Good afternoon LSC.

We'd like to let you know that the Vermont DEC were at Lake St. Catherine late last week conducting Lake Wise training for Poultney Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District (PMNRCD) staff, and other organizations that will be preforming Lake Wise assessments in the area.

The 2024 Lake Wise team will start reaching out to LSC property owners who have signed up to schedule appointments for your assessment.

The Lake Wise Program is free to LSC property owners who are interested in making their shoreline lake friendly, working to keep runoff from your property carrying phosphorus, sediment, and other pollutants into the lake. If you are interested in participating for the first time, or if you'd like a revisit, we have a few spots left for 2024, so please email us at info@lakestcatherine.org to sign up!

You can read more about the Lake Wise Program on LSC here: https://lakestcatherine.org/lake-wise-program

This Lake St. Catherine Association project is made possible by a grant earned from the Lake Champlain Basin Program & NEIWPCC, and is partially funded by the US EPA, and Lake Champlain Sea Grant.

Good evening LSC, we'd like to give you a brief recap of the Libraries Love Lakes Summer Event which took place today at the Lake St. Catherine State Park,

What a fun day!

Kids and their families got to enjoy all the Lake St. Catherine Park has to offer, and they got to go swimming, get a treat at the snack bar, and participate in the fun educational activities with the educators that were on hand.

The stream table was a hit:

As was the Giant Lake Champlain Watershed Map:

...and the boat ride for water testing:

...with some followup at the Nature Center:

The kids tested for dissolved oxygen, and took secchi disk and temperature readings. They also saw one of the eagles, the eagle nest, and the loon family! They had quite a boat trip. Some also then ventured forth to Endless Brook to check out the macroinvertebrates.

The LSCA and the Wells Village Library would like to thank the Lake St. Catherine State Park - and their fantastic staff, 'Captain' Martha Pofit for taking everyone out on her boat, our volunteers for the day, the awesome staff from PMNRCD - Jaden & James, Megan Hill from the Maritime Museum, Park Interpreter Jeff Ormsbee, and all the families that attended the event - we hope all involved had a great time!

Finally, we would like to thank the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission which made this day possible through an Education & Outreach Grant earned by the LSCA and Wells Village Library.

Our final Libraries Love Lakes event will take place in the fall and will focus on the artist side of nature. Watch for details for this event in the coming weeks.

More images from the day are available in our Facebook photo gallery:

Facebook Photo Gallery

Hello LSC.

The Lake St. Catherine Association and the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) were interviewed earlier today by Senator Brian Collamore for a new episode of his public affairs show Catamount Community Connection.

Our episode will air this Sunday, July 14th on WJJR, 98.1 FM at 6 AM, and on Cat Country, 105.3 FM at 11 PM. You can listen to both of these stations online by clicking the attached links.

We'll do our best to record our episode in case you miss it and make it available for listening at another time.

Jerremy Jones from the LSCA and Hilary Solomon from the PMNRCD had a great discussion with Senator Collamore about the projects and programs our organizations are working on, and how we are working together on numerous preservation and protection initiatives for the lake and the Lake St. Catherine watershed.

Thank you to Senator Collamore and to Catamount Radio for this opportunity to speak about these important topics for the lake community and all in the Poultney Mettowee conservation district. 

We hope you can tune in!

Hello LSC,  we'd like to let you know about this great Vermont Fish and Wildlife program called Junior Warden Weekend, talking place at the Edward F. Kehoe Green Mountain Conservation Camp on Lake Bomoseen, July 27th & 28th - and the Lake St. Catherine Association would like to sponsor a teen from Wells or Poultney to participate!

Teens ages 15-17 are invited to come learn up close how F&W Game Wardens contribute to conservation in Vermont. Participants will spend the weekend fishing, hiking, exploring mock crime scenes, and seeing K-9 units in action, and teens will stay in the cabins and enjoy campfires, s’mores, swimming, and other camp activities during their stay.

More details about Junior Warden Weekend are included below, and here is the direct link to learn more and apply:

https://vtfishandwildlife.com/learn-more/conservation-education/junior-warden-weekend

The LSCA would like to sponsor a teen from Wells or Poultney and cover the participation fee for them to attend this fun and educational weekend. If your teen from Wells or Poultney applies, please let us know at info@lakestcatherine.org, and we'll work with the program coordinator to make a donation to cover their fee. Spots are limited to 25 teens, so be sure to get your application in soon before the program is full. We'll sponsor the first applicant from Wells or Poultney that the program receives.

Please help to spread the word - thanks!

Hello LSC, here are your winners of the LSCA's 12th Annual Boat Parade. Over 250 votes were cast in the online poll!

THANK YOU to:

• All of our creative participants
• The Goldman Family for being our lead boat
• Karen Velsor for the fantastic photos of the boats

Winner, Best Overall: Boat #9 - Come On Barbie Let's Go Party - Christine Gay

Second Place, Best Overall: Boat #7 - Carnival - Hicks Family

Winner, Funniest: Boat #5 - Dump Run! - Conine Family

Second Place, Funniest: Boat #9 - Come On Barbie Let's Go Party - Christine Gay

Winner, Most Original: Boat #7 - Carnival - Hicks Family

Second Place, Most Original: Boat #2 - The Loon Pontoon - Dawn Smith-Pliner

Winner, Most Patriotic: Boat #11 - God Bless America!! - Dave & Lisa

Second Place, Most Patriotic: Boat #8 - Red, White and Brew BBQ - Cahill & Klamik Family

If you enjoyed the boat parade, please consider becoming a member of the Lake St. Catherine Association to support our work for the benefit of LSC. We have multiple membership levels for you. You can learn more about becoming a member here: https://lakestcatherine.org/become-a-member

Thank you, and have a safe and fun 4th of July weekend!

Hello LSC - we hope you all enjoyed the boat parade!

THANK YOU: 

> All of our CREATIVE participants!
> Karen Velsor for the AWESOME photos!
> Everyone cheering from their boats and from the shore!

Now, time to vote for your favorite boats in our four categories:

• Most Original
• Most Patriotic
• Funniest
• Best Overall

Here is the link:

https://forms.gle/Bxe5KqAoTaykhHkXA

Poll closes at 9 PM - so get your votes in - and we'll post the results later this evening.

Note: We did not get a photo of Boat #14 - if someone has a photo of this boat, please send along so we can update the poll.

Thanks all - hope you have a great 4th weekend!

If you'd like to help support the LSCA's mission of the preservation, protection, and maintenance of beautiful Lake St. Catherine, you can become a member or make a donation.

More info here: 

> https://lakestcatherine.org/become-a-member
> https://lakestcatherine.org/donation

Thank you!

Photo Gallery:

> All photos by Karen Velsor

Hello LSC.

We'd like to invite you to the 2024 Lake St. Catherine Association's Annual Meeting & Dinner at the Lake St. Catherine Country Club on Saturday, July 27th, beginning at 6 PM.

The LSCA Trustees will update you on lake issues, give you reports from their committees, and discuss current and future initiatives for the lake. The meeting will conclude with an open question and answer session, then we'll have a nice dinner together with our lake neighbors.

Our Guest Speakers will include:

• Hilary Solomon from Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) with an update on the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan.

We are looking forward to seeing you!

At approximately 7:30, dinner will be served. If you'd like to stay for dinner, the LSC CC has provided the menu below.

Dinner options:

• $25 - Chicken Piccata
• $25 - Seafood Stuffed Filet of Sole
• $35 - Prime Rib

Dinners include a vegetable, salad, and potato. Cake and coffee will be served for dessert.

Please RSVP for the meeting by clicking here to register, or by clicking the grey 'Register' button on the left. You will be able to indicate the selection of dinner(s) you'd like to reserve. If you'd like to attend the meeting, but not stay for dinner, leave the dinner selection fields blank. You can pay online with a credit card or with cash at the door.

> You must RSVP for a dinner by July 21st so the Country Club can properly prepare. We'll not be able to take walk-ins for dinner.

Please plan on arriving a bit before 6 PM so you can get checked in and be seated so we can begin the presentation as close to 6 as possible.

80 dinners are available. Dinners sold out last year, so please RSVP as soon as possible.

Thank you!

The Wells Village Library and the Lake St. Catherine Association (LSCA) are hosting their third event of the year at the Lake St. Catherine State Park on Saturday, July 13th from 10 AM until 3 PM.

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. Accordingly, there will be a slew of fun and educational activities designed to get folks on and in the lake.

When arriving, attendees mentioning Libraries Love Lakes will enjoy free park entry. The first 20 families to arrive will receive an event-themed kit containing on-topic books and other materials. This is a family friendly event, so bring the kids and they’ll get a free treat from the snack bar. There will be swimming, canoeing, kayaking, pedal boating and more.

At the park nature center between 12 PM and 2 PM, various presenters will be on-hand including Meghan Hill Bartholomew of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. Meghan will set up a 35’ x 27’ Lake Champlain Watershed Giant Map and talk about upstream influences on Lake St. Catherine, among other things. Additionally, the new State Park Interpreter, Jeff Ormsbee, will demonstrate water quality testing as well as the collection and study of macroinvertebrates from Endless Brook, which runs through the park and into the lake. Finally, members of the Lake Education and Action Program (LEAP) and the Lake Wise Program teams from the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District (PMNRCD) will display their stream table and discuss water quality, runoff, and erosion impacts.

This and most LLL activities are possible through an Education & Outreach Grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission. Watch for details on another great event planned for October.

Questions may be directed to Jerremy Jones, Trustee, at the Lake St. Catherine Association by calling (802) 287-6027 or emailing jerremy.jones@lakestcatherine.org.

Hello LSC. We'd like to provide you with an update from our Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) team, as they have started off the season with hand-pulling milfoil.

Here's the update from Beck:

"Ferncliff Aquatic Services finished hand-pulling location H1 today (along West Lake Road) and moved onto location H in Oxbow Bay (see the 2024 map here). We have been testing out our new electric air compressors that drastically reduce noise and don’t emit exhaust. We look forward to incorporating them into our operation throughout the summer."

Also, the team frequently removes garbage they find as they work. Here is just a small example from the past few days of the type and amount of junk that they pick up from the lake bottom:

Thanks to Beck and the DASH team for their great work around the lake!

Full DASH operations will begin on July 1.

On Saturday, June 22nd, the Lake St. Catherine Association held their second meeting of the 2024 season.

Attendance: John Belnavis, Mark Shea, Sue Wojtkowiak, Mary Jo Teetor, Lisa Micich, Jim Canders, Jeff Crandall (call in), Kemi McShane (call in), Frank Callahan, Jerremy Jones, and Mike Gay. Absent: Bob Williams, Nancy Liberatore, Rob Nesbit, Ed Laird

Guests: None

Call to Order: President Jim Canders called the meeting to order at 8:00.

Public Comment: None.

Call to Order: President Jim Canders called the meeting to order at 8:30 AM

Approval of Meeting Minutes: Minutes of May 25, 2024 posted. Motion to accept the minutes as presented. All in favor, so moved.

Treasurer’s Report: Mary Jo Teetor presented income and expenses. Motion to accept the Treasurer’s report. All in favor, so moved.

Annual Membership Meeting: Saturday, July 20,20224. The annual membership meeting will be held at the LSC CC at 6:00 PM. The format for the meeting will be the Committee Chairperson will present for each committee. One guest speaker will address the Membership. An invitation will be made to Hilary from the PMNRCD who will report on the Lake St. Catherine Watershed Action Plan, and the Stormwater Master Plan. Invitations were also extended to the Select Boards of Poultney and Wells, and our state senators and representatives. John spoke of the menu selection and pricing as discussed with the Dining Room manager, Nicole. The facility can handle 80 guests. All dinner reservations and selection must be made by 7/21. The Board of Trustees are preparing for a good turnout and will be able to address topics of interest, and save time for a Q&A period at the end of the Membership meeting.

