Sand Dam Reservoir Association Newsletter
October, 2018
Officers’ Updates
President
Sunday, September 23 was the first day of Autumn, and summer sure did fly by this year. I am certain all families are as busy as we are here on Wood Road, putting away all the summer fun toys and cleaning up to prepare for the cold weather.
This has been a great summer! Thanks to everyone who has worked hard to keep our lake beautiful. Deb Silva and Cleo Monti worked diligently to organize and develop a Herbicide committee and a 46 acre herbicide treatment; they also have fundraising plans for the future. The Lakesmart RI Pilot Program is underway, thanks to Carolyn Fortuna. This is a program that will benefit lakefront property owners by teaching about ways that property and land can exist in harmony. A special Thank You to Mike Benoit who did a superior job keeping our lake at “perfect” level for all to enjoy. Aaron Colaluca, thanks for your contribution and the videos giving us a view of what is happening under the water- great videos. That is the way SDRA works- everyone doing something, members being respected for what they feel is right and working together for the benefit of our lake. No one point of view is better than another. We are volunteers who are concerned citizens of our environmental community.
As I think about what SDRA’s goals are for the coming year, working together in a cooperative, respectful manner is always at the top of the list. Nothing will get accomplished without teamwork. As we reflect on our Mission Statement, we need to be sure we are continually striving to set goals to help us attain our Mission. Some goals I am considering are:
Goal 1: to reconnect with members of the waterfront community who have not been active lately and increase our membership;
Goal 2: to determine the plan of attack on the invasive weeds that are presently growing in our lake;
Goal 3: to further develop and enhance our Lakesmart RI Pilot Program,
Goal 4: to further develop and enhance our Boat Greeters Program, and
Goal 5: to develop a method for the harvester to be used by landowners.
If you have a question or comment regarding what is happening in, on, under, or around our lake, call any Board member and ask. All questions are worth asking. Check out the SDRA website and learn more what is happening on Smith and Sayles Reservoir. The SDRA Board puts much thought and consideration into all the decisions we make. No topic is thought to be unimportant. Each Board member totally understands that we were elected to represent each member of the Association. We take our elected jobs seriously.
Sincerely,
Judy Colaluca
Vice President
The work of the lake management committee members has been constant throughout the summer and will continue, albeit in a different form, throughout the upcoming winter months. I’ve had the pleasure of joining in on several subcommittee meetings and events this past summer. I can report that we have one of the most active and invested volunteer lake association groups of any in the New England area; we’ve heard this statement frequently when we meet with the folks at RIDEM.
This summer, we’ve met monthly as a board, using the Annual Meeting as a focus for planning. We’ve had numerous boat greeter afternoons and early mornings, educating bass fishers about invasive “hitchhikers” and best practices to keep boats clean. We began our Lakesmart RI Pilot program with 2 property walks — thanks to the Theriaults and Bakers, who opened up their properties. The herbicide and non-herbicide committees have met and continued their sometimes tedious work. Our dam master has met the challenge of not only keeping our lake at a satisfactory level for summer recreation, but he’s communicated frequently with lake owners. And we’ve been so fortunate to have ongoing water testing, which provides longitudinal data for URI.
As with all social organizations, SDRA brings together individuals with different perspectives. That blending of points of view brings a richness and depth to our Association that we would not have if we were all lined up in agreement on every topic. Consensus-building is hard work, granted, but it makes us all better in the long run.
We need more people to join in to our sub-committees, too, so that voices translate into action that benefits our entire lake community. Step up and make good happen on our lake!
Cheers,
Carolyn Fortuna
Treasurer
Our treasury has been stable this past quarter, with normal operating expenses totaling right around $500 and deposits primarily from dues of $2,400. Also, at the end of June, we disbursed $9,500 for the chemical treatment. Thank you to everyone who paid their dues and, if you still need to pay yours, they can be sent to SDRA at PO Box 284, Chepachet, RI 02814.
Fundraising is a significant part of our overall budget; when it comes to caring for our lake, we need your help. We had a successful fundraising event this past April and, as we prepare for the cold weather, let’s start to think about ideas for this year. Did you enjoy Bella’s, and would you like to do it again? Is there a different type of event you would rather attend? Or perhaps we should do more than one event. Our membership is full of enthusiastic, creative people, and I’m very curious to hear your ideas to lead an event that helps to support our Association work. Feel free to send ideas or questions to mjdanville@gmail.com. Let’s make this year our best and most fun year yet!
And please feel free to share our GoFundMe page with family and friends. Its web address is www.gofundme.com/sanddamri.
Thank you!
Marissa Danville
Lake Management Committee: Goals for 2018-2019
The SDRA board decided to design the focus of this newsletter on the goals of each lake management sub-committee for the 2018-2019 year. We have asked each sub- committee chair to write up a 100 word or so comment about her/ his committee’s goals.
Here are those submissions.
Drawdown
Our spillway gate house will begin to start drawing down on Columbus Day Weekend. Please plan on having all your boats out of the water by then. We plan on draining up to 2” per day, weather permitting.
Herbicide Committee
Hello SDRA Members,
Our goal for the year ahead is to keep the lake as immaculate as possible. We have received many compliments on how great the lake looks right now, and we wish to keep it that way.
The Herbicide team has been working diligently since early spring with the professionals at Solitude Lake Management LLC to spray the lake for milfoil. It’s in our best interest to keep our beautiful lake as pristine as possible. It takes a tremendous amount of work to accomplish this task. With only a few members on our team, we would really love to have more people join us for this huge task.
We also desperately need to have a steady stream of income to be able to spot treat the lake as necessary. We have ideas for fundraising and would appreciate more help. Please consider helping us; any amount of help would be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Deb Silva, Cleo Monti, Elaine Theriault, Janice Baker, and Jason Dionne
Keech Pond Liaison
As of this date, I have not been able to speak to John Holmes concerning what’s going on and their plan on opening up Keech Dam gatehouse. I will continue to call him, but I’m afraid it will not happen before the printing of this quarterly newspaper.
Thank you,
Rico Colaluca
Thanks, Aaron, for providing spectacular video of the lake bottom. You provided solid evidence that we still have a milfoil problem and that we need to be vigilant in applying a variety of mitigation methods. The milfoil you showed was clearly old growth, with thick stems. As an Association, we will have more work to do. It is encouraging to see native bladderworts and common (flat stem?) pond weeds filling in the voids left by dying milfoil.
All the best,
Art Searle
Lakesmart RI Pilot Project
Over the past few months, Sand Dam Reservoir Association has been collaborating with the Maine Lakes Society, learning about their Lakesmart property plan. Our goal has been to initiate a Lakesmart RI Pilot Project based on the program that is in place across Maine.
Fast forward to late summer on Smith & Sayles Reservoir. We conducted 2 property walks. It has been a fabulous experience! The property owners and we evaluators are learning so much from each other! Our shared experiences and understandings of lake-land interfaces, stormwater runoff, fertilizer alternatives, and other approaches to landscaping have been informative and quite interesting.
Here are the 4 areas of focus when we conduct a property walk:
- Driveway and parking areas
- Structures and septic system
- Yard, recreation area, and footpaths
- Buffer and water access
We will spend the next 6 months communicating with our liaison at the Maine Lakes Society and developing our program further. We are the first site in Rhode Island to establish a Lakesmart program. Each of the other New England states is also piloting their own Lakesmart program.
Sincerely,
Carolyn Fortuna
Save The Lakes continues to work at developing programs that help local lake associations.
Judy Colaluca
Water Testing
Another beautiful summer has passed. In June, July, and August, I collected water samples from the main test site and tributaries. Balcom Brook and Keach Brook were tested; O’Donnell Brook has not been flowing enough to get a sample.
The results from URI indicate our water is very clean. The Phosphorus, Nitrogen, Ammonia, and Chloride levels are all very low, less than half the maximum average allowable. The water clarity is excellent, as I was able to see the bottom at 2.5 meters during every test. Biweekly, I recorded water temperature, rainfall, light, and wind conditions and tested for algae.
Deb Silva, URI Watershed Volunteer
Lake Management Chair
Here’s the footage I took of the lake bottom. I did find milfoil in the treated areas.
Please take a moment and look at what the bottom of our Lake looks like.
Video URL: https://youtu.be/H4EUO4fYzLY (copy and paste it into your browser)
Aaron Colaluca
Sand Dam Fall Cleanup Sponsored by SDRA
We’ll be having our annual cleanup of the dam as soon as the foliage drops, the lake bottom starts to appear, and the drawdown takes hold. At the writing of this newsletter, a date and time has yet to be determined. Keep checking your email for the fall cleanup announcement.
Sand Dam Day, 2018: At the Home of Aaron and Gina Colaluca
What a wonderful day we had to celebrate Sand Dam Day 2018! The rain clouds cleared, and the neighbors joined together from all sections of the lake for food, fun, good conversations, and networking.
Thanks to Aaron and Gina for hosting our annual gathering. It is a long-standing opportunity for members to come together in a friendly, social environment to chat outside of our regular Association business agendas and to share lake stories, observations, and history. Special guests attending this festive event were Mrs. B. and Theresa Precopio. They shared many “fun” memories from the past.
Special Recognition of a Sand Dam Reservoir Sub-Committee Chair
Mary O’Keeffe is the dedicated leader of the Boat Greeters Program. She does an outstanding job! Mary contacts the organizer of the fishing tournament to tell him ahead of time that our Boat Greeters team will greet the fishermen at the boat ramp. The fishermen know Mary and appear to not want to disappoint her with dirty boats. The leader of the group often asks Mary before the tournament starts,”How did we do?”
Once there was a fisherman who was late to arrive at the tournament — he said he had to stop at a car wash and wash his boat! He just didn’t want to arrive with a dirty boat.
Fishermen meet at the ramp, hoping they have a clean boat, but about 20% still have some weeds. Just think: additional weeds do not go into our lake because of the Boat Greeter program. How wonderful! In the nine years Mary has been leading this subcommittee, only one fisherman did not want anyone to look in his boat, but his trailer could be checked. (Hmm, wonder why?) Fishermen always express appreciation to Mary for the fine job she does. They, too, do not want additional weeds in our lake.
GREAT job, Mary! Thank you for all you do to control and manage invasive weeds in Smith and Sayles Reservoir. Mary, your efforts are appreciated!
Carolyn and I have had the privilege of working at the boat ramp with Mary. Please consider joining us next year, as it is an opportunity to meet and greet others who come to enjoy our lake — and this important initiative needs many more volunteers to meet its optimal efficacy. Please contact Mary (mokeeffe@providence.edu or 401-568-2657) to volunteer and/or learn more about the program.
