ice will go out this season?

Make your prediction here: LSC Ice Out Prediction Form

The winner will be crowned "LSC 2019 Ice Out Champion" and will have bragging rights all year.

Make your guess - and good luck!

Update On Long Term Funding For Clean Water Projects

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 17:47:32 GMT

The following is a summary on funding of clean water projects in Vermont compiled by Lake St. Catherine Trustee Martha Pofit. Martha is also on the Board Of Directors of the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds (FOVLAP), focusing on legislative issues.

Background: Federal EPA Requirements

Vermont is required to fund $2.3 billion over the next 20 years to comply with federal pollution reduction orders for Lake Champlain, Lake Memphremagog and other water bodies in the state. Since the 2015 passage of Act 64, Vermont’s Clean Water Act, the state has used short-term sources — such as appropriations from the capital bill — for the majority of its share of the funding. Going forward, Vermont is obligated to identify a stable, long-term clean water funding source.

Governor’s Budget Plan for Long Term Funding

In his budget address, Governor Scott laid out a proposal to use a portion of the estate tax for clean water funding, (while also reducing the number of individuals who would be subject to paying the estate tax). His plan also included using some general fund money generated from the property transfer tax, and other sources. Next year, as an example, the budget calls for a total of $48 million for clean water efforts, including management of the state’s 7,000 miles of dirt roads and on-farm water quality projects. That total includes more than $19 million in federal funds.

Preliminary Legislative Reaction

Legislative leaders have expressed concern about diverting revenue from the general fund and creating a funding gap for other state priorities, as well as the volatility/variability of the estate tax. As an alternative, the Vermont Senate Natural Resources Committee was expected to consider a clean water funding bill that would contain a combination of a per parcel fee and an impervious surface fee.

Advocates Weigh In

The Vermont Water Caucus, (including the Vermont Natural Resources Council, Vermont Conservation Voters, Audubon Vermont, Vermont Chapter of the Sierra Club, Lake Champlain Committee, The Nature Conservancy in Vermont, Connecticut River Conservancy, Watersheds United Vermont, and Conservation Law Foundation.) developed a series of principles to apply to any long-term funding sources.

Funding sources must be stable and sufficient to meet Vermont’s needs.
Funding sources must be stable, predictable and reliable from year to year, to support ongoing, consistent clean water protection and restoration efforts.
Funding must be flexible in terms of its use, to meet the full and evolving scope of clean water needs across the state.
Funding must restore our degraded waters and also protect our river and lakes from future degradation.
Funding sources must minimize negative economic impacts on lower-income Vermonters, who already bear a disproportionate burden of the consequences of contaminated water.

Federal EPA’s Reaction to the Governors Funding Plan

The federal Environmental Protection Agency gave its preliminary approval February 11 to the plan from the Scott administration to fund clean water projects with existing revenues and create regional districts to implement projects, calling it a “sensible framework” that meets the state’s obligations to provide a long-term source for clean water funding.

Specific Legislative Proposals

Senate bill 96

Senator Bray, D-Addison, introduced S. 96 on February 12.

This bill proposes to establish a Clean Water Board for the receipt and dissemination of Clean Water Funds, sets priorities and eligible entities to receive funds and establishes a Clean Water Assessment on all parcels in the State. Monies collected under the Clean Water Assessment would be deposited in the Clean Water Fund to fund water quality improvement projects in the State. The amount of the Clean Water Assessment shall be approximately $40.00 per parcel, collected by July 1, 2021.

Reported favorably with recommendation of amendment by Senator Bray for the Committee on Natural Resources and Energy on March 2 for the Senate Calendar of March 12.

House bill 171

Rep. Till, D-Jericho, introduced H. 171 that would raise the Clean Water funds through a combination of taxes and fees on parking lots, asphalt sales, hotel rooms, and milk handlers.

Specifically, this bill proposes to establish an impervious surface fee on all parcels in the State. The bill would repeal the sunset of the Clean Water Surcharge on the Property Transfer Tax. The bill also would establish a Water Quality Occupancy Surcharge on the rent of each occupancy in the State. The bill would impose on milk handlers a fee per pound of fluid milk purchased from a milk producer for the purpose of bottling, manufacturing, processing, distribution, or sale of dairy products in the State. The bill would require a manufacturer of asphalt to pay an assessment per ton of asphalt sold in the State each year. The revenue from the impervious surface fee, the Water Quality Occupancy Surcharge, and the asphalt assessment would be deposited in the Clean Water Fund. The revenue from the milk handling fee would be deposited in the General Fund.

On February 27, Committee on Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife be relieved of the bill, moved to Committee on Ways and Means.

House bill 507

Rep. Dolan, D-Waitsfield, introduced a bill to fund Clean Water Projects through collection of a tax on bottled water at 10 cents per bottle and sugary drinks at 15 cents per bottle. The legislation would also levy a 6 percent tax on barbering or cosmetology services and a .05 percent increase in the income tax.

Specifically, this bill proposes to raise revenue for water quality projects and programs. The bill would establish a 10-cent per bottle tax on bottled water sold in the State. The bill would establish a 15-cent per bottle tax on each bottle of sugar-sweetened beverage sold in the State. The bill would establish a sales tax of six percent on the value of barbering or cosmetology services. The bill would also raise individual income rates by .05 percent. Revenue raised under the bill would be deposited in the Clean Water Fund for the purposes of that Fund, except that 67 percent of the revenue raised from the excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages would be deposited in the State Health Care Resources Fund for use according to the purposes of the Fund.

On February 28, referred to Committee on Ways and Means.

Federal Funding Announced by Sen. Leahy on Feb 22

More than $20 million in federal funding was appropriated to Lake Champlain in fiscal year 2019- the highest level of annual federal funding to assist clean up efforts. Sen. Patrick Leahy announced the funding at Burlington’s ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, which he helped secure in his role as vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The figure has more than doubled since 2017.

The specific funding lines are $11 million for the EPA Lake Champlain Program, $7.25 million for the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, $1 million for the Lake Champlain Sea Grant, $500,000 for the U.S. FWS Sea Lamprey Control and $1 million for the International Joint Commission Flood Study.

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee moves S. 96 to the Senate Floor

On March 1, Senate Natural Resources reported a favorable recommendation to place S.96 on the Senate Calendar for March 12. S.96 would mandate every landowner pay a clean water tax, or “assessment,” of approximately $40 and establish regional planning commissions.

The 2019 LSCA Membership Drive Is Underway!

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 17:50:26 GMT

Hello good folks of the Lake St. Catherine community.

It's that time of year again... As the Lake St. Catherine Association heads into its 66th year, we are asking for your support for the 2019 season.

Your membership dues and contributions help fund many of the services provided by the LSCA:

Maintain and purchase navigation and shore line protection buoys throughout the lake.
Test the water for E coli, and water clarity.
Managing the free boat-safety courses that are state mandated for all persons born after January 1, 1974.
Inspecting boats wishing to enter the lake for Eurasian milfoil, zebra mussels and water chestnuts.
Controlling milfoil (and other invasive species) and maintaining native weeds at tolerable levels.
Working with the state to solve the problems of silting and impacts of phosphorus and other sources of pollution.
Maintaining "welcome" signs and gardens.
Liaising with other lakes in order to exchange information concerning problems.
Sponsor the annual fun-filled July 4th Boat Parade.
Disseminate information to our membership and the community through newsletters, website, and other local publications.
Organizing funding through membership fees, donations and grants from the State of Vermont and Poultney and Wells.
We represent you to state and local governments to protect your rights and the lake in general.
We protect the value of your property by maintain the beauty, access, and safety of the lake.

There are two easy ways to renew or become a member of the LSCA.

Soon, you will be receiving a mailing from us that contains the 2019 Membership Form. Just fill out the form and mail it in to our Treasurer Elaine with a check for your dues. We'll also send you an email if we have your address on file.

Or, you can renew or become a member on our website. If you were a member in 2018, click here to renew, or click here to become a new member - and you can pay your dues online with your credit card. If you were a member last year (whether you paid by check or online by credit card), the website has an account ready for you. If you don't remember your password, or never set one up, click on the "Forgot Username/Password?" link, and the site will send you an email with the information.

If you are a business in the Lake St. Catherine community, we have a Business Sponsor Membership we'd like to tell you about. The Business Sponsor Membership includes:

A listing on our ‘Sponsors’ page on www.lakestcatherine.org with your logo, a link to your web or Facebook page, including a brief description of your business and services.
The posting of your events and special occasions to our Events & LSC Community Website Calendar.
A posting on our Blog and Facebook page about your business as a ‘Sponsor Spotlight’ feature.
A posting for your business in our Spring and Fall newsletters. Newsletters will be made available to the community in both printed and digital versions.

Upon receiving your membership contribution, our treasurer Elaine will mail you a hand-written thank you note, a receipt, a LSCA window card and a LSCA euro sticker:

We appreciate your support!

If you have any questions, please contact us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Water Quality A Hot Topic In Vermont And At LSC

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 17:54:19 GMT

The Lake St. Catherine Association, its Board of Directors and members are highly committed to preserving and protecting Lake St. Catherine water quality and its watershed as well as preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Four recent significant developments are worthy of reporting to the LSCA membership and friends:

1. The Board of Directors approved the issuance of a landmark manuscript this fall that was developed during the spring and early summer entitled: “Lake St. Catherine Association Evidence-Based Decision-Making: 1978-2018”.

The manuscript captures the actions taken by LSCA over the past 40 years, gives a current snapshot of issues affecting the Lake and discusses future considerations. It was written by Tufts graduate Philip Hicks of Granville and overseen by LSCA Board members.

2. The LSCA manuscript was highlighted in the Vermont Federation of Lakes and Ponds (FOVLAP) Fall newsletter as a potential template for other lakes and sent to all FOVLAP members. The article and link to the manuscript is identified below:

Manuscript Outlines Issues at Lake St. Catherine

A manuscript portraying the past, present and future issues at Lake St. Catherine has been approved by the Board of Lake St. Catherine Association. It is entitled: “Lake St. Catherine Association Evidence-Based Decision-Making: 1978-2018.” The 34-page document and appendices could serve as a template for other lakes seeking a common understanding of lake issues. The report looks at measuring water quality, protecting the watershed, mitigating invasive species, cultivating a healthy ecology for fish and wildlife, and promoting recreational safety. You can review it at: https://goo.gl/Mt84S2

3. In December, LSCA Board Member, Martha Pofit was appointed Chair of the Legislative Committee of FOVLAP. In this role, Martha wrote to the Vermont Governor’s office in early January inquiring about federal and state funding for Vermont’s Lakes and received the following response:

“Thank you for your inquiry to the office of Governor Phil Scott, about the status of federal funding for clean water projects and watershed improvement. Fortunately, Vermont continued to receive federal funds through 2018, and we were reassured that federal funding would continue in the future. See our 2018 Federal Funding Report for details of watershed project funding. You may also be interested in the Clean Water Initiative Program’s 2017 Investment Report. The 2018 Investment Report is in preparation for delivery to the State House early in the legislative session and will be posted on the Department of Environmental Conservation’s website at that time.

In addition to clean water funding, we receive federal funding to support aquatic invasive species spread prevention and aquatic nuisance control. These funds are used to augment income from motorboat registration fees in support of the Lakes Program’s Grant-In-Aid Program.”

Lake St. Catherine will shortly be applying to the Grant-In-Aid Program for its next five year permit and has been aggressive this fall in applying for four grants from the Lake Champlain Basin Program for: Pollution Prevention & Habitat Conservation; Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Prevention; Education and Outreach; and Organizational Support for Membership Recruitment, Retention and Education”

4. Governor Scott presented his Inaugural Address for 2019 to both houses of the Vermont Legislature on January 10 and made two important comments pertaining to Vermont Lakes. Specifically:

“We’re committed to restoring and protecting our lakes and rivers, which will cost Vermonters nearly $1 billion over the next 20 years.”, and

“And my budget will propose a long-term funding source for our water quality initiatives, using existing revenues and a new delivery model to put this money to work on the ground.”

The next step in understanding the “new delivery model” will be the language in the Governor’s Budget Message to the Legislature scheduled for January 24. The full text of the Inaugural Address can be found at read by clicking here. You can read more in this VT Digger article, "Statehouse preview: Eyes on the environment".

Lake St. Catherine Association will continue to be active on all issues affecting the Lake, will represent your interests at the state level, and report important development to the LSCA members.

For further information on any of the above items, feel free at any time to contact LSCA President Jim Canders at jim.canders@lakestcatherine.org.

Longtime LSCA Trustee Martin Greenberg Passes Away

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 31 Dec 2018 01:04:47 GMT

We have some sad news to report.

Longtime LSCA Trustee and LSC resident, Martin Greenberg, has passed away.

LSCA President, Jim Canders wanted to share these thoughts about their friendship and Mart's service to Lake St. Catherine and the LSCA:

"On December 17th, Lake St. Catherine and the Lake St. Catherine Association lost a very good friend with the passing of Martin Greenberg.

From his early days when he and Ellen stayed summers at the Lake St. Catherine Inn, when they learned the lake and how to fish it from a group of ladies who also were staying at the Inn, they remained at the lake.

Martin was a man for all seasons, and the best time of all for him was spending the entire summer at Lake St. Catherine. Martin and Ellen subsequently purchased a cottage on Bert’s Nest and they spent summers there ever since.

Martin involved himself volunteering to help with projects on the lake. He and Ellen became members of the Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA), and along with Phil and Nancy Alden, Harry and Sylvia Bingham, Frank and Grace Callahan, Bob and Rosalia Williams, Phil and Polly Pope, Steve and Gwen Teetor and Elliott and Eileen Rosen, became a big part of the Trustee’s Board of the LSCA.

Serving as Vice President, he worked together with Dan Morris to write and publish the Lake St. Catherine Newsletter twice a year. He was always willing to share his knowledge of the lake and to serve on special committees when a new direction might be needed. As the LSCA moved along into the technology age, Martin worked with a person from RPI, Troy, NY to set up our first web site. He handed this off to Jerremy Jones who has expanded our web site’s capability.

I can remember when milfoil control moved into a different stage when herbicides started being applied in lieu of mechanical harvesting. In the beginning of each season a survey of the milfoil in the lake had to be conducted and Martin volunteered his boat which was equipped with a depth finder. He, Jeff Crandall and I would go out fairly early in the morning while the water was clear and calm and the sun was bright. Martin drove the boat, Jeff and I watched from each side of the boat for milfoil. Having the benefit of the bright sunshine, we could see right into the lake and easily spot the milfoil. We recorded our findings on a map of LSC and turned the map over to State of Vermont Water Quality Department.

When it came time to take the water samples, Martin was right there again with his boat. We would go to the designated sights, collect and label the bottles, keep them in an ice chest so they did not get too warm and spoil. By the time we finished collecting the samples, it was time for lunch and Ellen would make us a sandwich.

During the summer Martin and Ellen would invite my wife and I over to their cottage for cocktails. We would sit on their screened porch and enjoy the Greenberg’s company, the beverages and the view up the lake. Martin, while sipping a single malt scotch, would tell stories of the early years, when he and Ellen came to LSC. He told how you could take the fish you caught that day to the chef at the Inn, he would cook them for you for dinner. Or, about the early years when he and Ellen were first dating, some of the stories were hilarious.

These were priceless moments spent with Martin Greenberg and there were far too many to recall, but each time you met with him, there was always a discussion about the lake that indicated just how much LSC meant to him. He will sadly be missed, but I am sure that the memories we each share of Martin will last us for a long time to come.

For those who can attend, there is a memorial gathering in Sleepy Hollow, NY on January 6 from 12 Noon – 4 PM with reflections on Martins life, details to follow. Those wishing to send their condolences can do so by sending them to Mrs. Martin Greenberg, 390A Heritage Hills, Somers, NY 10589."

- Jim Canders

Martin's wife, Ellen, sent along these details about the services:

A celebration of Mart's life will be held Saturday, January 6, 12 PM - 4 PM.

Place: Fine-Freiman home at 22 Lakeview Ave., Sleepy Hollow, NY

By car: Find your way to Route 9 which runs parallel to Hudson River. Sleepy Hollow is south of Ossining and north of Tarrytown.

Coming from north: Not far south of Phelps Memorial Hospital you'll see sign on your right for Sleepy Hollow Manor. Turn right and use GPS to find 22 Lakeview Ave. There'll be a balloon or sign in front of house.

Coming from south: Head north through Tarrytown and watch for sign for Sleepy Hollow Manor on your left. Turn left and use GPS to find 22 Lakeview Ave. There'll be a balloon or sign in front of house.

2018 Aquatic Vegetation Management Program Report

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 16 Dec 2018 18:00:17 GMT

We'd like to let you know that the 2018 Aquatic Vegetation Management Program Report has been posted to the Links & Downloads section of our website.

In our Links & Downloads section, you'll find helpful links to lake related websites, LSCA documents, helpful and fun downloads (including Lake St. Catherine - A Historical Scrapbook) and 15 years of Aquatic Vegetation Management Program reports.

The 2018 report includes an extensive, lake-wide plant survey, and a recap of the 2018 milfoil herbicide and DASH treatments.

Listing Of Certified Natural Shoreline Erosion Control Professionals

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 13:02:05 GMT

Back in October, we let you know about a certification program being offered by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.

From the DEC's Natural Shoreland Erosion Control Certification website:

"This Certification Course covers shoreland Best Management Practices, including techniques for erosion control, stormwater management, bioengineering and wildlife habitat protection. Lakeshore owners often rely on professional contractors, landscapers, engineers or other site workers to advice and help them manage their property. The NSECC course teaches contractors both the science for using BMPs and the science of how they work to protect the lake while remaining attractive and appealing to homeowners. All workers certified through this six hour training course will be listed on the Agency of Natural Resources web site and the list will be shared with lakeshore property owners. Those certified through this course will also be given preference for grants and contracts awarded through the new Vermont Clean Water Initiative, and are eligible for professional development credits, including four non-soil credits for Licensed Designers."

The certification courses have taken place, and we'd like to share the listing of professionals now certified:

Professionals Certified in Natural Shoreland Erosion Control Practices PDF

It is extremely important to protect our lake shoreline to prevent stormwater runoff which can... "contain nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants from fertilizers, pet and yard waste. Because stormwater flows over hard surfaces directly into a water body or storm drain, there is no opportunity for soil and plants to filter out pollutants." - US EPA. Keeping these pollutants out of the lake will help with water quality and will help to minimize a nutrient supply for weeds.

If you are planning a project near the lake shore, please consult with one of these certified contractors.

2018 #GivingTuesday Results

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 13:05:49 GMT

Hello LSC fans.

We wanted to share with you the results of your efforts for #GivingTuesday.

We had 42 contributors giving a total of $6,850!

Unfortunately, we did not receive any matching funds from Facebook. Facebook posted that the matching funds were claimed "in a manner of seconds".

While that is certainly disappointing, we want to sincerely thank you all for your efforts.

Our treasurer Elaine will be reaching out to you with a 2019 membership package, including: a receipt, a LSCA window card, a LSCA euro sticker and a handwritten thank you note.

Our traditional, yearly membership drive will begin in February of 2019.

As you may know, the work the LSCA performs each season, including - but not limited to: milfoil control, water testing & monitoring, boat launch monitoring, lake buoy and marker maintenance and boating safety classes - costs over $125,000. Membership contributions make up over 40% of our funding each year. Your funding support is vital for the LSCA's work each season.

We've also recently applied for $49,000 in grants from the Lake Champlain Basin program to help expand our efforts in 2019. We are always on the lookout for ways to generate funds - and the best way to spend these funds to support the preservation, protection and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine.

Thank you all for your support!

2018 LSC Independence Day Celebration Activities

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 22:06:25 GMT

Happy Friday to you all in the LSC community. We'd like to share some upcoming Independence Day activities that will be taking place around the lake during the next week.

...and here we go:

The 6th Annual LSCA Boat Parade!

It is this Sunday, July 1st - starting off in Forest House Bay and making it's way around the lake.

We all know how much fun it is to watch the parade - but it's even more fun to be in it! There is still time to get your friends and family together to come up with an idea and register your boat for the parade.

Prizes are awarded for:

Most original
Most patriotic
Funniest
Best overall

Just look at all these great prizes up for grabs!

The LSCA would like to thank these generous sponsors for providing prizes for the Boat Parade:

Plus, all kids that participate get a free ice cream coupon from Stewart's Shops!

To join in on the parade, please contact Lila Burgner at BurgnerL@msn.com to register your boat today!

Lake St. Catherine State Park Activities

On Saturday, June 30th:

8-9am: Bird Walk With Sue Wetmore. Thrushes and veerios are some of the possibilities!
10-12pm: Let's go fishing!
2-3pm: Invasive Plant Species walk
3-4pm: Reptiles & amphibians- focus on snakes!

On Sunday, July 1st:

7-8am: Early bird paddle, sign up at nature center. meet by concession stand.
10-11:30pm: Making dream catchers
2-3pm: Reptiles & amphibians

On Monday, July 2nd:

8-9pm: Morning paddle. Meet at concession stand. Sign-up at nature center.
10-11pm: Draw & ID trees at nature center

*programs usually meet by day use beach*

You can find more info about these events on the Vermont State Parks' Lake St. Catherine Page.

