LWTF News Archives
 |
Summer 2010: 10 Tips for Waterfront Stewardship | Invasive Aquatic Plants Guide | Lake Organizations | Celebrating 35 Years of Lake Restoration | Art Sale Benefits LWTF
Fall 2009: Summer Report on Clarity | Invasive Removals | Online Donations | Leaf Clean Up |
Summer 2009: New Invasive Plants Found | Lake Friendly Lawn Care
Winter 2008/09: 2008 Annual Monitoring Report
Fall 2008: State Park Erosion | New Brown Trout | Invasive Plant Council | Seeing Green? | Dishwashing Detergent Alert | Curlyleaf Pondweed Battle | Major Rain Event Precautions | Summer Water Clarity |
Summer 2008: May Water Clarity | Curlyleaf Pondweed | Layer-Air System | Alewives | Gardening Tips | Buffer Plant List PDF
Spring 2008: Curlyleaf Pondweed | Layer Aeration System | Alewives | CT Federation of Lakes |
Winter 2007/08: 2007 Annual Monitoring Report
Summer 2007: Message from Tom McGowan | Curlyleaf Pondweed Battle | State Approves Funding | Lake Conditions & Clarity | Transitions | End-of-Summer Updates
Winter 2006/07: Curlyleaf Pondweed Eradication and Control | Annual Ecosystem Report | State DEP Agreement & Washington Boat Launch | State Aquatic Control Program Needed | Director's Report
Fall 2006: Curlyleaf Pondweed Alert | Special Report PDF | Curlyleaf Indentification Guide PDF
Summer 2006: Director's Letter | Conditions/Water Clarity | Lawn Fertilizer | Summer Intern | Land Preservation | Boat Inspection | Legislative Action Needed | Weed Free Zone | Summer 2006 newsletter PDF
Summer 2011
Lake Suffering from Spring Nutrient Surge
 |
Some of that rain occurred while the ground was at least partially frozen, exacerbating the damaging effects of nutrients, from both organic and chemical fertilizers as well as other products, being washed into the lake. The major source of the nutrient loading is Sucker Brook which accounts for about half of the lake's water inflow.
The primary catalyst is phosphorus. Measurements of that element between the months of April and May were 40 parts per billion near the surface of the lake, about double the expected number. That created algae blooms in early summer that were more severe than usual, and the decomposition of that algae in turn created more nutrients and "echo' effects that are still being experienced today.
Complicating matters, the resulting buildup in the nutrient-rich lower depths of the lake, the hypolimnion, has reached the lower intake ports of the Layer Aeration Systems which operate in the New Preston basin of the lake, requiring temporary shutdowns for adjustments. Those systems have worked effectively under stressful conditions this summer, and need to be fully operational to isolate nutrients and end the current cycle.
The Task Force continues to work energetically to address the current situation and avoid future surges. The Board of Directors has approved a substantial expenditure of funds for modifications and repairs to the Layer Aeration Systems and the Frost Aeration facility on Arrow Point. In the longer term, new in-lake technologies are being examined and efforts in land preservation, conservation easements and nutrient controls in the watershed have taken on increased urgency.
The State of the Lake, Summer 2011
 |
The state of Lake Waramaug continues to be good despite somewhat reduced water clarity this spring and continuing concerns regarding invasive plants and the Sucker Brook delta buildup, as reported by the Task Force Executive Director Tom McGowan at the joint LWTF/Lake Association meeting on June 12.
This year's meeting was well attended and Mr. McGowan presented a summary of all the projects recommended by the LWTF limnologist Dr. Robert Kortmann. These include the effort to further improve water clarity and reduce algae and weeds by extending the spring "clear water" diatom phase into June and the concept of using mini wind turbines to power small layer air systems on favorable wind speed shoreline locations.
