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Newsletter 2008

Publisher: TLC Volume No. 12 Issue No. 1 Date: Summer 2008

Replanting Waccabuc Creek (see p. 11)

2008 President’s Letter

elcome to your 2008 edition of the Three Lakes

Council's annual newsletter. I am pleased that, once again, our volunteers stepped up and developed an interesting and educational medium to keep our community in‐formed on topics that will benefit our lakes and the many people who use and enjoy them.

Spend some time reading and learning about "The State of our Lakes‐2008," written by Paul Lewis. Interested in those big old snapping turtles? Ron Telelman has shared some information about these reptiles in his article. Read Joe Tansey's piece about our fish and our fishermen as well as several new initiatives being undertaken by the Fish Committee. How did we do this Spring with our Geese Initiatives? Jan Andersen has a report for you inside. And can Weevils really be a potential solution to address the invasive Eurasian milfoil? Kevin Karl has studied this issue and provides his findings and perspective just inside.

This year my wife Betsy and I volunteered to lead the mem‐bership campaign for the Three Lakes Council. It is our goal to

have everyone who has rights to access and enjoy our wonderful lakes be a supporter or member of this organization. Our frustration is that we haven't yet achieved that goal. This morning, before I began to write up my 2008 newsletter message, I traveled to the Post Office and picked up another twenty‐two membership forms (and checks!) in response to our May 20th campaign mailing. As I opened this mail, it was so pleasing to see the response: so many familiar names, and so many new names to me, and such generosity from our supporters. Unfortunately, my exhilaration is quickly tempered by the fact that only a bit more than one‐half of our residents are financially supporting the Three Lakes Council. That is a disheartening statistic to me.

We, Betsy and I, will do what we can to increase participation. But, the responsibility is in your hands to join in, become a member if you are not already, and actively support the varied and good work being done by this volunteer organization. If you haven't done so yet, please join now. My personal “Thank You” to each of you that made a contribution to our Council during 2007‐‐187 supporters last year!

Enjoy your newsletter, and when you have the opportunity, say your own “Thank You” to the many volunteers you read about in this year's edition.

Jack Sinnott, President Three Lakes Council

W

Snapping Turtles

2 Visit our website at www.threelakescouncil.org

The common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) was adopted as the state reptile of New York in 2006. The snapping turtle has a relatively small shell that does not cover its limbs or tail (snapping turtles cannot retract their heads under the shell). Color varies from light green and brown shades to very dark green and brown. Only the snapping turtle and the painted turtle are really common across New York. Snappers are the largest New York freshwater turtle, reaching shell lengths of 19 inches and weights of 70 pounds. Largely nocturnal, the snap‐ping turtle is omnivorous; about a third of its diet consists of plants, but snapping turtles are also ag‐gressive predators, lying in wait to ambush prey. Snapping turtles have a hooked beak which can slice through the flesh and bones of their prey: small aquatic invertebrates, crayfish, snails, fish, frogs, toads, snakes, bird eggs, small mammals, carrion, and water birds. Snapping turtles are the stuff of legends. Their ability to damage fingers and broom‐sticks is greatly exaggerated, but they can deliver a painful bite. They mostly eat dead plant and ani‐mal matter, and only rarely eat unsuspecting ducklings and water birds. Their impact on

fishermen is often greatly exaggerated.

The Little Weevil That Could...Solve Our Milfoil Problem

Snapping turtles can live up to 60 years and are known for their

fierce, menacing behavior. They are found in lakes, ponds, marshes and slow‐moving streams; any permanent body of fresh water is a potential home. Female snapping turtles have been known to journey 10 miles to reach their traditional nesting area. Many hatchlings fall prey to raccoons, skunks, snakes, bullfrogs, herons, and other large birds. Most people only see them when the females leave the water in early summer to locate nesting sites where they lay between 20 and 80 ping pong ball‐shap

The Milfoil Weevil is native to North America’s northern temperate lakes, ranging across the Northern United States and Southern Canada. It is a small (sesame seed‐sized) her‐bivorous beetle that feeds and develops only on milfoil plants—a rare specialist among the aquatic insects. Could this little bug be an environmentally sound solution to our milfoil problem? In the late 1980’s, biologists at Middlebury College, Vermont, noticed that the Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) in Brownington Pond de‐creased dramatically. They conducted enclosure experiments and made observations to document that it was the native weevil (Eurhychiopsis lecontei)

that was killing off the milfoil. Since then, many scientific studies have been published (not all in favor of weevils) and the weevil is considered to be a very promising agent for the control of EWM.

ed eggs.

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sites.

st 15 years.