The Town Of Wells

Wells Village Library Book & Bake Sale - July 6 & 7 from 9AM - 4PM:

Join the Wells Village Library on July 6th and 7th for our annual book and bake sale! The event will be held at the MWA Annex Building located on VT Route 30 in Wells, VT. Hours are Friday, July 6th, 9:00am – 4:00pm and Saturday, July 7th, 9:00am – 3:00pm. Donations of books, dvds, games, puzzles or baked goods would be much appreciated.

The library also will be selling special raffle tickets for a local bookstore gift certificate. Tickets for this are on sale during both days of the book sale. Tickets are $2 each or 3 tickets for $5. The drawing will be held at the end of the book sale and the winner does not need to be present to win. All proceeds from this event will benefit library programs and collection development.

Book or game donations can be dropped off at the library during normal business hours (Wed 10am-3pm, Th 2-5pm, Fri 3-5pm, Sat 9am-1pm) any time before the book sale or by appointment. Baked goods can be dropped off at the MWA on July 6th and 7th. We are also seeking volunteers to help with set up the week before and on the two days of the event. Please contact the library at 802.645.0611 or by email at jcb@behaviorservices.com if you can help or for more information.

Wells Fire Department Pancake Breakfast - July 1st from 7AM

The Town Of Poultney

Poultney has a big day planned for July 4th: Food, magic, a parade, music, a dance party - and Elvis!

They will then have fireworks at dusk.

Additional information about all the festivities can be found on the Poultney Recreation website.

Otto's Cones Point General Store - Music @ The Moose

Otto's will be featuring live bands and solo musicians on their front porch throughout the summer. They will have 5 musical acts appearing next week, starting on Saturday, June 30th with the Wolf Holler Band from 5PM - 9PM. You can check out their full schedule by clicking here.

Fireworks - Saturday, July 7th at dusk

Lake resident Rick Roberts has informed the LSCA that his fireworks display will occur on Saturday, July 7th. This year, the fireworks will launch from the east side of the lake, near the mouth of Hall's Bay.

Well, that should be enough to keep you busy this week, right? :)

Be safe, have fun, and always be a good steward of the lake.

Enjoy your time at the lake this week!

LSCA Applies For 2018 Lake Champlain Basin Program Grants

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 13:07:26 GMT

Hello good folks in the LSC community.

Today, we'd like to let you know about an excellent opportunity for Lake St. Catherine. Yesterday, the LSCA applied for 4 Lake Champlain Basin Program grants, totaling $49,000. Trustee Martha Pofit has been coordinating the LSCA's effort to apply for these grants for the past month - and we are happy to report that they have been submitted!

About the Lake Champlain Basin Program:

"The Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) works in partnership with government agencies from New York, Vermont, and Québec, private organizations, local communities, and individuals to coordinate and fund efforts that benefit the Lake Champlain Basin’s water quality, fisheries, wetlands, wildlife, recreation, and cultural resources.

These efforts are guided by the plan Opportunities for Action. The LCBP works with its program partners, advisory committees, and local communities to implement this plan through a variety of federal, state and local funds. Core funding for the LCBP is through the US Environmental Protection Agency."

The 4 grants the LSCA applied for include:

A. Pollution Prevention & Habitat Conservation

As part of this grant application, we plan to use these funds to work with the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) on the upcoming LSC Stormwater Master Plan to mitigate runoff. We will also be engaging with Lake residents to have their property evaluated for the Lake Wise program. Lake Wise is a program that helps property owners manage their landscaping and shoreline to protect the Lake. Properties that meet all the criteria will be given the Lake Wise Award.

B. Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Prevention

As part of this grant application, we plan to use these funds to expand our milfoil control program - and our boat launch monitoring program.

C. Education and Outreach

As part of this grant application, we plan to use these funds for eduction and outreach to local residents and governments, the state government, and other lake associations and organizations.

D. Organizational Support

As part of this grant application, we plan to use these funds to expand our outreach to the lake community though our website, social media, and mailings & newsletters in an effort to retain, recruit and expand our membership.

Martha did a great job outlining how the LSCA would use these funds to benefit Lake St. Catherine with an integrated plan incorporating all 4 grants. Great job Martha!

As you may know, the LSCA spends over $125,000 a year for the preservation, protection and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine through our various programs and projects, including (but not limited to): milfoil control, boat launch monitoring, water testing and boating safety. Finding and applying for grants, along with retaining and expanding our membership base is extremely important to fund these important programs for the Lake. The LSCA is constantly working to raise money to fund these projects through grants, state and local government support and contributions from the Lake community.

LSCA President, Jim Canders, had this to say in our grant applications:

"The four grant applications address Clean Water and a protected Watershed, Healthy Ecosystems and prevention of Aquatic Invasive Species, Thriving Communities through outreach, education, partnerships and the sharing of best practices; and an Involved Public through a more robust Lake Association with social media tools and communication strategies and great involvement of Lake residents and the local communities.

The purpose of this Comprehensive Plan reflected in these 4 applications is to leverage the good works of the LSCA to date, and to make even greater strides in positioning the LSCA for the future."

Grant award notifications will be made by March 2019. Keep your fingers crossed :)

We'll let you know when the announcement is made.

LSCA Participating In 2018 Giving Tuesday

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 13:10:42 GMT

Hello LSC fans.

We'd like to let you know about an excellent opportunity to help support the Lake St. Catherine Association in 2019.

This year, we'll be participating in Giving Tuesday (#GivingTuesday) on our Facebook page.

From the Giving Tuesday website, #GivingTuesday is:

"...a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving."

By participating in #GivingTuesday on our Facebook page, we have the opportunity to DOUBLE your yearly contribution to the LSCA.

How it works:

On Tuesday, November 27th, starting at 8 AM, Facebook and PayPal have pledged to donate up to 7 million dollars to 501(c)(3) charities by matching donations made through the charity's Facebook page.

How is the LSCA participating?:

Each year starting in late February, the LSCA reaches out to the lake community for membership dues to help fund the good work of the LSCA for the season.

This year, we're asking you to consider making your 2019 contribution of $100 or more a few months early to take advantage of this program.

How will this help Lake St. Catherine and the LSCA?:

Well, as you may know, the work the LSCA performs each season, including - but not limited to: milfoil control, water testing & monitoring, boat launch monitoring, lake buoy and marker maintenance and boating safety classes - costs over $100,000. Membership contributions make up over 40% of our funding each year. Your funding support is vital for the LSCA's work each season.

Let's set a goal. If we can collect 10% of our membership contributions on #GivingTuesday, we'd receive approximately $5,000 from members - which would be DOUBLED to $10,000 total! That would be amazing.

How can you participate?:

On the morning of Tuesday, November 27th, starting at 8 AM, you can go to our Facebook page and click on the blue Donate button at the top of our page. A screen will appear for you to type in your credit card information and contribution amount:

This makes your 2019 contribution eligible for matching by Facebook and PayPal! Your $100 (or more) could be doubled to $200! The LSCA will then send you your 2019 thank you package which will include a receipt, a LSCA window card, a LSCA Euro oval sticker and, of course, a note from our treasurer Elaine.

Please note: you will need to have a Facebook account to be able to participate.

When should you make your contribution?:

Facebook and PayPal have committed to matching up to 7 million in funds - so the amount available for matching is limited. So, to maximize the chance that your contribution will be matched, please go to the LSCA Facebook page as soon as you can on Tuesday, November 27th, starting at 8 AM.

So, we hope you'll consider making your 2019 contribution a little early this year - on #GivingTuesday, through our Facebook page - to potentially double your generous donation.

But, we certainly understand if you prefer to not make a credit card payment online - we'll be kicking off our traditional membership drive when mailings go out in February of 2019.

Please save the date!

We'll keep you up-to-date on our #GivingTuesday efforts - and we'll be sure to remind you as we get closer to the big day.

If you have any questions about #GivingTuesday, please let us know - send us an email: info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you for your support!

Website Photo Updates

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 12:14:57 GMT

Hello LSC fans.

Today, we've updated the homepage of lakestcatherine.org with some AMAZING photography from around the lake by Karen Velsor and Ben Nicolson. Take a look!

You'll see photos from the Little Lake, the Big Lake and the Lily Pond, including some close up images of the various wildlife living on the lake.

Karen and Ben often post their images in the Lake St. Catherine - Vermont Facebook group.

You can see more of Karen's photos on her Fine Art America page.

You can see more of Ben's photos on his Facebook or Instagram page.

We'd like to thank them both for sharing their photos - we hope you enjoy them!

Natural Shoreline Erosion Control Certification

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 12:17:48 GMT

Calling all Landscapers, Contractors, and Site Workers that work on Lake St. Catherine... We'd like to let you know about a certification program being offered by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.

From the DEC's Natural Shoreland Erosion Control Certification website:

"This Certification Course covers shoreland Best Management Practices, including techniques for erosion control, stormwater management, bioengineering and wildlife habitat protection. Lakeshore owners often rely on professional contractors, landscapers, engineers or other site workers to advice and help them manage their property. The NSECC course teaches contractors both the science for using BMPs and the science of how they work to protect the lake while remaining attractive and appealing to homeowners. All workers certified through this six hour training course will be listed on the Agency of Natural Resources web site and the list will be shared with lakeshore property owners. Those certified through this course will also be given preference for grants and contracts awarded through the new Vermont Clean Water Initiative, and are eligible for professional development credits, including four non-soil credits for Licensed Designers."

2018 Training Locations and Dates:

Monday, November 5 - Castleton University
Wednesday, November 7 - Lake Champlain Sea Grant and UVM Extension
Friday, November 9 - Associated General Contractors of Vermont

To register and for general questions, please contact David Addeo at david.addeo@vermont.gov.

For questions about curriculum please contact Amy Picotte at amy.picotte@vermont.gov.

The course costs $20 to attend.

If you complete the certification - or if you have already, please let us know! We'll list your Natural Shoreland Erosion Control certified business on our website.

To read more about this important program, please read the "Vermont Natural Shoreland Erosion Control Certification Program - 2018 Legislative Report".

Please spread the word. Thank you!

Flyer for the upcoming dates:

A Plaque In Memory Of Martin Greenberg

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 07 Oct 2018 12:28:35 GMT

Hello LSC,

Back in December, we informed you that long-time LSCA trustee Martin Greenberg had passed away.

Today, we want to tell you about a new plaque that was just placed on the Welcome To Lake St. Catherine sign. But first, a little bit of history about the sign.

Former LSCA President Phil Alden provided this photo of the original sign being constructed. He notes: "The principal architect of the first sign was Don Willbrandt, ably assisted by the Binghams."

Current LSCA Presidet Jim Canders recalls, "At a time after the sign was installed, a car came down the hill from North Steet and ran it over. At that point Martin became involved."

Matrin worked with a company in Rutland to reproduce the sign and fix the damage to the area and the flowers & plantings.

After Martin's passing, LSCA trustee Rand Burgner suggested that we should place a plaque at the sign, in memory of Martin. The board unanimously agreed - and Rand and Jim started researching.

They eventually contacted Sheldon Slate in Middle Granville. The owner, Peter Tatko, was extremely generous - as he donated the plaque to the LSCA. Thank you Peter!

Last Saturday, Jim and John Belnavis placed the plaque on the sign, and we took some photos:

Jim described Martin as, "...a man for all seasons, and the best time of all for him was spending the entire summer at Lake St. Catherine with his wife Ellen at their cottage on Bert’s Nest. We thank Martin for his love of the Lake and his 15 years of service to the LSCA."

A LSC Blast From The Past

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 29 Sep 2018 12:32:42 GMT

Hello LSC,

We'd like to share this blast from the past with you - an article about Lake St. Catherine from the 1997 Summer edition of Vermont Life magazine entitled "A Family Kind Of Place - Lake St. Catherine's Appeal Spans The Generations" by Nancy Boardman, photographed by Jerry LeBlond.

We've scanned it and created a PDF for you to be able to read it and view the photographs.

Take a look!

[ click the link above or the cover image below to view the PDF article ]

Invasive Species Recently Found In VT Lakes

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 12:35:11 GMT

Hello LSC,

We'd like to let you know that invasive species have been recently discovered in two nearby Vermont lakes - zebra mussels in Lake Memphremagog and spiny water flea in Lake Champlain.

On zebra mussels: Zebra mussels are an invasive species; they are a small freshwater mollusk that attaches to firm surfaces and can clog pipes and other underwater infrastructure. They are also filter-feeders, consuming microscopic aquatic life that is the base of the food web for our lakes. Their feeding habits can impact the native species that also consume those food sources.

On the spiny water flea: Dr. Tim Mihuc, Director of the Lake Champlain Research Institute, states, “This is truly a sad day for Lake Champlain. The spiny water flea has potential to severely impact the planktonic food web and will be a huge nuisance to anglers. Unfortunately, now Lake Champlain has joined Sacandaga Lake and Lake George as a major hub for future invasions into the Adirondacks and Vermont waters.”

You can read more about these unfortunate discoveries in these press releases:

Zebra Mussels Identified in Magog Bay, Lake Memphremagog

Spiny Water Flea Confirmed in Lake Champlain

It is illegal in the state of Vermont to transport aquatic invasive species. Act 67, which came into effect in 2017, states that if a certified attendant at a watercraft decontamination station identifies a vessel or trailer as requiring decontamination, boaters are obligated to comply. Failure to do so can result in fines and the involvement of law enforcement.

Each season, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the LSCA works with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation to staff the LSC boat launch with well-trained inspectors called Greeters. They are paid personnel of the LSCA. These Greeters inspect incoming and outgoing watercraft looking for invasive species of plant and animal life. Through their efforts, we can closely monitor and prevent other invasive species like Asian Clams, Spiny Water Fleas, Water Chestnuts and Zebra Mussels carried on visiting boats, from invading Lake St. Catherine.

We want to make sure these invasive species do nto make it into Lake St. Catherine. It is so important to inspect your boat and trailer for invasive species before launching your boat into the lake.

You can learn more about aquatic invasive species on the Vermont DEC website's Aquatic Invasive Species page.

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees - 08/25/2018

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 12:40:40 GMT

On Saturday, August 25th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their fourth and final meeting of the 2018 season.

The Trustees gave their reports on many topics - Click here to see the full meeting agenda. Meeting minutes compiled by Elaine Bagley, James Canders and Jerremy Jones.

August 25th 2018 Meeting of the Lake St. Catherine Board of Trustees

Lake St. Catherine Country Club, 8:30 AM

Meeting called to order by President Jim Canders at 8:30.

Present: Jim Canders, Mary Jo Teetor, Frank Callahan, Ken Abt, Phil Pope, Jerremy Jones, John Belnavis, Elaine Bagley, Bob Williams, Ed Laird, Martha Pofit

Absent: Jeff Crandall, Rob Goldman, Rob Nesbit and Kemi McShane.

* Beck Sinclair – Reviewed and explained what he’ll need to address next years DASH program along with a review of the current year. 766 20 gallon buckets of milfoil removed. Ken Abt said that we had to work closely together with SOLitude Lake Management with regard to the Spring milfoil review. Beck said that they can show great results and take most advantage of their time addressing larger patches of milfoil. He will available by May 8 or 10 next season to conduct review. Need to purchase a new silt screen for next season - $300, after that, a new hose.

July meeting minutes approved.
Treasurer’s report - reviewed budget and expenditures. Expect invoice from SOLitude for fall plant survey in order to finalize 5 year permit. Make report on how many people pay more than $100.00, how much more? Get addresses from Wells and Poultney of addresses that we may be missing. DEC Watershed Grant could be applied for this fall – Boat Launch Monitoring?
Annual Meeting 2019 - Board Members will assist in breaking down and setting up tables for dinner. Otherwise, we will use the same game plan in 2019. 75+ attendees.
Milfoil - Can’t survey sooner than plants begin growing. If we do not use herbicide, we do not need a permit for Suction Harvesting. However, the 5 Year Plan may not be offered in the future and we may have to file for a one year plan each year. If a person wanted to have a company clean up around their dock, no permit is needed?
Boat Launch - 614 boats processed during July 2018. This was a weather related slump. Since the fireworks draw such a big crowd - many boats - it may be wise to have the greeters work late on that day. Up to an hour to get your boat out of lake after fireworks this year. Discussion of Town Hall Meeting - Feeling is that State treats us as two bodies of water because of treatment of State personnel by CF, going over their head to the Governor. Jerremy proposed “Town Hall Meeting” format. In the meeting questions could be presented and accurate answers given. Some Board members are reluctant to have a meeting of this nature with the CF involved due to the toxic attitude. Discussion of Phil Hicks’ paper: “Saving the Waters of Lake St Catherine” has been finished in a first draft form and sent to the Trustees for their review. Reference information is being added to the paper. Everyone to proof read again to see if any incorrect thoughts are included. Turn any discrepancies in to Martha within 30 days.
Water Testing - Cyanobacteria was handled very quickly and the State Health Department has issued an all clear. Mary Jo also said that the water clarity is very good, the Secchi disc reading recently taken was 6.4 meters.
Publicity - Jerremy presented the Fall Newsletter - copies were taken for distribution to Wells Country Store, Otto’s and other possible locations.
Lake Safety - Frank Callahan. Said that Peter Bagley assisted with the wrapping of several buoys. Volunteers to include John Belnavis will assist in removing buoys and markers from lake shortly after Labor Day and through to October. The warmer season has been lasting longer, so some buoys are left longer. Zebra Mussels discussion - are in Lake Bomoseen and just discovered in Lake Memphremagog.
Bob Williams - We are short one trustee. Thought is to find someone on the LL as Frank Callahan is the only trustee on the LL. Rand’s position has not yet been filled.
Government - [Clarification: Phil Pope, Mary Jo Teetor and Martha Pofit are representatives to FOVLAP. Phil’s name was inadvertently left off when the Agenda was being typed. Our apologies.] The next FOVLAP meeting is in September. Currently, Mary Jo is the Recording Secretary for FOVLAP.
Old Business

Boat Parade - Need new Chairperson for 2019. Lila and Rand did a great job developing and carrying on the event, but someone has to step in to her footsteps. Lila will advise the new person. Jerremy currently has her notes and information fro past parades.

Poultney Day - Rob and Jennifer set up our booth at this event and various people participated, staffing the booth through the day. No specific report was presented, but comments about the event were favorable.

Plaque for Martin Greenberg is ready. Pete Tatko, the owner of Tatko Bros Slate Company in Middle Granville (518- 642-1640) has donated the plaque. All we have to do is pick it up. I thanked Pete for his generosity. He said that he was glad to do it because he has always been a fan of the LSCA. Possibly we can give him a free advertisement in the spring Newsletter?

Ed Laird made comment that our insurance was in good order and that he does not see any issues as we head into the fall.

John Belnavis brought up the request from the Granville Rescue Squad. It was decided to leave it tabled as we can’t afford the items/equipment that they need.

Along these lines it was suggested that we have a conversation with the Wells Select Board on the working of the 911 in our area. It takes 20 minutes for the Granville rescue to get here, by this time in a drowning, it is more of a recovery operation.

The next meeting is scheduled for May 25, 2019 at 8:30 AM, to be held at the LSCCC.

President Jim Canders called for the meeting adjournment at 11:00 AM. Motion for adjournment was made and seconded. Meeting adjourned at 11:00 AM.

2018 Milfoil Suction Harvesting - End Of Season Report

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 12:49:50 GMT

Hello Lake St. Catherine. Today, we'd like to give you an end of season report on our 2018 suction harvesting program.

Each year, the LSCA works with 2 contractors to battle the milfoil in the lake, keeping it under control. In mid June, SOLitude Lake Management applied the herbicide Renovate to 5 locations around the lake. Then, throughout the summer, our other contractor Beck Sinclair performed suction harvesting (referred to as DASH - Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting) in other problem areas. Suction harvesting involves a diver hand-pulling the milfoil by the root from the lake bottom. The milfoil is then suctioned through a tube, up to the surface.

You may have seen Beck working on the lake in the LSCA suction harvesting boat:

Last Saturday, Beck provided his end of year report to the board - and we'd like to share that information with you.

This season, 766 containers (20 gallon buckets) were filled with suction harvested milfoil. This is a little more than half of what was removed last season. Beck reported that the amount of milfoil he viewed and worked on was the lowest he'd seen in his 5 years of working on the suction harvesting program. He also observed that milfoil was not as dense or tall. That, along with a reduction in total hours worked, contributed to the difference in the bucket count from last year.

Beck also reported that he was very happy to speak with folks as they would swim, paddle or boat by, thanking him for his work. He suggested that the LSCA should take some time to make sure that we are educating everyone about what milfoil looks like - and how it's different from other native plant species. Milfoil looks like this:

This is the weed that we can suction harvest and target with the spot herbicide treatments.

It is VERY IMPORTANT to remove them by the roots and to make sure no fragments are created. In the illustration image above, even that small piece of milfoil on the right side can float away, sink, and create a new plant - potentially leading to the creation of a whole new bed of milfoil.

The LSC 'old-timers' will remember the way the lake looked back before 2004... Beds of milfoil near the shorelines had created thick mats of weeds on the surface. The LSCA is working very hard to keep it under control each season utilizing this balanced combination of spot herbicide treatments and suction harvesting. We simply cannot let the milfoil get back to the levels we saw before the milfoil control program began in 2004 with the first herbicide treatment.