Mr. McGowan also highlighted the results of the erosion survey in the Sucker Brook watershed done by the Northwest Conservation District for the Task Force. He presented some conceptual plans that are under consideration, including improvement at the delta, a large sediment basin upstream and the creation of protected buffer strips along the stream bank. The Task Force has obtained the names and addressed of property owners on Sucker Brook where there are erosion sites identified in the Northwest Conservation District survey. LWTF will be contacting owners to suggest stabilization of these sites and offer technical assistance.
Layer-Air Systems Start-up
The in-lake Layer Aeration Systems and the compressor that powers those systems were given complete inspections by Ecosystems Consulting and start-up was initiated in early June. Portions of the compressed air lines had to be repositioned and the compressor itself needed some significant maintenance work. Ecosystems then began its schedule of lake testing and monitoring. In addition, LWTF summer intern Colin McGowan began his weekly secchi disc, water temperature and dissolved oxygen readings at one meter intervals at established monitoring sites.
The Frost System
The start up of the Frost system on Arrowpoint was delayed waiting for the Town of Warren road crew to remove the sediment layer at the bottom of the Frost site concrete basin. Almost 30 years of leaves and other debris have built up in the basin and removing them had become critical as it was approaching the level of the outlet plug. Warren, using special equipment it has for a brief time as part of a shared area town equipment program, cleaned out a good portion of the debris but not all of it.
With the help of Dick Loughney, arrangements were made for a contractor to shovel out and haul away as much of the remaining debris as possible. This effort was also delayed by the heavy rains and lightning, but the system was successfully restarted in late June. Ecosystems Consulting advised the Task Force that the delayed startup is unlikely to cause any harm to the lake due to relatively cool and wet conditions while the system was down.
Invasive Aquatic Plant Management
The Curlyleaf Pondweed eradication/control program continued this year with Bruce Lockhart and his divers pulling and covering weed beds on June 13 and 14 and Dr. George Knoecklein conducted the entire shoreline survey for all invasive plants on June 15th. Again Lockhart was able to find, pull and cover plants in various locations on the north (Warren) shore with most being found at the Sucker Brook outlet and along the section of the shore west of Sucker Brook. Some were found on the west side of Randall's Point. Knoecklein conducted his plant survey the day after Lockhart finished and found only a few Curlyleaf Pondweed plants and two water chestnut plants which were removed. Knoecklein recorded all these plant locations with a GPS device and provided that information to Lockhart who returned to these sites early in July and found and removed additional invasive plants.
The Task Force will continue to monitor the shoreline and report the results to Lockhart who will return as needed with divers to remove plants and control the spread of these invasives.
Summer 2010
Summer 2010 Brought Challenges, Responses... and Celebration!
The summer of 2010 was the most active and interesting in recent memory for the Lake Waramaug Task Force and the entire lake community. It began with an extreme weather pattern that put unusual stress on water quality, and a recognition that the Sucker Brook sedimentation has become an issue that needs to be addressed. More positively, this past summer also saw a full implementation of the boat inspection program and continued with the LWTF's 35th anniversary — a series of events that celebrated not just clear waters but the area's rich artistic and historic heritage.Lake Conditions. A lack of rain and a record-breaking number of 90+ degree days in the late spring and early summer promoted alarming algae blooms that were more severe than any the lake has suffered in years. However the essentially robust underlying health of the lake, due in part to Task Force initiatives and community cooperation to limit the introduction of nutrients — particularly phosphorous — into the water, allowed for an impressive recovery that brought clarity levels back to 8 feet in early August.
Invasive aquatic plants continued to threaten. The persistence of Curlyleaf Pondweed was evident when Task Force inspections began in the early spring. We were pleased to see most sites treated last year were free of invasive plants but we also we found new plants near some of these "old" sites and at a few new sites. The plants were identified and their positions recorded using GPS for future monitoring. Where we found a low density of plants they were removed by hand — an expensive and labor intensive procedure. Divers covered denser clumps of plants with our special plastic bottom barrier. The result: Nearly all were gone by the end of June. No chemical applications were used.