Sincerely,
Judy Colaluca
Special Sand Dam Reservoir Association Newsletter
Sand Dam Reservoir Association Newsletter
January, 2018
Dear SDRA Members,
As President of SDRA, I am extremely pleased with the number of responses to the recent SDRA ballot received from dues paying members. There is great concern about our lake, and together we can make a difference. Working together is the key. Our water in our shared lake needs to be respected — and lake neighbors need to respect each landowner’s opinion. The elected Board is working to accomplish what is best for our lake — we will respect all opinions.
The SDRA Board, as you read below, is looking at a multi-plan approach to milfoil management. Using just the herbicide approach is only a short term and expensive control to curb our chronic problem. The suction harvester, the boat inspection program, hand harvesting, the use of Best Practice procedures to stop the use of fertilizers and composting at the water’s edge, diverting road run off, building buffer zones, and developing a Lake Smart Program are ALL important ways as we build our multi- plan approach.
I compare invasive weeds to developing cancer. To gain control, there is a need for the “bitter medicine” followed by a multi-planned healthy approach.
Don’t use excuses for working on OUR lake — there is a job for everyone!
Call, email or text with your questions.
Your neighbor,
Judy
Overview of the Late Autumn Ballot Regarding Possible Herbicide Application
In autumn, 2017, the executive board of Sand Dam Reservoir Association, gaining input from the Lake Management Committee, sought to formulate a series of strategies to mitigate the invasive weeds in Smith & Sayles Reservoir. We hired ESS to return to our lake, survey the 184 acres, determine changes that have occurred since our last survey in 2015, and share their recommendations.
You can see that report on the Lake Management page of our Sand Dam Reservoir Association website.
The SDRA Board of Directors then sought guidance from the membership as to whether the Association should look into herbicide application as a way to mitigate invasive milfoil and other invasive species. You received a ballot with the invitation to vote whether SDRA should or should not pursue the possibility of applying herbicide treatments to invasive weeds in Smith & Sayles Reservoir. Paper ballots were due to SDRA’s Post Office Box 284 by midnight on December 31, 2017.
On Wednesday, January 3, 2018, the executive board of SDRA met and opened the ballots. The results are below.
The Ballot Results
| Number of Ballots Received | Ballots in Favor of Pursuing Herbicide Application | Ballots Opposed to Pursuing Herbicide Application |
| 26 | 21 | 5 |
Possible Courses of Action/ Next Steps
The executive board of SDRA has outlined the next series of steps, based on the results of the herbicide application ballot and also continuing the board of directors’ plans for weed mitigation, 2017-2018, which was distributed to the membership in the December, 2017 newsletter. Please note: This list is a starting place. It will be adapted, updated, and modified as we receive feedback from the SDRA members in good standing and from peer-reviewed research about weed mitigation.
Planned Herbicide Application as Weed Mitigation Effort
- Form an herbicide application fundraising committee that is separate from the board
- Appoint a fundraising committee chair who informs the board about fundraising progress
- Survey membership for fundraising ideas and suggestions for involving more members in weed mitigation
- Update the GoFundMe site to reflect possible herbicide applicationI
- Get bids from all licensed herbicide applicators in the Chepachet, RI region
- Review ESS report for the optimum time to apply herbicides and other mitigation recommendations
- Protect no-herbicide zones as requested by abutting property owners
- Make a follow-up plan for continued weed mitigation after tentative herbicide treatment
- Respect dues-paying members who do not wish to have herbicide treatment adjacent to their property
Planned Non-Herbicide Weed Mitigation Efforts
- Continue to comply with DEM regulations regarding drawdown
- Form a non-herbicide application fundraising committee that is separate from the board
- Appoint a fundraising committee chair who informs the board about fundraising progress
- Survey membership for fundraising ideas and suggestions for involving more members in weed mitigation
- Plan for funds to support the suction harvester use
- Expand boat greeter program so more boaters who launch from the ramp are educated about spreading invasive weeds
- Write an early spring letter that emphasises low nutrient, low runoff yard maintenance to inhibit milfoil growth.
- Pursue a lake-based buffer program in conjunction with DEM
- Plan hand harvesting community events
- Research costs of hiring RI-based professional divers
- Respect dues-paying members who do wish to have herbicide treatment adjacent to their property
Weed Pull II at Sand Dam Reservoir
Sunday, August 10 was the date for the second planned SDRA weed pull event (Weed Pull II) of 2014. Beginning at 3PM and ending at 8 PM, the event was another great volunteer effort.
Well organized and well attended, 16 volunteers gathered together and proceeded with their supplies, boats, and assigned divers to areas of milfoil previously identified by Ray Theriault and Art Searle. The four divers, led by James Newland, were prepped by Art Searle on what milfoil looks like and how to extract with its strong root system without creating too much fragmentation.
As the divers moved through their gridded areas significantly more milfoil was found.
Large amounts of were extracted and loaded into the accompanying rowboats. It was all deposited at various lakeside properties offered by the volunteers at the end of the day.
Everyone who participated did a terrific job. The boat captains, Bob Bedard, Ernie Heon and Steve Hopkins managed to move everyone into position and continued to stay on point with safety. The boat assistants Cleo Monti, Deb Silva and John Guertin were also watching and communicating constantly with the men manning the rowboats. Rowers Kyle Theriault, Eric Lariviere, Sam Hawkes , his friend, Brendan, and Myles Silva stayed with their divers and worked well with them to make sure that milfoil was properly secured in the rowboats for disposal and floating pieces were captured. Pauline Finlaw was on call to relieve and assist the rowboats with milfoil transport. Art Searle and his brother, George, also dove for weeds and provided additional safety assistance.
Mary O’Keeffe’s signage at the boat ramp was effective in assuring that no additional boat traffic obstructed the divers. Ray and Elaine Theriault provided needed boat surveillance and coordination of this extraordinary effort. Sam Hawkes was instrumental in hiring the divers as well as organizing a celebratory pizza party at the conclusion of this four hour event. Rico provided 1000 feet of line and Myles Silva donated multiple pieces of rebar for the underwater grid.
The resulting harvest was significant and contained only milfoil. The amount of milfoil identified by Ray and Art several days prior to the planned weed pull had tripled in volume by Sunday afternoon. The weeds were deep rooted and at times very hard to remove. The divers were persistent; returning over and over again to assure that the tentacle-like root ball was also removed.
This SDRA Community project was truly a monumental effort and significant to the history of Sand Dam Reservoir. A heartfelt thanks has been extended to everyone who gave up their mid-summer Sunday afternoon to participate.
WHAT A TEAM!
This article was written and photographed by Elaine Theriault.
Photo Gallery from Weed Harvesting Day
Annual Meeting 2014 Minutes
SAND DAM RESERVOIR ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL MEETING
JUNE 27, 2014
Meeting minutes
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. at the Glocester Senior Center by Ray Theriault, SDRA President. There were 27 people in attendance; a quorum was present.
I. OPENING REMARKS – Ray Theriault, President
· President began with opening remarks, welcoming those in attendance, apologizing for the late start (the building was locked upon arrival), and thanking members for their patience.
· President expressed appreciation and thanks to the Board members, the Committee heads and the general membership for their participation and support over the past year. SDRA is one of the most successful lake organizations due to the work and support provided by all the members.
· All those in attendance were asked to introduce themselves.
· A special welcome was extended to new homeowners Dennis and Marissa Danville who have purchased the house formerly owned by Ernie and Brenda LaFazia.
· President expressed his deep gratitude to Ernie LaFazia for his valuable contributions to the SDRA. Rico Colaluca read a greeting and fond farewell provided by Ernie LaFazia (who is no longer a resident of Glocester)
· President mentioned that it has been a busy year for SDRA
· President stated that SDRA board will increase efforts towards transparency in an effort to keep all members apprised of important developments.
II. SECRETARY’S REPORT – Mary O’Keeffe, Secretary
· Secretary provided a summary of the meetings that have taken place since the last annual meeting (held June 26th, 2013).
o Planning board meeting Wed, Sept 26th 2013
o Lake Management Committee meeting Wed, Nov 20th 2013
o Board meeting Thur, March 6th 2014
o Board members met with DEM re: Dam Violations on March 22nd
o Trash pick-up May 3rd (DEM volunteer time and activity reports were distributed to participants with a request to return completed reports to the SDRA secretary)
o Monti Milfoil Mat project – several attempts
o Board meeting Wed, May 21st 2014
· Secretary noted that meeting minutes have been posted to the SDRA website.
v A motion to approve the secretary’s report was made and seconded. All present voted in favor of the motion.
III. TREASURER’S REPORT – Toni Hayes
· Treasurer provided a summary of expenses and income.
A motion to approve the treasurer’s report was made and seconded. All present voted in favor of the motion.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
Ø Lake Management Plan – Ray Theriault
o Drawdown – Judy Colaluca – Judy thanked her committee members for their efforts. Special thanks to Art Searle for drawdown committee report. Drawdown team was introduced. Art Searle explained the purpose of the drawdown to manage the milfoil. The drawdown report will be posted to website.
o Chemicals – Ray Theriault – Ray reviewed the SDRA history with chemicals and SDRA members varied opinions about the use of chemicals.
§ Ray described non-chemical efforts to control milfoil such as the Monti milfoil mat project. These non-chemical methods can be cost effective if we do it ourselves.
§ We’ve got some milfoil spots that Art Searle identified and circulated to SDRA Board members.
§ Ray mentioned weed-pulling effort – July 13th and July 20th for weed-pulling party. July 13th noon start time – details to follow.
§ Bob Bedard mentioned cardboard on ice to mark weeds in winter and when ice melts it smothers weedbed.
§ Sam Hawkes mentioned a friend on Angel Rd. who is a diver and may be interested in helping out.
o Dam Spillway – Dave Morin
§ Drawdown to about 57 inches through December until Keech Pond released water. With this we were at about 46 inches through March. Lake filled up in about 1 ½ weeks. 26 times Dave had to modify gate. Currently at maximum level. Thanks to Bertha Bedard for calling Dave when the water level gets high and starts spilling over from Keech.
o Boat Ramp Inspections – Mary O’Keeffe
§ We’ve been at the boat launch for 3 tournaments so far, with a 4th scheduled for tomorrow. Five volunteers so far – Inspected about 40 boats.
§ Ron Baker is also performing courtesy inspections on an ad-hoc basis.
§ Remaining summer tournaments – 4 in July, 2 in August, 4 in September. Welcome volunteers, provide on-the-job training. Tournament dates are listed on the SDRA Website.
