Dudley Pond Sunrise November 6, 2011

1

2012 DPA Fall Meeting

SWQC Dudley Pond –Health Report

Recent History – 5 year, dual strategy

Herbicide to gain control when needed

Aggressive Hand Pulling to remove the roots - pre & post herbicide

2008 – sonar whole lake treatment, hand pulling follow-up 6000 plants 2009 – hand pull: 18,237 plants -- 7,026 were old growth, survived sonar 2010 – hand pull: 6145 plants, triclopyr spot treatment 2011 – hand pull: 10,485 plants , no herbicide, 2012 – hand pull: 35,720 plants to 10/23, no herbicide storm & temps may prevent more work, plants remain

2013 PLAN: Hand-pulling, 50-50 Spot Herbicide too 3 10/28/2012

2012 RECORD Hand Pulling!

• Started May – Near shores first, middle deeper areas later

– LONG growing season - healthy pioneers, fewer stems, a few big survivors & ZOMBIES

• Late Season – pulling to late October, problem spots

• End-of-season survey: reasonable control at year end but plants remain

4 10/28/2012

2012 RECORD Hand Pulling!

5 10/28/2012

Enormous undertaking

180 day pulling season 250 individual reports

35720 plants 637 under water hours

2012 Hand Pulling APRIL/MAY

6 10/28/2012

S:741 M:1288 L:493 = 2462 Plants 49 Reports

2012 Hand Pulling JUNE

7 10/28/2012

S:1463 M:2110 L:824 F:422 = 4819 Plants 46 Reports

2012 Hand Pulling - JULY

8 10/28/2012

S:2645 M:2849 L:847 F:615 = 6956 Plants 52 Reports

2012 Hand Pulling AUGUST

9 10/28/2012

S:1903 M:1768 L:928 F:579 = 5178 plants 35 reports

2012 Hand Pulling SEPTEMBER

10 10/28/2012

S:1486 M:1773 L:2555 F:866 = 6680 plants 37 reports

2012 Hand Pulling OCTOBER (so far)

11 10/28/2012

S:2019 M:2204 L:4392 F:1010 = 9625 plants 50 reports

04/29/2012 12

Growing Problem: Valisneria Americanus

• First sited in 2010 by Jack Peter’s dock, also in North Pond

• Common name: tape grass, eel grass

• Native Species

• Shallow Root system, good candidate for hand pulling

• Forms floating mats at end of season

5 years of treatment & Hand Pulling Dual-strategy gets results!

The way we like it!

Boating, fishing, and swimming enjoyed a milfoil-free 2012

13 10/28/2012

SEPTIC ISSUE – Resolved! 2011 Septic breakout at 123/125 Dudley Road managed by over

a year of weekly pump outs by Board of Health

14 10/28/2012

VICTORY - New Septic System Installed at 125 Dudley Road!

Last Year 2011 E-coli Measurements

The real problem was at Mansion Beach, with Canada Geese a likely cause of two beach closings.

15 10/28/2012

Beach Closed!

Beach Closed!

2012 E-coli Measurements

2012: BoH took over testing– SWQC arranged sample taking. Thanks to Lisa Newton for taking samples

16 04/29/2012

Blue Green Algae aka Cyanobacteria

Thanks to Lisa Newton for raising the alarm

17 10/28/2012

Noted 10/4, Photos and Samples taken

BoH was ready, notified

MDPH

MDPH issues public health advisory

Sampling shows ½ danger level 1st week, ¼ danger level 2nd week – advisory

lifted.

First confirmed instance in Dudley Pond– late season – don’t go in if you see this. Updates to the public via DPA web site and SWQC Facebook page.

2012 – Circulators leave for South Dakota

• Now in Lake Madison, SD

• Deployed for algae suppression

• Sale facilitated by ecoGuide

18 10/28/2012

Purchasers Bill and Margaret Tooley – The eXpert Company Sent a $75 membership donation to the DPA

Hospitality, food, and restrooms provided by Linda Smith – thanks!

2012 –Water Chemistry Measurement Program

• Points correspond with historic sampling points • Sampling: April, August, November • August 2012 Reports available – ask Mike

Measured: • Date/time/weather • Water temperature • Water clarity (Secchi) • ph • DO% & Saturation

Samples Analyzed: • Total Phosphorus (P) • Orthophosphate (P) • Ammonia (N) • Total Nitrogen (N) • Chlorophyll a

19 10/28/2012

25 24

27

Carlson Trophic Index – measure of Eutrophication

April 2011 –Water Chemistry

Plants are starting to take up nutrients in April

20 10/28/2012

Carlson Trophic Index – measure of Eutrophication

August 2012 –Water Chemistry

21 10/28/2012

Getting at "ROOT” Causes:

Phosphorus & Nitrogen feed the weeds • lawn fertilizer runoff • septic systems leaching through porous soils • decaying leaves & existing muck • recirculation of bottom sediments

SWQC seeks improvements:

Septic Maintenance Practices Alternative, Shared Systems

that remove N and P Lawn Chemical Practices Road Runoff Handling

22 10/28/2012

• No Phosphorus Fertilizer except for new lawns or when soil-test indicates P-deficiency

• No fertilizer use – 12/1 to 4/1

– Within 20’ of waterbody w/o vegetative buffer

• Town’s may adopt stricter controls Helps towns comply with new stormwater mandates from EPA

10/28/2012 23

House bill# 3270 – Phosphorus Fertilizers

Already Limits in: VT, NH, ME, NH, MD, NY, WI, MN, MI

• Presented to : DPA, DAAC, Conservation, WWMDC, Board of Health, Planning Board

• Remaining: Selectmen

East Dudley Septic Study

SWQC studied septic systems on the East side of the pond where groundwater movement is toward the pond. SWQC’s goal – reduce nutrients: • Better data base • Stricter regulations • Periodic Inspections • Appropriate technology • Funding alternatives for

upgrades.

24 10/28/2012

East Dudley Septic Study

10/28/2012 25

Neighborhood Septic Treatment?

Alternative designs: Conventional Leach Field Membrane Bioreactor (very low N, P discharge) Solar Aquatic greenhouse (like Weston)

Connecting not required but need 4-5 homes to be viable.

Max: 10,000 gpd each

(20-25 homes)

Connect when: home sold, system failure,

improvements require, personal

desire

We’re seeking low cost financing, or 20 year

betterments.

2012 Politics , Funding & Permitting:

Mostly Good News:

• SWQC town budget in good shape.

• Good relationships built with Selectmen and Conservation Commission, and Board of Health

• All Wayland is aware of nutrient problems on DP.

Mass permit extension act – 2 additional years on our permit.

• DPA cost-sharing helps the town accept SWQC budgets for Dudley Pond

• 2012 is the third year of the phosphorus ban in home cleaning products, 2012 - new fertilizer ban.

26 10/28/2012

OML complaint against SWQC filed by George Harris

27 10/28/2012

OML complaint against SWQC filed by George Harris

28 10/28/2012

The SWQC denies these claims, but has offered to improve its descriptions of agenda items.

If this is not satisfactory to Mr. Harris, the matter goes to the Attorney General’s office and at least two members of SWQC

will resign: Mike Lowery and Lin Bradford.

10/28/2012 29

It is just not worth getting kicked around for agenda

specificity and other administrivia.