With this in mind, we'd like to make sure you are aware of some of the ways you can help out:

• First and foremost, your financial support in the form of the yearly dues you contribute to the LSCA are crucial to help fund this program. If you are not currently a member, please consider joining! You can do so easily via our website here: Become A Member, or you can click here to: Make A Donation.

• Near your shoreline, you are permitted to hand-pull any weeds (including weeds other than milfoil) to clean up your area. Swim down to pull them up by the root, or use a rake to assist pulling them up from the bottom. Be sure to remove the weeds you pull from the lake and bring them on shore to dry out. You can then dispose of them as you would with brush from your yard.

• If you see patches of floating milfoil, grab them - and get them out of the lake. As mentioned above, these floating fragments will eventually sink - and they have the potential to seed new beds of milfoil. So, if you can, get as much milfoil out of the lake as possible.

Finally, we'd like to tell about the amount of garbage that Beck collects from the bottom of the lake as he is suction harvesting the milfoil. Take a look at this very small sample:

Bottles, cans, plastic cups - all kinds of garbage. Beck reports that each season, he removes 2 extremely large bags of garbage from the lake bottom.

Does this make you angry? We hope it does - it sure makes us angry.

Here's a photo I took of the garbage I picked up after a recent paddleboard ride along the shoreline near my camp:

We're showing you this to make you aware of the amount of junk that ends up in the lake. We ask that you:

take a look on your shoreline and in your immediate water area to see if there is any junk you can pick up and remove.
be careful when your are out on the lake to make sure things like bottles, cans and cups don't fall into the lake.
keep an eye out for people throwing junk into the lake - call them out and let them know that it's not acceptable.

We all need to do our part to make sure we keep this beautiful lake clean.

At the end of each July, the State of Vermont promotes Clean Water Week as a celebration of Vermont’s 800 lakes and ponds, 23,000 miles of rivers and streams, and 300,000 acres of wetlands. Next year, the LSCA will look to coordinate and sponsor a shoreline cleanup on Lake St. Catherine. We hope you'll volunteer and join us!

We'd like to thank Beck for his efforts this season in helping to keep the milfoil under control - and for cleaning up the garbage he found along the way. Thanks Beck - we all appreciate it!

If you have any questions about the LSCA's milfoil control program, please get in touch at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Are you a member yet? Maintaining the lake costs approximately $125,000 annually. Grants, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and any contribution that you make is tax deductible.

The LSCA Fall 2018 Newsletter

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 25 Aug 2018 12:56:45 GMT

Hello good folks of the Lake St. Catherine community.

We'd like to let you know that the LSCA Fall 2018 newsletter is now available.

The digital version is now available online via our website through this link: Click here to view the Fall 2018 Newsletter, or click on the image below. You will be able to read through the newsletter and/or save a copy to your computer.

We hope you'll enjoy this edition of the LSCA newsletter.

We welcome your comments: info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you for your support!

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees - 07/21/2018

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 18 Aug 2018 12:59:34 GMT

On Saturday, July 21st, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their third meeting of the 2018 season.

The Trustees gave their reports on many topics - Click here to see the full meeting agenda. Meeting minutes compiled by Elaine Bagley, James Canders and Jerremy Jones.

July 21st 2018 Meeting of the Lake St. Catherine Board of Trustees

Lake St. Catherine Country Club, 8:30 AM

Meeting called to order by President Jim Canders at 8:30.

Present: Jeff Crandall, Mary Jo Teetor, Frank Callahan, Ken Abt, Phil Pole, Rand Burgner Jerremy Jones, Rob Nesbit, John Belnavis, Elaine Bagley, Jim Canders

Absent: Rob Goldman, Ed Laird, Kemi McShane

Recording Secretary’s Report, by Jim Canders - Minutes for Saturday, June 23, 2018 were approved, a motion was made and second to accept the minutes from June 23, 2018.
Annual Meeting Discussion - The Trustees discussed the preparations for the meeting later that evening, and went through the slide presentation making changes and updates. The full presentation will be made available on our website. 70+ attendees expected.
Treasurer's Report, Elaine Bagley - Elaine handed out updated spending reports and a draft budget. Discussion about expenditures for the year and next with the budget as a guide. Elaine stated that we will receive 15K from Poultney '18, we will receive $33,920 from the State in 2018 which will be divided into two parts one in October and one in February 2019.
Milfoil Management, Jeff Crandall - Discussed the removal of treatment signs, the continued suction harvesting program, discussion of the new 5 year plan.
Boat Launch Monitoring, John Belnavis - Greeters doing well, 844 inspections to date.
Water Quality, Mary Jo Teetor - Water clarity looking very good. Discussed excellent state and local response to Cyanobacteria bloom.
Publicity, Jerremy Jones - Discussed new brochure, upcoming Fall newsletter, newspaper coverage and notes from CF meeting.
Lake Safety, Frank Callahan - Discussed great attendance at both boating classes and taking care of some wayward buoy issues.
Government Relations, Martha Pofit - Discussed recent meeting at FOVLAP.
General Business - Discussed a plaque for Martin Greenberg being placed at the Welcome to LSC sign, thanks to Rand Burgner for his service to the board and to Lila Burger for her coordination of the Boat Parade. Both are stepping down. Looking for a new Trustee and a volunteer to run the Boat Parade. Thank you both!

The next meeting is scheduled for August 25, 2018 at 8:00 AM held at LSCCC. President Jim Canders called for the meeting adjournment at 11:15 AM. Motion for adjournment was made and seconded. Meeting adjourned at 11:15 AM.

The 2018 LSCA's Annual Meeting & Dinner Recap

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 22 Jul 2018 13:01:39 GMT

On Saturday, July 21st, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their 2018 Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club's Fairways Restaurant & Tavern.

We'd like to thank all those who attended this year's meeting - it was great to have a full house of good folks that care about Lake St. Catherine. We hope you enjoyed the the Trustee's reports, great speakers, and the open discussion of LSC topics. We appreciate your continued support of the LSCA, and the work we do for the Lake. We hope that you'll spread the good word of the LSCA to your neighbors around the lake.

We'd also like to thank the Lake St. Catherine Country Club for hosting the meeting and preparing a great dinner. We hope you enjoyed that as well.

LSCA President Jim Canders kicked off the meeting by welcoming all attendees and introducing our guest speakers:

Next, Jeff Crandall presented an update on the 2018 milfoil treatment, explaining our balanced program of spot treatments using Renovate and DASH (Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting).

This lead into a presentation by our first guest speaker, Marc Bellaud from SOLitude Lake Management on the milfoil treatment history on LSC. He also taked about a new herbicide called ProcellCOR that has just been aprroved by the EPA after 8 years of testing and research. As compared to Renovate, it's more effective, much less product is needed to treat - and there are no drinking or swimming restrictions after use. The LSCA will continue to research this option for milfoil treatment.

Next up, from the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District, was our second guest speaker, Sadie Brown. Saide talked about the Lake Education and Action Program (LEAP) which directs student interns to provide native buffer plantings and invasive plant removal activities around the lake. She also discussed the Stormwater Master Plan that is just kicking off on LSC. The PMNRCD is aksing for our help identifing areas in which stormwater runs into the lake. This stormwater moves silt and nutrients into the lake which has an impact on water clarity and quality - and provides food for weeds to grow.

Other presentations included water quality, boat launch monitoring, the annual boat parade, the treasurer's & membership report, LSCA communications, lake safety and Trustee elections.

You can view the full presentation below:

If you have any questions about what was presented, or if you have any follow up questions, please let us know. Please send them to info@lakestcatherine.org, we'd be happy to answer them for you.

Then, it was time to eat!

Finally, we'd like to like to recognize Lila and Rand Burgner for their work for the LSCA over the years. Lila and Rand will be retiring from their roles with the LSCA. Lila started, and has coordinated the Annual Boat Parade for the past 6 years. She mentioned that she would be happy to help the person that takes over the coordination of the parade (let us know if you are interested!). Rand has served on the board for 9 years - and was most recently coordinating the Greeter Program at the boat launch. Thank you both very much for your service to the LSCA and the lake - you will be missed!

We'd also like to thank Bob Williams from Williams Hardware for providing a fire pit to be used as a door prize for the evening. Thanks Bob!

Additional photos from the evening can be viewed in this Facebook album: 2018 LSCA Annual Meeting & Dinner.

We hope you had a fun, informative evening - and we hope you'll spread the word!

Thank you for your continued support!

Volunteers Needed - Vermont Statewide Loon Count, July 21st

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 13:13:43 GMT

Hello LSC.

We've been informed by Eric Hanson of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies that the Vermont Loon Conservation Project is looking for volunteers to perform a count of loons on Lake St. Catherine.

This project, as part of a statewide count, will take place on the morning of July 21st, 2018 on Lake St. Catherine.

If you'd like to be a part of this project and volunteer the morning of July 21st on LSC, please call or email Mary Jo Teetor, 802-287-5836 / ferncliff@comcast.net.

Thank you!

About the Vermont Loon Conservation Project from their website:

"From a mere seven pairs three decades ago, Common Loons now number more than 90 breeding pairs in the state. This conservation triumph came only with a collaboration among people and organizations across Vermont. Our chief partner in loon recovery and conservation is the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. Together, and with help from a corps of dedicated volunteers, we're securing a future for Common Loons in the state. Our strategy features: Monitoring, Management and Public Outreach."

Photo credit: Karen Velsor‎, originally posted in Lake St. Catherine - Vermont Facebook group.

Your 2018 Lake St. Catherine Association Contributions At Work

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 09 Jul 2018 20:03:07 GMT

Hello good folks of the Lake St. Catherine Community.

First, we'd like to thank everyone who has contributed their membership dues or has made a donation to the Lake St. Catherine Association this season. All of these contributions help us fulfill our purpose for the preservation, protection and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine.

These contributions included: renewing members, new members, members from the past, donations, and contributions in memory of a family member who loved the lake.

Thank you to all.

So, what are some of the ways we put these funds to good use for the lake? Let's take a look.

Milfoil Control

Unfortunately, Lake St. Catherine contains an invasive weed named Eurasian Watermilfoil, (milfoil or EWM for short).

In 1979, the LSCA started its effort against milfoil using a mechanical harvesting machine. Many long-time LSC residents remember "Hungry Harvey" chewing through the milfoil around the lake. All the while, the LSCA continued researching other possible solutions.

However, after years of harvesting the milfoil, the LSCA realized that this process may be making the situation worse. During the harvesting, only up to 4 feet of the milfoil bed is cut and small milfoil fragments are created, which can float away and create whole new beds of milfoil. Milfoil also regrows very quickly after being cut.

The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources has this to say about mechanical harvesting:

"Some mechanical harvesting was used for EWM control on Lake St. Catherine from 1985-2003, this method did not provide a satisfactory level of control and may have contributed to its spread via fragmentation. Experience with mechanical harvesting on Rutland County lakes in the 1980’s and 1990’s showed that harvesting resulted in dense beds of EWM since the aggressive plant is quickest to regrow after cutting." (please note: as mentioned above, we started in 1979, not 1985) - Permit Response #2014-C01

So, after much research and discussion, in 2002, the LSCA filed for a permit to treat the lake with an herbicide called SONAR. This permit was approved, and the lake was treated in 2004. A season-end survey after the treatment showed less than .10% of viable milfoil cover in the entire lake. A quick note on these year end reports: at the end of each season, since 2004, the LSCA has funded Aquatic Vegetation Management Reports which can be viewed on the Links & Downloads page on our website.

However, we knew this would not be the end of the milfoil - and we prepared to follow up this treatment in the following years to keep the milfoil under control.

Each year since that initial treatment, we've used spot treatments of the herbicide called Renovate - and in recent years, we've also added a dive team employing a technique called DASH - Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting. This combination of spot treatment of herbicide and DASH has been very successful in controlling the milfoil.

At the beginning of each season, the LSCA and SOLitude Lake Management perform a survey of the lake to map the milfoil growth - and mark the problem areas using GPS. We then create a plan to spot treat some areas with Renovate and suction harvest the rest. In recent years, our treatment program has been approximately 50% spot treatment and 50% DASH.

Now, you may have an objection to the use of herbicides to control the milfoil. If you outright object to the use of herbicides, we may not be able to have a productive discussion about them, but we hope you'll continue to read on.

We've taken note of comments made about herbicide use in the lake. Here are some: "harmful", "unhealthy", "toxic", "poison", "chemicals" (and in every combination you can think of). These terms are used by those opposed to herbicides to be provocative or scaremonger about their use. Here are a few more: "How does everyone feel about this poison in the water?" Or, how about this one, "With toxic herbicides, the milfoil comes back, usually worse than before and must be poisoned again." No data, facts or scientific references, just scary words.

This is certainly not the way to have an intelligent, productive discussion.

So, let's talk about the herbicide that is used - it is called Renovate.

On triclopyr (Renovate), from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources:

"At the request of the Lakes & Ponds Program, the Vermont Department of Health has conducted a review of the proposed use of herbicides and determined that it poses negligible risk to public health if conducted in accordance with its recommendations. To date, the Lakes & Ponds Program confirms that no health problems or elevated risk have ever been directly attributed to the use of triclopyr." - Permit Response #2014-C01

The EPA classifies Renovate as "practically non-toxic" (which is their highest rating) to mammals, fish, amphibians and birds.

But don't just take our word for it - please do your own research.

If you have questions or concerns about the use of herbicides to control milfoil, please plan on attending our Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner on Saturday, July 21st at 6PM at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club. A milfoil and milfoil treatment expert will be on-hand to give a brief presentation and answer your questions.

This season, we treated 5 spots on the lake with Renovate on June 18th, and 13 others will be treated by DASH over the next few months.

Keep an eye out for Beck and his crew on the lake performing the suction harvesting. Here are some photos of the DASH in progress as they were working just north of the island last week:

LSCA's suction harvesting boat and equipment

Milfoil is efficiently removed from the lake bed suctioned up to the conveyor and stored in buckets

This is a "Diver Down' flag, indicating that one of the crew is underwater harvesting

You can learn more about our milfoil treatment program by clicking here.

Invasive Species Control and Education - Greeter Program

Milfoil is not the only invasive species we need to worry about.

Each season, the LSCA works with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation to staff the LSC boat launch with well-trained inspectors called Greeters. They are paid personnel of the LSCA.

These Greeters inspect incoming and outgoing watercraft looking for invasive species of plant and animal life. Through their efforts, we can closely monitor and prevent other invasive species like Alewife, Asian Clams, Spiny Water Fleas, Water Chestnuts and Zebra Mussels carried on visiting boats, from invading Lake St. Catherine.

On duty from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on designated days beginning Memorial Day and continuing through Labor Day, the Greeters interact with boat owners providing information about invasive species and the need for boaters to adhere to the rules and regulations governing use of the lake.

Greeters on duty at the LSC boat launch:

The Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife - LSC Boat Launch - Greeter on Duty

Photos and descriptions of invasive species to keep an eye out for

LSCA Greeter Jon speaks with a boat owner

LSCA Greeter Jon inspecting the boat and trailer for invasive species

Jon, one of a few possible Greeters you may meet at the boat launch, reports that he enjoys interacting with boaters and educating them on the rules and regulations when launching or retrieving your boat. Thank you for being kind and courteous to the Greeters as they work to keep our lake safe from invasive species.

You can learn more about the Greeter Program and the updated rules and regulations here: Vermont Public Access Greeter Program Manual (PDF). The new regulations are listed in Appendix A on page 26 and 27.

Boating Safety Classes

Each season, the LSCA sponsors two free boating safety classes in cooperation with the Vermont State Police, Marine Division. Frank Callahan, LSCA board member in charge of Lake Safety, teaches the classes. One class is held in Poultney, the other in Wells.

These 8 hour classes, taught over 2 days, must be completed by anyone born after January 1st, 1974 to legally operate any motorized vessel - including personal watercraft.

We're happy to report that both classes this season each have 25+ students.

After passing the test, students will receive a license to operate motorized vessels, which is good in all 50 states.

Frank teaching the Boating Safety Class at the Poultney Volunteer Fire Department

LSCA Newsletters

Although we keep you up-to-date with the latest LSC news here on our website Blog and on Facebook, we still like to produce a Spring and Fall newsletter. This gives us a chance to inform you about upcoming events & activities in the Spring and a summary of the season in the Fall. Printed copies of our Spring newsletter we made available at Otto's Cones Point General Store and at the Wells Country Store in late May. Some copies are still available. You can also view a digital version of the Spring Newsletter here.

Lily Pond Channel Restoration Project

This project was completed in the Fall last year, but we want to mention again. Some additional contributions made this year were specifically noted to be in support of the completion of the channel restoration.

This $35,000 project restored connectivity between the Lily Pond and North Bay by using a hydro-rake to remove sediment and organic debris fro the middle of the connecting channel.

We hope you find our efforts worthy of your contributions.

We welcome your comments at info@lakestcatherine.org, or at our Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner on July 21st.

Thanks for reading - and your continued support of the LSCA.

Are you a member yet? Maintaining the lake costs approximately $125,000 annually. Grants, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and any contribution that you make is tax deductible.

2018 Lake St. Catherine Association Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 07 Jul 2018 20:20:52 GMT

Hello again to the LSC community. We'd like to share the details of the 2018 LSCA Membership Meeting & Dinner with you.

The Lake St. Catherine Association would like to invite you to the Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner on Saturday, July 21st, from 6 PM - 8 PM at the Fairways Restaurant & Tavern at the LSC Country Club.

The Trustees will make brief presentations, updating you on the work of the LSCA this season, including membership election of Trustees and discussion of lake affairs.

We will also have these guest speakers on hand to make brief presentations:

• Kara Sliwoski - SOLitude Lake Management,

- Milfoil & Milfoil Control

• Sadie Brown - Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District,

- Lake Wise & Stormwater Master Planning

• Bill Alexander - Slate Valley Trails,

- Bicycling & Foot Trails in the Slate Valley Region

You are all invited to ask questions, make statements, meet your neighbors and enjoy an excellent dinner!

Dinner:

$15 option: Baked Haddock / Chicken Marsala, Pasta Salad, Cake and Coffee.

$25 option: Prime Rib Dinner

We ask that you RSVP for dinner so the chef can prepare for the evening.

Please call or email Mary Jo Teetor, 802-287-5836 / ferncliff@comcast.net.

We hope to see you there!

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees - 06/23/2018

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 20:47:02 GMT

On Saturday, June 23rd, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their second meeting of the 2018 season.

The Trustees gave their reports on many topics - Click here to see the full meeting agenda. Meeting minutes compiled by Kemi Mcshane.

June 23rd 2018 Meeting of the Lake St. Catherine Board of Trustees

Lake St. Catherine Country Club, 8:30 AM

Meeting called to order by President Jim Canders at 8:30. Ten trustees were in attendance, six were absent.

