2012 DPA Fall Meeting - Pond Health Report

Dudley Pond Sunrise November 6, 2011

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2012 DPA Fall Meeting

SWQC Dudley Pond –Health Report

Recent History – 5 year, dual strategy  Herbicide to gain control when needed  Aggressive Hand Pulling to remove the roots - pre & post herbicide 2008 – 2009 – 2010 – 2011 – 2012 –

sonar whole lake treatment, hand pulling follow-up 6000 plants hand pull: 18,237 plants -- 7,026 were old growth, survived sonar hand pull: 6145 plants, triclopyr spot treatment hand pull: 10,485 plants , no herbicide, hand pull: 35,720 plants to 10/23, no herbicide storm & temps may prevent more work, plants remain

2013 PLAN: Hand-pulling, 50-50 Spot Herbicide too 10/28/2012

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2012 RECORD Hand Pulling!

• Started May – Near shores first, middle deeper areas later – LONG growing season - healthy pioneers, fewer stems, a few big survivors & ZOMBIES

• Late Season – pulling to late October, problem spots • End-of-season survey: reasonable control at year end but plants remain

10/28/2012

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2012 RECORD Hand Pulling!

Enormous undertaking 180 day pulling season 250 individual reports 35720 plants 637 under water hours

10/28/2012

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2012 Hand Pulling APRIL/MAY

S:741 M:1288 L:493 = 2462 Plants

10/28/2012

49 Reports

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2012 Hand Pulling JUNE

S:1463 M:2110 L:824 F:422 = 4819 Plants 10/28/2012

46 Reports 7

2012 Hand Pulling - JULY

S:2645 M:2849 L:847 F:615 = 6956 Plants 10/28/2012

52 Reports 8

2012 Hand Pulling AUGUST

S:1903 M:1768 L:928 F:579 = 5178 plants 10/28/2012

35 reports 9

2012 Hand Pulling SEPTEMBER

S:1486 M:1773 L:2555 F:866 = 6680 plants 10/28/2012

37 reports 10

2012 Hand Pulling OCTOBER (so far)

S:2019 M:2204 L:4392 F:1010 = 9625 plants 10/28/2012

50 reports 11

Growing Problem:

Valisneria Americanus

• First sited in 2010 by Jack Peter’s dock, also in North Pond • Common name: tape grass, eel grass • Native Species • Shallow Root system, good candidate for hand pulling • Forms floating mats at end of season

04/29/2012

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5 years of treatment & Hand Pulling Dual-strategy gets results!

Boating, fishing, and swimming enjoyed a milfoil-free 2012

10/28/2012

The way we like it!

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SEPTIC ISSUE – Resolved!

2011 Septic breakout at 123/125 Dudley Road managed by over a year of weekly pump outs by Board of Health

VICTORY - New Septic System Installed at 125 Dudley Road!

10/28/2012

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Last Year 2011 E-coli Measurements The real problem was at Mansion Beach, with Canada Geese a likely cause of two beach closings.

Beach Closed!

Beach Closed!

10/28/2012

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2012 E-coli Measurements

2012: BoH took over testing– SWQC arranged sample taking.

Thanks to Lisa Newton for taking samples 04/29/2012

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Blue Green Algae aka Cyanobacteria Noted 10/4, Photos and Samples taken BoH was ready, notified MDPH MDPH issues public health advisory Sampling shows ½ danger level 1st week, ¼ danger level 2nd week – advisory lifted.

First confirmed instance in Dudley Pond– late season – don’t go in if you see this.

Updates to the public via DPA web site and SWQC Facebook page.

Thanks to Lisa Newton for raising the alarm 10/28/2012

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2012 – Circulators leave for South Dakota • Now in Lake Madison, SD • Deployed for algae suppression • Sale facilitated by ecoGuide

Purchasers Bill and Margaret Tooley – The eXpert Company Sent a $75 membership donation to the DPA Hospitality, food, and restrooms provided by Linda Smith – thanks!

10/28/2012

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2012 –Water Chemistry Measurement Program Measured: • Date/time/weather • Water temperature • Water clarity (Secchi) • ph • DO% & Saturation Samples Analyzed: • Total Phosphorus (P) • Orthophosphate (P) • Ammonia (N) • Total Nitrogen (N) • Chlorophyll a

10/28/2012

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• Points correspond with historic sampling points • Sampling: April, August, November • August 2012 Reports available – ask Mike

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April 2011 –Water Chemistry Carlson Trophic Index – measure of Eutrophication

Plants are starting to take up nutrients in April 10/28/2012

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August 2012 –Water Chemistry Carlson Trophic Index – measure of Eutrophication

10/28/2012

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Getting at "ROOT” Causes: Phosphorus & Nitrogen feed the weeds • lawn fertilizer runoff • septic systems leaching through porous soils • decaying leaves & existing muck • recirculation of bottom sediments

SWQC seeks improvements:  Septic Maintenance Practices  Alternative, Shared Systems that remove N and P  Lawn Chemical Practices  Road Runoff Handling 10/28/2012

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House bill# 3270 – Phosphorus Fertilizers • No Phosphorus Fertilizer except for new lawns or when soil-test indicates Pdeficiency

• No fertilizer use – 12/1 to 4/1 – Within 20’ of waterbody w/o vegetative buffer

• Town’s may adopt stricter controls Helps towns comply with new stormwater mandates from EPA

10/28/2012

Already Limits in: VT, NH, ME, NH, MD, NY, WI, MN, MI

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East Dudley Septic Study SWQC studied septic systems on the East side of the pond where groundwater movement is toward the pond.

SWQC’s goal – reduce nutrients: • Better data base • Stricter regulations • Periodic Inspections • Appropriate technology • Funding alternatives for upgrades.

• Presented to : DPA, DAAC, Conservation, WWMDC, Board of Health, Planning Board • Remaining: Selectmen 10/28/2012

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Neighborhood Septic Treatment?

Connecting not required but need 4-5 homes to be viable.

Max: 10,000 gpd each (20-25 homes) Connect when: home sold, system failure, improvements require, personal desire We’re seeking low cost financing, or 20 year betterments.

10/28/2012

Alternative designs:  Conventional Leach Field  Membrane Bioreactor (very low N, P discharge)  Solar Aquatic greenhouse (like Weston) 25

2012 Politics , Funding & Permitting: Mostly Good News: • SWQC town budget in good shape.

• Good relationships built with Selectmen and Conservation Commission, and Board of Health • All Wayland is aware of nutrient problems on DP.  Mass permit extension act – 2 additional years on our permit.

• DPA cost-sharing helps the town accept SWQC budgets for Dudley Pond • 2012 is the third year of the phosphorus ban in home cleaning products, 2012 - new fertilizer ban.

10/28/2012

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OML complaint against SWQC filed by George Harris

10/28/2012

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OML complaint against SWQC filed by George Harris

The SWQC denies these claims, but has offered to improve its descriptions of agenda items.

If this is not satisfactory to Mr. Harris, the matter goes to the Attorney General’s office and at least two members of SWQC will resign: Mike Lowery and Lin Bradford.

10/28/2012

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It is just not worth getting kicked around for agenda specificity and other administrivia.

10/28/2012

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