Minutes of Lake Beseck Environment Committee SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
1. Call to Order
Meeting was called to order at 7:04 P.M.
2. Members Present
Rob Poturnicki, Randy Bernotas, Amy Poturnicki, Craig Lundell, Hannah Malcolm, Darin Overton, Melissa Kowal, Kathy Kukowski, Rick Santos. Ed Bailey joined the meeting at 7:08 P.M.
3. Approval of Minutes
Motion to approve the minutes of 6-26-2019 without changes made by Rick Santos, seconded by Randy Bernotas. Passed Unanimously.
4. Public Comment
Mary Pitruzello, Troop 33 Scoutmaster joined the meeting to introduce herself and offer services from the Boy Scouts who need 4 hours of conservation work to gain rank. 2 scouts are looking to gain rank in the next 4 months. There will be more scouts in need of hours next year as well. She stated that she is always open to proposals for Eagle Scout projects.
5. AER – Benthic Barrier Permitting Update
Prior to Larry Marsicano, AER calling into the meeting, Ed Bailey quickly briefed the committee about his phone conversation with Larry following an email that AER received from DEEP stating that they could not issue a License to private individuals for benthic barriers after concerns were raised about enforcement of the License and insurance liability, sureties, and indemnification to the State. Ed suggested that one way of possibly satisfying DEEP would be for homeowners to contract with a reputable company that would install the mats for them. Larry will inquire to New England Environmental and C&D for pricing. Following up on a question from Darin Overton about how to acquire a certification for installing mats, Larry suggested that if a person wishing to get certified owns a business, they would already have liability insurance. Larry suggested that we could also inquire to CT Agricultural Experiment Station, who is looking to sustain their program, to see if it is something that they would be willing to take on for a charge. Melissa Kowal suggested that maybe the Ag Station could also certify people to install the mats. Larry is expecting a draft of conditions from DEEP for benthic barrier permitting on Thursday. Ed will follow up after having a better understanding of what they will allow. Larry also spoke about utilizing lake drawdowns as a resource to help with some of the vegetation issues in the lake. In his experience, he has found that if the lakebed is allowed enough time to de-water prior to the first hard frost that typically occurs the first week of January, you will have the most success with weed control. He also noted that he could not speak on Potamogeton’s but did advise that a temperature just at the freezing point, and a lack of de-watering will not kill the roots of milfoil, it requires subfreezing conditions which is difficult to achieve if the sediment is still saturated. If properly de-watered, it would only require 24-48 hours of 28 degree temperatures to see results.
6. Nuisance Aquatic Vegetation and Remediation
Amy spoke about ongoing complaints that she has received about weeds around docks, some people stated that the plants look different. Photos of the aquatic plants and entanglements were sent to her. Amy requested the help of Rob Poturnicki, Ed Bailey and Buddy Altobello to venture out onto the lake by boat to look at the plants and to collect samples for the CT Agricultural Experiment Station for I.D. The following were some of the plants that were identified.
On the west side of the lake from the beach to the Irish’s
Clasping-leaf Pondweed (Potamogeton perfoliatus)
Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
On the east side of the lake in front of Lakeview Estates
Clasping-leaf Pondweed (Potamogeton perfoliatus)
Water Stargrass (Zosterella dubia)
Small Pondweed (Potamogeton pusillus)
Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
On the east side of the lake in front of Randy Bernotas
Clasping-leaf Pondweed (Potamogeton perfoliatus)
Water Stargrass (Zosterella dubia)
In the north cove
Clasping-leaf Pondweed (Potamogeton perfoliatus)
Small Pondweed (Potamogeton pusillus)
Water Stargrass (Zosterella dubia)
Coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum)
Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
Western waterweed (Elodea nuttallii)
Amy stated that Potamogeton perfoliatus appeared to be the dominating culprit of most complaints, with an abundance in all areas sampled. Aerial footage was also obtained.
Amy passed around photos that she took of the plants that were collected in each area of the the lake. She also explained that some of the plants resemble other plants. For example, Elodea can look similar to Hydrilla, Coontail and Milfoil look similar, Pondweeds like Curly-leaf Pondweed and Clasping-leaf Pondweed have similar flowers. She also passed around a photo of the Lake Bottom Blankets that were tested in a 40’ x 100’ section of the swim area at the beach in April. The barriers were removed 2 months later, in June. Aerial footage was taken in September, 3 months after their removal, revealing a defined weed-free area to date where the mats were previously installed.
Upon discussion with Greg Bugbee about remediation suggestions for the nuisance plants, his recommendation was to try to get the issues with the drawdowns resolved and to implement the deepest drawdown possible. Regarding inquiries made about spot treatments with a newer product called ProcellaCor that is being touted as a safer and a more environmentally friendly herbicide, both Greg and Mark stated that it targets dicot plants such as Milfoil and would not work or would have minimal effect on the plants recently identified. When asked about other options, Greg said that he has never treated Potamogeton perfoliatus, and does not know of an herbicide that would work. He had experience with treating a plant that closely resembles it – his experience was that it would kill the leaves, brown the stems but the stalks would remain, and begin to grow again.
7. Selectman Report – Drawdown Update
Ed informed the committee about a meeting he is trying to coordinate with DEEP as early as next week to discuss the issues with achieving adequate drawdown levels. Ed read the mandated drawdown to the committee. “Water level draw downs shall be three feet during even-numbered years with completion achieved by December first of such year and maintained until March first of the following year. Water level draw downs shall be six feet during odd-numbered years achieved by November first of such year and maintained until December thirty-first of such year; a three-foot water level draw down shall be maintained thereafter until March first of the following year.”
Rick Santos asked if written procedures are in place for DEEP staff for drawing the lake down. Ed will inquire. Darin Overton offered to meet DEEP staff at the dam to monitor how much water is coming out, how open the valve is, etc. He could also put a flow meter on to determine how much water is coming out.
Larry advised that by postponing the refill even by 2 weeks, it could be beneficial. Members of the committee discussed if legislation could be amended to get the most benefit from the drawdowns. Ed commented that it took an act of God to get the legislation that we now have in place. Amy stated that Bashan Lake was trying to get legislation in place similar to Beseck that would mandate a drawdown plan for their lake. Craig Lundell will follow up with Bill Denya about this.
Ed handed out information about efforts being made by Lower CT River Valley Council of Governments encouraging DEEP to enhance their Clean, Drain, Dry program to include all public boat launches throughout the boating season including an enhancement of DEEP’s public outreach and aquatic awareness campaign.
8. Misc.
Ed informed members that a culvert collapsed on Cherokee Rd and approximately 90 feet of it was replaced. This will help to prevent sedimentation into the lake as well as property damage if it were to become blocked up and water flooded outside of the confines of the culvert.
9. Adjourn
Motion to adjourn made by Amy Poturnicki, seconded by Craig Lundell. Passed unanimously.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:19 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Poturnicki