Unfortunately, any of the pregnant females get hit by cars when crossing roads to reach their nesting We have had the same snapping turtle, with a brass “number 9” tag, on her shell, visiting our property to lay eggs for the pa

Ron Tetelman

Visit our website at www.threelakescouncil.org

The adults feed on the apical meristems (growing tips), curtailing growth and preventing flowering. But it is the larvae that do most of the damage. The grubs bore into the stem and feed on the vascular tissue. This prevents the transfer of nutrients from the roots to the top and energy from the top to the roots. It also disrupts the buoyancy of the stem, causing the plant to sink and die (including the roots). Weevils are weak swimmers, but will disperse to find better plants on which to feed, find mates and lay eggs. In the fall, the adults migrate to shore and overwinter in the leaf litter near the lake. Overwintering habitat requirements and predator relationships are not fully understood yet. In late spring they return to the water in search of milfoil. I know where they can find some!

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EnviroScience, Inc. has developed and patented the Middfoil® system which uses E. lecontei to control EWM. They culture the insect and release the eggs and larvae in lakes by the thousands. There seems to be a critical population or stocking level needed to quickly and permanently reduce an EWM infestation to an acceptable level. Sometimes a second stocking is necessary to infect other beds. If the habitat is favorable, the weevils overwinter and continue to control the stands of milfoil for years. The company provides many testimonials/referrals from satisfied customers although in a few cases, the weevils failed to do the job or not do it quickly. After ten years

refined t eir program and tailor it to the particular lake and funding entity. Middfoil® is approved by the New York DEC and Dept. of Agriculture.

in the business they have

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Allows recovery of flora as milfoil dies back

Does not interfere recreation or other uses

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Selected References

completely eradicate milfoil from our lakes

Success isdependent on the weather

Requires permit

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is variable

Long termon over‐wintering success and scarcity of predators

Hpilot program for a few locations would be on e rder of $10,000 while a full program for all three lakes might be in the neighbor‐hood of $40,000. The Three Lakes Council Board will be looking further into this

treatment option and considering ilot stocking to see how the weevils do in our environment. Can weevils control milfoil our kes? I think it’s worth letting them try.

f Eurasian atermilfoil, University of

W an

Biological Control oWMinnesota Department of Fisheries, ildlife nd Conservatio Biology. http://fwcb.cfans.umn.edu/research/milfoil/milfoi mllbc.ht Creed, R. P., and S. P. Sheldon. 995. Weevils and watermilfoil:

Inc. Website, ttp://www.enviroscienceinc.com

1did a North American herbivore cause the decline of an exotic plant? Ecological Applications 5: 1113‐1121. Enviroscienceh

Photograph credits: Adult from nviroscience, Inc., Larva from

romotional DVD om EnviroScience. Contact

in Karl

ER. Johnson, Cornell U., Bugwood.org Jan has a pfrher if you are interested.

Kev

http://fwcb.cfans.umn.edu/research/milfoil/milfoilbc.html




Check, Clean, and Dry!


For years, the Three Lakes Council has discouraged boats and gear from other water bodies to be used on our lakes. Now there is even more need for care. Zebra mussels were one of the first invasive animals to be of concern to our lakes. We also know that Eurasian milfoil, an aquatic nuisance plant in our lakes, probably was brought here by a boat or bait bucket. And last year we found curly leaf pondweed around our boat launch sites. But now there are more nasty invaders. To name just a couple: Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia or VHS is a virus spreading from the Great Lakes that has caused massive fish kills in New York State. Water chestnut, a very aggressive invasive plant, is found nearby in Mountain Lakes Camp and the Hudson River. So please, if you take boats, fishing gear, or kids’ toys elsewhere, please take pre‐cautions. The basic steps are check, clean, and dry. Check all the equipment to ensure that there are no plant pieces, mussel larvae, eggs, algae, or mud. Then clean your boats and gear. Dry completely for at least 5 days. More information follows. Check: Inspect carefully and remove any plant parts, mud, juvenile mussels, and algae from all gear

and equipment, and leave it all at the original site. Never carry water or wet

gear or equipment from another lake into the Three Lakes. Don’t bring bait buckets from other lakes to our lakes.

Clean: Disinfection measures must be taken BEFORE moving boats, equipment and other gear from another water body to the Three Lakes. After cleaning, they still must be completely dried. Clean your boat, anchors, equipment and gear.

Clean at a car wash with soap and high pressure, or

Steam clean by washing with ~212º F water, or

Disinfect with 1 Table‐spoon per gallon of chlorine bleach for 10‐minute contact time, or

Spray from a bottle with Lysol solution or Formula 409 or Fantastic – give plenty of contact time.

Dry: After cleaning, leave the equipment or boats in the open for at least 5 days without rain or heavy dew. The goal is to ensure that all the wet equipment dries out and remains completely dry for at least 2 days before contact or use in any other waterway. Equipment and gear can also be placed in a freezer until all moisture is frozen solid.