Sucker Brook Sedimentation. Sucker Brook, which runs into Lake Waramaug at the northeast corner of the lake, accounts for more than half of the inflow of water. Over the years, sediment buildup has created a delta which restricts the flow of cool water to the proper levels of the lake; this is harmful to marine life and creates algae and weed growing conditions as well as safety and aesthetic issues. In 1985 the Task Force dredged a deep channel through this delta which for 15 years helped improve the lake. Today, after years of continued stream bank erosion and sediment loading to the lake, not more than a shadow of this channel remains. Once again the Task Force has been actively seeking a solution to the problem, working with the Northwest Conservation District on a proposal for a detailed brook shoreline erosion survey and with the Task Force limnologist, Dr. Robert Kortmann, to evaluate innovative solutions, which will require work both upstream and on the delta. These efforts will continue through the winter.
Boat Launch Inspections. 2010 was the first full summer of operation for the new Washington Boat Launch facility with mandatory inspections to prevent the introduction of invasive plants into the lake. The process went smoothly and effectively, despite the fact that more boats were inspected than ever. We are encouraged and grateful that the vast majority of boats came to the ramp weed-free. A small number of boats were found with weeds and were turned away, saving the lake from ecological damage and the high cost of removing invasive plants.
35th Anniversary Events. In celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Lake Waramaug Task Force, record numbers of people came to the Gunn Museum retrospective on the colorful history of Lake Waramaug, the lectures at the Gunn Library and the stunning show at the Washington Art Association featuring beautiful paintings of the lake. These and other events served as a continuing reminder of how important Lake Waramaug is to all of us, and how critical our work is as we begin our 36th year.
10 Tips for Waterfront Stewardship
 |
This is one of 10 Simple Shoreland Stewardship Practices described in a valuable piece published by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the University of Wisconsin. Other important practices regularly encouraged by the Task Force include the use of zero-phosphorus fertilizer, the proper disposal of household waste and the reduction of impervious surface areas.
While the entire region shares long-term responsibility for the water quality of Lake Waramaug and our other lakes, those with lakeshore property and land along the rivers and streams which feed into the lake have a special opportunity to make a positive impact. Download this information and start working on a healthy, natural, appealing waterfront landscape.
New Guide to Invasive Aquatic Plants in Connecticut
A "Must-Have" for Concerned Lake Waramaug Residents and UsersThe Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) has recently released a wonderful identification guide to Connecticut's invasive aquatic and wetland plants. It can be downloaded as a PDF here (8.8 MB). A limited number of printed copies are available from CAES on request (email: Martha.Balfour@ct.gov).
This is a must-have publication for all Waramaug residents and lake users concerned about aquatic invasive plants. It provides crisp clear photos and keys to the identification of all invasive plants found by the CAES scientists as part of their statewide survey of invasive aquatic plants in Connecticut lakes and ponds. So far the CAES scientists have studied 162 Connecticut lakes and ponds as part of an intensive Statewide invasive aquatic plant study. At Waramaug we have found and are removing three invasive aquatic plants. The greatest threat has been Curlyleaf Pondweed which we have found and are removing from scatter locations primarily on the north shore. We removed the single Fanwort plant found in one of our regular invasive plant shoreline surveys and covered a bed of another invasive found in one location along the State Park shoreline.
However, we remain concerned that other invasive plants may find their way into the lake. The guide will help you with the often difficult task of identify these plants. It reports on the origins of each plant and shows where these plants have been found or reported in Connecticut lakes.
Prepared by Experiment Station Scientists Greg Bugbee and Martha Balfour, it also explains what you should do if you find a plant discussed in the guide. At Waramaug, of course, you should contact the Task Force at 860-868-0331.
It is very important for all lake residents and lake users to become familiar with the invasive aquatic plants that threaten the habitat and recreational values of Waramaug. Download this guide and use it. It is an essential part of our Waramaug invasive aquatic plant educational and prevention program.
