The State of Massachusetts has prepared a booklet on lake management that is comprehensive and readable. It describes how lakes form, change over time and decline. It covers indigenous aquatic animal and plant life. It also looks at virtually all of the available treatment options for invasive species control and details the strengths and weaknesses of each. Pages 129 and 130 deal specifically with Navigate 2,4,D.
In other words, it is an indispensible source for accurate, up to date information for anyone who is involved in lake management.
The booklet is offered in pdf format, so you will need Adobe Reader on your computer to view it. This program is available free at Adobe.com.
To view the booklet online, follow this link: Practical Lake Guide
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Bridge construction on Chestnut Hill Road, Chepachet
Did you know that the Rhode Island Department of Transportation is currently planning a reconstruction of the bridge on Chestnut Hill Road across from the transfer station? Here is the text of a correspondence that took place recently with the PARE engineering firm who is the conteact for the project.
What is the anticipated duration of the project?
Construction is anticipated to take about 1½ years beginning in Spring 2010, pending available funding.
Will a temporary bridge be constructed for those of us who need to access Rte. 44 for a commute?
The bridge will be closed to traffic during construction. Signs will detour traffic via Pine Orchard Road and Route 44. If advertised in Fall 2009, the bridge closure is anticipated to last from Spring 2010 to late Fall 2010. There is insufficient room beside the bridge to construct a temporary bridge for use during construction.
Will there be an reconfiguration of the spillway/ gatehouse on Smith and Sayles Reservoir?
The spillway will be reconstructed. It will be relocated approximately 8 feet to the south from it's current location to bring it out from under the bridge. The low-level outlet gate will not be modified, but the downstream end of the outlet pipe will be uncovered and reset.
What are your thoughts about the bridge reconstruction? How will it affect your life? Do you feel it is a good idea to reconstruct this bridge, and, if so, why?
As always, we welcome comments of all kinds to this blog. Your voice is important for us in Chepachet to establish a dialogue which all interested members are invited to share.
What is the anticipated duration of the project?
Construction is anticipated to take about 1½ years beginning in Spring 2010, pending available funding.
Will a temporary bridge be constructed for those of us who need to access Rte. 44 for a commute?
The bridge will be closed to traffic during construction. Signs will detour traffic via Pine Orchard Road and Route 44. If advertised in Fall 2009, the bridge closure is anticipated to last from Spring 2010 to late Fall 2010. There is insufficient room beside the bridge to construct a temporary bridge for use during construction.
Will there be an reconfiguration of the spillway/ gatehouse on Smith and Sayles Reservoir?
The spillway will be reconstructed. It will be relocated approximately 8 feet to the south from it's current location to bring it out from under the bridge. The low-level outlet gate will not be modified, but the downstream end of the outlet pipe will be uncovered and reset.
What are your thoughts about the bridge reconstruction? How will it affect your life? Do you feel it is a good idea to reconstruct this bridge, and, if so, why?
As always, we welcome comments of all kinds to this blog. Your voice is important for us in Chepachet to establish a dialogue which all interested members are invited to share.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Save The Lakes: The Other Side of the Story
Several newspaper articles, like a front page story from the July 19th, 2008 Providence Journal, have presented a one-sided view of efforts to control milfoil on Smith and Sayles reservoir (aka Sand Dam Pond). The 7/19/08 article quotes the president of the Sand Dam Reservoir Association (SDRA) as claiming “the lake was useless” in reference to the summer of 2007.
During that summer, my family used the lake almost every day for swimming, fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. Sometimes the milfoil was thick, and my husband and I would rake it out to clear the area for swimming. But overall we had a lovely summer enjoying the lake. Little did we know that it would be our last summer to enjoy our beautiful lake.
On June 11, 2008, the SDRA dropped more than 10,000 pounds of the herbicide Navigate 2,4 Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid into our lake. According to the Sierra Club “Despite industry efforts claiming the safety of this chemical, there is a large body of evidence indicating major health effects, from cancer to immunosupression, reproductive damage to neurotoxicity.”
The Sierra Club report can be obtained from http://www.sierraclub.ca/national/programs/health-environment/pesticides/2-4-D-overview.pdf.
Another source detailing the risks of this chemical can be found at:http://www.beyondpesticides.org/pesticides/factsheets/2,4-D.pdf
In November of 2008, the Natural Resources Defense Council petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to ban 2, 4-D based on evidence of its neurotoxicity, link to cancers (especially non-Hodgkin's lymphoma), and negative health effects on many species (sadly, it is expecially toxic to dogs). Despite protests from concerned lake residents, the SDRA has arranged for the lake to be treated repeatedly (September 11th, 2008; July 22nd, 2009, with plans to treat in 2010 & 2011 as well).
DEM has binders of information documenting that 2, 4-D is not effective at eradicating milfoil (though sadly, it does seem to be effective at eradicating bullfrogs. Prior to the 2008 treatment, a bullfrog chorus sang me to sleep every night in the spring and summer. Since the treatment, I’m lucky to hear a lone bullfrog every now and then).
