Good evening LSC, and Happy Mother's Day!

Our loon pair have been very active in their nesting area (see Dawn's photo from this morning), so the loon nesting signs have been put in place.

Photo: Dawn Smith-Pliner

The signs needed some refurb because they had exposed foam board for floatation, and the State's recent Act 121 bans the sale or use of expanded polystyrene foam (aka Styrofoam) that is not wholly encapsulated or encased within a more durable material the waters of the State. Per loon biologist Eric Hanson's recommendation, all the foam was replaced with cedar.

Eric also passed along his thoughts on what to expect from the loons this year: "It can take a 'new' pair several years to really establish themselves and the nesting cycle, and they won't nest every year, even for an established pair."

So, while they appear to have started the process of building a nest, we'll need to wait and see how they do!

Please be sure to give them their space, and PLEASE travel at no wake speed in the Channel.

Thanks, and keep your fingers crossed!

Finally, thank you to Dawn & Joel for storing the signs, and for keeping us up to date on the loon's activity.

Hello LSC. A few months ago we shared the sad news that long-time LSCA Trustee Frank Callahan passed away at his home on the lake on January 26th.

We have been informed by Frank Callahan's son that there will be a Celebration of Life gathering for Frank at their camp on Little Lake - 198 Clayton Tract - on Saturday, June 7th from 1 PM - 5 PM. Everyone is invited to stop in to share memories and remember Frank.

For many years, Frank also taught the boating safety education course so folks of all ages (12 and above) could earn their boater education card to be able to operate a motorized vessel. As a former teacher, he looked forward to administering these classes each year, and interacting with everyone in the lake community to help them pass the class. Over the years, he helped hundreds of people earn their boating card. Others may know Frank from his numerous years of working to maintain and deploy the lake's safety markers and buoys, and working with his 'Buoy Buddies' around the lake.

As a Trustee, a neighbor, and a friend, Frank was always willing to help out in any way he could, and always with a smile. He will be missed.

You also can read Frank's obituary, and post a memory here: https://www.robertsaubinfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Frank-L-Callahan?obId=35635440

Thank you.

Photo of Frank teaching a boating safety class in Poultney.

Please join us in thanking EVERYONE that came out for Green Up Vermont on Lake St. Catherine and in Wells & Poultney.

This was the biggest year yet with 70+ volunteers between the 2 towns that let us or the towns know where they were working, and you'll see filled Green Up bags are lined up along the roads ready to be picked up.

Some folks could not Green Up today, but will be working tomorrow, or earlier next week.

* Thank you all for your efforts! *

Here are some of the photos we have so far from today. If you have some, send them along and we'll add them to the gallery.

Also, a thank you to the Towns of Wells & Poultney, the The Wells Country Store, Noble Ace Hardware- Poultney VT, and the Poultney Rotary Club for helping out with the volunteer meetups in both towns.

Great job all!

Check out photos from the day on our Facebook page:

Wells Village Library and the Lake St. Catherine Association are hosting a reception Saturday, May 31st at 2:00 PM at the library to reveal their newly created Lake St. Catherine Watershed Model conceived and designed through a Libraries Love Lakes collaboration.

Libraries Love Lakes is an outreach project pairing schools and public libraries with lake scientists to promote collaborative and educational programming emphasizing the importance of lakes to our everyday lives. WVL and the LSCA sought and received funding for the project through a Lake Champlain Basin Program Education and Outreach Grant with support from NEIWPCC.

Constructed according to suggested specifications, digital designer Nic Stark (nicstark.com) skillfully brought to life the LLL vision for the 3’ x 6’ model. The educational goal is to effectively demonstrate impacts to lake health from several variables including stormwater runoff, shore erosion, and other environmental perturbations. It will also be an effective tool to show locations of prime habitat for eagles and other species. Finally, it will serve as visual representation of possible outcomes for planning and restoration purposes.

Please direct questions to Gina Ellis, Librarian, at wellslibraryvt@gmail.com or by phoning 802.645.0611. You may also email Jerremy Jones, Trustee, Lake St. Catherine Association at jerremy.jones@lakestcatherine.org.

Good morning LSC, we have some exciting news to share.