Recording Secretary’s Report – Kemi McShane - Minutes for Saturday, May 26, 2018 were approved, a motion was made and second to accept the minutes from May 26, 2018.
Treasure’s Report – Elaine Bagley – President Jim Canders tabled the report for acceptance as discussion followed for the accuracy of line items in the report. Discrepancies’ were found for the following line items: open balance, disbursements of money to Solitude and the Suction Harvesting. Incomes from the State of VT, the municipalities of Poultney and Wells and the continual adjustment of receipt of membership dues. The need for a budget and an independent audit was requested. The accounting for the grant money received from the State of VT and that from the two municipalities needs to have clarification and recorded for verification of having received that money. The Board is intent on finding the proper balance between the use of an herbicide and that of suction harvesting. The 2 practices are in place presently to combat the spread of milfoil. Further discussion is required as new research is presented and studied, State regulations are followed and the continual monitoring of the milfoil is performed. It is agreed the management of the milfoil problem is going to be ongoing. The milfoil management is imperative work that has to continue as the challenges to maintain the water quality is ongoing. A budget committee has been formed to establish guidelines for the expenses that the LSCA incurs in the ongoing endeavor. AN updated Treasure’s report will be forth coming, a meeting will be called for to review the amended Treasure’s report.
Annual Meeting and Dinner for LSCA –July 21, 2018 – John Belnavis reported the food pricing of $15.00 for chicken and pasta, $25.00 for Prime Rib and the menu will be posted for the members to RSVP. The newsletter will post the information as the meeting will be held at the LSCCC, starting at 6:00 PM. The LSCA bylaws state the committees report to the general membership and a format is established to allow for this to be accomplished. Advertising- Jeremy Jones sent out a press release and updates the LSCA blog and newsletter regularly to keep information current and accurate. Jeremy will post the PowerPoint presentation and adjust the slide presentation to accommodate the committee members’ reports and to include the three guests’ speakers. There will be an allotted time for each to keep the meeting on time and organized. A meeting agenda will be posted. The three guest speakers are; Bill Alexander from VT Bike and Trails, Kara Sliweski, from Solitude Lake Management. She will explain the next 5-year plan. Hilary Solomon, from PMNRCD will discuss the Lakewise Program that provides sustainable gardens to reduce erosion around the Lake’s borders. The nominating committee will report to the membership to announce the new candidates. The meeting is to be kept to an hour.
Milfoil Management – Jeff Crandall (absent). Report made by Jim Canders in Jeff’s absence. The Herbicide treatment was done on June 18, 2018 was completed. Posting of signs handled by John Belnavis and MaryJo Teetor conducts the water testing. The next 5 year plan is to be discussed when Jeff is present as he is the point person. Suction Harvesting has been underway for 2 weeks for 2018 and has a new qualified diver. Discussion for the monitoring of this program from a cost perspective versus the continual use of an herbicide. And the need for additional advertising of the Suction Harvesting needs to be increased. A motion was made and second to add another banner to the pontoon boat to increase the awareness of the Suction Harvesting program by the LSCA. The discussion was tabled for further discussion when Jeff Crandall is present. Boat launch monitoring – John Belnavis – The Fish and Game department approves the program and it is reported that the LSCA program is in place and going well. The State mandates what the Greeters are to be paid; $15.00 and the hours are being kept for payroll. The new rule, “Plug in- Plug Out” is being enforced as a wrench was purchased and available for use by the Greeters. The coverage at the State boat launch will be increased for the anticipation of increased traffic during the Fourth of July holiday week. Discussion continued regarding the impact that the Lake Conservation is having on the LSCA efforts to treat the Lake and manage the milfoil. It is a concern for the LSCA that the State of VT is treating the Lake St Catherine Lake as two separate lakes and not just one Lake. There are two different approaches to the management of milfoil and this is impacting the progress of the LSCA management plan. The acquisition for permits and grants will require further research as the LSCA approaches the renewal of the next 5 year plan to treat the Lake.
Water Quality – MaryJo Teetor- Cyanno Bacteria- Halls Bay had a blossom and it is naturally occurring in stagnate water. It is localized and contained. The VT DEC had a rapid response team remove the blooms. And signs were posted alerting people. It is toxic and being monitored. Algae in Halls Bay in the Northwest corner. The Lily Pond channel project is allowing for increase boat activity and usage of the Lily Pond. No testing for E-coli has been performed this year.
Publicity – Jeremy Jones – developed a 3 sided brochure to inform the public of the LSCA efforts to manage the milfoil. It details the Herbicide program, the Suction Harvesting program. A motion was made and second to allow Jeremy the ability to print the brochure and circulate in the community. Jeremy is preparing the slide show presentation for the upcoming membership meeting. It will be posted for review and allow for changes to be made.
Lake Safety – Frank Callahan (absent) Placement of Markers is not complete at this time. The rock marker needs to be put in place. And the anchor for the marker by the bridge is missing. Nothing was stated regarding the change of rules for the placement of the markers. The boaters’ safety courses are dated for June 28- 29 in Wells and July 2-3 in Poultney. There has been a good response for those wanting to take the classes being offered.
Nominating Committee – Bob Williams (absent) will need to have applications for the terms that will be opened.
Membership – Elaine Bagley Report on receipt of dues is ongoing. At present have 268 paid members. Second mailing went out. An updated list of current addresses for property owners is needed. 150-375 facebook members
Government relations- Martha Pofit – Reported from the State meeting and workshops attended. Made good contacts and collected information to what could be perceived as potential threats to our progress at Lake Saint Catherine. The permit renewal process, local grants and membership being split between the Upper Lake and the Little Lake. THE LSCA has to maintain our relationships with Poultney and Wells as the maintenance of the surrounding lake roads impact the water quality. The Lakewise program has Lake Scorecards that report how the Lakes in VT are measured regarding the efforts made to maintain the water quality of each Lake. The LSCA needs to understand the data collected and how to correctly interpret the information. The LSCA needs to be proactive in the efforts to increase the awareness and successes of our lake management programs. It is suggested to meet with the local representatives and discuss the concerns and challenges that Lake St. Catherine has as we move forward in our efforts. It was presented to collect data from the board members to accurately report to the State of VT to increase their awareness of the hard work and progress that has been made. A motion was made and second to allow Philip Hicks to interview the members and record his findings to the LSCA. This information will be presented once completed.
Old Business- Boat Parade- Rand Burgner – scheduled for July 1, 2018. Fliers have been distributed, poor response compared to last years. 6 boats have registered, last year 22 participated. Prizes have been collected, there are 4 categories, viewing stations are established and the judges are in place. A press release has gone out, now just need more boats in the parade. Wells Day – Frank (absent) set for July 21, 2018. Conflict as same day as the next board meeting and the General Membership meeting. Set up for Variety Day is between 8:00-9:00 AM. Kemi stated visibility is imperative to circulate the important work the LSCA is doing. It was agreed to have a both, to split the monitoring of the both. Handouts, signs and posting will help get the message out regarding the LSCA.
Poultney Day – Rob August 11, 2018. Will attend and continue education the public about the LSCA. Insurance and Legal Guidance – Ed Laird (Absent) no report at this time.
Fireworks privately sponsored by Rick Roberts. Still accepting contributions to support this event. Scheduled for Saturday, July 7, at dusk.
New Business – next meeting scheduled for July 21, 2018 at 8:00 AM held at LSCCC. President Jim Canders called for the meeting adjournment at 11:00 AM. Motion for adjournment was made and second. Meeting adjourned at 11:00 AM.

Respectfully submitted, Recording Secretary, Kemi McShane

Sharing The Edge: A Guide For Lakeshore Property Owners In Vermont

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 20:23:41 GMT

Hello LSC.

Today, we are sharing a new guide for lakeshore property owners, published by the Vermont Department Of Environmental Conservation, Watershed Management Division, Lakes and Ponds Program.

About the guide, from the Vermont DEC:

"Are you considering lakefront property in Vermont? Maybe you live out of state and are drawn to Vermont’s clear waters and the poignant call of loons from across a pond. Or perhaps you’re a lifelong Vermonter who is just now contemplating a quiet retreat on the lake. The newly released Sharing the Edge: A Guide to Lakeshore Property Owners in Vermont offers guidance on everything from permitting to how to volunteer with the DEC Lakes and Ponds Program.

This property owner’s guide introduces a new or potential landowner to what a healthy lakeshore looks like and describes how Vermont manages its public waters as a natural resource. Sharing the Edge provides a brief overview of development regulations, including the Shoreland Protection Act and Lake Encroachment. Readers will learn where to locate the Inland Lakes Score Card, which opens to provide easy-to-read water quality data on Google Earth. Sharing the Edge introduces the Lake Wise program, which supports and awards properties that embody lake-friendly development. The guide also answers several frequently asked questions including 'Can I have a dock?' and 'How long does it take to get a permit?'."

It looks to be a great resource for lakeshore property owners. Take a look!

You can download a copy by clicking here: Sharing the Edge: A Guide to Lakeshore Property Owners in Vermont, or by clicking on the image below.

The LSCA's 6th Annual Boat Parade - The Winners Are...

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 20:53:10 GMT

Hello LSC!

Thank you to all the boats that participated in the parade - and to all those that cheered them on from the shore!

Here are your winners:

Best Overall:

1st - #6 - Lake St. Catherine Welcomes Back The 'Bald" Eagles - Pofit Family:

2nd - #1 - Vikings - Goldman Family:

Most Patriotic:

1st - #11 - Tardie Family:

2nd - #8 - Higgins Family:

Funniest:

1st - #14 - Fitzsimmons & Family - Every Day is A Holiday At Lake St. Catherine:

2nd - #15 - Wendell Family - May the 4th Be With You Jedi:

Most Original:

1st - #5 - Conine Family - Rowing Vikings:

2nd - #3 - Roth Family - May the 4th Be With You:

Nice job all! Lila will be in touch to get you your well earned prizes.

The LSCA would like to thank these generous sponsors for providing prizes for the Boat Parade:

A quick video of the boats as they paraded by:

You can see photos of all the boats that participated in this Facebook Photo Gallery.

FInally, thanks to Lila for once again organizing another excellent parade.

Lila also wanted to pass along these thanks: "Thank you to all our judges, Laura Edwards, Mary Jo and Mark Teeter, and Kim Mulcahy and her mom. Also for the families that let us use their boat house or deck for judges stations, Bill and Barb Carris, Dave and Eunice Conine and the Jucketts."

We hope everyone had fun. We'll do it all again next year!

Are you a member yet? Maintaining the lake costs approximately $125,000 annually. Grants, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and any contribution that you make is tax deductible.

Drinking And Food Preparation Restriction Lifted - 2018 Treatment

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 20:49:34 GMT

Hello LSC.

We'd like to inform you that testing of the lake water after the June 18th milfoil treatment indicates that we may now resume the use of lake water for drinking and food preparation.

Please note that the restriction for irrigation is still in place - and may take up to 120 days after treatment.

If you have any questions, please contact us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Cyanobacteria Cleared In Halls Bay Channel

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 21:04:27 GMT

We have been given the all-clear to remove the Cyanobacteria warning signs along the channel of Hall Bay - and normal use of the channel may resume.

The bloom has dissipated, and you may now enter the channel.

This is what the Cyanobacteria looked like:

It looks like light blue paint on top of the water.

Vermont DEC advised us that this was an unusual event for LSC, and they had no previous records of a Cyano bloom on the lake. They attributed it to a perfect storm of conditions that day in the Halls Bay channel, citing lack of rain, temperature, water depth and lack of water movement.

If you see a bloom like this anywhere on the lake inthe future, please let us know at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Cyanobacteria Found In Halls Bay Channel

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 21:13:41 GMT

On Sunday, June 17th, Cyanobacteria was found in the channel leading from Halls Bay.

The Vermont DEC was consulted and a crew was dispatched to contain the bloom with containment booms.

The Vermont Department of Health has posted signs to make property owners in that channel aware:

Until we are given the all-clear, please keep pets and children out of the water in the channel.

We have been told that it is naturally occurring - and that conditions were perfect for it to bloom there: lack of rain, temperature, water depth and lack of water movement.

We will keep you informed with any updates.

Additional information from the Vermont Department Of Health on Cyanobacteria can be read here: "CYANOBACTERIA (BLUE-GREEN ALGAE)". Please let us know immediately if you spot some.

From Vermont DEC Environmental Scientist, Angela Shambaugh:

"So long as there is visible cyanobacteria in the water, both in the inlet stream and anywhere along the lake shore where it empties into St. Catherine proper, everyone should be avoiding contact with them. Pets are also vulnerable, so owners should be keeping their pets out as well.

It is difficult to predict how long the bloom might persist in the stream. Lake surface blooms typically dissipate when wind and waves thoroughly stir the water. They can last for a matter of hours or for several days or weeks, depending on the conditions. Blooms in streams typically are moved out by increased flow. It doesn’t sound like you received much rain as a result of the storms earlier this week, so this bloom may persist until there is more water movement.

...I have no records of blooms on St. Catherine, so this may be an unusual event as a result of the dry and then hot weather we’ve experienced for the last few weeks."

Reminder: Milfoil Treatment On Monday, June 18th

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 21:15:48 GMT

Hello LSC.

This is a reminder that the 2018 milfoil treatment is this Monday, June 18th.

The lake will be closed for ALL USES on Monday, June 18th and Tuesday, June 19th.

The lake will reopen for recreational use on Wednesday, June 20th.

Please see the Advisory Notice for water use restrictions for irrigation and food & drink preparation:

Advisory Notice:

2018 Treatment Map:

If you have any questions about the upcoming milfoil treatment, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Register Your Boat For The 6th Annual Boat Parade!

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 21:18:05 GMT

Registration is underway for the Lake St. Catherine Association's 6th Annual Boat Parade!

Sunday, July 1st at 1 PM.

Sure, its fun to watch the Boat Parade... but it's even more fun to be in it!

[Overall 1st Place winner 2017: Beatles 50th Anniversary, Boat #16 - Jack McVicker & Kimberly Moore and friends]

It's time to come up with some creative ideas for your boat theme or decorations... and your creativity will be rewarded.

How?

Fabulous prizes, of course!

The LSCA would like to thank these generous sponsors for providing prizes for the Boat Parade:

So, you can see there is a lot at stake this year...

Prizes are awarded for:

Most original
Most patriotic
Funniest
Best overall

Plus, all kids that participate get a free ice cream coupon from Stewart's Shops!

To join in on the parade, please contact Lila Burgner at BurgnerL@msn.com to register your boat today.

You can read about last year's boat parade by clicking here.

Are you a member yet? Maintaining the lake costs approximately $125,000 annually. Grants, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and any contribution that you make is tax deductible.

The 2018 LSCA Membership Drive Continues

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 21:21:04 GMT

Hello Lake St. Catherine community!

The Lake St. Catherine Association would like to thank our 250+ (and counting...) members for their support in submitting their membership dues this year - along with those that have generously donated.

Your membership and the dues and contributions we receive allows us to accomplish our work. Maintaining the lake costs approximately $100,000 annually. While we do receive annual grants from Poultney, Wells, and the State, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding.

However, our membership drive for 2018 is not over! There are still many of you out in the Lake community that we'd like reach - to ask for your support.

Soon, we will send out a second round of mailings to the Lake St. Catherine community containing the 2018 Membership Application.

If you'd like to support the LSCA and become a member, you can fill out the Membership Form linked above, or you can fill in our online membership form and submit your dues via our website. If you'd like to try our online form, you can click here to go to our Membership section. If you were a member last year, you can click here to log in and renew.

Some of the services the LSCA provides are:

Maintain and purchase navigation and shore line protection buoys throughout the lake.
Test the water for E coli, and water clarity.
Managing the free boat-safety courses that are state mandated for all persons born after January 1, 1974.
Inspecting boats wishing to enter the lake for Eurasian milfoil, zebra mussels and water chestnuts.
Controlling milfoil (and other invasive species) and maintaining native weeds at tolerable levels.
Working with the state to solve the problems of silting and impacts of phosphorus and other sources of pollution.
Maintaining "welcome" signs and gardens.
Liaising with other lakes in order to exchange information concerning problems.
Sponsor the annual fun-filled July 4th Boat Parade.
Disseminate information to our membership and the community through newsletters, website, and other local publications.
Organizing funding through membership fees, donations and grants from the State of Vermont and Poultney and Wells.
We represent you to state and local governments to protect your rights and the lake in general.
We protect the value of your property by maintain the beauty, access, and safety of the lake.

After receiving your dues, our Treasurer Elaine will send you a welcome mailing which includes a LSCA member card for your window, a LSCA eyeglass / screen cleaner and a hand-written thank you note.

To our members - please spread the word about the LSCA! Your endorsement of the LSCA with your friends, family and neighbors would be greatly appreciated. Building our membership helps us continue to do great work for the Lake and the community.

We are also accepting donations. If you'd like to make a contribution (maybe in support of the Lily Pond Channel Project), you can do so via our website by visiting our Donation page here.

We hope you enjoyed our Spring 2018 Newsletter, and we hope to see everyone at the 2018 Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner on July 21st (more details soon).

We'd also like to let the businesses in the lake community know about a new membership level this year. This new membership level includes 4 benefits that the LSCA can provide: a listing on the Sponsors page of our new website, a Sponsor Spotlight story about your business posted on our website blog and Facebook page, the opportunity to have your special events posted on our LSC Community Calendar and a listing in our Spring and Fall Newsletters.

Thank you for your support!

If you have any questions, please contact us at at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Upcoming Opening On The LSCA Board Of Trustees

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 21:25:35 GMT

The Lake St. Catherine Association is searching for members of the LSC community to potentially join the board of trustees. Due to an anticipated retirement at the end of the season, the LSCA may have a trustee position open for a three year term beginning in 2019.

From our bylaws, the purpose of the LSCA is "...to utilize its income and assets for the preservation, protection and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine."

Would you like to join the board and help preserve, protect and maintain our beautiful lake? If so, please send an email to info@lakestcatherine.org, and include your contact information, a little bit about yourself, including why you'd like to join the board. Nominating Chair Bob Williams will get in touch with you.

Or, do you know someone that may be a good addition to the board? Let them know, or pass along their information to us, and we'll get in touch.

We're looking for folks who have time to volunteer, that work well with others in a group setting - and are ready to be active in fulfilling the purpose of the LSCA.

Trustees attend 4 board meetings, plus the Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner (May, June, July & August) and have other assigned duties and tasks depending on their involvement in committees throughout the season.

So, if you'd like to get involved, or know someone that may, please get in touch at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees - 05/26/2018

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 21:38:15 GMT

On Saturday, May 26th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their first meeting of the 2018 season.

The Trustees gave their reports on many topics - Click here to see the full meeting agenda. Meeting minutes compiled by Kemi Mcshane.

May 26th 2018 Meeting of the Lake St. Catherine Board of Trustees

Lake St. Catherine Country Club, 8:30 AM

Meeting called to order, 8:34 AM by President Jim Canders
Presentation by, Bill Alexander for the Slate Valley Trails; Biking & Hiking Trails in Southern VT educated the board on the mission, goals, history and future projects of this chapter of the Vermont Mountain Biking Assoc.(VMBA). Hike,Bike Explore with SVT activities and events as all are open to the public. Visit the website, www.slatevalleytrails.org for trail maps, current projects and upcoming group bike rides, hikes, and trail work days.
Minutes of the August 26,2017 meeting was approved.
Treasure's report was proved by Elaine Bagley. Discussion followed: Workman's Comp Insurance costs. Membership dues: mailings, responses from notices and the adjustments of received memberships is ongoing. End of year account balance; primary principle, cash issues and the concern for the need of an outside audit. Membership dues, the lag time between receiving monies from the local municipalities, contributions made to the Association from outside parties and in memoriam of others. Concern was expressed that budgets were not established for the different projects the Association funds. Forum was called to establish a budget committee, and was second to form such a committee. Mail is received at two locations and requires regular monitoring during the winter season.
Introductions of Martha Pofit, newly elected trustee and Kemi McShane, secretary.
Annual Meeting and dinner at LSCA July 21,2018. Suggested invite BIll Alexander to present to the membership regarding the SVT.
Milfoil management report - Jeffrey Crandall. Herbicide treatment scheduled for June 18-19,2018. Notification signs and public postings are scheduled prior to the treatment dates.The LSCA wants to increase public education to ensure the community is knowledgable of the techniques and the types of milfoil treatment programs that are being used in Lake St. Catherine. The LSCA has been diligent in its approach to managing the milfoil and other invasive species that threaten the quality of the lake. Suction harvesting, herbicide treatment, and the use of boat launch greeters are the present techniques being utilized in the management programs. A new product is on the market and the LSCA will review the test results and state regulation regarding the use of this new product. The harvesting program being used in the Little Lake is concerning to the negative impact the harvesting will have on the great strides the other treatment programs are having on the Lake. Documentation, and maps provide the areas of the Lake requiring treatment. Historical information will be collected and presented to educate the public with the positive results the herbicide, suction harvesting and boat greeters are having on the milfoil control of Lake St. Catherine. The LSCA has many challenges as it proceeds with the application for new permits. The LSCA moved to hire a graduate student to perform a literature review of the research regarding the best practices milfoil control. The LSCA will provide the community with up to date, unbiased information as a result of this literature review. A historical review of the weed harvesting procedures will be presented to the Association to demonstrate the significant changes in the aquatic weeds that have impacted the Lake and the efforts made to control the invasive species and their impact on the Lake. The LSCA has tracked the use of "Hungry Harvey" to the present day uses of weed control. A brochure will be published to educate the public.
Water quality report - Mary Jo Teetor. Lily Pond project has been successful. Boats are able to pass through. Beavers attempted to build a damn. the A posting of the contribution made by the LSCA will be placed in the area to notify the community to another project the LSCA is dedicated to regarding the improvements and care of the LAKe for all to use. Water quality kits are available for use and results are received in February and March.
Publicity report - Jeremy Jones. The current newsletter is published and will be circulated and posted on the website.
Lake Safety- Frank Callahan. Placement of markers and buoys are in progress. Boaters Safety course dates are: June 28 and 29 in Poultney, July 2 and 3 in Wells. All insurance coverage is in place for the usage of theses locations.
Nominating Committee - Bob Williams. Nominations are in order to fill open positions that will be available this year.
Membership - Rob Goldman (not in attendance). The February letter had an impressive response, as non-members have been contributing to the LSCA. Many donations have been received in memoriam. Another mailing will go out as a reminder to join the LSCA as it is the Association"s hope to surpass last years membership.
Government relations - Phil Pope (not in attendance). June 1, a FOVLAP meeting is being held. It is important to attend this meeting as it deals with the State Lakes. It was stated the importance of reviewing the correspondences that are sent to the state as to the accuracy of the contents to assure the issues are being addressed in a time and efficient manner.
Old Business - Boat Parade - Rand Burgner. Flyers for the boat parade( July 4,2018) will be sent out. It is Lila's last year as she has organized this event for the past six years. It has been well received and a success under her guidance. Wells Variety Day - Frank Callahan. July 21,2018. this is also the Board Mtg and the Annual Membership Mtg. Poultney Day - Rob Goldman. August 11,2018. Insurance and Legal guidance - Ed Laird. Insurance is in place to cover the LSCA to use buildings for meetings and education purposes. Ed requested the 501C designation that was received from the IRS to supply the necessary information to the insurance company. Private sponsored fireworks - Rick Roberts. Jack Williams is not participating in the firework display this year. Any donations will be appreciated by Rick. Send the donation to : Rick Roberts 6 Broadview Terrace Granville, NY 12832. The date for the firework display will be July 7,2018.
New Business - Rand Burner proposed a plaque be placed on the Welcome to Lake St. Catherine sign in honor of Martin Greenberg. A motion to accept the purchasing and placement of a slate plaque to be displayed on the welcome sign was second.

