For the preservation, protection, and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine
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
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:
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!
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.
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?
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.
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
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:
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.
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!
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:
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/
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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! Wellsmere Farm is open 9-6 daily.
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!
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.
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).
Search lakestcatherine.org:
Follow us on:
