For the preservation, protection, and maintenance of Lake St. Catherine
Hello LSC property owners,
We'd like to let you know that the LSCA, LSCCF, and the PMNRCD will be holding an informational Zoom meeting on the Lake St. Catherine Lake Wise Program on Thursday, May 20th at 7 PM.
Lake Wise is a program developed by Vermont’s Lakes and Ponds Program to recognize outstanding efforts by homeowners who live along a lakeshore to protect the water quality and habitat along the shoreline and within the near-shore area of the lake. Four categories are assessed: The driveway and parking area, the structure (which includes roof, drainage, and septic), the recreation area (the lawn/footprint of non-natural, high-use yard areas), and the shoreline buffer area.
The goal of the Lake Wise program, from the Lake Wise website:
"The goal of Lake Wise is to establish a new normal, a new culture of lakeshore landscaping that is proven to help protect the lake. A property that earns the Lake Wise Award will represent a 'model' shoreland property. The Lake Wise Award certifies a property is well managed, using shoreland Best Management Practices, and is maintained to care for the lake."
In partnership with the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) and property owners around the lake, the Lake Wise program was a huge success in 2020! 11 properties earned the award last year, bringing the total on LSC to 12.
A Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) grant helped to fund both property assessments, native plantings, and stormwater runoff projects on individual property owner’s shorelines.
In late 2020, the LSCA again applied for a LCBP grant to expand the Lake Wise Program into Little Lake. We received the good news that we had earned this grant, and a joint committee between the LSCA and the LSCCF was created to get this program started in Little Lake in 2021. While our 2021 program is focused on the Little Lake, this program is open to ALL Lake St. Catherine property owners.
Our goal is to earn another 10 awards in 2021, and get our first for a Little Lake property owner.
You can read more about Lake Wise and why it is so important for LSC on our website by clicking here.
To date, we've heard from 18 property owners that are interested in Lake Wise this year, and the Lake Wise team will be reaching out soon to these folks to set up an appointment at their property.
If you'd like to learn more about the Lake Wise program - and how you can help improve the health and water quality of Lake St. Catherine, we like to invite you to our presentation.
Lake Wise Informational Zoom Meeting:
Thursday, May 20th at 7 PM
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88550183782?pwd=YUpSZ2tQOEJxeUZDY2cvSTg2ZG1Zdz09
This meeting will also be recorded and posted on YouTube, so if you are unable to attend that evening, you'll still be able to view the presentation soon after.
We hope you can join us!
If you have any questions, or if you would like to sign up for Lake Wise, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.
Good morning LSC.
Please join us in thanking all the volunteers who helped clean up litter around Lake St. Catherine yesterday as part of Green Up Vermont Day!
MANY bags of litter have been cleaned up around the lake, and from what we've heard, folks had a great time getting out and about to help get LSC ready for the Summer.
Here are some reports from our volunteers:
Melissa Liebig said:
"We had a blast at green up day today! We left 2 bags at 94 vantage point. And 1 further north by camp Sagamore. We met up with Sue and Jeff King, Jill O’Brien, Sue Caizza, Becky Raub, Ashleigh Raub and her dog Brodie and 'greened up' together!"
Laura Clark said:
"Six bags , Aaliyah was a Champ !"
Mary Papasso said:
"I hope you are enjoying this sunny day! I had a huge clear bag half filled! We will bring home and dispose. Have a great day!"
Shannon & Paul Rangecroft said:
"Thanks for organizing this fabulous effort. It’s evident by the number of green bags around the lake...that it was very worth while!!"
Corrine and Jonathan Benn got creative and performed cleanup by bike & kayak:
...and even the doggos helped out! Here's Brodie and Boone:
Many folks around the lake were involved in this effort - and some will still be out over the next few days to continue the clean up.
You can view all the photos that we received on our Facebook page here.
THANK YOU!
Hi all,
Saturday, May 1st is Green Up Vermont Day, 2 weeks from today.
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!"
To start us off, our household crew will take Cones Point, Sandy Beach, Ranny Road, and Route 30 from Cones Point to Ranny Road. We'll also paddle the included shoreline areas (see map below).
