For the preservation, protection, and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine
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!
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 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
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.
> Aquatic plant photos from Native Plant Trust: https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org
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:
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).
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!
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:
(c) Distance requirements.
(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
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:
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
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.
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.
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
> 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:
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!
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