We are happy to report that we've just been informed by the State that we have earned a grant through the Aquatic Nuisance Control Grant-in-Aid Program for $25,000 to support our AIS (aquatic invasive species) prevention and control programs which include our Boat Launch Greeter Program, and our Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) Program.

About the Greeter Program:

Our Greeter Program is very important to the health of Lake St. Catherine. Our Greeters have been trained to identify aquatic invasive species (AIS) - like spiny waterflea, golden clams, water chestnut, starry stonewort and zebra mussels (and many others) - to stop them from entering LSC at the boat launch in Wells. They also educate boaters about the importance of looking for these invasives on their boat or trailer so they are not spread to LSC or another lake. Each year, they do a fantastic job checking vessels and educating the lake community on the dangers of invasive species for Lake St. Catherine. They are on duty from Memorial Day through Labor Day - working on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They also cover holidays and fishing tournaments. We are looking for Greeters for 2025, email us at info@lakestcatherine.org if you are interested.

Read more here: https://lakestcatherine.org/boat-launch-monitoring

About our DASH Program:

Our DASH crew provides milfoil control by suiting up in scuba gear and hand-pulling milfoil by the roots from the lakebed. In sections of lower milfoil density, they will swim the area and hand-pull with mesh bags. In higher density areas, they will set up the DASH equipment which allows them to suction the hand-pulled milfoil up through a tube to a catch table on a boat. Milfoil is then placed in 17.5 gallon buckets for transport off the lake.

Read more here: https://lakestcatherine.org/milfoil-control-program

While this funding is great news, it only partially funds these programs for the year. The remaining funding for these programs comes from our lake community through membership dues, additional contributions, and donations.

If you'd like to contribute to these important programs, please consider renewing your membership or becoming a member of the Lake St. Catherine Association, which you can learn more about on our website here: https://lakestcatherine.org/become-a-member

We have multiple membership levels, and you can also make a donation: https://lakestcatherine.org/donation

Thank you for your support of the LSCA and these important lake programs for Lake St. Catherine!

Good afternoon LSC. We wanted to pass along a quick membership update, and also see what you've been doing with your LSCA Membership Patches.

As of yesterday, we've reached 300 members for the 2025 season. Thanks to all who have renewed, joined, and contributed. We are working our way towards our goal of 400 members for 2025.

We have membership levels for camp owners, unimproved lot owners, business sponsors, and a Supporter of LSC level for anyone who loves LSC and would like to contribute.

> You can learn more about joining or renewing on our website here: https://lakestcatherine.org/become-a-member

> You can always check out the current membership stats on our website here: https://lakestcatherine.org/membership-statistics

Working to earn grants, membership dues and contributions from the lake community, and allocations from our Towns make up the majority of our funding. If you'd like to support our mission of the preservation, protection, and maintenance of beautiful Lake St. Catherine, please consider becoming a member or making a donation for 2025. The LSCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.

We are also happy to hear that folks have been enjoying the memberhsip patches, wonderfully designed by Andrew Gioulis over the past 3 years - thank you Andrew!

We've heard that they have been placed on shirts, hats, bags, and made into creative gifts for family and friends.

In the photo attached, we found wood coasters which framed the patches perfectly, and we've hung them on the trim of the door out to the lake:

What have you been doing with them? Let us know, and share some photos!

Thanks for your support of the LSCA!

Good afternoon LSC,

With the recent sighting of the 'Loon Ranger' back at the lake, and lake photographer extraordinaire Karen Velsor's wonderful short story about him on Facebook, we wanted to share some recent conversations we've had with Eric Hanson from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) about what to expect this season, and some other loon related news.

Quick note: a single loon that has been visiting the lake the past few years has been dubbed the 'Loon Ranger' on Facebook, and that name has stuck. Karen's short story imagine's his thoughts as he arrives back at the lake.

As they did last year, Eric expects our nesting pair to come back to the lake and attempt to nest again. However, Eric cautioned that: "It can take a 'new' pair several years to really establish themselves and the nesting cycle, and they won't nest every year, even for an established pair." He also said that based on our nesting pair's success last season, he has suggested that we not put up the nesting raft at this time.

I'm sure everyone is looking forward to seeing how they'll do this year!