We'd like to see if we can get folks around the lake to volunteer to clean up an area, and we'll do our best to coordinate the efforts so we all know what areas are covered, and which areas need volunteers.
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 and post it on our Calendar, on the May 1st Green Up Vermont Day event. You can view that here: LSC Green Up Vermont Day Event.
Email us at info@lakestcatherine.org, or contact us on Facebook to volunteer for an area.
We'll be in touch with the Towns of Wells and Poultney to see what supplies may be available (bags and gloves), and where collected trash should be taken.
Let's all pitch in to get Lake St. Catherine ready for a great Summer!
Thank you.
Walter Huss! Congrats Walter.
The last of the stubborn ice disappeared overnight, so we have checked your predictions, and we have a winner!
Honorable mentions to: Brad, Jennifer, Amanda, Ben, and Stew who also guessed today. Thanks to all who participated - and thank you to all our ice spotters for sending in reports!
Walter has bragging rights for the year, and joins our Ring Of Ice Out Champions from previous years:
2020: Mel Ohl, March 23rd at 3 PM 2019: Judy Cummings, April 15th at 6 AM
Finally, a quick mention about our membership drive - we hope you can support us this season! To become a member, or to renew your membership, please visit our website: https://lakestcatherine.org/become-a-member
We have membership levels for everyone who loves LSC. Thank you!
Hello LSC.
Last evening, the LSCA and LSCCF held a joint webinar to discuss the 2 Little Lake projects we will be working on together this year, Lake Wise and Milfoil Control.
We gave a presentation describing both projects, and then we answered questions from attendees.
You can view the recording here:
You can also read more about these projects, and learn how you can help by making a donation, signing up for Lake Wise, and working to get milfoil out of the lake by visiting our project page here: https://lakestcatherine.org/little-lake-milfoil-control
We hope you can make a donation to help support this effort - and we hope you'll do what you can while at the lake to make these projects a success.
If you have any questions, or would like to sign up to participate in Lake Wise, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.
Thank you for your support!
Good morning LSC. We have some exciting news to share.
On Sunday, March 14th 2021, the LSCA and LSCCF kicked off a joint fundraiser to help collect donations to help fund our 3 year Little Lake milfoil control plan.
That morning, we launched a webpage to explain our two joint Little Lake projects for 2021, Lake Wise and Milfoil Control, and to track and accept donations.
We estimate that year 1 of the 3 year milfoil control plan will cost $36,000. The LSCA and LSCCF each pledged to contribute $12,000 each ($24,000 in total), and look to the lake community for contributions to cover the remaining $12,000.
We are happy to report, that in just over a week, we have raised over $16,000!
This is AMAZING.
Thank you to the lake community for your generous support!
We have fully funded Year 1, and we have applied the funds collected over the Year 1 goal to Year 2:
As Spring rolls in, and folks start arriving to open up their camps, we will continue to reach out and fundraise for this project throughout the season.
If you have not yet contributed to this important project that will help Little Lake - and the whole of Lake St. Catherine, we hope you'll take a moment to read through the plan and consider making a donation.
You can read about the projects for Little Lake in 2021, track our fundraising progress, and make a donation here: https://lakestcatherine.org/little-lake-milfoil-control
Also, this evening at 7 PM, we'll be hosting an informational Zoom webinar to give a short presentation about these projects, and to take your questions.
Registration is required to attend. You can sign up here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_r7MZm6tWS-m_EzCgxFov9A
Thank you for your consideration and support!
This Wednesday, March 24th at 7 PM, the LSCA and LSCCF will be holding a joint Zoom webinar to let you know about two projects for Little Lake this year: Lake Wise and Milfoil Control.
The agenda:
We plan to keep the slide presentation focused and brief, then we'll take your questions.
To attend the webinar live, you need to register via this link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_r7MZm6tWS-m_EzCgxFov9A
You can also read more about these projects, and make a donation to the Little Lake fundraiser to help fund these projects by clicking here: https://lakestcatherine.org/little-lake-milfoil-control/
We hope to see you Wednesday!
