WHAT IS THE LAKE ST. CATHERINE ASSOCIATION (LSCA)?

It is everyone who cares about the lake and the surrounding areas. It is you, me, the family next door, the retired couple in the house down the road, it is the Towns of Wells and Poultney, and it is the Lake Champlain water basin.

WHAT DOES THE LSCA DO?

Here are some of the services that we provide:

• 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), and participating in the State of Vermont's Lay Monitoring Program.
• Conducting 2 free boating 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 at the Vermont Fish & Wildlife boat launch in Wells and at the State Park in Poultney for aquatic invasive species (AIS) to keep them out of the lake.
• Keeping the invasive weed Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) under control via our Milfoil Control Program.
• Working with state & local governments, and individual property owners to mitigate stormwater runoff from carrying phosphorus, sediments, and other pollution into the lake with the LSC Stormwater Master Plan and the Lake Wise Program.
• Long-term planning for the future of the lake by beginning a 3 year process in 2022 to create a Watershed Action Plan for LSC.
• Maintaining "Welcome" signs and gardens.
• Liaising with other lakes in order to exchange information on best practices.
• Sponsoring the annual fun-filled July 4th Boat Parade.
• Providing 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.

Everyone associated with the Lake St. Catherine Association is a volunteer. But, there are only 15 trustees and it's a very large lake. 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.

Contributions to Lake St. Catherine Association may qualify as charitable contributions! LSCA is an approved public charity and is exempt from Federal Income Tax under §501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to LSCA (beyond dues) may now be deductible under §170 of the code. LSCA is also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under §§2055, 2106 or 2522 of the code.