We were also recently invited to participate in a beta testing of new web-based software that VCE has developed to support their loon work in Vermont. This new app will show historical data back to 2003, data from the yearly LoonWatch day count (July 19, 2025), in-depth Loon Monitoring surveys, and coming in 2026, projects to assist with deploying loon nesting rafts and warning signage, and coordinating rescues for loons in distress. After launching, the app will be available for folks to checkout - we'll let you know when that is.

Thanks to Eric and VCE (and Dawn & Joel for storing them for the winter), we have loon nesting signage ready to go if our pair nests again this year. So, keep your fingers crossed!

Let us know of any more signs of loons arriving. Thx!

Photo: Karen Velsor

Hello LSC, and residents of Wells & Poultney,

Saturday, May 3rd is Green Up Vermont Day.

Green Up Vermont is a state-wide volunteer cleanup day of Vermont's roads and waterways.

As Green Up Vermont's website says:

"We know it isn’t your litter but Vermont needs our help to be beautiful!"

We had a FANTASTIC turnout last year, with volunteers signing up to cover every road around the lake, and additional roads in Wells & Poultney - and we're looking to do it again this year. You can check out a quick recap, and see lots of photos from our volunteers of our 2024 Green UP Vermont Day here.

Would you like to volunteer for Green Up Vermont Day?

If so, email us at info@lakestcatherine.org, or contact us on Facebook, and let us know the roads (or sections of roads) you'd like to work on, and we'll add you to our volunteer map (see below). You can also visit the Wells or Poultney Town Halls to pick up bags, and let them know where you'll work.

Roads highlighted in blue on the map indicate that the road (or section of road) is being covered by a volunteer. We'll do our best to coordinate the efforts so we all know what areas are covered, and which areas need volunteers.

2025 Map (click here to view full-screen):

Also, on Green Up Day, there will be two opportunities for volunteer meet-ups!

Wells:

As we did last year, in coordination with the Town of Wells, we will be hosting a brief kickoff to the day at the Wells Lakeside Park on Little Lake at 8 AM that morning. Please stop in to pick up Green Up bags, fuel up on coffee and muffins from the Wells Country Store to get energized for the day, and meet your fellow volunteers, or stop in to see us to talk about the lake! Green Up Bags are available now at the Town Hall, and will be available at the Park.

Poultney:

From 11 AM - 1 PM on the Town Office Green, the Town, along with Noble Ace Hardware and the Poultney Rotary Club will be providing hot dogs, snacks & beverages for volunteers. Also, the Village of Poultney will have a truck parked near the Town Office Green for Green Up bag collection. Green Up Bags are available now at the Town Hall, and will also be available on Green Up Day.

So, let us know if you'd like to participate and where you'll do your clean up, and we'll add your area to the map. We'll keep the map up-to-date here, and on our website Calendar, on the May 3rd Green Up Vermont Day event. You can view that here: 2025 Green Up Vermont Day Event.

Let's all pitch in to get Lake St. Catherine, and Wells & Poultney ready for a great Summer!

Thank you!

Hello LSC. We’d like to share some concerning info with you about a recent discovery at the Fish & Wildlife Public Access in Wells involving an aquatic invasive species (AIS).

In October of last year, the AIS Golden Clams, scientific name: Corbicula fluminea, (previously called Asian Clams) were discovered in southern Lake Champlain at the South Bay Boat Launch. In November of 2024, multiple agencies in NY and VT met to discuss this finding, and what actions should be taken. Based on Lake St. Catherine’s proximity, and high-use of the public access, it was determined that LSC was an at-risk location, and was designated to be surveyed.

On November 19th, 2024, a Vermont DEC team performed a sieve survey at the public access on Lake St. Catherine. Although they did not discover any Golden Clams, they did find a Zebra Mussel shell, scientific name: Dreissena polymorpha, next to the southern side of the dock.

Zebra Mussel shell found at Lake St. Catherine.

Location of Zebra Mussel discovery at Lake St. Catherine.

Zebra Mussels on a native mussel. Photo by Megan Weber.

