The condition of the lake remains good for another year.
The focus of the Crystal Lake preservation Association (CLPA) has been in three areas. Our greeter program, the diver’s surveys with focused areas of plant harvesting and harvesting in the shallow areas in the outlet of the lake. There has also been some additional public education.
Our greeter program remains the mainstay for preventing incursion of invasive species. We had greeters at the State of Vermont boat launch from 6 am to 6pm daily from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. We extended the program for one additional weekend in September. There were 11 interceptions of plant material on boats or trailers during the year of which 3 were Eurasian milfoil. Andy Treiber coordinated the Greeter program. The greeters were paid $9/ hour for a total of $11,991.79. Two greeters attended State run training and were paid $120.03. Andy was paid $750 to coordinate.
Our divers this year were from AE Diving in Manchester Center. They were in the lake twice during the season. In July, they surveyed the south end of the lake and removed 9 plants. In August, they did a full survey of the lake and did some hand pulling at the outlet and removed approximately 9 gallons of Eurasian milfoil. The situation with Eurasian milfoil remains stable with 2 small groups of plants at the south end of the lake which is identifiable by GPS coordinates. Otherwise, the lake itself remains free of invasive species. Diver costs for the year were $2,256.25.
The situation at the outlet of the lake at the north end remains a big concern. Eurasian milfoil is firmly established and we started a program of harvesting this area several years ago which we are continuing to do.
Both Chris Sheldon and his crew as well as Ann Bove and a crew from the Watershed Management Division of the State of Vermont harvested the area with a substantial amount of plant material removed. Ms. Bove reiterated that we have to keep this area harvested on a regular basis if we are going to be successful at keeping Eurasian milfoil out of the lake. In June, Ann instructed Tim Brown on the best way to hand pull Eurasian milfoil and the best strategies for removal from the outlet. This lead to 3 expeditions of volunteers during the season to hand pull in the outlet using snorkeling gear. Approximately 10 bags of material was removed and disposed in the trash. At the end of the season, both Ann Bove and Chris Sheldon felt that the situation was improved.
Rod Ely, a board member of the CLPA, developed a website for the Association (http://crystallakevt.com). We are excited about this and hope that it will lead to increased public awareness and participation. Cost of the website development was $1,000 and annual operating cost is $100.
Kristen Atwood, at the Town of Barton Office acted as our treasurer and for as the liaison for funding from the State of Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation Grant. Kristen maintained our insurance policies. She was paid $450 for her services for the year. Insurance cost for liability and Workmen’s Compensation was $1,109.
Elections were held at the annual meeting in August. Dean Lawes agreed to stay on as Vice President and Renee Leblanc agreed to stay on as a board member.
Given our financial situation, the executive decided to gather names for a petition to present at the Town of Barton annual meeting in March, 2015 to request an appropriation of funds from the town to continue our mission. Many people participated. This looks like it will be required on an ongoing basis. Other issues facing the lake and the association were discussed at a meeting in October. Renee LeBlanc again arranged moving the greeter shack to the public boat launch in the spring and for its retrieval in the fall. He volunteered to have the shack stored at his home for the off season. Many of the executive also participated in surveillance of the outlet of the lake by kayak during the season. The total of In Kind services was calculated at $2,120.
The total cost to the association for the year was $19,468.29. The association did have a problem at the end of the season financially as all of the expenses were paid but the majority of the State grant and the Town appropriation will not be paid until the end of the year. President, Tim Brown loaned the association funds to bridge this. We have more work to do to be able to maintain the Association and it’s mission both financially and in the lake.
Sincerely,
Timothy Brown
