The summer of 2016 was another excellent season on Crystal lake! The Crystal Lake Preservation Assoc. (CLPA) continued its longstanding commitment to maintaining the high quality of our Lake with the help of our partners, the Town of Barton and the State of Vermont. CLPA completed the 14th year of the Aquatic Nuisance Control Program funded by the state combined with financial support from the Town. The successful, long running program focused on these main areas:
- Boat inspections through the greeter program.
- Professional Diver surveys of the lake.
- Harvesting of any milfoil found in any area of the lake.
- Public education efforts through the website and a mass mailing.
This past season divers from AE Commercial Diving Services of Manchester Ctr., VT conducted one diver survey and plant harvesting session on July 25th. A&E reported harvesting 8 gallons of milfoil from the south end of the lake. The professional diving company did not complete a fall survey and harvesting operation as expected and abruptly discontinued service to Crystal Lake in August. President Dean Lawes and Vice President Tom Nelson, with support of the CLPA directors and other volunteers, organized 5 Milfoil searches and plant harvestings throughout the second half of the season and into the fall. Additionally, a professional diver from Westmore Vermont, Mr. Robert Patton, participated in one expedition and has indicated a possible interest in working for the association next year. The CLPA’s operations harvested approximately 30 milfoil plants from the north end – outlet area, and another 30 from the south end of the lake near the public boat launch. Professional Diver expenses were $630.00 for the season.
The boat inspections by our greeters remain a critical part of our program. Annual payroll expenses funding the greeters are grant funded. Our inspection program for 2016 was compromised by a clerical error made by the town while including the ballot item for the 2016 town meeting day whereby funding for the program is voted on each year. Because of the error, the CLPA appropriation from the town of Barton was cut by $2,000. To adjust to that cut as well as a new increase in the minimum hourly wage paid to the inspectors, the CLPA was forced to decrease inspections at the start of the season in the months of May and June.
Boat inspections began on May 28th for the Memorial Day weekend and were conducted on a reduced schedule through the middle of June. After that they were conducted from 6AM to 6PM daily. This season there were 860 watercraft inspections, down from 1,017 the prior year. CLPA’s greeters intercepted 4 vessels carrying noxious weeds. Andy Treiber continues to coordinate the greater program and is a major reason for its success. Andy maintains the greeter schedule and logistics and receives $750 as the program coordinator. The association is confident that the diligent vessel inspections and ongoing public contact, continues to result in relatively low numbers of aquatic nuisance weed interceptions while and verifying the program’s success.
CLPA officers and several volunteers organized 5 operations to search for and harvest milfoil from the lake. These efforts were well organized and successful at no cost to the association. Director Rod Ely continued to maintain the association website and with assistance from Tom Nelson and Dean Lawes, updated many parts and features of the site. The website for public education is supported at a cost of approximately $125 per year. Area residents and the public are encouraged to learn more about our program and association at http://crystallakevt.com.
Kristin Atwood from the Town of Barton’s municipal office continues to serve as the CLPA treasurer and liaison with the Vermont Dept. of Environmental Conservation, providing expert assistance and the financial accounting of the grant program. The Treasurer’s salary is paid at $450 for the year and some of the other main program expenses include greeter salaries, Liability and Workman’s Compensation insurance, advertising, public education, professional fees, and postage and delivery.
The Annual meeting of the CLPA took place on August 27, 2016 at the Pageant Park Pavilion. Election of officers and directors took place and association business was discussed with those in attendance. Plans were developed to begin several major initiatives to include, increasing CLPA membership with a letter based informational drive, an enhancement and increasing of milfoil spotting and harvesting efforts led by the CLPA board and volunteers, and an updating of the association website to increase our public education efforts. As of the writing of this year-end report, these three major areas have been successfully undertaken and are plans are in place to continue this work into the future.
The officers and board of the CLPA is strongly committed to our ongoing mission to protect Crystal Lake and we truly appreciate all the support we receive from neighbors, family, friends and the public. We also hope for continued support from the state of Vermont and the Town of Barton to keep the ANC program successful next season.
Sincerely,
Thomas Nelson
CLPA President 2017