Jan Andersen

Goose Report Why all the Squawking? Canadian Geese in flight can be

majestic, grand, and inspiring. It’s when they get down on land that another problem appears… goose poop. Waterfowl, accor‐ding to some studies, can produce 25% to 34% of the total phosphorous budget in a water‐shed. And phosphorous is what we need to control around the Three Lakes in order to control weeds and algae. Goose poop is also unsightly and unhealthy. In the Fall 2006 Three Lakes Survey, 88% of the respon‐dents said geese droppings were “some” or “serious” problems, one of the top three problems identified in the watershed. Goose facts Migratory Canadian geese are not the same as resident geese. Migratory geese nest in Canada. If a goose is nesting here, it’s a resident goose, and it will not migrate. Resident geese generally fly no more than 100 – 200 miles to find food and safety. Resident geese were introduced after hunting reduced the range of Canadian geese, but their population grew rapidly and complaints about their numbers (and their droppings) were heard in this area starting around 1985. Geese live about 20 years, start to nest after about 3 years, and lay on average 5 eggs each year. Geese have a very strong

Visit our website at www.threelakescouncil.org 5

tendency to return to where they were born to nest. Left un‐checked, their population will double every 5 years. While feeding, geese defecate every 7 minutes. Each goose produces 1 to 3 pounds of waste per day. In addition to phos‐phorous, they contribute pathogens such as e coli and the bacteria that cause swimmer’s itch, as well as giardia, cryptosporidium, and campylobacter. Geese are one vector for the spread of invasive plants such as milfoil and water chestnut. And even a few can make a difference. Here’s a report on moving just four geese out of a swimming area: “We at Devils Lake, Lincoln County, Oregon relocated all four domestic geese that had taken up residence at one beach access, and had immediate reductions in the bacterial levels from 1500/100ml to 18/100ml.“ Three Lake Activities: Success! When we found out how much of a common problem the geese droppings were, we decided that the Three Lakes Council should take action. We attended classes, and we also spoke to people in federal, state, and local government organizations. We spoke to people at other lakes and spoke to people at the Humane Society, GeesePeace, and PETA. It turns out that a little bravery and a lot of corn oil can make a difference. In 2007, we thought we were off to a great start by oiling 68 eggs in 18 nests. We learned a lot –

like to ignore the noise – and that the geese would get right back on the nests after we were done. We were probably more

upset than the geese! And in 2007, when the geese didn’t have goslings to tie them here, it seemed like many of them took off for greener pastures while they molted.

But that was just the start. In 2008, thanks to the help of a lot of “goose spotters”, we found 27 nests, and oiled 113 eggs. For the first time, we found an active nest on Lake Rippowam as well as nests on Oscaleta and Waccabuc. The island on Waccabuc this year had 17 nests and 67 eggs – nearly the number found all over the lakes last year. Thanks to everyone who kept us informed. Keep up the great work! Best practices – what everyone can do!

There are some things that we can do to make our shores less attractive to geese.

1. Don’t feed the geese. Many of the geese in our lakes will approach people, a clear indication that they are used to getting fed. Don’t do it. It’s not healthy for the geese and it’s not healthy for our lakes. 2. Plant a border. Geese are one of the few wild animals that find the typical lake landscaping just perfect! If asked, they would request a grassy lawn visible from lake waters. If they can’t see out to the lake because of a tall edging of bushes or grasses next to the

lawn, the grass won’t be as inviting to feed on.

3. Interfere and bother. A two‐foot fence made of 5 strands of monofilament line can deter geese from docks, floats, and lawns while they are molting and can’t fly. People have had success using remote controlled cars and boats to encourage them to leave the area. Also a laser pointer has had some success at dusk or dawn – the spots on the ground or water appear to annoy geese enough to make them get up and move. If you are in your boat and see geese on the lake, go towards them to make them feel less comfortable and move. It’s legal to herd or harass geese, but not to hurt them.

When cleaning up after geese, don’t throw poop into the water. Scoop up their waste and put it into the trash to get it out of the watershed.

Jan Andersen

Google Group The Three Lakes Council has set up a Google Group to support communication on lake stewardship topics among members of the Three Lakes watershed community. Don’t be left out of this important communication tool set up in response to our user survey! To be added to the group, send your name, your local address around the Three Lakes, and the email address you want to use to [email protected]. When you join, please be mindful that there are over 190 people who will get every message, and post with care.

mailto:[email protected]

State of the Lakes In 2003, we hired Cedar Eden Environmental to analyze lake water quality in our three lakes and have been testing the waters ever since. This year we hired a new lake management firm, Allied Biological, Inc., to expand the scope of our studies and management plan. This small company has broad experience with aquatic habitat assessment and management, and more specifically with invasive species of aquatic plants. (You can read more about Allied Biological by visiting their website: www.alliedbiological.com). Our contract with Allied Biological called for them to write reports based on information gathered by Cedar Eden Environmental in 2006 and 2007, and report to the Three Lakes Council membership on the State of Our Lakes. On May 16th, Chris Doyle of Allied Biological made a PowerPoint presentation at the Waccabuc Country Club Carriage House. He focused on issues affecting our three lakes, with an emphasis on aquatic plant identification and control methods. Lake water quality has several