Ø Education – Carolyn Fortuna
§ Carolyn gave a brief history of the background of the education committee.
§ Carolyn showed members artifacts that have been submitted to illustrate some significant historical events related to the lake.
Ø DEM Dam Violation – Ray Theriault
§ Ray provided overview of Dam Violation and efforts to address the violation.
§ Town worked with SDRA Board to help remediate problems identified in violation report.
§ Bob Fairbanks was engineer retained to help SDRA address the problem. Cost for engineering services and subsequent report was $1125.00. He wrote a report and DEM accepted it, thus the lien on the Dam was lifted. Ray mentioned that members worked together to ensure that proper attention was paid to the violation. Efforts now should be to move from reactive to proactive stage to prevent future violations.
Ø Monti Milfoil Mat Project – Ray Theriault
§ First attempt was not successful, but learned from it.
§ Second attempt was successful – it appears to need a little adjustment. Ray’s son Kyle will work to adjust it this coming weekend. Cost was $103.23.
Ø O’Donnell Property – Judy Colaluca
§ Property has been sold to Mark Bard, Stoneybrook farm LLC. Plans to sell the home on 102 and a separate parcel and then put in a road and build a summer home.
§ Glocester Land Trust will not be purchasing the land as had been previously reported to the Board.
Ø Keech Pond – Sharon and Ernie Heon
§ John Holmes reports a problem with milfoil on Keech Pond. Keech was not able to do enough of a drawdown to freeze the milfoil this past winter.
§ Elaine mentioned that DEM and/or Army Corps of Engineers may need to be involved in milfoil control efforts by Keech Pond Association.
§ SDRA would like to be considered a partner in Keech Pond Association’s efforts, since these efforts have implications for our lake management plan.
§ Some discussion of the need to develop a clear plan for coordinating and partnering with Keech Pond Association.
§ Ernie suggested doing our own survey of Keech before approaching the Keech Pond association.
Ø Hydroelectric – Rico Colaluca
§ $7-12,000/year savings to town/transfer station energy bills if project could get off the ground, but engineering appears to be too expensive/complicated.
§ Rico confirmed that the Town Council is aware that SDRA has not approved anything related to hydro on SDR to date.
Ø Fund Raising – Ray Theriault
§ Ray asked for volunteers to direct fundraising
§ Rico mentioned that Keech Pond Association has over $200,000 in their treasury, and noted the different organizational structure (deeded land owners are required to pay membership in Keech Pond Association)
Ø Water Testing – Deb Silva
§ Deb described her procedure. Three times a year she takes water and chlorophyll samples from the 3 main tributaries (O’Donnell, Keech, and Balcom brooks). Weekly measures include recording temperature, and secchi dish measure of water clarity
§ She estimates spending about 1 hour per week on water quality monitoring.
§ Cost of Water Quality Monitoring has been paid by an anonymous donor. The base monitoring (which has been paid by the donor) includes testing 2 tributaries. In the past SDRA has approved payment of $100 extra to allow testing of the 3rd main tributary.
§ Elaine mentioned that this expense should be a line item on SDRA Financial reports. Though SDR does not pay this bill, it is still part of the cost for maintaining the Lake and the Lake Management Plan.
v A motion to approve allocation of $100 to pay Watershed Watch for testing the 3rd tributary was made and seconded. All present voted in favor of the motion.
Ø Website – Carolyn Fortuna
§ Carolyn described the website and asked if members would like to pay $18/year (or less if it can be obtained for a several year agreement) to obtain a user-friendly url.
§ Rico Colaluca agreed to ask Bill D’Agostino to remove the SDRA Facebook page.
§ SDRA members expressed gratitude to Carolyn Fortuna and Steve Hanley for their efforts in creating an excellent SDRA web presence.
v A motion to approve allocation of $18/year (or a higher initial payment for a lower overall-cost multi-year agreement) to pay for a user-friendly url website address was made and seconded. All present voted in favor of the motion.
Ø Sunshine – Carolyn Fortuna
§ Carolyn asked people to let her know about events/people to be celebrated or remembered.
Ø Save the lakes – Judy Colaluca
§ Judy had to leave the meeting early to attend to an important family matter. Ray Theriault reviewed the STL goose management education program.
Ø Sand Dam Day – Ray Theriault
§ Cathy and Steve Hopkins and Roberta Paine will host this year. Saturday -August 16th, 9:00 am-11:00 – 80 Evelyn Way (off Keech Dam Road)
§ Bring breakfast dish or brunch item.
§ RSVP 949-1727 or hopkinsgrn@verizon.net
V. NEW BUSINESS
Ø Nominations and Elections – Rico Colaluca
· Rico and Steve Hanley volunteered to serve on nominating committee for next year.
A motioned was made and seconded to appoint Rico Colaluca and Steve Hanley to next years’ nominating committee. All present voted in favor of the motion.
A motion was made that a single ballot be cast for the SDRA Board: Art Searle, Director (3 year appointment), Bob Bedard, Director (2 years remaining on 3 year appointment [replacement for Ernie LaFazia]), Dave Morin, Director (2 years remaining on 3 year appointment), Ray Theriault, President (1 year appointment), Judy Colaluca, Vice President (1 year appointment), Carolyn Fortuna, Treasurer (1 year appointment), Mary O’Keeffe, Secretary (1 year appointment). The motion was seconded and all present voted in favor of the motion
VI. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:05PM
Hand Harvesting Weeds: A Community Effort to Save our Lake
On a breezy and hot day in mid-July, 2014, on a Sunday afternoon when most people who live on a lake would usually be boating, swimming, or barbecuing, a dozen Chepachet homeowners and their friends took turns diving into a murky lake bottom to remove invasive plants that crowd out native species.
“It was more fun than I expected,” Sam Hawkes, who pulled weeds for several hours, acknowledged.
This group of concerned citizens on Sand Dam Reservoir in northwest Rhode Island removed variable-leaf water milfoil plants by hand, including roots, from targeted sites by diving to the lake bottom, with or without masks and fins. James, a SCUBA diver, later took over from the initial group of swimmers and divers. Neighbors and friends who lent a hand included year-round and summer residents, retired and middle-aged people and youth. No matter their age or background, everyone pitched in by diving for weeds, collecting the harvest in rowboats, or supervising swimmers from motorboats.
Ray Theriault, president of Sand Dam Reservoir Association (SDRA), led the project, which included organizing pontoon and other boats, getting volunteers, scheduling, and coordinating via emails. Hand harvesting, Ray said, “is a great community effort to help the Association save money and eradicate invasive weeds.”
What is variable milfoil?
Variable-leaf watermilfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum) is a nuisance aquatic plant in the northeastern United States. It grows in thick mats, often out-competing native vegetation, clogging boat motors, and deterring people from swimming and other water-related activities. Milfoil spreads rapidly. In Rhode Island, milfoil has no natural predators to keep its population in check. Under optimum temperature, light and nutrient conditions, milfoil may grow up to an inch per day.
How did variable milfoil spread to RI lakes?
According to RI DEM, variable milfoil was most likely introduced to RI lakes from aquarium releases or from “stowaway” fragments attached to a boat or trailer. When milfoil is wound around a wet carpeted bunk on a boat trailer, it can live out of water for many hours if it remains moist. Milfoil is usually first found near boat launch sites. Once introduced, milfoil can spread through fragmentation, whereby plant fragments break off from the parent plant through wind or boat action, grow roots, and settle in a new location.
Why hand harvesting?
In July, variable milfoil plants may exhibit a three- to six-inch emergent spike above the waterline, so July makes an optimal time for hand harvesting to slow its spread. Although eradication is seldom achieved, various studies indicate that variable-leaf milfoil infestations can be managed effectively by incorporating the use of hand removal and mats in lake management plans.
Removal by hand is an effective management technique for waterbodies with small, high density stands of variable-leaf milfoil or when milfoil plants are interspersed among the natives. Removal by hand is a fairly inexpensive technique to implement, but it is also time and labor intensive. “The winds created a problem for us harvesting,” Ernie Heon, who ran a pontoon boat during the hand harvesting, admitted. “We detached an aluminum boat and brought it into shallow water. My original intent was to bring the pontoon boat into the site, but it didn’t work like that.”
The hand harvesting method is also useful during follow up surveys of management areas when individual or small clusters of variable-leaf milfoil are detected, as was the case on Sand Dam Reservoir. Immediate removal decreases the opportunities for further spread of the plant.
Other methods to slow the spread of variable milfoil
Sand Dam Reservoir Association has a volunteer regular boat greeter program to educate people about invasive species. When bass tournaments are scheduled, a small group of SDRA members greets the fishermen and women as they ready their boats for launch. Mary O’Keeffe, the project director, describes the importance of educating boaters about cleaning their boats to limit the spread of invasive species. “Rhode Island is the only New England state that doesn’t hire people to work at boat launches to educate boaters,” she stated. “That really makes it important for community members to come together to promote proper boater hygiene.”
RI DEM also encourages the use of clean boat hygiene practices. They concur that boats, trailers, and motors should be inspected for plant fragments before launching in the water and after boats have been hauled out of the water.
Community building while hand-harvesting
During the SDRA weed pulling, lake property owner, Sharon Heon maneuvered a rowboat and collected weeds as swimmers transferred them to her. “It was an enjoyable experience,” she offered, “being with Association members on a worthwhile effort.”
Community members who participated in the effort included Tommy Hopkins, Sharon and Ernie Heon, Sam Hawkes, Bob Bedard and his granddaughter Sammy, John Guertin, Cleo Monti, Eric and Carol and Austin Lariviere, Art and George and Bob Searles, Carolyn Fortuna, Mary O’Keefe, Aaron and Judy and Rico Colaluca, and Elaine and Ray Theriault, and James, the diver.
Annual Meeting Agenda 2014
AGENDA
SDRA ANNUAL MEETING
JUNE 27, 2014
GLOCESTER SENIOR CENTER
OPENING REMARKS – Ray Theriault
SECRETARY’S REPORT – Mary O’Keeffe
TREASURER’S REPORT – Toni Hayes
OLD BUSINESS
Lake Management Plan – Ray Theriault
o Drawdown – Judy Colaluca
o Chemicals – Ray Theriault
o Dam Spillway – Dave Morin
o Boat Ramp Inspections – Mary O’Keeffe
o Education – Carolyn Fortuna
o DEM Dam Violation – Ray Theriault
o Monti Milfoil Mat Project – Ray Theriault
O’Donnell Property – Judy Colaluca
Keech Pond – Sharon and Ernie Heon
Hydroelectric – Rico Colaluca
Fund Raising – Ray Theriault
Water Testing – Deb Silv
Website – Carolyn Fortuna
Sunshine – Carolyn Fortuna
Save the lakes – Judy Colaluca
Sand Dam Day – Ray Theriault
NEW BUSINESS
Nominations and Elections – Rico Colaluca
CLOSING
Please check with our Treasurer to insure you are paid up for dues.
Milfoil Mat Project, June 2014
As a management technique, milfoil mats offer a quick solution for small, dense beds of milfoil that are feeding fragments into a water body. When a mat is placed, it creates a dead zone in terms of plant life, eradicating the milfoil and other plants as the sun is blocked out. The successful implementation of a matting effort supplemented by a hand-pulling program can enable an organization to remove milfoil in any eradication phase.
An attempt to install a pilot milfoil mat occurred on Monday, June 23rd, 2014 with the help of half a dozen volunteers, their powered and non-motorized boats, and the gift of calm weather. Follow-up reports will describe the installation and degrees of success
Meeting Minutes 25 September 2013
Sand Dam Reservoir Association
September 25, 2013
Glocester Senior Center, 7:00
Planning meeting (board, committee heads, and SDRA members invited to attend)
SDRA members present: Ron Baker, Janice Baker, Bert Bedard, Bob Bedard, Judy Colaluca, Rico Colaluca, Carolyn Fortuna, Ernie Heon, Ernie LaFazia, David Morin, Mary O’Keeffe, Art Searle, Elaine Theriault, and Ray Theriault
President Ray Theriault began with comments relative to the purpose of tonight’s meeting.
- Promotion of different ideas
- Concerns of SDRA members
Ray suggested that we follow the agenda from the 6/26/13 meeting
I. Lake management plan
- Ray identified key elements of lake management plan
- Have lake analyzed every year by professionals
- Analysis of weeds, analysis of funds
- Have lake analyzed every year by professionals
Mary O’Keeffe mentioned potential conflict of interest in having Aquatic Control Technologies (ACT) perform the analysis since ACT performs the chemical treatments
- Ray mentioned that decision about analysis needs to take limited SDRA budget into account.
- Ray asked: We know our lake – do we need to pay someone to perform the analysis?
- Ernie LaFazia mentioned ESS for analysis. Ray responded that ESS is a very expensive option.
- Art Searle asked what the $400 SDRA paid to ACT got us – Ray replied the weed analysis. Art said that DEM requires an annual report to support our lake management plan. Ray asked if we are the only lake that DEM requires to do analysis for the drawdown. Art confirmed that DEM requires analysis for drawdown, and Ray argued that this is not fair if other lakes don’t need the analysis. Art said that DEM permitting requires a report – it was due last June.
- Judy Colaluca noted that DEM doesn’t currently have person doing permitting.
- Discussion of whether or not ACT provided written or verbal report of analysis that our lake didn’t need treatment this year
- Ernie LaFazia and Ray noted that we are having problems with ACT. They did not provide reports as promised. They didn’t return phone calls. Extreme measures had to be taken to get report and to get refund of $ given at beginning of summer.
- Question was raised about whether or not other lakes are having problems with ACT. Can we identify other options for analysis. Judy said she could get this information.
- Ray said that he would provide a letter to Art documenting the ACT analysis for 2013 so that we’d have what we need for DEM to perform our drawdown.
- Ernie LaFazia was told by ACT that analysis would be provided within a week. He emailed ACT 11-12 times, called multiple times, and ACT never provided the analysis.
- Janice Baker asked about option for assessments less than annually.
- Ernie LaFazia noted that our drawdown is to 54 inches now, which is why we need the analysis for DEM
- Art Searle noted that we are in the 1st year of a 5 year requirement for analysis. Ray noted that some lakes (e.g., Keech) don’t need/get DEM permitting for drawdown.
- Judy noted that depth is compromised given that weeds are serving as compost and people are bringing in sand – this has implications for lake quality.
- Ernie LaFazia said that based on his secchi disk water quality monitoring, lake clarity has never been better – others present noted that the lake seems to be less pristine that previous years.
- Elaine Theriault suggested appealing the DEM requirement for annual testing.
- Art Searle noted that lake clarity is affected by inflow from Keech, and that the south end is cloudier as a result from the inflow.
- Janice Baker asked the Lake Management Plan committee to come together to do groundwork so that we are prepared to have a meaningful discussion come spring.
- Drawdown/Dam/Spillway report:
Dave Morin said that drawdown will begin on Saturday, Oct 12th
- Mary will send an email around to inform residents that drawdown will begin on Oct 12th . Residents will be asked to make sure that boats are out in advance and inform neighbors of the drawdown.
- Two inches per day is the recommendation. Thus it will be about 27 days for 54 inch drawdown.
- Chemical/Water Testing report:
Ernie LaFazia noted that no chemical treatments were performed this year.
- ACT was supposed to do a second analysis this year, but this has not yet been completed
- Ernie says lake is cleanest he’s seen it since 1993.
- Ray asked if we could save money if we took samples to a testing laboratory directly rather than going through the URI Watershed Watch. The general consensus was that it would be more costly for SDRA to do the testing.
- We are billed $400 per year for water testing by URI watershed watch. An anonymous resident paid the $400 bill last year.
