Ripples from Citizens Restoring Congamond, June 2011

A survey was included in the annual Membership Mailing, asking for opinions on Citizens Restoring Congamond’s various activities and mission. We’d like to thank the 88 responders and invite those who haven’t responded to do so on our website.

Overall, the responses indicated CRC is doing a good job, we should remain involved with the Babb’s Project, and more water quality monitoring is needed.  We have received our new water monitoring equipment and we’ll eventually post the results on our website.  Last year we were able to report on water quality and ph level. The new equipment allows us to report on nitrates as well.

Last year’s end-of-year clarity results were about 14 feet in North Pond, between 8 and 10 feet in Middle Pond and between 4 and 6 feet in South Pond. It is important to note that North Pond is spring fed, and the water proceeds through Middle Pond to South Pond, where it exits through the canal, beavers permitting. 

As always, if you see what you believe are invasive weeds, please contact us and we’ll come and take a look.

So what are we doing with the data? LAPA West (Lakes and Ponds Association of Western MA) Lake Steward, Jim Phillips, will be speaking on that next month at our meeting. Please come! Other than that, if you’re interested in helping, let us know. Last year we had Anne Capra speak on safe lake fertilizer. When you’re choosing a fertilizer for your lawn, please be sure that the phosphorus level is at zero. 

Our annual Lake Clean-up is Saturday, June 4, 8 a.m., at the North Boat Ramp. We’ll be done by noon. If you’d like to help clean up or plant flowers, be at the North Boat Ramp at 8 a.m.  Bring gloves, rakes, a wheelbarrow, if you have one, and various garden tools. Suffield very nicely waives the dump fees that day and as a result, the lakes look better every year.

The annual Boat Parade is Saturday, July 2. This year’s theme is "Redneck Yacht Club."

Dennis Clark spoke on the beaver problem at our last meeting. He thanked us for the support on the Local Permitting Process (dock fees).  He also mentioned that because of the EPA Wetlands Protection Act, we had been using the Emergency Certification Process to remove beaver dams. We’ve used up our allotment of Emergency Certificates, so we had to file a Notice of Intent Order of Conditions to remove the dams on a regular basis.

We need to notify the Conservation Commission 24 hours in advance of dam removal, and document (pictures) before and after dam removal and write a small report. Dennis doesn’t believe the beavers are such a problem. In the winter, with a permit, trapping is allowed.  Other than that, the Town has no plans to trap any beavers.

Dennis suggested we draw up a plan for dredging the canal and/or Great Brook (the other outlet to the lakes), even if we have no money for it at present. We can file the plan and worry about funding later. This would alleviate the problem of the “stuff” on the bottom of the lake that is sitting and occasionally gets churned up by climatic conditions and causes toxins to come up from the bottom, which is a more serious problem. 

Our next meeting of Citizens Restoring Congamond is set for June 14 at Crabby Joe’s at 7:30 p.m. (downstairs). Please join us to hear Dr. Jim Phillips, LAPA West’s Lake Steward (and retired Westfield State professor) speak on what’s going on in Congamond Lake.  Everyone is welcome.

Citizens Restoring Congamond is a duly authorized Non-Profit organization, dedicated to the protection and betterment of the Congamond Lakes.  You may contact us at www.congamond.org or P.O. Box 117, West Suffield, CT  06093.