Milfoil Management: Jeff Crandall, treatment took place on June 4, 2024. June 6, 2024 water testing showed the herbicide had dissipated out of the water. Jim spoke to the presence of the law enforcement at the boat launch area, and how well they handled the protesting. Jeff has received the SOLitude contract and has the invoice for payment of $48,260.00 to give to MJ. Jeff reported an update for the DASH program. The team will work on 14 sites, as approved by the DEC. The team will begin full operations on July 1, 2024. A motion was made to ratify the DASH budget, (that was proposed via e-mail) for $53,000.00. All in favor, so moved. On our new 5-year permit application, no new news, but we do expect a public meeting, and will ask members to make comments and participate.

Greeter Program: John Belnavis spoke of the team Greeters this 2024 season consisting of high schoolers and retirees. John mentioned the good relationship between the Marina and the Greeters, which allows the Greeters to use the facilities at the Marina. He has good coverage for this season. John mentioned a conversation with Kim Jensen about a potential boat wash station, and led to a discussion about the new wake boat decontamination rules.

Water Quality and Testing: Mary Jo Teetor spoke of the high pollen count this Spring. She will address any area of water that is of concern to residents. Cyanobacteria are always present and become problematic due to weather conditions. There has been a decrease in the phosphorus levels in LSC which could be the result of property owner education and the work of various water quality improvement projects around the lake by LSCA and PMNRCD.

Publicity: Jerremy Jones, involvement with FOVLAP has provided an increased exposure to other lakes and is a good resource for what is going on in the State. LSCA’s website and Facebook pages are continually updated with LSC related information.

Lake Safety: Frank Callahan & Mike Gay, reported the condition and placement of the many buoys around the lake. All were in the lake for Memorial Day weekend. One went missing and was found in Halls Bay. An additional marker will be added to Forest House Bay for the protection of the Loons and their new chick. Frank said that he may not be able to conduct the boat safety course as he had done over the years, waiting for booklets and tests from the State.

Nominating Committee: Jim Canders referred to the E-mail poll and the results. Lisa, Mike and Mark will be returning Trustees, Rob has not informed the board of his decision yet. John’s seat is open for a new candidate. Discussion regarding potential new Trustees. Jerremy will invite the candidate that was discussed. John mentioned the collection of the signs posted to inform the public of the herbicide treatment, need to stay up for 30 days, John will collect them at that time. John also mentioned a conversation about beavers in Lily Pond from a resident. Jerremy will reach out to someone at the State who recently gave a presentation on beavers.

Membership: Jerremy Jones, to date there are 350 LSCA members. The membership goal is to reach 400. A reminder postcard will be sent later in July.

Government Relations: Jim Canders addressed the cooperation the LSCA received from Wells and the State of VT regarding the need for a presence at the boat launch on the day of the treatment.

Grants: Mary Jo Teetor mentioned the need to hire a Grant writer and discussed the process for writing a grant and reporting on it is time consuming. MJ has managed the grants with help from Hilary and her staff at PMNRCD. This position will be advertised.

Old Business: LSCA to participate in East Poultney Day, August 10th. LSCA new welcome sign needs to be erected and a placement for it needs to be established. Contacted the Butternut Hill Condos to ask to use their land at the base of the hill. A written agreement between the LSCA and Butternut Hill Condos was suggested.

New Business: Jerremy reported that registration for the Boat Parade is low but usually picks up once people arrive at the Lake. Volunteers to help at the Library Loves Lakes on July 13 at the State Park would be helpful.

Subsequent Trustees Meeting dates:

July 27, 2024 Trustees Meeting 8:30 AM

July 27, 2024 Annual Membership Meeting 6:00 PM at LSC CC

August 24, 2024 Trustees Meeting 8:30 AM (last meeting for 2024) to include Election of Officers: President, Vice President and Treasurer

Motion to adjourn meeting at 10:25, all in favor, so moved.

Respectfully submitted, Kemi McShane