- Elaine recommends that this $400 gift be noted in the treasurer’s report so that if the URI watershed Watch bill is not paid anonymously in future years SDRA is aware and responsible. Ernie LaFazia will follow-up to make sure that the bill is sent to SDRA.
- Thanks to Ernie LaFazia we have received a grant from the state to help defer costs of water testing.
- Ernie is looking for a volunteer so that he can step down as the primary SDRA water monitor. He’d like to retire from this duty. Deb and Miles Silva help, but he could use more support.
- Boat ramp inspections:
- The boat greeter program has gone well this year. Mary estimated that we were able to perform inspections for more than half of all fishing tournaments during the summer 2013 season.
- At last tournament on 9/19/13 representatives from Governor Chafee, Senator Whitehouse, and Representative Langevin’s office visited to observe the program “in action” – at the invitation of Judy Colaluca in her role as STL president.
- Mary has spoken with Mr. Moscarelli, science teacher at Ponaganset, and will work to coordinate a school visit to encourage high-school students to volunteer at the boat ramp.
- Dave Morin mentioned the boyscouts, and Judy confirmed that she had contacted local boyscout leaders to encourage participation in the voluntary boat launch inspection program.
- Carolyn Fortuna mentioned that, while visiting friends in Maine, she learned about a lake that got a small grant to pay high-school students to work the boat launch. She suggested we pursue that for our lake.
- Bob Bedard suggested that RI fisherman might be willing to help with this. Judy confirmed that STL can coordinate with local fishing organizations.
- Carolyn mentioned that funding may be available through environmental education and sustainability sources. We may be able to can dovetail this with AP Environmental Science instructor (Moscarelli) at Ponaganset High School.
- Education/Website
- Carolyn Fortuna reported that the last few years have been devoted to establishing our web presence.
- 2012 focus was on documenting the wildlife on the lake. Carolyn mentioned website documentation of the return of wildlife coinciding with the water level increasing in the spring.
- Carolyn noted that many people view the SDRA education website, not just local residents.
- Ray asked about ease of access. SDRA members would like to be able to Google ‘Sand Dam Reservoir Association’ in order to get to the website. Establishing a user-friendly domain name is a desirable next step.
- Carolyn mentioned the wordpress mechanism. Ray said that an easy access site is a priority. There was discussion of what the domain name should be, and consensus was that it should include Sand Dam Reservoir Association. Rico said that a domain name shouldn’t cost more than $10-20 per year. Carolyn agreed to investigate the cost of getting a domain name.
- Carolyn distributed an overview of items represented on a website and asked members to consider what pages we should have to get started.
- Art said that Carolyn can apply a domain name for a Google site – he said that he would show Carolyn how to apply for a domain name off an existing Google site – Carolyn was under the impression that couldn’t be done. Art said that he had done it and would show her how.
- Carolyn emphasized that the executive board would need to provide content for the website so that her voice is not the only presence on the website.
- Keech Pond report
- Ernie Heon reported that Keech Pond plans to dump water on October 14th.
- Dave Morin provided Keech opening and closing dates from last year and discussed the impact on water levels of our lake. He noted that Keech Association President John Holmes is a model of effective communication.
- Hydroelectric report
- Rico and Judy Colaluca have been attending all hydroelectric planning meetings. SDRA has not committed to anything. Ray confirmed that SDRA needs to approve any hydroelectric plan for Smith and Sayles. A number of sites are being evaluated for the hydroelectric station.
- Fundraising:
- Ray reported that we’ve got about $16,000 in budget. Last year we made $2,500 from Don White fundraiser. Assembly theater is good venue (343 seating capacity). Ray would like to bring in Erika Van Pelt ( local singer who was on American Idol). Bert Bedard has a family/friend who has a relationship with Van Pelt and said she’d give Ray contact info.
- Ray wants to raise the bar and bring in a more high profile performer to potentially raise more money.
- Sunshine:
- Ernie LaFazia invited those present to inform him of members of the SDRA community who would benefit from a sunshine intervention.
- Save the Lakes:
- Judy Colaluca continues her important efforts on behalf of freshwater resources in the state. As mentioned earlier, she invited VIPs from the Governor, Senator Whitehouse, and Representative Langevin’s office to observe the boat launch inspection program. She continues to pursue various avenues to increase awareness and support for the protection of freshwater resources.
- Sand Dam Day:
- Ray noted that the request for volunteers to host Sand Dam Day should go out prior to the annual meeting.
- Mary agreed to send out a request for volunteers, as well as a request for nominees for board positions, well in advance of the annual meeting.
- New Business:
- Ray noted that there are many rumors circulating about the fate of the O’Donnell property. These include a 50+ unit, over 55y/o condo community, or alternatively a plan for 3 residences. Ernie LaFazia said that he had contacts at Lusi construction and would try to get reliable information regarding plans for the property. Ray said that we should be concerned that nobody is looking into protecting the interests of the SDRA when planning to develop the property.
Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
2013 Lake Drawdown Information
The annual drawdown of the lake will begin October 12, 2013. The water level of the lake will be reduced to 54 inches, in accordance with DEM guidelines. You may view ongoing statistical updates about the drawdown as compiled by Art Searle at this link.
The drawdown is designed to assist in the control of invasive weed species by exposing portions of the lake bottom to freezing temperatures during the winter. It also affords property owners abutting the lake to repair docks and seawalls.
For more information, contact any SDRA officer.
Sand Dam Reservoir Association 
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