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Lake
group targets water quality
Jean Laquidara Hill
TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
WEBSTER- As its analysts
identified the types of weeds collected from the lake yesterday,
the Webster Lake Association announced how it would survey Webster
Lake and plan for improving and maintaining water quality.
The announcement, by the
association and its consultant, Geosyntec Consultants, came 364
days after the association organized. The nonprofit group focuses
on Webster Lake, one of the largest great ponds in the Northeast.
The plans were laid out at Point Breeze, overlooking the lake.
WLA President Richard Cazeault said he and some of the other
people who use the lake decided, after waiting and hoping for
local and state funding to solve a growing weed problem, that the
lake needed residents to take the initiative.
As a nonprofit organization, he
said, WLA can apply for state and federal money to control weed
growth. Association Secretary Jane Hill said membership fees and
fund-raisers will be used to pay the $20,000 consultant fee.
Because not all weeds are bad for the lake, and some are necessary
for healthy fish populations, the first step to weed control and a
healthy, clean lake is determining which weeds are in the lake and
which are unwanted.
Next, analysts will explain
options for removing
nonbeneficial weeds that cloud the water and interfere with
boating and swimming, said David L. Rossetti, a board member of
the association.
He said the association, which formed last July 4, became
concerned about some of the weed-harvesting practices paid for by
private lake residents because, while cutting and ripping out some
weeds reduces their population over time, other weeds can
proliferate.
For example, he said, torn pieces
of the harmful milfoil weed sink and reseed readily, making the
problem worse by increasing growth and by forcing out beneficial
pond vegetation.
Robert Hartzell of Geosyntec Consultants told association members
a partial collection so far has indicated some milfoil, but has
turned up many more weeds that contribute to lake health.
Using a map showing lake depths,
all tributaries and other sources of flow, Geosyntec Consultants
will sample the weeds and water health all over the lake and
report back to the association within a couple of weeks, Mr.
Hartzell said.
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