Lake Garfield Working Group June Meeting

The Lake Garfield Working Group (LGWG) held its monthly meeting on June 17. The first order of business was a review and coordination of the necessary research and documentation required for the proper submission of a notice of intent (NOI) to the conservation commission for their renewed approval to allow the removal of invasive eurasian milfoil via diver-assisted suction harvesting (DASH). The Monterey Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing to discuss and consider approval of the project during their Wednesday, July 10 meeting, at 6 p.m., in the town hall. Pending approval, the LGWG committee also reviewed and assigned the tasks necessary to facilitate an eventual contract between the town and whichever company is chosen for the work.

In another development LGWG member Michael Germain reported on the efforts and financing by The Friends of Lake Garfield (FLG) to develop a program for monitoring cyanobacteria. In this effort, Westfield State biology major Shannon Poulin, working this summer at Camp Half Moon, has enthusiastically embraced the training and field work of monitoring the growth of this potentially toxic bacteria. Using a flourometer and microscope purchased by the FLG, as well as a precision GPS on loan from Westfield State, Shannon, with the assistance of Nadia Makuc, is routinely sampling water from Lakes Garfield and Buel for onsite evaluation, as well as freezing samples for eventual lab analysis at the end of the season. Michael reports that through the Lakes and Ponds Association of Western Massachusetts, the offer to expand this program to other lakes in the region is receiving interest.

We encourage all parties interested in our lakes to attend the next meeting of the Lake Garfield Working Group at town hall on Monday, July 15, at 7 p.m. — Steve Snyder, Chair Lake Garfield Working Group