June 23, 2018- Board meeting

July 21, 2018- Board meeting and Membership meeting

New Boating rules and greeters are in place at the State boat launch in Wells, VT.

Motion to adjourn the meeting was seconded at 11:04.

The next meeting of the LSCA Board Of Trustees will take place on June 23rd at 8:30 AM at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club.

LSCA Announces 2018 Milfoil Treatment

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 29 May 2018 21:46:07 GMT

In cooperation with Josh Mulhollem from the Vermont Department Of Environmental Conservation and SOLitude Lake Management (SLM), the Lake St. Catherine Association would like to inform the community that the lake will be treated for milfoil on Monday, June 18th, 2018.

On May 9th, biologists from SLM visited the lake to perform a milfoil survey. They have identified areas to be treated with aquatic herbicide Renovate and Renovate OTF in Accordance with the Aquatic Nuisance Control Permit #2014-C01.

During and after the treatment, please be aware of the following lake water use restrictions:

• There shall be NO USE of Lake St. Catherine, Lily Pond and Little Lake FOR ANY PURPOSE, including boating, fishing, swimming, domestic (household) use or irrigation, on the day of and the entire day after the treatment

• Swimming/wading, boating, fishing and domestic use (except drinking or for food or drink preparation) may resume the beginning of the second day following treatment.

• Use of water from Lake St. Catherine, Lily Pond and Little Lake for drinking or for food or drink preparation shall not resume until water sample analyses reveal that the active ingredient in Renovate (triclopyr) is at or below 75 parts per billion by laboratory analysis.

• Use of water from Lake St. Catherine, Lily Pond and Little Lake for irrigation, including use for watering lawns, trees, shrubs or plants, shall not resume for 120 days or until water sample analyses reveal that triclopyr is at or below 1.0 part per billion by laboratory analysis, whichever comes first.

This means that the lake will be closed for all uses on Monday, June 18th and Tuesday, June 19th.

Along with the herbicide treatment, 13 areas have been selected for DASH. DASH is an acronym for Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting. This process involves scuba divers using suction hoses powered by a surface compressor to selectively remove milfoil from the lake bottom. They will be working throughout the season to remove milfoil by the roots in these designated areas.

Here is a map of the treatment areas for Renovate and DASH:

Are you a member yet? Maintaining the lake costs approximately $125,000 annually. Grants, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and any contribution that you make is tax deductible.

If you have any questions about the upcoming milfoil treatment, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

The LSCA Spring 2018 Newsletter

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 26 May 2018 22:48:34 GMT

Hello Lake St. Catherine.

We'd like to let you know that the LSCA Spring 2018 newsletter is now available.

The digital version is now available online via our website via this link: Click here to view the Spring 2018 Newsletter, or click on the image below. You will be able to read through the newsletter and/or save a copy to your computer.

We hope you'll enjoy this edition of the LSCA newsletter.

We welcome your comments: info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you for your support!

2018 Greeter Program Starting Up Memorial Day Weekend

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 17 May 2018 22:51:36 GMT

As folks start launching their watercraft this season, they will be welcomed at LSC & State of Vermont boat launch by "Greeters".

These well trained individuals inspect incoming and outgoing watercraft looking for invasive species of plant and animal life. Through their efforts, we can closely monitor and prevent such species as Eurasian Water Milfoil, Alewife and Water Chestnuts carried on visiting boats, from invading Lake St. Catherine.

On duty from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on designated days beginning Memorial Day and continuing through Labor Day, the greeters interact with boat owners providing information about our lake and and the need for boaters to adhere to the rules and regulations governing use of the lake.

There are some new rules this year regarding invasive species. You can read about these and the Greeter Program in the Vermont Public Access Greeter Program Manual (PDF). The new regulations are listed in Appendix A on page 26 and 27.

Greeters are provided by the LSCA as trained and paid personnel to inspect boats entering the lake.

You can read more about the LSC boat launch here.

Are you a member yet? Maintaining the lake costs approximately $125,000 annually. Grants, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and any contribution that you make is tax deductible.

2018 LSCA Boating Safety Classes (FREE!)

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 16 May 2018 22:54:23 GMT

The Lake St. Catherine Association is pleased to provide two FREE boating safety courses this season.

The first will be held on June 28th and 29th from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Poultney Volunteer Fire Department on Beaman Street.

The second will be held on July 2nd and 3rd from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Wells Village School on Route 30.

Anyone born after January 1st, 1974 must successfully complete an approved boating safety education course to legally operate any motorized vessel - including personal watercraft.

Frank Callahan, Trustee in charge of Boating Safety, will be conducting the courses.

Space is limited to 25 attendees, so please call 802-645-9136 or email Frank at frank.callahan@lakestcatherine.org to register.

For additional information about boating in Vermont, check out the online Handbook of Vermont Boating laws and Responsibilities.

Are you a member yet? Maintaining the lake costs approximately $125,000 annually. Grants, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and any contribution that you make is tax deductible.

2018 4th Of July Events On Lake St. Catherine

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 23:40:51 GMT

Hello good folks of the Lake St. Catherine community.

How about some news to make us think of some 'Fun In The Sun' during these cold April days... as we wait for the ice on the lake to disappear #LSCIceWatch2018 (the ice went out on 3/2 last year).

We'd like to let you know about the 6th Annual Boat Parade and when the LSC 4th of July fireworks will light up the sky.

6th Annual Lake St. Catherine Boat Parade:

This year, the Boat Parade will take place on Sunday, July 1st at 1 PM. Prizes are awarded for:

Most Original
Most Patriotic
Funniest
Best Overall

We'll have more information soon on prizes and the parade route.

Here's our Best Overall winner from last year:

Fireworks:

A photo from last year's display:

We hope the thought of these summer events will keep you warm until Spring finally arrives!

So, mark you calendars for July 1st for the Boat Parade and July 7th for the fireworks - and thanks to Lila and Rick for organizing these great events for all of us to enjoy.

Residents Of Wells And Poultney Vote To Provide Funds To The LSCA

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 23:45:12 GMT

On Tuesday, March 6th 2018, the residents of Wells and Poultney voted to provide $12,000 and $20,000, respectively, in support of the Lake St. Catherine Association's mission to protect and maintain the lake.

We'd like to thank the good folks of both towns for their support. These funds, along with membership dues and contributions, will help us perform our work for the season - including: boat launch monitoring & boating safety classes and milfoil treatment & suction harvesting. You can read more about all that the LSCA does in the Our Purpose section of our site.

Are you a member yet? Maintaining the lake costs approximately $125,000 annually. Grants, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and any contribution that you make is tax deductible. Thanks again to the residents of Wells and Poultney!

Off To A Good Start - The 2018 Membership Drive

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 00:57:04 GMT

Hello again to the good folks of the Lake St. Catherine community.

We wanted to give you a quick update on the 2018 Membership Drive. In just the past few weeks since the 2018 drive started, we've had over 100 memberships sent in via mail and online through the website.

Thanks to all of you that got right to it and sent in your membership - and thanks to those of you that have contributed above the standard $100! All of your support is appreciated as we head into the upcoming season at the lake.

Our Treasurer Elaine will be working through all the memberships to send you a note and receipt, along with your 2018 LSCA window card and a small thank you gift (an eyeglass / screen cleaning cloth).

Although we are off to a great start, we have a long way to go...

So, if you have not already, we hope that you'll consider supporting the Lake St. Catherine Association this year.

You can also download a PDF copy of the 2018 Membership form. Just fill out the form and mail it in to our Treasurer Elaine with a check for your dues. Or, you can renew or become a member on our website. If you were a member in 2017, click here to renew or to become a new member - and you can pay your dues online with your credit card. If you were a member last year (whether you paid by check or online by credit card), the website has an account ready for you. If you don't remember your password, or never set one up, click on the "Forgot Username/Password?" link, and the site will send you an email with the information.

Also, don't forget to check with your employer to see if they have a charitable giving program that may match your contribution!

We also have a new Business Sponsor Membership for local businesses in the lake community.

Finally, we'd like to ask for your help in spreading the word about the membership drive. When speaking to your friends, family and neighbors, please let them know that the 2018 drive is underway. You could also post, or share our posts on Facebook to get the word out.

We appreciate your support!

If you have any questions, please contact us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

The 2018 LSCA Membership Drive Is Underway!

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 01:01:21 GMT

Hello good folks of the Lake St. Catherine community.

It's that time of year again... As the Lake St. Catherine Association heads into its 65th year, we are asking for your support for the 2018 season.

Your membership dues and contributions help fund many of the services provided by the LSCA:

Maintain and purchase navigation and shore line protection buoys throughout the lake.
Test the water for E coli, and water clarity.
Managing the free boat-safety courses that are state mandated for all persons born after January 1, 1974.
Inspecting boats wishing to enter the lake for Eurasian milfoil, zebra mussels and water chestnuts.
Controlling milfoil (and other invasive species) and maintaining native weeds at tolerable levels.
Working with the state to solve the problems of silting and impacts of phosphorus and other sources of pollution.
Maintaining "welcome" signs and gardens.
Liaising with other lakes in order to exchange information concerning problems.
Sponsor the annual fun-filled July 4th Boat Parade.
Disseminate information to our membership and the community through newsletters, website, and other local publications.
Organizing funding through membership fees, donations and grants from the State of Vermont and Poultney and Wells.
We represent you to state and local governments to protect your rights and the lake in general.
We protect the value of your property by maintain the beauty, access, and safety of the lake.

Your dues and contributions also help support special initiatives like the Lily Pond Channel Restoration project, which was completed in October. We are still hoping to raise additional funds to cover the cost of this project. We hope that you'll consider adding an additional contribution to your membership dues this year, in support of this important restoration.

There are two easy ways to renew or become a member of the LSCA.

Soon, you will be receiving a mailing from us that contains the 2018 Member Notice. Just fill out the form and mail it in to our Treasurer Elaine with a check for your dues. We'll also send you an email if we have your address on file.

Or, you can renew or become a member on our website. If you were a member in 2017, click here to renew, or to become a new member - and you can pay your dues online with your credit card. If you were a member last year (whether you paid by check or online by credit card), the website has an account ready for you. If you don't remember your password, or never set one up, click on the "Forgot Username/Password?" link, and the site will send you an email with the information.

If you are a business in the Lake St. Catherine community, we have a new Business Sponsor Membership we'd like to tell you about. The Business Sponsor Membership includes:

A listing on our ‘Sponsors’ page on www.lakestcatherine.org with your logo, a link to your web or Facebook page, including a brief description of your business and services.
The posting of your events and special occasions to our Events & LSC Community Website Calendar.
A posting on our Blog and Facebook page about your business as a ‘Sponsor Spotlight’ feature.
A posting for your business in our Spring and Fall newsletters. Newsletters will be made available to the community in both printed and digital versions.

Finally, we'd like to tell you about a very exciting partnership with local artist Peter Huntoon. Peter has generously offered to create an original painting of Lake St. Catherine to be used as a fundraiser to benefit the LSCA in 2018. We'll let you know when the painting is completed - and how the fundraiser will work (auction / raffle). Prints of the original painting will also be available for purchase.

We appreciate your support!

If you have any questions, please contact us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Lake St. Catherine Implementation Team Year End Report

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 01:06:23 GMT

Laura Dlugolecki from the Vermont Department Of Environmental Conservation, Watershed Management Division has provided this year end report of the Lake St. Catherine Implementation Team:

"I want to update you on some implementation projects that were completed, outreach events, projects that received funding, and the status of the South Lake Tactical Basin Plan.

Lake St. Catherine State Park:

Many of you are familiar with the Lake Wise Program, which is an initiative that awards lake-friendly shoreland properties. The goal of Lake Wise is to establish a new culture of lakeshore landscaping that is proven to help protect the lake. A property that earns the Lake Wise Award will represent a "model" shoreland property. The Lake Wise Award certifies a property is well managed, using shoreland Best Management Practices, and is maintained to care for the lake.

In 2014, Lake St. Catherine State Park was one of 10 State Parks that was evaluated through the Lake Wise Program. The Lake wise evaluation provided recommendations for improvement to bring the Park up to the Lake Wise standards. Three of the 10 Lake Wise evaluated State Parks received funding this year to implement the Lake Wise recommendations (Lake St. Catherine, Silver Lake State Park in Barton, and Island Pond State Park in Brighton.) This spring, crews worked to install two sets of infiltration steps in steep, eroding access path areas, widen the vegetated buffer to 15 feet, and to add plantings on the banks. This fall, crews returned to complete some upper bank stabilization at the top of the slope and to remove a campsite at the top of a steep slope, renaturalizing the area to reduce compaction at the top of the slope, which will reduce erosion.

Septic Social:

In July we held a septic social, graciously hosted by Dede Kendall on the shores of Little Lake. There was a good turnout of local residents who came to learn about septic systems on lake-front property, how they work, their impact on the lake, and about alternative systems that can be used on small lakeshore lots. If there is demand and interest, we are happy to collaborate with residents, towns, lake associations, etc. to hold a similar event in the future.

Lake St. Catherine Watershed Stormwater Assessment/Lake Wise Master Plan:

At past implementation team meetings, we discussed the potential for having a stormwater assessment completed for the Lake St. Catherine Watershed to better understand some of the major sources of water quality issues in the area to better prioritize action and implementation. (We were given a brief presentation on an assessment that was done for Lake Bomoseen in the past).

Hilary Solomon of the Poultney-Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District applied for Ecosystem Restoration Program (ERP) funding and was awarded the funds to go forward with the assessment.

Hilary will be working with partners to do a lake-focused assessment of the Lake St Catherine and the Wells Brook watershed, which includes roughly half of the Wells Brook-Mettowee River. Included are Endless Brook, the largest tributary to Lake St Catherine, which carries high sediment loads during storms, and Wells Brook, which flooded badly on July 1, 2017, and shows erratic and often high bacteria and nutrient concentrations during summer water quality monitoring. The project will involve completing an extensive field assessment to identify sources of pollution and stormwater to the streams in the Wells Brook Watershed and to Lake St Catherine. Projects to fix the problem areas will be identified and will be prioritized, based on quantitative criteria agreed upon by Vermont DEC staff. The 20 most effective projects will receive a one-page write up to assist with public outreach and help facilitate implementation. The six highest-priority, more complex projects (to be determined with DEC input) will receive conceptual designs.

The projects identified from this assessment will be prioritized for future funding. This stormwater assessment was proposed collectively through Lake Saint Catherine Implementation Team meetings attended by PMNRCD, members of the Wells Select Board, the Poultney Town Manager, members of the Lake St Catherine Association, and members of the Lake St Catherine Conservation Fund.

Updates to the South Lake Tactical Basin Plan:

Based on input from Towns, lake associations, the implementation team, assessments, monitoring data, and other partners, the South Lake Tactical Basin Plan is being updated. The Tactical Basin Plan identifies priority actions that protect and restore water quality within the South Lake Basin (where the Lake St. Catherine Watershed is located). Priority actions may be implementation projects or assessments. The actions identified in the basin plan are prioritized to receive grant funding. There is a public facing database to see current funding priorities which you can view here. You can search by basin (2&4 for the South Lake Basin) to see the current identified priority projects and whether or not they have been completed and/or funded. Each basin plan gets updated on a 5-year rotation. The South Lake Basin Plan is nearing completion of its update, which includes many lake-focused implementation projects as priorities, based on input from partners and data.

The DRAFT South Lake Basin Plan is out on 30-day public notice for public review and comment. The DEC anticipates approving this draft by the end of December concurrent with our requirements under the Lake Champlain TMDL and Accountability Framework.

The (formal) draft version is located here.

Sorry for the short notice about these meeting dates, I just learned of them myself.

When the Basin Plan is complete, the updated list of priority projects will be added to the website.

The updated DRAFT Basin Plan identifies implementation opportunities for managing aquatic invasive species, management of runoff from roads into the lake, culvert and road upgrades to reduce runoff, Lake Wise assessments and Implementation, and projects to address agricultural runoff, forestry practices, and waste water treatment plants.

Non-profit groups, like lake associations, watershed groups, and towns can all apply for funding to implement the projects identified in the Basin Plan. Towns are encouraged to take initiative for zoning issues to deal with septic and stormwater runoff issues.

Outreach:

In August, The Lake Champlain Sea Grant and Amy Picotte from the DEC, Lake Wise Program, held a Shoreline Erosion Control workshop called: “Protecting Property and Lake - Be Storm Ready with Lake Friendly Practices.” The workshop was an opportunity for landowners to learn about natural approaches to protecting and stabilizing their shoreline, the Lake Wise program, and basic information about the Shoreland Protection Act. If lake associations or other groups are interested in additional workshops, please reach out and we can thing about future opportunities.

Additionally, I wanted to alert you to some work going on with your “neighbor lake”—Lake Bomoseen. Lake Bomoseen is going through a similar process with an implementation team of their own.

Lake Bomoseen Stormwater Assessment: The PMNRCD completed a stormwater master plan for the Lake Bomoseen watershed last year that yielded a list of priority projects to improve water quality. Some of the priority projects are now funded for implementation in the coming field season.

Cedar Mountain Road:

This August, a steep, eroding (nearly vertical) stretch of Cedar Mountain Road along Lake Bomoseen was stabilized using “bioengineering methods.” Encapsulated soil lifts, natural stone and vegetation were used to stabilize the shore and restore the shoreline to a natural slope. This approach uses “soft-scaping” as opposed to hardscaping methods and prevents erosion, while establishing natural vegetation at the shoreline. To learn more, check out the videos at the bottom of the Lake Wise website."

Links & Downloads Section Added To Website

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 01:11:06 GMT

Good day to all of you out there in the Lake St. Catherine Community...

We'd like to let you know about a new section we've just added to our website, Links & Downloads. Here, we'll post links to websites that may be of interest to the lake community along with reports and documents.

Today, we've posted links to:

Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds (FOVLAP)

Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation

Vermont Agency of Natural Resources

Sea Grant

Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District

We've also posted a PDF version of the Lake St. Catherine - A Historical Scrapbook, and an excellent PDF booklet on plants and planting called Landscape Design For Healthy New England Lakes by FOVLAP.

Finally, you'll see a collection of our annual Aquatic Vegetation Management Plan reports, including our 2017 Annual Report. These reports go back to 2004 - and they detail our yearly surveys and treatments of the lake for Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM).

We hope you'll find this new section useful. You'll see the Links & Downloads section listed in the main navigation bar at the top of our webpage.

We'll let you know when new items are added as we continue to add new content to the site.

LSCA Partners With Vermont Artist Peter Huntoon For 2018 Fundraiser

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 10 Oct 2017 00:15:06 GMT

The Lake St. Catherine Association is excited to announce a partnership with Vermont Artist Peter Huntoon.

Peter has generously offered to create an orginial painting of Lake St. Catherine to be used as a fundraiser to benefit the LSCA in 2018.

This past Sunday, we headed out onto the Lake with Peter to scout for scenes. He found something that caught his eye - and we can't wait to see how he again captures the beauty of LSC.

LSC has been the subject of some of his previous paintings: Lake St. Catherine, Ice-Out, and his latest painting, Little Lake:

- "Little Lake" by Peter Huntoon, image from peterhuntoon.com

We are still working out the details of how we will make the original painting available (auction / raffle), but we will have prints available for purchase - with all proceeds benefitting the LSCA.

Peter, thank your for your support of the LSCA - we know the LSC community is looking forward to seeing your painting!

You can learn more about Peter and his work on his website.

Lily Pond Channel Project Completed

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 13:08:35 GMT

Good afternoon LSC.

We are happy to report that the Lily Pond channel restoration project has been completed.

Here are some photos Mary Jo took on her paddle through the channel:

We are very happy with the results - and we hope you are too.

We hope you'll see the completion of this project as a worthy effort of the LSCA - and you'll support us as we continue our commitment to the preservation, protection and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine.

As we've mentioned in our previous updates, we are hoping to raise half of the $35,000 need to pay for this project.

Currently, we are aware of - or have received a total of $4,100 in donations and pledges. This is a great start on our way to the $17,500 we hope to raise, but we still have a long way to go.

Please consider making a donation to help us reach our goal.

One very generous LSCA member has pledged to add an additional $100 for every donation of $1,000 or more.

You can visit our donation page by clicking here (click the Add To Cart button to enter your donation amount), or by sending in a check to:

Lake St. Catherine Association
Lily Pond Project
P.O. Box 631
Wells, VT 05774

If you have any questions, or if you'd like to make us aware of a donation on the way, please contact the LSCA at: info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you for your support!

A Response To The LSCCF's Printed And Online Materials

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 13:13:13 GMT

Good afternoon Lake St. Catherine.

We'd like to take a moment to clear up some confusion created by a brochure you may have seen recently at local businesses in Wells and Poultney, entitled "Restoring Lake St. Catherine". This brochure was created by the Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund (LSCCF).

The LSCCF was created in 2008 by property owners on the Little Lake. This organization is not associated with us, the Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA), which was founded in 1953. The LSCA and the LSCCF are two separate organizations with very different approaches to dealing with lake issues.

First, their brochure contains a saying that many will remember was used for a number of years by the LSCA, "For the sake of the lake." We hope this was unintentional.