Since I am unwilling to expose my family to the risks of 2, 4-D, we can no longer swim, boat or fish on our lake.It is my hope that the efforts of groups like the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council will eventually lead to a 2, 4-D ban. However, the leadership of Sand Dam Reservoir Association has now established an organization called Save the Lakes. The STL agenda includes treating 49 RI ponds and lakes with this toxic chemical.
Even if the repeated, wide-spread use of the chemical could eradicate milfoil (which it can’t), would it be worth the cost to human and ecosystem health? Will we be left with weed-free toxic soup lakes and ponds, great for powerboats and jet skis but deadly for wildlife? Any federal ban on 2, 4-D may come too late to protect RI lakes from the misguided efforts of the Save the Lakes group.
I urge readers to work to protect our lakes and ponds from this toxic chemical. Contact Save the Lakes at stlri.org and urge them to adopt a more sustainable approach to milfoil management.
During that summer, my family used the lake almost every day for swimming, fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. Sometimes the milfoil was thick, and my husband and I would rake it out to clear the area for swimming. But overall we had a lovely summer enjoying the lake. Little did we know that it would be our last summer to enjoy our beautiful lake.
On June 11, 2008, the SDRA dropped more than 10,000 pounds of the herbicide Navigate 2,4 Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid into our lake. According to the Sierra Club “Despite industry efforts claiming the safety of this chemical, there is a large body of evidence indicating major health effects, from cancer to immunosupression, reproductive damage to neurotoxicity.”
The Sierra Club report can be obtained from http://www.sierraclub.ca/national/programs/health-environment/pesticides/2-4-D-overview.pdf.
Another source detailing the risks of this chemical can be found at:http://www.beyondpesticides.org/pesticides/factsheets/2,4-D.pdf
In November of 2008, the Natural Resources Defense Council petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to ban 2, 4-D based on evidence of its neurotoxicity, link to cancers (especially non-Hodgkin's lymphoma), and negative health effects on many species (sadly, it is expecially toxic to dogs). Despite protests from concerned lake residents, the SDRA has arranged for the lake to be treated repeatedly (September 11th, 2008; July 22nd, 2009, with plans to treat in 2010 & 2011 as well).
DEM has binders of information documenting that 2, 4-D is not effective at eradicating milfoil (though sadly, it does seem to be effective at eradicating bullfrogs. Prior to the 2008 treatment, a bullfrog chorus sang me to sleep every night in the spring and summer. Since the treatment, I’m lucky to hear a lone bullfrog every now and then).
Since I am unwilling to expose my family to the risks of 2, 4-D, we can no longer swim, boat or fish on our lake.It is my hope that the efforts of groups like the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council will eventually lead to a 2, 4-D ban. However, the leadership of Sand Dam Reservoir Association has now established an organization called Save the Lakes. The STL agenda includes treating 49 RI ponds and lakes with this toxic chemical.
Even if the repeated, wide-spread use of the chemical could eradicate milfoil (which it can’t), would it be worth the cost to human and ecosystem health? Will we be left with weed-free toxic soup lakes and ponds, great for powerboats and jet skis but deadly for wildlife? Any federal ban on 2, 4-D may come too late to protect RI lakes from the misguided efforts of the Save the Lakes group.
I urge readers to work to protect our lakes and ponds from this toxic chemical. Contact Save the Lakes at stlri.org and urge them to adopt a more sustainable approach to milfoil management.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Welcome to the Smith and Sayles information site
Hello!
A group of interested community members around Smith and Sayles Reservoir, Chepachet, Rhode Island has decided to gather together electronically to share information, insights, community, news, events, and happenings.
There are no dues or required meetings. You do not have to be a lakeowner to participate.
We want to have a place to share what we know about our wonderful lake with others. This is that space. If you'd prefer to receive information via the U.S. Postal service, we'll send along a periodic newsletter that summarizes the information on this site.
We cherish community, as do you. We want to hear about your observations, items you've retrieved from other publications, and your memories of this very special body of water. You, too, can become an author by sending us your short articles. We value your voice and opinions.
If you'd like to be included in this conversation, send us a quick e-mail or a quick snail mail to let us know. Each time we post new information about Smith and Sayles Reservoir, we'll send you a note so you'll be informed.
Welcome.
A group of interested community members around Smith and Sayles Reservoir, Chepachet, Rhode Island has decided to gather together electronically to share information, insights, community, news, events, and happenings.
There are no dues or required meetings. You do not have to be a lakeowner to participate.
We want to have a place to share what we know about our wonderful lake with others. This is that space. If you'd prefer to receive information via the U.S. Postal service, we'll send along a periodic newsletter that summarizes the information on this site.
We cherish community, as do you. We want to hear about your observations, items you've retrieved from other publications, and your memories of this very special body of water. You, too, can become an author by sending us your short articles. We value your voice and opinions.
If you'd like to be included in this conversation, send us a quick e-mail or a quick snail mail to let us know. Each time we post new information about Smith and Sayles Reservoir, we'll send you a note so you'll be informed.
Welcome.
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