indicators that are being monitored: ● Water clarity is the main indicator of water quality. A Secchi disk is lowered into the lake, and the maximum depth at which the disk can be seen is recorded. ● Chlorophyll a is monitored as a way of quantifying how much algae is present. The presence of algae reduces water clarity. ● Phosphorus is the nutrient controlling the rate of algae growth in our lakes. We have been testing regularly for these three dimensions for five years now, and we may have enough data to start seeing a trend. However, it must be recognized that water quality varies considerably from year to year due in part to varying climatic conditions, so it may be a bit early to have much confidence in these trends. The three graphs that follow summarize the state of the water quality for each of the lakes for the past five years. The graphs plot the Carlson Trophic State Indices for water clarity, chlorophyll a, and total phosphorus, and allow us to compare these three factors easily, even though they are three very different measurements. The fact that these curves track

so well means that they are strongly related to each other; i.e., an increase in the phosphorus level will result in an increase in chlorophyll (algae), and the increase in algae will reduce clarity and therefore drive the TSI water clarity curve up. Eutrophic (high in nutrients), ologotrophic (low in nutrients), and mesotrophic (the range in‐between) boundaries are shown as reference lines on these graphs. The three lakes are hovering around the eutrophic and mesotrophic boundary. We are looking for trend lines here. We want to drive these lines down! The graph for Waccabuc appears to have a slight downward slope, which is good. Of the three indicators on this graph, total phosphorus has the steepest decline, although it is far from steep. We have been urging people to eliminate the use of phosphorus, and we hope that the downward trend reflects that effort. There does not appear to be a sloped trend for Oscaleta and Rippowam other than, perhaps, a very slight downward slope for total phosphorus curve. The best news is that things do not appear to have gotten worse over this five‐year period.

Carlson's Trophic State Index Lake Waccabuc 2003 to 2007

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Carlson's Trophic State Index Lake Oscaleta 2003 to 2007

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Carlson's Trophic State Index Lake Rippowam 2003 to 2007

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http://www.alliedbiological.com/


There certainly is variability as was evident in 2006 when all three lakes had a severe algal bloom in August, which is reflected in the graph. There was probably some unique climatic “perfect storm” which suited the algae so well. We encourage you to learn much more by reading the 2006 report, viewing Chris Doyle’s presentation, and viewing his presentation charts. By doing so, you will also learn about aquatic plants – how to identify them, how to distinguish between “good” native plants and “bad” invasive ones, and some possible control options. Aquatic plants will be our focus for 2008, and Allied Biological will be conducting a compre‐hensive survey of our aquatic plants as the first step in developing a plant man‐agement plan.

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We will soon post Chris Doyle’s report and presentation charts on our website, and we will also loan out video (DVD) copies of the presentation.

Trophic Status Indicators (see next page) O=oligotrophic, M=metatrophic, E=eutrophic

Secchi Disk

Please visit our website www.threelakescouncil.org where you can read much additional information on these topics.

Paul Lewis

Sampling the lakes – CSLAP 2007 Report Why do we sample the waters of our lakes? Volunteers sample the water of our lakes as part of the New York Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP). Using this program, we collect information and water samples using a standard approach or protocol, which helps us have confidence that our results are reliable. This is a much less expensive method than having a consultant collect and analyze the samples, and lake users can provide better qualitative assessments. Our objectives include: (1) the collection of reliable data to provide baseline information and document trends in water quality; (2) the identification and assessment of specific problems and recommendations of management strategies to deal with these problems; (3) the education of lake residents, users, and interested citizens in the collection of water quality data, lake

ecology, and management practices A lake management plan, with associated monitoring, is necessary to get permits to take almost any action on the lakes. In addition to monitoring baselines and natural trends, the monitoring is necessary to determine the results of actions we take in the lakes. In addition, we tend to think of the three lakes as having similar water quality and reacting in similar ways to weather and environmental changes. However, we are finding that the water quality results do not always move together on our three lakes. Under‐standing the source of the differences can

help us isolate the factors and improve our ability to address the individual lake situations. While the CSLAP program only funds eight samples every other week during the season, Three Lake Council volunteers have continued to sample every other week during the shoulder seasons and monthly during the winter. Thanks to all who have helped!

Parameter (Eutrophic range)

Waccabuc TSI Oscaleta TSI Rippowam TSI

Phosphorus (>0.02) 0.017 M 0.019 M 0.018 M

Chloraphyll a (>8) 4.5 M 7.7 M 11.4 E

Secchi Disk (<2) 3.3 M 3.4 M 2.2 M

http://www.threelakescouncil.org/

Parameter Guideline Waccabuc Vs past Oscaleta Vs past Rippowam Vs past

Phosphorus 0.02 mg/l 4 better 6 better 5 better

Chlor. a 30 ppb 8 better 8 better 8 better

Secchi disk 1.2 m 8 better 8 better 8 better

pH >6.5,8.5< 8 better 7 better 7 better

What did we learn by sampling in 2007?