Hello LSC fans!
When will the ice go out on Lake St. Catherine in 2021?
...and who is ready for Spring, and preparing to have an excellent season at Lake St. Catherine this year?
It's time to start up #IceWatch2021!
Let's have some little fun and make some predictions for when the ice will go out.
Click here to make your guess.
- In 2020, with his guess of March 23rd at 3 PM, the 2020 LSC Ice Out Champion was Melvin Ohl.
- In 2019, with her guess of April 15th at 6 AM, the 2019 LSC Ice Out Champion was Judy Cummings.
The winner will be crowned "LSC 2021 Ice Out Champion" and will have bragging rights all year!
Make your guess - and good luck!
Please fill out the form below to make your guess.
Note: By ice out, we mean when the Lake will be clear of ice. We'll be relying on our Ice Spotters around the lake for up-to-date reports on conditions - and we'll use those to make the call.
Hello to everyone in the Lake St. Catherine Community. We have some exciting news to share with you and a request for your help!
Over the past year, the Lake St. Catherine Conservation Fund (LSCCF) and Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) have been working together to discuss the best ways to mitigate the persistent and intensifying problem caused by an invasive weed - Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM, milfoil) - found throughout the lake, but especially in Little Lake. EWM significantly degrades the natural habitat of our lake and impacts accustomed uses of boating, swimming, fishing and other activities.
Last fall, we announced that our two organizations will work together in 2021 and beyond to treat the Little Lake with a new herbicide that has shown excellent results in reducing EWM here and in many other lakes around the country. For the past two years, the LSCA has been using this new, highly targeted herbicide called ProcellaCOR in the Lily Pond and the Big Lake with excellent results. Currently, there is less milfoil in our control areas than at any time since at least 2006. In 2021, the LSCA will primarily rely on the diver assisted suction harvesting (DASH) program to address small areas of milfoil in our current control areas. At the same time, the LSCCF will continue its harvesting program to maintain navigational channels throughout Little Lake.
Although this plan is focused on Little Lake, it will be a benefit to the whole of Lake St. Catherine, and we hope to receive contributions from everyone who cares about LSC. Our mutual goal is to get Lake St. Catherine as close to EWM-free as is possible in the next few seasons. EWM spreads quickly, re-roots easily and is carried across our lake by boat props, water currents and other means. No area in the lake is immune from EWM when another area suffers from it. Working in concert with the DEC, we have developed a 3-year treatment plan to gain control over the milfoil throughout the Little Lake. At this juncture, the DEC allows a maximum of 40% of Little Lake to be treated in any one calendar year. Working with lake management contractor SOLitude Lake Management and the DEC, in year one, we have selected the northern third of the Little Lake and the complete east and west shorelines to the southern end of Little Lake as the best parts of the lake to treat in 2021 for the greatest reduction of milfoil. This creates an 'M' shape, as depicted in the image to the right. After evaluation of effectiveness, we'll formulate a plan for 2022, and if necessary, 2023.
We are tentatively scheduled to treat the lake on Tuesday, June 22nd. More details will be forthcoming as we get closer to the date.
Another program the LSCA and the LSCCF will be working on together this year is Lake Wise. The Lake Wise Program was developed by Vermont’s Lakes and Ponds Program to help and encourage lakeshore owners to make their property lake-friendly by keeping pollution, sediments, phosphorus, and nitrogen carried by stormwater runoff out of the lake. Our goal is to both educate and help property owners make their shorelines beautiful and lake-friendly.
Over the past 3 years, the Lake Wise Program has worked with camp owners to improve many Lake St. Catherine properties. So far, 12 of these Lake St. Catherine properties have earned the Lake Wise Award. We're working to increase this number every year.
We'd like to have 10 Little Lake property owners participate in Lake Wise this year. There is no cost to participate. Using a grant earned through the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP), we have funds to help property owners with plantings and other stormwater mitigation projects. Let us know you'd like to participate by emailing us at: info@lakestcatherine.org.
