For the preservation, protection, and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine
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.
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.
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!
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.
Thank you for your support of the LSCA!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Some ideas that were discussed included:
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
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!
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
Boat #4 - Laurie Miller - America Runs On Dunkin'
Most Original:
Boat #2 - The Roth Family - Scooby Doo Mystery Machine
Boat #21 - The Bilotta Family - Summer Camp
Best Overall:
Boat #10 - Tonia and Paul Ramirez - Sponge Bob
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.
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.
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!
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