Based on this finding, the DEC team returned to the lake on November 25 to perform additional surveys of the area including visual inspection of the dock and underside of the dock, the boat ramp, and out into the lake. Net tow samples were also collected to analyze for veligers (Zebra Mussel larvae, which would represent reproduction occurring).  

Thankfully, no additional Zebra Mussels, or veligers were discovered.

Based on these initial findings, we are hopeful that this shell did not represent a viable Zebra Mussel, and it was only a dead mussel that fell off of a boat or equipment when docked.

From the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds excellent page on Zebra Mussels, Zebra Mussels are highly reproductive, and can quickly establish large populations and outcompete native species for food and habitat, and they can:

• clog water intakes and other pipes, (management costs in electrical power and other water-consuming facilities amount to several hundred $M per year)

• attach to boat motors and boat hulls, reducing performance and efficiency,

• attach to rocks, swim rafts and ladders where swimmers can cut their feet on the shells,

• attach to and smother native mussels and clams, and

• eat tiny food particles that they filter out of the water, which can reduce available food for larval fish and other animals. (They are responsible for the near extinction of many species in the Great Lake system by outcompeting native species for food and by growing on top of and suffocating the native clams and mussels.)

We do not want these getting established in Lake St. Catherine.

However, studies show that Zebra Mussels can sustain themselves and reproduce in lakes that have calcium levels around 20 mg/l or higher. Lake St. Catherine was recently tested for calcium levels, and it was found to be under 13 mg/l. Just up the road from us at Lake Bomoseen, Zebra Mussels are established there, and reproducing. Lake Bomoseen’s calcium level was found to be just under 20 mg/l (Lake Bomoseen also has Golden Clams). Live Zebra Mussels were found in Lake Dunmore in 2018 at their public access and removed. The calcium level in Lake Dunmore has been found to be around 8 mg/l, which made the Zebra Mussels discovered look grey, instead of their distinctive alternating light and dark zigzag stripe pattern. Follow up testing has not found additional Zebra Mussels or veligers in Lake Dunmore. 

The DEC will return to Lake St. Catherine in the spring to perform some additional tests and surveys. Also, our DASH team will survey the area when they begin operations in the spring.

While our lower calcium level gives us a bit of protection from Zebra Mussels, we need to be vigilant when dealing with them and other AIS that could potentially infest the lake. This is why our Greeter and Vermont Invasive Patroller (VIP) Programs are so important. 

Our Greeters inspect boats for AIS as they enter and exit the lake, but we only have enough funding and personnel to cover the public access on Friday - Sunday from Labor Day to Memorial Day, along with holidays and fishing tournaments. Also, boats and other vessels can be launched at other areas around the lake. It is critically important to “Clean, Drain, Dry” vessels and equipment that will be going into the water to prevent the spread of AIS.

The VIP Program paddles areas where vessels would be launched, like at the public access, at the State Park, and at Wells Lakeside Park using underwater viewers to look for potential new introductions of AIS. This program is an early warning system for finding new AIS that have made their way into the lake so they can be quickly addressed. 

We are hiring paid Greeters ($20/hr) for the 2025 season. If you are interested in working for the Greeter Program, please reach out to us at info@lakestcatherine.org. You can learn more about the Greeter Program on LSC here.

The VIP Program is a volunteer initiative. If you like paddling, and would like to learn more about the lake, please reach out to let us know you’d be interested in participating at info@lakestcatherine.org. You can learn more about the Vermont Invasive Patroller (VIP) Program on LSC here.

What can you do to help protect the lake from AIS? Become a member of the LSCA, volunteer, keep an eye on your shoreline and be sure to Clean, Drain, Dry any vessel coming in contact with the lake. This applies to everyone on the lake, but especially this spring to the folks on the Channel near the public access, please check your shoreline, and inspect your dock. Do you feel or see small bumps as shown in the photo below? These are Zebra Mussels at a very early stage, and they are very small. If you see these, or anything else that may be concerning - let us know - we’ll come right out to take a look.

Small Zebra Mussels on a stick.

We’d like to thank the DEC for their efforts!

We’ll be sure to keep you up-to-date with any new information. Thank you.

From iced in to whitecaps, just like that.

Congrats to Nancy Williams with her guess of today at 2:30 in the 2025 Ice Out contest!

Bring on the sunny days...