Thank you again for all your support in the past and consideration for the future!
Please reach out and share your thoughts, questions, or comments to the LSCCF: contact@lakematters.com or the LSCA: info@lakestcatherine.org.
With the LSCA contributing $12,000 and the LSCCF contributing $12,000, we will be working to collect donations from the lake community of at least $12,000 to fully fund the costs for year 1.
Donations collected over and above $12,000 this year will be saved and used to help fund the plan in year 2.
We hope you'll consider visiting the Donation Page by clicking here to make a contribution. We'd also like to hear from Little Lake property owners who would like to participate in Lake Wise this season (everyone around the lake is invited to participate as well) - email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to sign up. We also hope you'll sign up to attend our Zoom Webinar on March 24th at 7 PM (click here to sign up) to learn more about these efforts.
Hello good folks of the lake community.
Greetings from (a frozen) Lake St. Catherine. We hope you and your loved ones are staying warm and healthy this winter.
It's that time of year again... As the Lake St. Catherine Association heads into its 68th year, we are asking for your support for the 2021 season.
All things considered, we a very successful year in 2020. We invite you to read our 2020 Year In Review for all the details, including some initial plans for the upcoming season. We hope you find our efforts worthy, and can support us for the 2021 season.
Membership dues and contributions help fund many of the services provided by the LSCA:
There are two easy ways to renew or become a member of the LSCA.
Soon, you will be receiving a mailing from us that contains the 2021 Membership Form. You can also download a copy by clicking here: 2021 LSCA Membership Form PDF. Just fill out the form and mail it in to our Treasurer Elaine with a check for your dues.
Or, you can renew or become a member on our website. If you were a member in 2020, click here to renew, or click here to become a new member - and you can pay your dues online with your credit card. If you were a member last year (whether you paid by check or online by credit card), the website has an account ready for you. If you don't remember your password, or you have never logged in, or if you have not logged into the new website launched in December, please click here to set or reset your password.
We'd also like to encourage you to check with your employer to see if they have an Employer Matching Gift Program for charitable donations. Many generous businesses will match contributions made by their employees through these programs. So, take a look - you may be able to double your contribution!
We have simplified our membership levels this year:
Cottage Owner, $100: For LSC property owners with a dwelling, $100 per cottage. Business Sponsor, $200: (details below) Unimproved Lot Owner, $50: For LSC property owners without a dwelling. Supporter Of LSC, $35: For those of you who love LSC but are not a property owner. Includes family members of property owners, renters and those who use the lake for recreation.
Cottage Owner, $100: For LSC property owners with a dwelling, $100 per cottage.
Business Sponsor, $200: (details below)
Unimproved Lot Owner, $50: For LSC property owners without a dwelling.
Supporter Of LSC, $35: For those of you who love LSC but are not a property owner. Includes family members of property owners, renters and those who use the lake for recreation.
Both on our website and on our printed membership form, you will have an opportunity to add an additional contribution above the membership level if you'd like to increase your support to the LSCA for 2021:
If you are a business in the Lake St. Catherine community, we have a Business Sponsor Membership we'd like to tell you about. The Business Sponsor Membership includes:
Your membership and the dues and contributions we receive allow us to accomplish our work. Maintaining the lake costs approximately $125,000 annually. While we do receive annual grants from Poultney, Wells, and the State, membership dues and contributions make up the majority of our funding.
Upon receiving your membership contribution, our treasurer Elaine will mail you a hand-written thank you note, a receipt, a LSCA window card and a LSCA can koozie.
We are happy to report that in 2020, we had 346 paid members, which includes 10 Business Sponsors with an average contribution of $150. Thank you to all of our members! Your membership dues and additional contributions over and above our base membership levels are crucial to funding our important lake programs. As always, we ask you to help us spread the word by discussing the LSCA with your neighbors, your friends & family, and your renters. We will continue to work hard for Lake St. Catherine to earn your support.
Thank you for your support of the LSCA!
- The Trustees of the Lake St. Catherine Association
If you ever have any questions about your membership or Lake St. Catherine, please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org.
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