In the first paragraph of the brochure, while discussing the Little Lake, they write "Some parts are now un-navigable where this shallow water is also clogged with Eurasian watermilfoil and other nuisance plants." (The "nuisance plants" mentioned include native species to LSC, like Large Leaf Pondweed and Robbins' Pondweed.)

In 2012, the LSCCF asked the LSCA to not treat the Little Lake with herbicide as we had since the initial Sonar treatment in 2004. They had applied for and received a permit to run an experiment using aerators. Each year since 2004, the LSCA has been successfully managing new milfoil growth in the Lake with spot treatments of herbicide - adding in suction harvesting in 2007.

Since the LSCA stopped treating the Little Lake in 2011, the milfoil growth has exploded. Aeration has not been shown to have an effect on milfoil. We encourage you to visit the aeration spots on the Little Lake to see for yourself.

Finally on the topic of milfoil, we must also take a moment to call your attention to some inflammatory language on the LSCCF's website. One particular page mentions herbicides as "harmful", "unhealthy" or "toxic" 7 times.

The herbicide the LSCA uses each season is called Renovate OTF (on target flakes). The active ingredient is Triclopyr, which is proven safe for humans and wildlife and listed as practically non-toxic by the EPA. Use of this herbicide in LSC has been approved by the State of Vermont's Agency of Natural Resources and its use is strictly regulated by the Vermont DEC. Describing it as harmful, unhealthy or toxic is scaremongering.

On the same page, there are these two paragraphs referring to aeration:

"Asked about the success of this type of remediation, some have observed, 'Eurasian watermilfoil was in several lakes and ponds that we put the system in, and it is not present in any treated lakes or ponds now.'

Eurasian watermilfoil can be controlled using environmental remediation without unhealthy herbicide. With toxic herbicides, the milfoil comes back, usually worse than before and must be poisoned again. With environmental remediation, Eurasian watermilfoil never comes back. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent to control milfoil on Lake St. Catherine with weed harvesters and toxic herbicide, and its growth is now worse than ever."

There are no references or studies cited to show that "Eurasian watermilfoil can be controlled using environmental remediation" or "With environmental remediation, Eurasian watermilfoil never comes back"? Also, who are the "some" who have "observed"?

Since 2004, The LSCA has been controlling milfoil using a combination of spot herbicide treatment and suction harvesting - and year over year, we've been reducing the amount of herbicide used as our suction harvesting continues to increase and improve.

Think about the last line in that paragraph: "Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent to control milfoil on Lake St. Catherine with weed harvesters and toxic herbicide, and its growth is now worse than ever." Knowing the history of milfoil in Lake St. Catherine, how could anyone describe the milfoil in areas that the LSCA is managing as "worse than ever"? This comment is simply untrue. Each year, in the spring and the fall, LSC is surveyed by the LSCA and our contractor SOLitude Lake Management to formulate a treatment plan. Milfoil reports are generated during these surveys and the data clearly shows that the milfoil is not "worse than ever".

This brings us back to similar unsubstantiated claims in the brochure. Some statements begin with "We believe..." or "We concluded..." or claim that the aeration is "working great!". Believing things or drawing conclusions based on those beliefs is certainly not scientific, and they provide no documented evidence that these statements or claims are true. Very important decisions about lake management should not be made based on beliefs.

These are all important things to keep in mind as you read their material. Why do they not provide documented evidence for their claims or beliefs? Why do they knowingly spread false information? Why do they try to scare you with untrue statements?

Now, the LSCCF has purchased a harvesting machine. After running a harvesting program for over 20 years, the LSCA realized that harvesting is like mowing your lawn. After the first cut, you need to keep cutting the weeds as they will grow right back. During the process of cutting and harvesting the milfoil, fragments are created that aren’t captured and removed from the lake. A tiny milfoil fragment can start a new plant . Harvesters are also difficult and expensive to operate and maintain. The LSCA stopped using mechanical harvesters in the early 2000s.

The LSCA would like to once again be involved in the treatment of the Little Lake, including helping to address its unique issues. But, as you've read, we've been shut out. From the LSCA's bylaws, our purpose is to "to utilize (our) income and assets for the preservation, protection and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine." We are stewards of the entire lake - from Lily Pond down to the Little Lake.

Although milfoil treatment is a major focus for the LSCA each season, we do so much more for the Lake. We also promote lake safety with free boating safety courses and by maintaining the cones and buoys. We manage the Greeter program at the boat launch to check boats for invasive species. We continually test the water for E coli, and water clarity. We represent you to state and local governments to protect your rights and the lake in general. We sponsor free workshops on topics like septic systems and shoreline best practices. We also apply for permits to conduct special projects like restoring the Lily Pond channel.

As someone that cares about the Lake, you have the option to support - or not support - either Association. All we can ask is that you do so based on the facts. We hope to earn your support.

Thanks for reading, and we welcome your comments: info@lakestcatherine.org.

The Lily Pond Channel Restoration Project Is Underway

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 13:21:55 GMT

The Lily Pond Channel Restoration Project has begun and we'd like to give you an update.

Back in April, the LSCA applied for a permit to “...remove sediment and organic debris from the center of the channel between the Lily Pond and the North Bay of Lake St. Catherine to restore the connectivity, increase water movement, improve water quality, enhance open water habitat and control invasive/nuisance vegetation.”

This permit was approved in June - and the LSCA board voted to appropriate the funds ($35,000) for the project at our final meeting of the season on August 26th.

SOLitude Lake Management started their work on Monday - the first day of an anticipated 10 day work schedule.

Here are some photos of the work in progress from this morning:

We'd also like to update you on our fundraising efforts.

This project will cost $35,000. The LSCA is hoping to raise half this amount ($17,500) from the lake community to help defray the costs for this expensive undertaking.

We are happy to report that good folks in the LSC community have already started pledging donations!

Currently, we have $2,600 in donations and pledges. So, we are off to a good start, but we still have a long way to go.

We also have an anonymous matching offer to tell you about. A very generous LSCA member has pledged to donate an additional $100 for every donation at or above $1,000.

The LSCA would like to thank this member for their matching pledge. We hope the community will take advantage of the offer to make their own donation a bit more valuable to the project.

If you would like to help by contributing to this project, please consider sending in a donation to the Association. You can visit our donation page by clicking here (click the Add To Cart button to enter your donation amount), or by sending in a check to:

Lake St. Catherine Association
P.O. Box 631
Wells, VT 05774

Of our current donations and pledges, some have pledged their amount based on the project beginning, some based on the project completion. Since we'd like to keep the community up-to-date on our fundraising efforts, we'd ask that if you plan on making a donation, please send us a quick note to: info@lakestcatherine.org to let us know. This will allow us to keep a total of in-hand and pledged donations.

We hope that you will consider donating to help fund this important Lake project. If you have any questions, please contact the LSCA for more information: info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you for your support!

Protecting Your Property and Your Lake Workshop Recap

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 10 Sep 2017 13:28:05 GMT

On Thursday, August 31st, Lake Champlain Sea Grant (LCSG) hosted a free workshop entitled "Protecting Your Property and Your Lake: Be Storm Ready with Lake Friendly Practices” in the Nature Center of the Lake St. Catherine State Park.

Managing stormwater runoff and erosion is especially challenging along Lake St. Catherine shorelines due to intensive development with limited areas available for vegetative stormwater treatment practices.

Linda Patterson, Water Quality Educator with LCSG gave a PowerPoint presentation that discussed natural and human factors contributing to stormwater runoff and shoreland erosion, and the detrimental effects of these forces on water quality and animal and plant life.

Methods for controlling erosion and runoff were presented: native vegetation, hard armor (sea walls, boulders), bioengineering (a mixture of vegetation and hard armor), and soft armor (coir logs, matting, etc.).

Participants had the opportunity to describe erosion and runoff issues on their properties, and to ask questions regarding designs and resources for addressing these problems.

To learn more about these methods, please click through the presentation, provided by LCSG:

LCSG recommends that natural vegetation, or a combination of vegetation and soft armor are the preferred methods for optimal water quality protection and erosion control.

Amy Picotte, Lakeshore Manager, Vermont Department Of Environmental Conservation, co-leader of the workshop, provided information on the technical aspects of various control methods and the the steps required to obtain permits for certain approaches.

Amy then led the group outside by on a tour of the shoreline, discussing various erosion control methods recently installed along the embankment of the LSC State Park by the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps.

We first looked at the buffer zone created by adding a wooden fence and adding some new plants in the area.

Next, we looked at the permeable steps installed on this path. Water will drain down through the stone filled steps.

Finally, we looked at this steep embankment. Plantings were strategically placed to help shore up the soil to prevent further erosion.

Attendees received copies of the Shoreline Stabilization Handbook (click here to download a PDF copy) as well as several other educational fact sheets and flyers. Information on state and local resources was also distributed.

Stormwater runoff is a big issue for LSC. As water runs off properties or through culverts, it carries nitrogen, phosphorus, pet and yard waste into the lake. These are all nutrients for lake weeds. Managing stormwater runoff will help control weed growth.

If you are having erosion or runoff issues on your property, please feel free to reach out to Linda or Amy - they will be able to get you started. You can get in touch with them by clicking on the link attached to their name above.

The LSCA would like to thank LCSG for presenting this workshop to educate new and established property owners about effective management strategies for runoff and erosion control. We hope to have more of these very informative workshops in the future.

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees - 08/26/2017

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 13:46:18 GMT

Minutes of the Lake St. Catherine Association's fourth and final meeting of the 2017 season.

The Trustees gave their reports on many topics - Click here to see the full meeting agenda. Meeting minutes compiled by Elaine Bagley.

August 26th 2017 Meeting of the Lake St. Catherine Board of Trustees

Lake St. Catherine Country Club, 8:30 AM

Present: Jim Canders, Mary Jo Teetor, Bob Williams, Frank Callahan, Phil Pope, Rand Burgner, Jerremy Jones, John Belnavis, Elaine Bagley, Ed Laird, Ken Abt, Rob Nesbit

Absent: Rob Goldman, Jeff Crandall, Bill McLaughlin

Jim started the meeting with some announcements:

• Expressed appreciation to Bill McLaughlin for his dedication and many years of service to the LSCA

• Discussed new Trustee, Martha Pofit, who was unable to attend today

• Appreciation for Ellen and Martin Greenberg and their dedication to the LSCA. Camp has sold, LSCA paperwork collected, will be sorted and organized.

• Shared positive comments about Annual Meeting, praise for food, organization and presentation.

Secretary’s Report, July 22nd, 2017 minutes accepted
Treasurer’s Report submitted by Elaine Bagley
Annual Meeting: John B. reports that around 70 people attended the annual meeting. 5 or 6 people did not eat, 10 to 12 had the prime rib. The bar did well. Facility fee used to tip the staff. Discussed coordinating the prime rib better with a more visible ticket.
Milfoil Committee Report - Jeff C. unable to attend, Jim gave his report. This season, we have accomplished our goal of using less herbicide and more suction harvesting. Report is in, will be shared with the board. Need to know Beck and Owen’s availability for next year. They do a much better job than previous contractors. State has a director talking to lakes about not using herbicide. We started in 2004 with Sonar and have been spot treating each year since. Lake Hortonia wants to get a permit based on our program - wondering how to word it for the state to approve. Our permit is up this fall - need to write a new permit. Other discussion included, concern of continuing to cut back on herbicide, confusion of some on the lake between milfoil and native weeds, complaint about noise from suction harvester, LSCCF’s new confusing brochure & state funding - Mary Jo will start a LSCA response. Jim will contact Perry Thomas. The survey from SOLitude Lake Management is being written now, ask Marc Bellaud to join us for a meeting with the State and Perry Thomas. Lots of milfoil fragments in the channel and Little Lake - not captured by the harvester? Boat Launch Monitoring: Rand reports that the State feels our program is a model. All 3 greeters will return in 2018. Rand will be retiring next year, John B stepped up to take over. Greeters will work 4 days over Labor Day Weekend, Friday through Monday.
Water Quality - Mary Jo reports no e-coli testing, other tests weekly. Big problem is funding for channel into Lily Pond - permit was approved. $35k total with SOLitude Lake Management. Would start September 18th for 10 days. July storm made a mess. Motion to fund the project. Healthy discussion about using funds in reserve without first collecting additional funds. Suggestions to reach out to Lily Pond property owners, coordinating a gathering of property owners, reaching out to membership. Vote called, 10-2 in favor of proceeding with project, motion passed.
Publicity - Jerremy handed out newsletters, mentioned spring edition, will need content. Newsletters delivered to local businesses. 180+ views of online edition. Suggested creating a LSCA brochure for local businesses, boat launch greeters, cost approximately 50 cents per copy. Mentioned Poultney chili cookoff, having a LSCA booth. Discussed business memberships for next year - would give businesses a logo on our Sponsors page, an ad in the newsletter, a mention on our blog, posting their events on our calendar. Board decided on $250 for this membership level. Will solicit businesses in the fall and winter.
Lake Safety - Frank mentioned that Hall’s Bay buoy missing - may have been tampered with. Sunken island cones found and replaced. Buoys will be picked up after Labor Day. Frank and Mike collected LSCA paperwork from Ellen and Mart’s Camp, Jerremy will sort and organize.
Nominating Committee - Bob reports that we are still looking for a Recording Secretary Trustee, Rand is retiring, Elaine & John staying on, will be looking for new potential Trustees.
Membership - Rob was not at the meeting
Government Relations - Phil reports that Phil Donaldson has been very cooperative, and they have straightened out most of the paperwork. Phil will remind Paul about the 38k.
Old business: Boat parade well advertised and featured online and in the newsletter. Wells Day - was so-so, Poultney Day, lots of folks stopped by. Discussed a new Lake map with updated camp locations and 911 addresses.
New business: Discussed a welcome packet for new lake property owners that local realtors can hand out. Ed discussed cyber liability insurance. Jerremy will set up a call with StarChapter. Board voted to purchase insurance if needed.

Meeting schedule for 2018:

May 26th, 2018

June 23rd, 2018

July 21st, 2018

August 25th, 2018

Meeting adjourned.

LSCA Approves Lily Pond Channel Restoration Project

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 13:50:50 GMT

The Lake St. Catherine Association is happy to report that the board has voted to approve the Lily Pond channel restoration project.

In April, the LSCA applied for a permit to “...remove sediment and organic debris from the center of the channel between the Lily Pond and the North Bay of Lake St. Catherine to restore the connectivity, increase water movement, improve water quality, enhance open water habitat and control invasive/nuisance vegetation.”

From the permit, the LSCA requested: “approval for the use of a hydro-rake (paddle-wheel driven floating backhoe). Sediment and organic debris will be placed on a floating barge that will be pushed to the designated shoreline off-loading location on the northwest shoreline of Lily Pond. Collected material will be removed from the barge with an excavator and will be placed on shore temporarily to dewater. Once it is dewatered, the material will be loaded and trucked to a nearby composting operation, located within the public waters of Lake St. Catherine in Poultney, VT.”

This project will cost $35,000. The LSCA is hoping to raise half this amount ($17,500) from the lake community to help defray the costs for this expensive undertaking.

Lake St. Catherine Association
P.O. Box 631
Wells, VT 05774

Please add a note that your donation is for the Lily Pond Project.

We’ll be sure to keep you up to date on our fundraising progress - and on the progress of this project which will begin on September 18th, 2017.

Our LSCA Vice President Mary Jo Teetor coordinated this project, and she provided these additional comments:

“The Lake St. Catherine Association has agreed to move forward with the channel project this fall as proposed.

We will be working to encourage all members and non members that will benefit from this work to help us recover the costs of performing this project.

We are hopeful that our efforts will enhance understanding of what it is we have worked hard for in maintaining all parts of the lake for respectful use of residents and visitors alike since the early '70s.

The focus on the Lily Pond over time has been to keep the navigation open as best as possible with harvesting (deemed counterproductive over the long term), herbicide for milfoil only (some success although needed every couple of years), hydro-raking (for individual homeowners around dock areas) as well as hand pulling and diligent efforts to successfully eradicate water chestnut.

It was recognized after a major storm several years ago that when a stand of large mature red pines shading the channel were lost, that the growth would intensify with the sunlight. This has been a priority topic with The State of Vermont’s Agency Of Natural Resources since that time - anticipating the problem we have today.

Understanding that the Lily Pond is true to its name, the expectation that it will be restored to anything but the incubator system that it has been since the turn of the previous century is not realistic. However we do believe that maintaining access and the natural flow will not only help the health of the pond but also the nature of the lake as a whole.

Thank you in advance for any support you can contribute.”

We hope that you will consider donating to help fund this important Lake project. If you have any questions, please contact the LSCA for more information: info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you for your support!

Proposed hydro-rake area.

Quarry Operators Ordered To Remove Sediment From LSC

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 14:11:57 GMT

In April of 2014, a "wall of water" came down a forested hill on West Lake Road in Wells, damaging property and sending debris and sediment into Lake St. Catherine.

Today, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources announced that Ruby Construction, Inc. and Royal Harrison were jointly held responsible in a court ruling.

They have been ordered to "pay a penalty of $9,000 and apply for a permit from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation’s Lakes and Ponds Management and Protection Program to appropriately remove the sediment from the Lake by next fall."

For more information about this ruling, please see this official ANR press release.

The LSCA Fall 2017 Newsletter

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 20 Aug 2017 14:13:39 GMT

Hello Lake St. Catherine.

It's been a while since we've published a newsletter... Today, we are publishing our Fall 2017 edition. Going forward, we plan on creating two newsletters per season - a Spring and a Fall edition.

In an effort to save on printing and mailing costs, we've decided to only print a short run of copies and distribute them to local businesses around the Lake. If you'd like a printed copy, please take a look for one when you are out and about in Wells or Poultney.

However, our Fall newsletter is now available here online via our website, click here to view the Fall 2017 Newsletter, or click on the image below. You will be able to read through the newsletter and/or save a copy to your computer.

We hope you'll enjoy this brief summary of the 2017 season!

We welcome your comments: info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thank you for your support.

Milfoil Management On Lake St. Catherine Discussed In The Rutland Herald

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 14:15:44 GMT

On August 5th, you may have noticed an article in the Rutland Herald entitled, "Weed wars in Lake St. Catherine", which mistakenly attributed the quotes and information to the Lake St. Catherine Association. However, the reporter was interviewing a representative of the Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund, a separate group which focuses on the Little Lake.

The LSCA and the LSCCF have very different approaches to manage milfoil on Lake St. Catherine.

As far back as 1979 when the Association used harvesters almost exclusively to control milfoil, and grew that program for about 2 decades, we knew it was a band aid. The Association continued to seek other methods that might work longer term or even that ‘magic bullet’ to rid the lake of this invasive weed.

As the problem persisted, there was a lengthy discussion, consultation and permitting process to look at other options. We looked at things like weevils, carp, bottom barriers, hydro-raking, lowering the lake level and more. At the time, some of the methods were in practice around the lake by individual homeowners with the Association’s assistance in retaining permits.

The decision was made in 2002 to use the herbicide SONAR in a full lake wide treatment (administered in 2004). By the next spring, with the exception of 2 spots, there was virtually no milfoil to be found in the whole lake. Herbicide has been successful, and could again be successful as a treatment for milfoil in the Little Lake.

Mechanical harvesting was not an option included in the required 5-year maintenance plan. In the Little Lake we tried using suction harvesting without much success because of the depth of the silt. It was impossible for the divers to work in the conditions. Hydro-raking was also used extensively, but only around homeowner docks.

Since then, the LSCA has followed up each season with spot treatments of the herbicide Renovate. However, in the area of the Little Lake, it created a very vocal few that made unsubstantiated claims that resulted in the LSCA withdrawing action. Unfortunately, there were no other available methods of controlling the milfoil that were deemed feasible economically or that would produce acceptable results. This allowed the LSCCF to do the experimental aeration for the silt issues they experience.

The LSCA Vice President, Mary Jo Teetor reached out to the author of the article, Gordon Dritschilo to discuss it. That conversation resulted in a follow up article, "Lake milfoil campaign claiming successes", which provides some of the thoughts of the LSCA on the issue of milfoil management on Lake St. Catherine.

We encourage you to read both articles.

Mary Jo has some additional information she'd like to share on this topic:

“I appreciate the newspaper follow up to give us the opportunity to expand on the discussion of lake issues and how we are approaching them. As we know the devil in the details don’t always come out in short newspaper articles. The information can be overwhelming to condense.

For those who were here on the lake when milfoil was at its peak, you might remember the remarkable difference we experienced after the SONAR treatment. Although it seemed like it may be that ‘magic bullet’ we were looking for, we knew it was not a done deal and maybe never would be. We need to be diligent in maintaining the conditions the best we can to keep the milfoil at bay and to not let it return to the worst of times. This is why we always are looking at a multipronged approach. Today for the LSCA, that includes: spot treatment on the largest returning beds of milfoil with Renovate and the increased usage of suction harvesting.

We are concerned that restarting the mechanical harvesting method could bring us back to a time none of us want to experience again. We hope the containment to the Little Lake works. It is not a matter of being more thorough in chasing down every fragment; it is the nature of the mechanical beast.

The jury is out on the removal of sedimentation with the aeration. Until there are independent evaluations that are measured and conclusive, we cannot support the method as a way of reducing the milfoil problem in the lake that we are tasked at managing. The Renovate herbicide did have success in keeping the navigational paths open in the Little Lake until the treatments were restricted by the LSCCF’s persistent pressure and unsubstantiated claims.