The data confirms what we all felt ‐‐ that the lake water quality in 2007 was better than 2006. However, Rippo‐wam did not have as much of an improvement from the prior year as its deeper and larger sister lakes, and all of the variations seemed to be within the normal range for these lakes. Trophic Status Indicators for 2007: Trophic Status Indicators are shorthand for the conditions of the lakes and their changes over time. Standards based on phosphorus, chlorophyll a, and Secchi disk readings define the stages of a lake from oligotrophic (least productive) to eutrophic (most productive). These readings are better than those in 2006, when most lake readings indicated eutrophic states. (See chart p. 7)

CSLAP Scorecard. Number of samples (out of 8) better than guidelines or standards, and

compared to historical readings.

DO and Temperature. All three of our lakes stratify in the summer. In all three lakes, we found that the bottom layer became anoxic, with levels of oxygen below 1 part per million. This is below the level that fish can live, and it is also so low that phosphorus can leach into the water from the sediment.

A reminder about “productivity”…. We tend to think of productivity as good, and it usually is. But in the case of lakes, more productivity means more biological production, that is, that a lake can produce more algae and aquatic plants. When used for a lake’s classification, more productive

means a lake is getting further from the clear, sparkling waters of an oligotrophic lake, and moving towards the less clear waters of a lake with a lot more algae and plants – an eutrophic lake. While this is a natural phenomenon, human actions can speed the transition time so what once took centuries can now take only decades.

Jan Andersen


Fishing Report 2008 The spring fishing season is in full swing and this year could be very interesting. We are looking to expand the Fish Committee and would like to form a loose‐knit group of fisher folks to meet on occasion to discuss the direction of the Three Lakes Council relative to recreational fishing and the health of the fish stocks in our three lakes. We held an initial meeting this spring on this subject and plan to have more meetings in the future. A synopsis of the topics discussed are as follows:

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Stocking: What type of fish and how many. Data collection for our lake manager: We agreed to provide our lake manager with some fish data as well as scale samples, and he in turn would provide feedback to us relative to the overall health of our stocks, and age data of the fish caught. Please see the note below regarding plans to set up that process. Fishing Derby: We all thought a fishing derby was a good idea and would work to bring the fishermen closer together and generate interest in fishing for the more casual fisher folks. More ideas and development need to be done on this and we’re looking for input!

Create fisherman’s network to share information:

It was also agreed that it would be good if the fishermen – both the ‘dedicated’ kind and the more ‘casual’ anglers – had an easy and effici to communicate with each other. This

should help to encourage fishing, help to educate the lake community about what’s going on with fish in the lakes, etc. In general, it should help to promote a fun community attitude among all who fish.

ent way

If you would like to be part of the expanded Fish Committee, please give me a call at 763‐3456 and I’ll add you to our broadcast code. We stocked 300 brown trout in Oscaleta in early June, and many thanks to Ron Tetelman and his son for getting the fish into the lake. However, because of the warm water temperatures and lack of dissolved oxygen of over the last couple of years, it seems apparent that the trout we stocked in Waccabuc and Oscaleta did not fare very well. We probably lost all those put into Waccabuc and a fair number that were put into Oscaleta as well. Therefore, we’re looking into stocking other types of game fish that might fare better in our lakes. One suggestion is walleye pike because, based on my initial research, it seems that they can take warmer water and survive with less dissolved oxygen than trout. I am communicating with Ron Pierce, the NYS biologist for our region, for input relative

to the cultural requirements of walleyes and whether he thought they would be a good selection for Lake Waccabuc. Certainly, the hybrid bass would also be a good choice. While it is hard to get a permit in NYS to stock them, I am working on it. However, the both large and smallmouth bass stocks seem to be at a high point in our lakes.

Because I have been away for most of the spring season, I can’t provide much in the way of first hand fishing reports. However, I did make a few calls to get the latest scoop and all the reports I received were glowing, to say the least. I had a report of a huge (about 12 inches in diameter) bluegill sunfish caught in Rippowam this spring. Two semi‐professional fisherman who visit our lakes each year for about a week said that they found the bass fishing as good as they have ever seen it, with the largest fish weighing in the seven pound class (All fish were released.). In seven days, they claimed to have caught in excess of 800 bass total, with an average weight estimated at about 3.5 pounds. They fished an average of about 10‐12 hours each day and also commented positively about the healthy population of smallmouth bass in Waccabuc. Finally, please take a kid fishing this summer. Contact me if you or any kids you know in the neighborhood are interested in learning how to fish or are interested in being part of the expanded Fish Committee. Some 2008 NYS fishing regulations that govern our three lakes are as follows:


* Licenses are required for anyone sixteen or older and can be obtained from the town clerk. Additional information on fishing can be found on the NYS DEC website: http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/fish/fishregs/index.html

Joe Tansey

Too Good to be True?

We’ve all seen those ads – Eat all you want and lose weight! Work from home an hour a day and get rich! Get rid of the gray! And now: Kill lake weeds safely and legally! Get sparkling lakes!