The following from the introduction to the guide explains why it is important to prevent the spread of these plants, summarizes the CAES findings to date and key provisions of the State Invasive Plant law.
"Because invasive species are not native, they have few natural enemies. Their dramatic growth rates can clog water intakes, decrease recreational opportunities, reduce local real estate values, and alter native ecosystems (Connecticut Aquatic Nuisance Species Working Group, 2006, Fishman et al. 1998).
Recent vegetation surveys of 162 lakes and ponds, by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Invasive Aquatic Plant Program (CAES IAPP), found one or more invasive plants in nearly two-thirds of the water bodies (CAES IAPP, 2010). Approximately three-quarters of the invasive aquatic plant species in southern New England were introduced as cultivated plants (Les and Mehrhoff, 1999).
These introductions come from recreational boating (Couch and Nelson, 1985), dumping of unwanted plants from aquariums, water gardening, and plant fragments mixed with live bait used by fishermen. Spread of invasive plants from one lake to another also occurs naturally by wildlife and downstream flow.
Once established, eradication of invasive aquatic plants is extremely difficult. Preventing introductions by inspections, early detection and rapid response is critically important. This guide is intended to provide information on the identification and distribution of the 22 aquatic plants listed as invasive or potentially invasive (Table 1) by the Connecticut General Statute (Sec. 22a-381d). The sale of these plants, with the exception of common waterhyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), is also banned by State Statute and their transport is limited to activities associated with control and education. Fines of up to $75.00 can be imposed for each violation."
Lake Waramaug Organizations
There are several organizations involved with matters affecting Lake Waramaug. Who does what? Here's a basic guide to the primary function of each:- The Lake Waramaug Task Force, Inc. (www.lwtf.org)
The mission of the Task Force is restoring and preserving the water quality and ecology of the lake and its watershed. This is accomplished through research, monitoring, operation of water restoration systems, land preservation, invasive plant control/removal and education. The task force is a qualified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization of volunteers and scientists which has an annual budget of over $150,000. The Task Force depends on contributions from concerned citizens throughout the region. Its focus is purely scientific and its accomplishments are well regarded internationally. - The Lake Waramaug Association, Inc. (www.waramaugassoc.org)
The Association is devoted to quality of life issues associated with the lake. This includes lake ecology but also extends to matters of water and road safety, health, sanitation and the effective administration of zoning and inland wetlands regulations. It is a non-profit organization supported by annual dues from property owners and additional contributions from others in the region who are interested in protecting Lake Waramaug. - The Lake Waramaug Authority
The primary purpose of the Authority is the enforcement of state boating laws, including dock, buoy and float placement and permits, and lake patrolling and rescue. It was established by ordinances of, and is financially supported by, the Towns of Washington, Warren and Kent. - The Lake Waramaug Interlocal Commission
The Interlocal Commission facilitates cooperation among the three lake border towns in the management of lake matters and financing of water quality initiatives, including utility and maintenance cost for the Task Force's restoration systems. The Commission consists of the first selectmen of the three towns (Washington, Warren and Kent).
 |
Art Auction Benefits LWTF
Right, "August High," oil on canvas, mounted on panel, 13" x 32" by Charles Raskob Robinson are from a series of more than thirty paintings by the artist. All of the paintings are of the same scene but executed on location — en plein air — at different times of the year. The paintings were exhibited, along with those of many other artists, at the Washington Art Association this past summer.In celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the Lake Waramaug Task Force, the Washington Art Association generously shared their gallery commission on the sale of Mr. Robinson's paintings with the Lake Waramaug Task Force. Our deep gratitude to both!
Home |
About LWTF |
News |
Science |
Invasives |
Watershed |
Support LWTF
Copyright © 2006-2011 Lake Waramaug Task Force. All rights reserved.