Emotions do get heated, but with the help of the Implementation team looking at the causes of the lake issues, we are looking for that common ground. We all want to prevent the issues we have been battling from getting worse while making the lake cleaner and more hospitable than ever for everyone.

The LSCA works very closely with the Department of Environmental Conservation and also belongs to FOVLAP (Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds) where we can share information about what is happening state wide and consult on new technologies, methods and best practices.

Finally, I would like to encourage all homeowners to pay attention to the rules and methods of best practices living in the lake district by: preventing erosion and runoff from their individual properties, maintenance of septic systems, the use of barriers and creating buffers on the lake front by planting native species to attract the wildlife we want. It is everyone’s responsibility to be good stewards. We’ll soon have lots of this information available to share on our website about these best practices.

Within the next few weeks, two free workshops are coming up.

• Rain Gardens (August 22nd)

• Protecting Property and Lake - Be Storm Ready With Lake Friendly Practices (August 31st)

Thank you."

We welcome your comments: info@lakestcatherine.org.

Free Workshop: Rain Gardens

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 14:22:07 GMT

Want an easy way to help improve lake water quality? Learn how attractive rain gardens can absorb storm water and reduce runoff into the lake.

There will be a free workshop, open to the public, at the Castleton Community Center, 2108 Main St, Castleton, on Tuesday, August 22 from 4 - 5:30 pm.

Rain gardens are a beautiful and practical way to:

• Absorb stormwater and reduce runoff
• Provide food and habitat for pollinators and other insects and animals
• Enhance your property and protect your shoreline

Learn how to assess your soil for the best location, choose native plants suited to your property, installation techniques, and contact information for state and local resources. Obtain a free copy of “The Vermont Rain Garden Manual”.

Presented by Becky Tharp, Program Manager, Green Infrastructure Collaborative, Lake Champlain Sea Grant and Department of Environmental Conservation.

Sponsored by the Lake Bomoseen Association and the Lake Champlain Sea Grant Program.

For additional information and to register for the workshop, contact: Linda Patterson, Water Quality Educator, Lake Champlain Sea Grant

Email: Linda.Patterson@uvm.edu

Phone: 802-656-7668

Free Workshop: Protecting Property and Lake - Be Storm Ready with Lake Friendly Practices

Jerremy Jones — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 14:35:24 GMT

A free workshop entitled "Protecting Property and Lake - Be Storm Ready with Lake Friendly Practices" presented by Lake Champlain Sea Grant and Vermont Lakes and Ponds Protection Program will be taking place at the Lake St. Catherine State Park on August 31st from 3-5 PM.

You will learn about natural approaches to protecting and stabilizing your shoreline, including:

Erosion control methods
Native plants
Attractive permeable surfaces
Rain gardens
Habitat restoration
Local resources for materials and installation

You will also learn about the basic elements of the Shoreland Protection Act:

Landowner requirements: myths and facts
Healthy shorelines, water quality and aquatic habitat: Purpose of the act
Permitting process; exemptions
Informational materials
Resources for compliance
Shoreland protection and property value

You will also learn about the Vermont Lake Wise Program.

For information and to register contact: Linda Patterson, Water Quality Educator at linda.patterson@uvm.edu, or call 802-656-7668.

Protecting Your Property And Your Lake Flyer:

Cleaning Out Your Pantry For The Summer?

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 13 Aug 2017 14:39:35 GMT

Good afternoon Lake St. Catherine.

We'd like to share a great idea our Trustee Frank Callahan had to those of you that may soon be closing up your camps for the summer:

"...a lot of lake people will be leaving soon. Perhaps they may want to give some food to the local food banks.

The Poultney food bank is in the Stonebridge Inn, the white building at the northwest corner at the stoplight at Main Street and Route 30.

Donations in Wells may be given at the Wellsmere Farm anytime, or the Wells Town Hall box Monday - Thursday. Both places are on Route 30."

So, if you soon find yourself cleaning out your pantry for the season, please consider Frank's suggestion.

Thanks!

Vermont Updates Aquatic Invasive Species Transport Law

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 14:52:27 GMT

We'd like to make you aware of some recent changes to the Vermont Aquatic Invasive Species Transport Law.

The changes as described by the State:

"As of June 8, 2017, the Vermont Legislature enacted new legislation regarding aquatic nuisance control. Act 67 adds four animals to the species list of which transport is restricted, and requires boat operators to visually inspect their own vessels and remove drain plugs while transporting a vessel.

While the transport of ANY aquatic plant or plant parts, as well as zebra and quagga mussels, is still prohibited, it is now also prohibited to transport the following species:

Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea)

Fishhook waterflea (Cercopagis pengoi)

Rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus)

Spiny waterflea (Bythotrephes longimanus)

Act 67 requires any person transporting a vessel to or from a body of water to visually inspect the vessel, the transport vehicle, trailer, and other equipment used, and remove any aquatic plants, aquatic plant parts, and other aquatic nuisance species. The act also requires removal of drain plugs, bailers, valves, and all other devices designed to control the drainage of water from vessel while transporting it. All draining of contained water must occur in a manner that avoids discharge into a water of the State."

You can view the flyer provided by the State here:

You can view the full law on the Vermont General Assembly's website: Vermont Aquatic Invasive Species Transport Law.

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees And Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner - 7/22/17

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 14:55:08 GMT

On Saturday, July 24th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their third meeting of the 2017 season in the morning, and the Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner later that evening.

First, the LSCA would like to thank all those who attended this year's meeting - we had a packed house! We hope you enjoyed the the Trustee's reports and the open discussion of LSC topics. We appreciate your continued support of the LSCA, and the work we do for the Lake. We hope that you'll spread the word to your neighbors around the lake.

The LSCA would also like to thank the Lake St. Catherine Country Club for hosting the meeting and preparing an excellent dinner. We hope you enjoyed that as well.

- LSCA President Jim Canders welcomes the Membership, thanks the LSCCC for and invited guests Ron Bremer, Select Board Town of Wells and his family.

- LSCA Treasurer Elaine Bagley gives the Treasurer's Report.

Other topics discussed: Milfoil Treatment & Suction Harvesting, Water Quality, the proposed Lily Pond Channel project, Boat Launch Monitoring, the Boat Parade, LSCA Publicity, a Membership Report, Lake Safety, Government Relations, an Advisory Committee report and Trustee Elections.

The presentation the Trustees used during their reports is available to view below:

If you have any questions about the topics discussed in the presentation, or any comments about the evening, please let us know: info@lakestcatherine.org.

Thanks again for your support - we hope you had an enjoyable evening!

Minutes of the Lake St. Catherine Association's third meeting of the 2017 season.

July 22nd 2017 Meeting of the Lake St. Catherine Board of Trustees

Lake St. Catherine Country Club, 8:30 AM

The Trustees gave their reports on many topics - Click here to see the full meeting agenda. Meeting minutes compiled by Jerremy Jones and LSCA President Jim Canders.

Present: Jim Canders, Mary Jo Teetor, Bob Williams, Frank Callahan, Phil Pope, Rand Burgner, Jerremy Jones, John Belnavis, Bill McLaughlin, Elaine Bagley, Ed Laird

Absent: Rob Goldman, Ken Abt, Rob Nesbit, Jeff Crandall

Jim called the meeting to order and the previous minutes were submitted and approved.

The Annual Meeting presentation was discussed and committee members suggested edits and changes to their slides. These were made, and the presentation was completed.

John Belnavis discussed the setup of the room and the logistics of the transition from meeting to dinner for the guests. It was decided that the presentation would be projected on the wall above the stairwell, and seating would be arranged in rows facing that wall. Trustees would stand up front, to the side of the projection to give their report. At the end of the meeting, guests would be asked to step outside as the room was prepared for dinner seating.

Jim Canders reported that he found a place to have a plaque made for the Greenbergs in honor of their years of service to the Association.

Frank Callahan discussed the two Lake Safety courses that were scheduled for Wells and Poultney. The Wells class only had 3 signups, so it had to be cancelled. However, a few days later, those folks were able to attend the Poultney class. The Poultney class had 11 attendees, all passed.

Frank also mentioned that people are tying their boats to the marker cones on the Sunken Island damaging them. He will mention at the Annual Meeting.

Phil Pope is still frustrated that he has not received the paperwork from the State that would officially permit the milfoil treatment, even though the Association was given the go-ahead. It was discussed that new employees and consolidation is most likely the cause of them being so far behind.

Bill McLaughlin proposed the Association should look into organizing lake property owners to better negotiate tax obligations with Wells and Poultney. Ed commented that this would be outside the Association's narrowly defined purpose under our 501(c)(3).

Bob Williams talked about the 5 people that will be put up for election to the board at the annual meeting: Jim Canders, Bob Williams, Jeff Crandell, Jerremy Jones and Martha Pofit.

Mary Jo and John mentioned that the milfoil treatment signs have been picked up. Mary Jo said that next year, stickers should be put on signs that say "DO NOT REMOVE FOR 30 DAYS".

Frank mentioned picking up some Association property at Woodard Marina.

Jerremy Jones reported that the Association received nice coverage in the local papers about the boat parade, both before and after the event. He mentioned that since the end of June, the Association's Facebook page has added over 50 new followers, now totaling over 300. Finally, he showed some possible designs for the Fall newsletter. The board selected their favorite.

Jim and Mary Jo will be attending the FOVLAP meeting on July 24th.

Meeting adjourned.

2017 LSCA Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 08 Jul 2017 16:15:33 GMT

The Lake St. Catherine Association would like to invite you to the Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner on July 22nd, from 6 PM - 8 PM at the Fairways Restaurant & Tavern at the LSC Country Club.

The Trustees will make brief presentations, updating you on the work of the LSCA this season, including membership election of Trustees and discussion of lake affairs.

You are all invited to ask questions, make statements, meet your neighbors and enjoy an excellent dinner!

Dinner:

$15 option: Baked Haddock / Chicken Francaise, Pasta, Caesar Salad, Dinner Roll, Cake and Coffee.

$25 option: Prime Rib Dinner

We ask that you RSVP for dinner so the chef can prepare for the evening.

Please call or email Mary Jo Teetor, 802-287-5836 / ferncliff@comcast.net.

We hope to see you there!

Vermont DEC Lake Wise Program Hosts 'Septic Social' On LSC

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 16:17:37 GMT

The Vermont DEC's Lake Wise Program is conducting a 'Septic Social' on Lake St. Catherine on Wednesday, July 19th.

Little Lake resident Dede Kendall will host the Septic Social at her home: 15 Clayton Tract, Wells from 4:00 - 5:30 PM.

About the presentation:

Come learn about maintaining or replacing your septic system in a social environment!

Maintaining a functioning septic system helps protect your lake!
Opportunity for Q&A with septic professionals
Learn basic septic maintenance techniques
Discuss replacement innovative septic systems
Socialize with your lake neighbors!

Join septic experts, lake scientists, and other lakeshore property owners for a FREE social gathering to discuss proper maintenance, innovative systems, and more! Functioning Septic Systems are one of many important shoreland practices. To learn more about lake-friendly living and what you can do along your shore to protect water quality, natural shorelands and habitat, contact the Lake Wise Program. Also, remember to check with your local Shoreland Permit Specialist before making any changes along your shoreland property. Thanks, and hope to see you at the Septic Social! Bring your septic questions!

Questions? Contact Laura Dlugolecki at 802-490-6133 or laura.dlugolecki@vermont.gov.

Again, this free program will take place on Wednesday, July 19th from 4:00-5:30 PM at 15 Clayton Tract, in Wells, on the Little Lake.

The Winners Of The 5th Annual LSCA Boat Parade Are...

Jerremy Jones — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 16:20:37 GMT

Hello good folks of the Lake St. Catherine community! We hope you all had a great time watching and participating in this year's boat parade.

Thank you to our judges around the lake, and to Lila Burgner for coordinating and organizing another successful parade.

Here are the winners!

Overall:

1st Place - Beatles 50th Anniversary, Boat #16 - Jack McVicker & Kimberly Moore and friends

2nd Place - Hawaiian Volcano Luau, Boat #8 - Conine Family

Most Original:

1st Place - Peter Pan, Boat #7 - Corrigan Family

2nd Place - Super Heroes, Boat #1 - Goldman Family

Funniest:

1st Place - Rub A Dub Dub 2 Gals In A Tub, Boat #10 - Erin Wysolmerski

2nd Place - Happy Birthday, Boat #12 - Mulcahy Family

Most Patriotic:

1st Place - Wendell Family, Boat #11

2nd Place - Cook Family, Boat #6

Nice job all!

The LSCA would like to thank these generous sponsors for providing prizes for the Boat Parade:

Perry's Main Street Eatery
The Trolley Stop
LSCC Fairways Restaurant & Tavern
Wells Country Store
Otto's Cones Point General Store
Full Belly Deli
The Original Vermont Store
William's True Value Hardware Store
Stewart's Shops

Are you a member yet? Maintaining the lake costs approximately $100,000 annually. Grants, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and any contribution that you make is tax deductible.

Have a fun and safe 4th of July weekend!

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees - 6/24/17

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 16:29:13 GMT

On Saturday, June 24th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their second meeting of the 2017 season.

The Trustees gave their reports on many topics - Click here to see the full meeting agenda. Meeting minutes compiled by Jerremy Jones and LSCA President Jim Canders.

June 24th 2017 Meeting of the Lake St. Catherine Board of Trustees

Lake St. Catherine Country Club, 8:30 AM

Present: Jim Canders, Jeff Crandall, Mary Jo Teetor, Bob Williams, Frank Callahan, Phil Pope, Rand Burgner, Jerremy Jones, John Belnavis, Bill McLaughlin, Elaine Bagley

Absent: Rob Goldman, Ed Laird, Ken Abt, Rob Nesbit

Lila Burgner reported on her efforts for the 5th Annual Boat Parade. She's collected 8 prizes that were donated by local businesses, and received ice cream certificates for all child participants. She's put up fliers around the lake, and was interviewed for an article that appeared in the Granville Sentinel last Thursday. Boat registrations are down from this time last year, with 7 confirmed - hoping for more signups this week.

Eliane Bagley handed out her Treasurers Report. Membership checks and online dues are still coming in. A suggestion was made that the board should have an audit conducted on the books for 2016. After a brief discussion, it was decided to look into what a non profit may need for an audit or financial review. Elaine also reported that we had received a $24,175.20 check from the State towards our Grant.

John Belnavis discussed the possible menu for the Annual Member Meeting on July 22nd at the LSC Country Club [more info on this soon]. A $15 option for salmon, chicken francaise, pasta and salad. A suggestion was made that we also offer another option for a higher price. For example, $25 for prime rib. John will check in with the CC chef for options. The board voted to provide a $250 facility fee to the CC for use of the dining room for our monthly meetings - including the membership dinner and tips for the waitstaff. Once the menu is finalized, we will start promoting via flyers, the LSCA website, Facebook and Jerremy will make contact with the local papers.

The board also discussed keeping the Trustee portion brief and focused. A projector will be set up to show photos and slides as each Trustee presents. A suggestion was made to bring in a speaker. The suction harvesting team Owen and Beck will speak about the work they are doing to control the milfoil around the lake this season.

Jeff Crandall detailed the milfoil treatment that took place on June 14th. The treatment went well, and followup water tests are underway. 42 acres were treated with the herbicide Renovate. Jim mentioned that lake water should be safe for drinking and preparing foods within the next few weeks. Suction harvesting is underway around the lake. A suggestion was made that the LSCA should create a history of the milfoil treatment in LSC to inform the lake community of the board's efforts to control it.

Rand Burgner gave a report on the boat launch. The 3 greeters are doing an excellent job and have processed 399 boats so far this season. The greeters will be staffing the boat launch Friday - Tuesday over the 4th of July weekend.

Mary Jo Teetor reported finding no issues with the weekly water tests. She mentioned adding the DEC Lake Score Card to the Water Quality page on the LSCA site. There is also a 'Septic Social' scheduled for July 19th in Wells [more details to come]. At a Septic Social, "homeowners learn about the options for a well functioning septic system and the good maintenance practices". Awaiting approval of Lily Pond channel permit. Funding for this potential project was discussed, funding from property owners?

Jerremy Jones discussed updates to the LSCA website and presented a website usage report. The blog is being updated with all the latest LCSA news, as is the LSCA Facebook page. A new business level membership was discussed. The idea discussed would have local businesses receiving a listing in the Sponsors section of the new LSCA site and an option to have their events and special occasions listed on our web Calendar. It was suggested that a committee be formed to decide how to implement it for the 2018 season. Rand and Elaine volunteered to work with Jerremy on this idea.

It was decided that the board would like a printed newsletter to be hand delivered around the lake and to local businesses to be available before Labor Day. Jerremy will call the company that printed the last newsletter to determine how many copies were printed and the cost.

Jerremy also mentioned that he will work to get all LSCA news and events into the local papers and requested that Trustees provide a photo for their listing on the Trustees page on the new website.

Frank Callahan talked about the 2 upcoming Boating Safety courses. Registrations are low - and at least 10 are needed per class. The courses were listed in the Thursday edition of the Granville Sentinel. Frank also discussed 'the rock' buoy washing up on shore, and that one of the cones at the sunken island had come loose. This appears to be from people tying their boats, damaging the line to the anchor. It will need to be repaired.

Bob Williams reports that there will be 3 openings on the board and the Trustees are actively recruiting to find interested lake community members.

Next, membership was discussed. Rob Goldman sent out a new mailing last week in an effort to reach out to those that have not sent in their dues for 2017.

Phil Pope informed the board that the State is very behind on their grant paperwork. He has been in touch with his contact weekly, but he is still waiting for the paperwork that will enable the filing of the Grant-in-Kind Report.

Finally, the board discussed participating in both Wells Variety Day and East Poultney Day, and Jim mentioned the upcoming fireworks by Rick Roberts and Jack Williams.

The next meeting of the LSCA Board Of Trustees will take place on July 22nd at 8:30 AM at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club.

Our Annual Membership meeting will be taking place the evening of July 22nd at 6 PM at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club. More details will be posted soon.

The 2017 LSCA Membership Drive Continues

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 16:31:09 GMT

Hello Lake St. Catherine community!

The Lake St. Catherine Association would like to thank our 230+ (and counting...) members for their support in submitting their membership dues this year.

However, our membership drive for 2017 is not over! There are still many of you out in the Lake community that we'd like reach - to ask for your support.

This week, we sent out a second round of mailings to the Lake St. Catherine community containing the 2017 Membership Application.

If you'd like to support the LSCA and become a member, you can fill out the Membership Form linked above, or you can fill in our online membership form and submit your dues online. If you'd like to try our new online form, you can click here to go to our Membership section.

Some of the services the LSCA provides are:

Maintain and purchase navigation and shore line protection buoys throughout the lake.
Test the water for E coli, and water clarity.
Managing the free boat-safety courses that are state mandated for all persons born after January 1, 1974.
Inspecting boats wishing to enter the lake for Eurasian milfoil, zebra mussels and water chestnuts.
Controlling milfoil (and other invasive species) and maintaining native weeds at tolerable levels.
Working with the state to solve the problems of silting and impacts of phosphorus and other sources of pollution.
Maintaining "welcome" signs and gardens.
Liaising with other lakes in order to exchange information concerning problems.
Sponsor the annual fun-filled July 4th Boat Parade.
Disseminate information to our membership and the community through newsletters, website, and other local publications.
Organizing funding through membership fees, donations and grants from the State of Vermont and Poultney and Wells.
We represent you to state and local governments to protect your rights and the lake in general.
We protect the value of your property by maintain the beauty, access, and safety of the lake.

After receiving your dues, our Treasurer Elaine will send you a welcome mailing which includes a LSCA member card for your window, a LSCA pen and a hand-written thank you note.

Thank you for your support!

If you have any questions, please contact us at at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Prizes Announced For The 5th Annual LSCA Boat Parade

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 16:33:09 GMT

Registration is underway for the Lake St. Catherine Association's 5th Annual Boat Parade!

So, it's time to come up with some creative ideas for your boat theme or decorations... Your creativity will be rewarded. How?

Fabulous prizes, of course!

The LSCA would like to thank these generous sponsors for providing prizes for the Boat Parade:

Perry's Main Street Eatery
The Trolley Stop
LSCCC Fairways Restaurant & Tavern
Wells Country Store
Otto's Cones Point General Store
Full Belly Deli
The Original Vermont Store
William's True Value Hardware Store
Stewart's Shops

So, you can see there is a lot at stake this year...

Prizes are awarded for:

Most original
Most patriotic
Funniest
Best overall

To join in on the parade, please contact Lila Burgner at BurgnerL@msn.com or call 802-884-8093 to register your boat.

The 5th Annual LSCA Boat Parade - Register Your Boat Now!

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 16:36:09 GMT

In celebration of Independence Day, the Lake St. Catherine Association is pleased to announce our 5th annual Boat Parade, taking place on Sunday, July 2nd. All are welcome to join the parade or cheer from the shore.

There will be 4 prizes for decorated boats:

Most original
Most patriotic
Funniest
Best overall

Judges will view the passing boats from the judging stations marked with red, white and blue balloons.

Do you remember last year's winner - Fly Boarder Justice Cook flying through the air?

