Aeration System for Lake Pocotopaug update 3/9/2021
3/9/2021
The Aeration System will be turned on at both locations during the week of May 24th 2021.
Please see below the update for 8/28:
Aeration/Water Testing –
Bio Blast permit and treatment – We are in much need of a treatment on the lake and have been actively working with DEEP to get the Temporary Authorization completed by end of day today so we can start treatment early next week. I spoke with Donald Gonyea from DEEP Earlier in the week he confirmed he was processing the necessary TA for us with hopes he would finish it by Friday and in time for me to update you all on the process. Although I have not heard back from him today I have an email and phone message out to him and I will update this email if I hear anything new by end of the day today. As we anticipate a TA will be ready by end of the day on Monday, John and his team will be onsite next week and ready to go once we get the go ahead. I will update this email with any new information I receive from now until Monday.
Water Testing was conducted on August 19th and again on August 27th by NEAR and Chatham Health (August 26th) following the 5” rain storm on Monday. The results of NEAR’s tests yielded high cyanobacteria test results (see attached results). However it is important to note and educate those using the lake for swimming and boating that although the high results for cyanobacteria were found in the deepest portions of the lake we are not seeing blooms nor does the lake look as green as it has in the past. Residents should be looking for blooms when determining if swimming is safe. Per Chatham Health we are now in an advisory state at Sears Park swimming area only. Attached results from both Chatham Health and NEAR are attached and a safety warning as to what you should be looking for to determine if waters are safe to swim is identified below.
Chatham Health would like you to be aware of the following: “Please see the attached observation report and pictures from Sears Park on 8/26/2020. Water clarity was very poor this week. Water color near the boat launch area had a brown/green appearance (images c and d). There were no mats, films, or scums on the surface. In addition, Northeast Aquatics Research is reporting elevated counts of cyanobacteria in the open water area of Oakwood and Markham compared to the previous observation period. There were no reports of adverse health impacts, but conditions exist that may result in a harmful algae bloom. Residents should avoid contact with water that looks green or blue-green (sometimes described as looking like pea soup). Any mats, films, or scums on the surface of the water that are blue-green in color, look like spilled paint, or have a noxious odor should be reported to Chatham Health District and avoided. Based on the visual observations this week, and reports from Northeast Aquatics Research, an advisory notice will be posted at Sears Park. Chatham Health District will also conduct more frequent observations until the conditions change, or the public swim season at Sears Park concludes”
Russell Melmed, Chatham Health Director.
North East Aquatic Research would like you to know the following: “Residents should be aware that despite very high cyanobacteria cell counts, the types of cyanobacteria present in Lake Pocotopaug this season have not yet accumulated in thick surface scums. It is the dense surface accumulations that typically have high cyanotoxins and may be harmful for people and pets. High cyanobacteria cells counts in open water do not always equate to high toxins. The relationship between cell counts and the presence of toxins is complicated by the fact that some cyanobacteria infrequently produce toxins. Similarly, cyanobacteria taxa differ substantially in cell size. Pocotopaug is dominated by cyanobacteria with very small cell sizes [Chrysosporum, Planktolyngbya, Planktothrix], whereas dense surface blooms occur more frequently with cyanobacteria taxa that have large cell sizes [e.g. Dolichospermum]. We recommend that residents continue to follow guidance from the Chatham Health Department and make informed decisions about recreation.”
Thank you, Hillary Kenyon, CLM
LID projects/Lake Smart Awards
We were progressing along nicely and seemed poised to move on at the end of last week to Clark Hill, Skyline, Mott Hill and Hawthorne. However Mother Nature had other plans for us with the Monday storm and as a result we spent this past week fixing washout at the park. We are now moving past the washout and have put together additional supports to help control washout and allow for vegetation to grow to eliminate this from happening again.
Next week we anticipate starting on the Skyline detention basin on Tuesday which will take us a couple of days before moving over to Mott Hill mid-week then Hawthorne and finishing up with Clark Hill the Tuesday after Labor Day continuing into the following week.
Great news to report! We were awarded an additional $148,300 toward the next phase of 319 grant funding by the state (see above letter) this will fund several of our projects for next year which include Town Hall site, Paul’s and Sandy’s/Old Marlborough Rd., Fawn Brook (Bay rd.) and Christopher Brook. In addition to these locations we will be looking to complete work on West Point (Chatham Apartments), Lake Vista, Old Marlborough and other areas TBD.
Lake Smart Award: this past week members of the Lake Commission Marty and John presented Cap & Craig Nelson of Lakewood Rd. with a Lake Smart Award. Congratulations to a job well done by Cap and Craig. Marty and John also visited George Salisbury’s property on Bay Road who is doing so much right to correct runoff into the lake, a small request by the commission was made to add plantings along the beach front for a more natural buffer zone once complete this will allow him to receive the Lake Smart Award. This award that will be presented to George very soon sparked an interest from his neighbors and it sounds like we will be meeting with them fairly soon to discuss lake smart on their properties. What a wonderful way to educate the public, great job to the homeowners for doing their part and to Marty and John for educating the public with this great program.
If anyone is interested in having members of the lake commission come out and assess your property or just inquire on how you can make your property more “lake smart” please have people reach out to me at jhall@easthamptonct.gov and I will be happy to set up a meeting with you in the near future.