Well, we all know you’ve got to read the fine print. Any addition of chemicals, pellets, liquids, minerals, dyes, or herbicides to any water body in Lewisboro requires a town wetland permit. A product that kills plants or weeds is an herbicide. New York State also requires a state DEC permit and an application by a state certified herbicide applicator for any herbicide used in NY waters greater than an acre in size (and our lakes are!) Chris Doyle, our new lake manager, says,” If you have more than one acre, then you also need a permit to apply and a certified applicator. Even if you have a one acre or smaller pond (and no outflow), you need a purchase permit to buy the products. The Aquacide pellets are 2,4 D, which is approved in New York, but frowned upon by DEC and lake users, mostly because of the 21 day water use restriction.”

There are people who drink the water in our lakes and use the lakes to water their yards, lawns, and shrubs. Many of the available herbicides require a waiting period of 7 to 21 days before it is safe to drink the water or to use it for watering, and most also have a 24 hour "no swimming" restriction. The water in front of your lawn or dock doesn’t stay there; it mixes and moves.

If your neighbors get injured because of illegally applied herbicides, the results could be much worse than dealing with weeds. "There are assays available for most herbicides that can be used to detect the concentration of the active ingredient in the water. Typically, the concentration is highest in the area of the treatment (although liquid herbicides can move), based on water currents and wind action in shallow areas," Doyle adds. In other words, if someone were injured by your illegal introduction of herbicides, the damage could be traced back to you.

Herbicides have to be used wisely in water. Used incorrectly, they can destroy habitat, and can release nutrients into the water, which in turn can cause algal blooms. A large application can kill off too much plant life at once, causing oxygen depletion and subsequent fish kills. Herbicides can have their uses. But mail order herbicides, applied by unlicensed applicators, are not the answer for our lakes.

Jan Andersen

Lewisboro Lakes Committee The Lewisboro Lakes Com‐mittee has been working hard getting the first few projects off the drafting boards and into the ground. Permitting has proven formidable but with the aid of the Town’s wetland inspector and interest from Supervisor Brancati, several projects have been awarded. With the help of the Town’s wetland inspector, Bruce Barber, many good and innovative ideas were made to improve all of the 13 projects currently under consideration as part of the East of Hudson Grant. Many of his suggestions have resulted in a less expensive project while improving water quality. Under the watchful eyes of Paul Lewis, our first project is getting closer to permitting and implementation. This project includes drainage and sediment improvements on Twin Lakes Road near the channel between Oscaleta and Rippowam Lakes. Our other two projects, to be implemented within the next three years, are drainage im‐provements on Old Pond Road and Tarry‐A‐Bit Road. The Lakes Committee has also been managing the Town Wide Lake Master Plan. The Town’s consultant, Ecologic, has reviewed all data compiled by all seven lakes and has issued a preliminary report. Ecologic has taken sediment samples near the channel on Lake Waccabuc and in Oscaleta, near the Rippowam/Oscaleta channel. This testing was requested to

http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/fish/fishregs/index.html




determine what was in the bottom of the channel should some of this sediment have to be removed in the future. The Committee has also met with the Town’s Planning Board chairman, P.J. Rossi, to go over regulations involved with the Town’s Wetland Law and have made suggestions as to permitted lake activities to help expedite the permitting process. We meet monthly and all meetings are open to the public. Representatives: Lake Waccabuc: Ron Tetelman [email protected] Lake Oscaleta: Paul Lewis [email protected] Lake Rippowan: Jack Cedarholm [email protected]

Ron Tetelman

Replanting Waccabuc Creek A team made up of members of the Three Lakes Council, NYS DEC, The Nature Conservancy, the John Jay Environmental Science classes, and the Town of Lewisboro worked together this spring on a significant project in our watershed.

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THREE LAKES COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER: THREE LAKES COUNCIL CO‐EDITORS: JUDY HAUSMAN,

STEPHANIE HARDING CONTRIBUTORS: JAN ANDERSEN

PAUL LEWIS JACK SINNOTT

JOE TANSEY RON TETELMAN KEVIN KARL

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MAY BE MAILED TO P.O. BOX 241, SOUTH SALEM, NY 10590

OR E‐MAILED TO [email protected]

