EURASIAN WATER MILFOIL PROJECT
On May 1, 2018 New England Aquatic Services, LLC commenced the first phase of Lake Garfield’s 2018 milfoil removal project. The focus of this phase of the project was to remove several patches of Eurasian milfoil to prevent them from becoming larger, more significant patches in the future. The end results of the project are that approximately 1.95 acres of dense plant growth were removed in addition to numerous other small patches and individual growth areas, which totaled 154 bags (each bag holds approximately the equivalent of a five-gallon bucket) of plant material being removed from the lake.
EURASIAN WATERMILFOIL has slender stems up to 175 cm long. The submerged leaves (usually between 15–35 mm long) are borne in pinnate whorls of four, with numerous thread-like leaflets roughly 4–13 mm long. Plants are monoecious with flowers produced in the leaf axils (male above, female below) on a spike 5–15 cm long held vertically above the water surface, each flower inconspicuous, orange-red, 4–6 mm long. Eurasian water milfoil has 12- 21 pairs of leaflets.
In lakes or other aquatic areas where native aquatic plants are not well established, the Eurasian plant can quickly spread. It has been known to crowd out native plants and create dense mats that interfere with recreational activity. Dense growth of Eurasian milfoil can also have a negative impact on fisheries by creating microhabitats for juvenile fish and obstructing space for larger fish ultimately disrupting normal feeding patterns. Due to the Eurasian milfoil plant's inability to provide the same microhabitat for invertebrates as compared to native aquatic plant species, densely populated areas of Eurasian milfoil create an ecosystem with less food sources for the surrounding fish.
Eurasian watermilfoil grows primarily from broken off stems, known as shoot fragments, which increases the rate at which the plant can spread and grow. In some areas, the Eurasian Watermilfoil is an Aquatic Nuisance Species.
Are you feeding the weeds in Lake Garfield?
Photo by Justin Edelstein
DASH
Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) is the extraction of plants using a diver, suction tube, a unique set of pumps mounted on a boat and a bagging or filtration system. Suction harvesting is a viable means of plant suppression because the entire plant is removed in its connective rooting system.
Photo by Cary Wolinsky
LAKE GARFIELD DAM AND DRAWDOWN REPORTS
Phase 1 Inspection Report National Dam Inspection Program. 1979
The purpose of a Phase I Investigation is to identify expeditiously those dams which may pose hazards to human life or property. The assessment of the general condition of the dam is based upon available data and visual inspections.
Current Knowledge of Drawdown Relevant to Projects in Massachusetts 2020
The primary benefits of drawdown include flood control and avoidance of ice damage to shoreline structures and banks, both encompassed by the interests of the Wetlands Protection Act, along with control of susceptible rooted plants (those forms overwintering mainly in a vegetative state as opposed to seed-producing annual species).
Lake Garfield Cyanobacteria Monitoring 2022 Review
CYANOBACTERIA TESTING OF LAKE GARFIELD
Lakes, ponds, and other bodies of water have microscopic organisms living in the water. Some of these organisms can be toxic in large quantities to humans, pets, and local wildlife. A particular group of potentially toxic organisms are called cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria are aquatic bacteria that obtain their energy through photosynthesis (a process of obtaining energy using sunlight). Cyanobacteria are more commonly called “blue-green algae”. There are many different species of cyanobacteria, but not all of them produce toxins. When optimal conditions in place, the cyanobacteria can grow in large blooms which could be toxic to the body of water. Optimal conditions include warmer temperatures, abundant sunlight, more intense rainfall, pollution from human activities and plentiful nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.
Dolichospermum lemmermannii
Many bodies of water throughout the world are experiencing these blooms and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has formed the Cyanobacteria Monitoring Collaborative Program in which many states are testing and reporting results to the EPA and their local areas in order to protect the public from health problems.
Shannon M. Poulin is again conducting tests on the lake throughout this summer.
LAKE GARFIELD WORKING GROUP
Mission: Lake Garfield is a Monterey town treasure. The Lake Garfield Working Group is formed to help sustain this treasure by keeping it healthy, safe and accessible. The first mission will be the health aspect. Separate working groups shall be impaneled to address the safety and accessibility aspect.
Membership: Shall include 1 Select board member, 1 Con Com member, 1 Board of health member, 1 Parks member, 2 members of FLG, and 4 town members. This working group shall meet a minimum of once a month. Meetings are expected to begin in late summer and continue throughout the fall and winter
LGWG Resources:
LGWG Letter to Monterey Selectmen, Feb. 2017
FLG Resources:
October 2018 Lake Garfield Report
August 2017 Lake Garfield Plant Survey
September 2016 Eurasian Milfoil Status Report
August 2014 Lake Garfield Plant Survey
September 2013 Lake Garfield Plant Survey
Massachusetts State Resources:
LAKE GARFIELD PRESERVATION DISTRICT
In lakes or other aquatic areas where native aquatic plants are not well established, the Eurasian plant can quickly spread. It has been known to crowd out native plants and create dense mats that interfere with recreational activity. Dense growth of Eurasian milfoil can also have a negative impact on fisheries by creating microhabitats for juvenile fish and obstructing space for larger fish ultimately disrupting normal feeding patterns. Due to the Eurasian milfoil plant's inability to provide the same microhabitat for invertebrates as compared to native aquatic plant species, densely populated areas of Eurasian milfoil create an ecosystem with less food sources for the surrounding fish. Dense Eurasian milfoil growth can also create hypoxic zones by blocking out sun penetration to native aquatic vegetation preventing them from photosynthesizing.[6] Eurasian watermilfoil grows primarily from broken off
LGPD Resources:
2015 Warrant to Establish the Lake Garfield Preservation District