Creativity and patriotism were on full display last year. What will our boat paraders have in store for us this time?

The parade will begin with a gathering of all participating boats in Forest House Bay at 1 PM on July 2nd (rain date: July 3rd).

Participating is easy! Just contact Lila Burgner at BurgnerL@msn.com or call 802-884-8093 to register and get a boat number.

All children participating in the parade will receive an ice cream cone gift certificate from Stewart's Shops!

...and don't forget about the fireworks! Lake residents Rick Roberts and Jack Williams will be putting on their yearly show the evening of Saturday, July 1st.

Missing Or Moved Lake Buoys And Cones

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 16:39:50 GMT

It has come to our attention that some buoys and cones have moved or are missing - and we could use your help.

If you:

Find a buoy floating around the lake
Find a buoy grounded near your camp
Notice a buoy is missing from its normal location

Please call Trustee Frank Callahan at 802-645-9136 to let him know. He will arrange to make sure they are put back in their proper spots.

Thanks for your efforts in helping to keep the lake safe for all.

LSCA Announces Two Boat Safety Courses

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 31 May 2017 17:01:18 GMT

The Lake St. Catherine Association is pleased to provide two boating safety courses this season.

The first will be held on June 28th and 29th from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Poultney Volunteer Fire Department on Beaman Street.

The second will be held on July 5th and 6th from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Wells Village School on Route 30.

Anyone born after January 1st, 1974 must successfully complete an approved boating safety education course to legally operate any motorized vessel - including personal watercraft.

Frank Callahan, Trustee in charge of Boating Safety, will be conducting the courses.

Space is limited to 24 attendees, so please call 802-645-9136 or email Frank at frank.callahan@lakestcatherine.org to register.

For additional information about boating in Vermont, check out the online Handbook of Vermont Boating laws and Responsibilities.

Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees - 5/27/17

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 30 May 2017 17:06:23 GMT

On Saturday, May 27th, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their first meeting of the 2017 season.

The Trustees gave their reports on many topics, including: milfoil treatment, the annual membership dinner, the upcoming boat safety courses and the annual boat parade. Click here to see the full meeting agenda.

President of the LSCA, Jim Canders provided the following report - including full details of the meeting:

"Jeff Crandall presented details covering this years herbicide treatment and suction harvesting programs (more info here) to begin during June 2017. Both programs are coordinated each year by the LSCA for the purpose of controlling Eurasian Water Milfoil. The herbicide treatment is planned for 6/14 and will be performed by biologist from SOLitude Lake Management headed by Marc Bellaud.

Our Suction Harvesting Program, which will begin in early June is being performed by Owen Teetor and Beck Sinclair.

Our Boat Launch monitoring program, which is operated in partnership with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, began in 2004 in conjunction with our lake herbicide treatment and has been continued and enhanced each year since. The Fish and Game Boat Launch Monitoring this year is being coordinated by Trustee, Rand Burgner. This season's monitors are John Baker and Levi Haviland. Both men, as well as a couple of our Trustees attended this years Agency of Natural Resources Workshops. Workshops are held around the state, but we attended the one hosted at the Visitors Center in Castleton Corners on May 13th.

Elaine Bagley, Treasurer, reported that over 250 people have paid their dues for the the 2017 season. The LSCA depends on lake residents for support of the work that is done. Belonging to the Association and paying dues is one way of assisting with work on the lake. If you have any additional time and would like to assist with work on one of our committees, please do not hesitate to contact me or one of our 15 Trustees. If you are not a 2017 member of the LSCA, please consider becoming one, or making a donation.

Vice President Mary Jo Teeter gave a report on the progress of our permit to conduct a cleaning of the channel between the North Bay and Lily Pond. After a number of years and some very serious wind storms which knocked down pine trees exposing much of the channel to sunlight, plants have begun to grow much more rapidly. Keeping the channel from growing over and providing access for fishing and recreation is of paramount importance.

Frank Callahan discussed Lake Safety and the placement of speed limit markers and orange cones to mark shallow spots and dangerous underwater obstacles. Frank indicated that there may be a movement underway to require lake associations to pay for each marker or buoy that is placed in the water body. Frank also elaborated on the Boating Course that he conducts in Poultney and Wells each season (more info soon). The program is to instruct young boaters (born after 1974) on the correct and safe operation of watercraft.

The LSCA will be exhibiting at East Poultney Day and Wells Variety Day. Support for these community events is important to continue good relations with Towns of Wells and Poultney who annually make donations in support of our work in maintaining the health of Lake St. Catherine.

As well, do not forget the LSCA Boat Parade, July 2, 2017.

Finally, a private fireworks display will be conducted on July 1st by two lake residents, Jack Williams and Rick Roberts. Donations can be made to Rick Roberts."

The Trustees also listened to presentations from Sea Grant and the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District.

Linda Patterson and Kris Stepenuck from Sea Grant were up first. Sea Grant "...develops and supports research, outreach and education programs to empower communities, businesses and other stakeholders in the Lake Champlain Basin to make informed decisions regarding the management, conservation, utilization and restoration of their aquatic resources for long-term environmental health and sustainable economic development."

Linda and Kris talk about setting up workshops for the LSC community on topics including landscaping with native plants for pollinators, shoreline erosion control, introductions to certified landscapers and 'septic socials'.

Next up was Hillary Solomon from the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District. The PMNRCD "...has been involved in soil and water conservation projects since Districts were created during the Dust Bowl Era. At our most elemental, we focus on practices that protect water and soil and foster healthy local communities. Our project focus currently involves agriculture, forestry, and stormwater improvement projects. We also participate in research and monitoring efforts in our watersheds, and conduct outreach and education over a broad spectrum of conservation issues."

Hillary discussed their ongoing projects on Lake Bomoseen dealing with erosion issues and water quality. They would like to do the same for Lake St. Catherine by identifying potential projects and applying for grants.

The board would like to thank both organizations for their interest in conservation efforts benefitting Lake St. Catherine.

We'll keep you informed of their efforts, and announce any workshops when they are scheduled.

The next meeting of the LSCA Board Of Trustees will take place on June 24th at 8:30 AM at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club.

LSCA Announces 2017 Milfoil Treatment

Jerremy Jones — Sat, 27 May 2017 17:29:05 GMT

In cooperation with Misha Cetner from the Vermont Department Of Environmental Conservation and Marc Bellaud from SOLitude Lake Management (SLM), the Lake St. Catherine Association would like to inform the community that the lake will be treated for milfoil on Wednesday June 14th, 2017.

On May 10th, biologists from SLM visited the lake to perform a milfoil survey. They have identified areas to be treated with aquatic herbicide Renovate in Accordance with the Aquatic Nuisance Control Permit #2014-C01.

During and after the treatment, please be aware of the following lake water use restrictions:

• Swimming/wading, boating, fishing and domestic use (except drinking or for food or drink preparation) may resume the beginning of the second day following treatment.

Representatives of the LSCA also surveyed the lake during the week of May 8th. Based on their observations, and in consultation with SLM, 14 areas have been selected for DASH. DASH is an acronym for Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting. This process involves scuba divers using suction hoses powered by a surface compressor to selectively remove milfoil from the lake bottom. They will be working throughout the season to remove milfoil by the roots in these designated areas.

Here is a map of the treatment areas for Renovate and DASH:

Are you a member yet? Maintaining the lake costs approximately $100,000 annually - and milfoil treatment is the largest expense. Grants, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and any contribution that you make is tax deductible.

If you have any questions about the upcoming milfoil treatment, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

LSCA Applies For Permit To Restore Connectivity To Lily Pond

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 12 May 2017 17:38:38 GMT

The Lake St. Catherine Association has applied for a permit to remove sediment and organic debris from the center of the channel between the Lily Pond and the North Bay of Lake St. Catherine to restore the connectivity, increase water movement, improve water quality, enhance open water habitat and control invasive/nuisance vegetation.

From the Department of Environmental Conservation / Lake Encroachment & Shoreland Permitting:

"A request for a Lake Encroachment Permit required pursuant to provisions in accordance with 29 V.S.A. Chapter 11, Management of Lakes and Ponds, has been received from Lake Saint Catherine Association on 4/25/2017 requesting approval for the use of a hydro-rake (paddle-wheel driven floating backhoe). Sediment and organic debris will be placed on a floating barge that will be pushed to the designated shoreline off-loading location on the northwest shoreline of Lily Pond. Collected material will be removed from the barge with an excavator and will be placed on shore temporarily to dewater. Once it is dewatered, the material will be loaded and trucked to a nearby composting operation, located within the public waters of Lake St. Catherine in Poultney, VT."

Copies of the application are available for review at the Vermont Lakes & Ponds Management and Protection Program office in Montpelier, or on the Agency of Natural Resources website.

Public comments or requests for a public information meeting regarding this project must be received no later than 6/5/17. Please mail or email your comments or meeting request to:

Laura Dlugolecki
Lake Encroachment & Shoreland Permitting
1 National Life Drive, Main 2
Montpelier, VT 05620-3522
802-490-6133

Laura.Dlugolecki@vermont.gov

Take A Hike - Climb Haystack Mountain

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 12 May 2017 17:34:55 GMT

Looking for a gorgeous bird’s eye view of the Stone Valley? Climb Haystack Mountain in nearby Pawlet (not to be confused with Haystack Mountain in Wilmington, VT.)

Haystack is southernmost mountain of "three sisters", visible from Lake St Catherine. Middle and Bald Mountain complete the trio that forms the centerpiece of the north Pawlet hills, where approximately two thousand acres of unbroken forest survives, undeveloped and practically unimpacted by any human use since its beginnings after the glaciers retreated at the end of the last ice age.

Haystack Mountain, the Town's distinctive natural emblem, rises abruptly from the valley in North Pawlet. Once called in local advertisements “the Gibraltar of the America”, Haystack affords the hardy hiker one of the best panoramic views in Southern Vermont.

Start from the center of town and proceed 1.7 miles North on RT 30. Make a Right turn at Waite Hill road (dirt) and go exactly 1.2 miles and park at the entrance to Tunket Road, this is the entrance to the hike. Directions via Google Maps.

Please do not block the entrance to Tunket Road. There are lots of “Do Not Enter” signs about – no worries- this refers to cars. Just follow the trail marked with the green sign for the Nature Conservancy.

The trail head is about a 15 minute walk from the parking area. To reach the summit will take between 1 and 1.5 hours (bring water and good shoes). This is not an easy hike (the last 20 minutes are steep) but the panoramic views from the top of Haystack are well worth it! From the modest 1,919-foot summit you can see as far west as Glens Falls, NY, and south beyond the farms of the Mettowee Valley to Mount Equinox in Manchester.

The Vermont Loon Conservation Project Seeking Volunteers

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 09 May 2017 17:43:32 GMT

The Vermont Loon Conservation Project, a program of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE), would like to thoroughly assess loon activity on Lake St. Catherine this year.

The Vermont loon population has expanded greatly over the past 20 years. If a loon pair ever forms on Lake St. Catherine, they will likely need a little help since loons nest right on the water's edge near boat traffic and occasionally near cottages and other shoreline activity. Loons prefer to nest on islands and at marsh edges but occasionally nest on spits of land or little shelves that are easy to crawl onto.

Eric Hanson, the VCE conservation biologist who coordinates the loon program is looking for some volunteers who can boat the entire lake occasionally when the water is calm (evenings and mornings tend to be best) and count all loons present. Whether volunteers conduct just one survey all summer or go every week, it's all helpful. Residents can also report incidental sightings (e.g., out your camp window).

VCE is also looking for a volunteer to survey Lake St. Catherine on July 15 as part of the annual statewide count.

If you'd like to assist Eric with this project, please contact him at ehanson@vtecostudies.org or call 802-586-8064.

Help Wanted: Recording Secretary

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 09 May 2017 17:42:32 GMT

The Lake St. Catherine Association is still searching for a Recording Secretary.

The Recording Secretary will record, type and distribute the minutes for the four Trustee meetings and the the Annual Membership Meeting for the LSCA. The dates for these meetings are:

May 20, 2017 - 8:30 AM
June 23, 2017 - 8:30 AM
July 22, 2017 - 8:30 AM
July 22, 2017 - Annual Membership Meeting - 6 PM
August 26, 2017 - 8:30 AM

All meetings are held at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club.

If you are interested in this position and volunteering with the LSCA, please contact us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Take A Hike - Climb St. Catherine Mountain

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 05 May 2017 17:45:37 GMT

Looking for a local hike? Climb St. Catherine Mountain and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the lake and the Adirondack Mountains in the distance.

Green Mountain College’s Lewis Deane Nature Preserve is an 85-acre parcel of land located on the eastern slopes of Mount St. Catherine, part of the Taconic Mountains. More than 285 plant species provide a habitat to more than 50 species of birds, nine species of mammals, five species of amphibians, and one reptilian species. Endless Brook is home to indigenous brook trout. The brook snakes its way along the east side of the nature preserve, going underground as it nears Lake St. Catherine, earning the brook its intriguing name. Two trails climb to the top of the mountain, a favorite site for picking blueberries and enjoying the view.

Since its acquisition in 2002, Green Mountain College has utilized the preserve as an outdoor classroom. A number of classes have incorporated Deane Preserve into their curricula. Students from Images of Nature classes have helped to build and maintain these trails.

Trail head parking is on the west side of Endless Brook Road just past the pink bed and breakfast, Toad Hall, about one mile southeast of Route 30. A kiosk provides visitors with background information on the geology, hydrology, ecology, and history of the reserve, and it highlights how the preserve is being used by Green Mountain College for education, research, and recreation.

Map by Green Mountain College

Visitor Guidelines

All visitors to the preserve are asked to follow these guidelines:

Leave-no-trace: carry it in, carry it out.
Travel on foot only, except for handicapped access or approved management practices.
Hunt only by permission.
Engage in no illegal activities.
Camp only in designated areas.
Build no fires, except in designated areas.

Help Wanted: Boat Launch Monitors / Greeters

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 17:48:22 GMT

Each season, the Lake St. Catherine Association staffs the boat launch with "Greeters". These representatives of the LSCA play a very important part in keeping invasive species of plants and fish out of the lake.

We are currently looking to add to our monitoring staff for the 2017 season.

Our boat launch greeter duties include:

Approaching and interacting with boaters
Inspecting watercraft
Identifying and handling suspicious specimens
Collecting and reporting data
Distributing educational material on aquatic invasive species

To be a LSCA boat launch greeter, you need to:

Attend the Vermont DEC training on Saturday, May 13th from 9AM - 1PM at the Castleton Community Center, 2108 Main St, Castleton
Be available to work Saturdays and Sundays, 8AM - 5PM, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, including the Fridays and Mondays around Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. Your working days will be scheduled
Be outgoing, friendly and comfortable interacting with the public

At the DEC training class, you will learn about:

aquatic invasive species biology, threats to Vermont, and the importance of spread prevention
aquatic invasive species identification
access area rules and regulations, baitfish regulations, and invasive species laws
tips on delivering invasive species messages and interacting with the public

Greeters will be paid $15 per hour, including a paid lunch hour. Supervisors have the potential to make more for their increased responsibilities.

If you are interested in becoming a LSCA Boat Launch Greeter, please email us at: info@lakestcatherine.org.

Town Of Poultney Provides Funds To LSCA

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 17:50:09 GMT

On Town Meeting Day, the Town Of Poultney voted to approve the appropriation of funds for the Lake St. Catherine Association.

"We want to thank the new Poultney Town Manager, Paul A. Donaldson and the Town of Poultney for their contribution of $20,000.00 to the Lake St. Catherine Association towards our work to maintain the health of the lake," said LSCA President, Jim Canders.

Maintaining the lake costs approximately $100,000 annually. Grants, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to help, please consider becoming a member or making a donation. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and any contribution that you make is tax deductible.

Thanks again to the Town Of Poultney!

Town Of Wells Residents Vote To Provide Funds To LSCA

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 18:52:06 GMT

On Tuesday, March 7th 2017, the residents of Wells voted to provide $12,000.00 in support of the Lake St. Catherine Association's mission to protect and maintain the lake.

"We want to thank the residents of Wells for providing this money to help support our efforts to maintain the lake," said LSCA President, Jim Canders. "These funds will be used for numerous tasks, including: controlling Eurasian Watermilfoil, boat launch monitoring, suction harvesting and the continued vigilance over the general welfare of this magnificent natural resource."

Thanks again to the good folks of Wells!

Two LSCA Trustees Retire, Help Wanted

Jerremy Jones — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 18:51:11 GMT

Longtime Lake St. Catherine Association Trustees Martin and Ellen Greenberg have decided to retire from the board. The LSCA would like to thank them for their MANY years of service to the lake community!

As a result, we have an opening on the board for our Recording Secretary.

The Recording Secretary will record, type and distribute the minutes for the four Trustee meetings and the the Annual Membership Meeting for the LSCA. The dates for these meetings are:

May 20, 2017 - 8:30 AM
June 23, 2017 - 8:30 AM
July 22, 2017 - 8:30 AM
July 22, 2017 - Annual Membership Meeting - 6 PM
August 26, 2017 - 8:30 AM

All meetings are held at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club.

If you are interested in this position and volunteering with the LSCA, please contact us at info@lakestcatherine.org.

Lake Residents Announce Fireworks For Independence Day 2017

Jerremy Jones — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 18:52:40 GMT

It's something the lake community looks forward to every year - the 4th of July fireworks!

The Lake St. Catherine Association has been informed by lake residents Rick Roberts and Jack Williams that they have scheduled their coordinated fireworks displays for the evening of Saturday, July 1st. Rick and Jack are working with Young’s Explosives from Rochester, NY.

Rick expressed his gratitude to those who donate in support of the show financially - and to the good folks that help him each year with "The Barge".

Rick also talked about why he likes putting on the show each year, "...I hope that the show lets everyone lay down their 'stuff', if only for a time, and to sit back, relax, and realize that sometimes life—and the Lake—are pretty good things."

On behalf of the Lake St. Catherine community, the LSCA would like to thank Rick and Jack for their extremely generous efforts to light up the sky for Independence Day.

The LSCA 2017 Membership Drive Is Underway!

Jerremy Jones — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 18:53:06 GMT

Hello Lake St. Catherine community!

The Lake St. Catherine Association's 2017 Membership Drive is underway.

Last week, we sent out mailings to the Lake St. Catherine community containing the 2017 Membership Application.

If you'd like to support the LSCA and become a member, you can fill out the Membership Form linked above, or you can fill in our online membership form and submit your dues online. If you'd like to do so, you can click here to go to our Membership section.

Some of the services the LSCA provides are:

Maintain and purchase navigation and shore line protection bouys throughout the lake.
Test the water for E coli, and water clarity.
Managing the free boat-safety courses that are state mandated for all persons born after January 1, 1974.
Inspecting boats wishing to enter the lake for Eurasian milfoil, zebra mussels and water chestnuts.
Controlling milfoil (and other invasive species) and maintaining native weeds at tolerable levels.
Working with the state to solve the problems of silting and impacts of phosphorus and other sources of pollution.
Maintaining "welcome" signs and gardens.
Liaising with other lakes in order to exchange information concerning problems.
Sponsor the annual fun-filled July 4th Boat Parade.
Disseminate information to our membership and the community through newsletters, website, and other local publications.
Organizing funding through membership fees, donations and grants from the State of Vermont and Poultney and Wells.
We represent you to state and local governments to protect your rights and the lake in general.
We protect the value of your property by maintain the beauty, access, and safety of the lake.

After receiving your dues, our Treasurer Elaine will send you a welcome mailing which includes a LSCA member card for your window and a LSCA pen.

We appreciate your support!

If you have any questions, please contact us at at info@lakestcatherine.org.

The Lake St. Catherine Association Launches New Website

Jerremy Jones — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 17:54:46 GMT

Hello Lake St. Catherine!

In an effort to communicate better with our members and the Lake St. Catherine community, we are excited to launch a new website for the Lake St. Catherine Association.

We still have some updating to do, so you may see a page or two with "Coming Soon..." or a typo here or there. We'll be working on those... If you see a typo or something that does not look quite right, please let us know.

There are a lot of new features to tell you about. Here is a brief description of what you'll find in each section of the site.

The Association:

In this section, you can read about Our Purpose, Our Bylaws, Our Committees, a list of our Trustees and information about Volunteering.

The Lake:

This section contains information about Lake St. Catherine, including: Lake History, Fishing, Recreation, Water Quality & Safety and Milfoil Control.

Membership:

One of the great new features of the site is the ability to pay your LSCA online. Members that have paid their 2016 dues will soon receive an email with a link to create your password to access the member area. Here, you will be able to view a Member Directory, update your information (ie. lake address, home address, email, phone number, add a photo, etc.) and renew your yearly membership. There is also a Forum for members to post and reply to discussions.

Calendar:

Another new feature, the Calendar will list all LSCA events. These will include the monthly board meetings during the summer, the member dinner and the boat parade. We are also considering adding local community events to keep you informed of fun things happening around the lake.

News:

The News section has 3 sections, Blog, Newsletter and Lost & Found. The Blog will be continually updated to keep you informed about what we are doing and what is going on around the lake.

Sponsors:

Here, we hope to offer our local business members a place for their logo and a link to their website.

Finally, on the homepage, you'll see that you can make a donation to the LSCA. We appreciate your support!

Please have a look around, and let us know what you think.