The Waccabuc Creek is a small tributary that flows under East Ridge Road, through the Waccabuc Country Club, beside the Waccabuc Post Office, and eventually across The Nature Conservancy’s Long Pond Preserve and into Lake Waccabuc. The stream is extremely flashy, so rain events

produce large, sediment rich stormwater flows, which erode the stream banks, and carry pollution downstream. The baseflow is also quite low in the summer. All these made the spot an ideal candidate for planting a riparian buffer. Riparian (streamside) buffers are a major component to maintaining healthy streams and water. These buffers, composed of trees, shrubs, and grasses, help to reduce the amount of pollution entering waterways by slowing down and filtering run‐off. By extending retention time, buffers also help to reduce flooding and erosion. They also stabilize shorelines and absorb high velocity flows. Buffer plants can also shade and cool the stream waters. In addition, riparian buffers serve an important role for wildlife, and increase the overall biodiversity. The NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program’s “Trees for Tribs” Initiative, in partner‐ship with the New York Water Resources Institute at Cornell University, has a goal of reforesting 750 miles of Hudson River tributaries by 2015. They provided 200 native trees and shrubs, dug holes, and provided instruction to students. About 700 feet of streamside was planted by the John Jay AP Environmental Science classes. A

significant amount of barberry was also removed by volunteers from Three Lakes Council and a steward from The Nature Conservancy. The Town of Lewisboro contributed by waiving the fee for the wetlands permit. From Mead Street, you can see about 80 yellow tree shelters, although the new shrubs are less visible right now. Thanks to everyone involved in this important project which we believe will improve the water quality in Waccabuc Creek and Lake Waccabuc. In addition to improving the water quality in the creek, we hope that this activity will emphasize the importance of waterside buffers to all of the residents of the Three Lakes watershed. If you have lake‐front or stream front property, please consider increasing your buffer plantings along your waterfront.

Jan Andersen


No Town Leaf Pickup This Fall!


Three Lake Council 2008

Executive Committee

President: Jack Sinnott [email protected]

Vice President: Jan Andersen [email protected]

Treasurer: John Lemke [email protected]

Secretary: Jean Lewis [email protected]

Board Representatives from each

lake organization: Lake Waccabuc Association: John Lemke [email protected]

Lakeside Association: Ron Tetelman [email protected]

Two Lakes Club: Shannon Robinette [email protected]

Lake Oscaleta Association: Joe Tansey [email protected]

Perch Bay Association: Randy Glading [email protected]

South Shore Association: Alayne Vlachos [email protected]

Waccabuc Landowners Council: Dan Kleinman [email protected]

Waccabuc Country Club: John Hogan [email protected]

Committee Chairs:

Lake Preservation Committee: Paul Lewis [email protected]

Membership: Robby Rothfeld [email protected]

Newsletter: Judy Hausman [email protected] Stephanie Harding [email protected]

In past Novembers, on many of the streets in the Three Lakes Watershed, leaves piled at the edge of the road for pick up by the Town have been a common sight. But please remember not to pile your leaves at the side of the road this year. The Town will NOT pick up leaves this fall. Do not put the leaves out in the road; they will not be taken away The Town no longer has a place to store and compost the leaves, and the expense has become too great. Leaf pickup is no longer in the Town budget. This year, we will all need to deal with our leaves on site unless you have a lawn service that is willing to take them away for you. Do not dispose of leaves in the lake. Leaves consist of the elements that were used to make them – carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. These are exactly the same components that are needed to make aquatic plants and algae in our lakes. Putting leaves in the water is like fertilizing our lakes for next year’s growth. It takes very little time for all of the nutrients to leach out of leaves into the lake. So what can we do with leaves? There are a few choices. If you don’t have lawn under your trees, you can leave the leaves where they fall. The “leaf litter” will slowly decompose and over time will become mulch and fertilizer for your trees. If you have lawn where the

leaves fall, you can mulch the leaves in place with a power lawn mower. It will take extra passes of the mower after the usual end of the grass mowing season to chop the leaves into small particles that will decay over the winter. Too many leaves? One study mowed 18 inches of leaves, well in excess of what most of us have, on top of a lawn. This helped the lawn rather than hurt it. Another choice is to compost your leaves. This can be as simple as putting leaves into a pile. Please do this where they won’t blow into the lake over the winter. There are also ways to speed the decomposition of the leaves into compost, which may include using a compost bin and occasionally turning and watering the area. This will eventually produce a beneficial soil additive that can be spread on lawn or garden areas. Composting at home has the benefit of reducing our carbon footprint too by not hauling leaves

out to the town site and then compost back!

Jan Andersen


















Thank you to everyone that made donations during 2007. There were more than a dozen supporters who gave contributions greater than $500. Two‐thirds of our annual revenue comes from individual contributions, and one‐third from dues payments. Increasing our membership remains a high priority and an ongoing project for the Three Lakes Council. So please talk up the many good things being done by our council, and encourage your friends and neighbors to join as well.

Treasurer’s Report

Expenses for the Three Lakes Council were actually $10,000 less in 2007, because of less

than expected spending on our lake management consultant. A new lake manager has been hired in 2008, and our planned spending is approximately $32,000 for ten committed projects. In addition we have another six projects pending, depending on interest and volunteer resources. Please respond to our membership drive early this year, and thank you in advance for your support!

Throughout 2007 the Three Lakes Council was fortunate to receive 187 contributions from our members and associate members, totaling $30,290. This represented an increase of seventeen contributors and $11,000 more than 2006.

JOHN LEMKE Treasurer, Three Lakes Council, Inc. (a (501) (c) (3) charitable organization)

Tax-deductible membership dues of $50 (if you haven’t already renewed)……… ____________ guests for picnic ($25 each)……… ____________

added donation for fish stocking, Cedar Eden study, other………. ____________

Total amount of check (made out to “Three Lakes Council”)……. ____________ Name: _____________________________ E-Mail: ________________________________

Spouse/Partner’s Name: _______________ Phone: ________________________________

Does your company have a matching gifts program? Name of company: _________________

Local Address: _______________________ Post Office: _____________________________

Preferred Mailing Address ____________________________________(by post or e-mail?)

____________________________________

Please remit payment to: THREE LAKES COUNCIL P.O. BOX 241

The TLC will not sell or use your phone number or e-mail for any purpose other SOUTH SALEM, NY 10590

The Three Lakes Council is a 501(c)3 organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

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Please follow these boating best practices:

1. Don’t put any boat into our lakes that has been on another body of fresh water without first steam cleaning

the hull or leaving the boat bottom exposed to sunlight for a minimum of 10 days to kill all zebra mussel larvae. Visual inspection doesn’t suffice; larvae are microscopic in size. Don’t permit friends to launch their boats from your dock unless you can personally guarantee that they are free of zebra mussels.

2. If you find a stray boat floating in the lakes, record the sticker number and contact Alayne Vlachos by phone (763–3800) or e-mail ([email protected]). She will alert the owner.

3. If you see a boat on the lakes without a sticker, engage the boater in a friendly discussion. First, explain that

you notice they don’t have a sticker, then inform them that stickers are part of our effort to keep the lakes free of zebra mussels. Finally, ask them to contact Alayne (see above) or their lake association president to get a sticker.

4. If the boater is not a homeowner or the guest of a homeowner, inform him or her that these are private lakes

and only people with deeded access rights can put boats on them. If this approach fails, contact our Town Police at 763-3922 and refer the matter to them.

5. Please consider using electric motors on your boats. If you must use a gas motor, be aware that Town law

limits the maximum horsepower to 25HP on Waccabuc and 10HP on Oscaleta and Rippowam, and lake associations are enforcing these limits. Also, no 25 HP motors can be kept at the Two Lake Club beach.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BOAT REGISTRATION FORM

Please complete this form even if you think we already have this information

If you already have boat stickers, please provide the information requested below, including sticker #s. If you need boat stickers, complete the form minus the sticker #, and we will mail the stickers to you.

Mail the completed form to: Three Lakes Council, P.O. Box 241, South Salem, NY 10590

NAME:___________________________________________ LOCAL ADDRESS:_________________________________ E-MAIL:__________________________________________ PHONE:__________________________________________ (Boat type: row, canoe, kayak, sail, pontoon, motor, etc.) Boat type/color/brand_____________________________ __Sticker #:_______ Boat type/color/brand_______________________________ Sticker #:_______ Boat type/color/brand_______________________________ Sticker #:_______ Boat type/color/brand_______________________________ Sticker #:_______ Boat type/color/brand_______________________________ Sticker #:_______ Boat type/color/brand _______________________________Sticker #:_______

If your boats are not kept at your

residence, where are they kept?

1. To protect our lakes against invasive zebra mussels 2. To identify owners of stray boats so that they can be returned 3. To keep unauthorized, transient boats off the lakes

THREE LAKES BOAT STICKER REGISTRATION

Voluntary compliance with the Three Lakes Boat Sticker Registration Program serves the following important purposes:



Three Lakes Council Annual Picnic Enjoy the beach, your neighbors, the lake, music and dancing! We’ll have our grand cookout featuring filet mignon, chicken filets, salads, beer, wine, soda, hamburgers, hot dogs, dessert, etc. Get all the news on our Three Lakes!

Reservations are crucial to the planning process! Please fill in the information below and mail to: Three Lake Council, P.O. Box 241, South Salem, NY 10590

Name of family: _________________________

Number attending: ____

Will you bring: Salad for 8 ___ OR Dessert for 8 ___?

Your telephone #: ___________ e-mail:______________________

Place: Waccabuc Country Club, lake front facility (NOTE! In case of rain, the picnic will be held at the carriage house at the Waccabuc Country Club.)

Date: Saturday, July 26th Time: 6:00 PM-to-9:00 PM Admission: Free for families who have paid their

$50 yearly dues. All guests and non-members welcome at $25 per person.

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WACCABUC –OSCALETA -RIPPOWAMP.O. BOX 241

SOUTH SALEM, NY 10590

Membership Dues form enclosed

Three Lakes Council Annual Newsletter

Inside Find:

State of the lakes report

CSLAP water sampling report Weevils, Turtles, and Geese (oh my!)

Watershed Replanting Fishing Report

Annual Picnic Notice Boat Sticker Registration

And more!


Three Lakes Preservation Plan Launched · PDF filebullfrogs, herons, and other large ......

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Transcript of Three Lakes Preservation Plan Launched · PDF filebullfrogs, herons, and other large ......