Dudley Pond SunriseNovember 6, 2011

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October 26, 2014

2014 DPA Fall Meeting

SWQC Dudley Pond –Health Report

Ongoing Success – 7 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 plants2009 – hand pull: 18,237 plants -- 7,026 were old growth, survived sonar2010 – hand pull: 6,145 plants, triclopyr spot treatment 18 acres2011 – hand pull: 10,485 plants, no herbicide 2012 – hand pull: 38,191 plants, no herbicide2013 – hand pull: 44,699 plants, triclopyr spot treatment 12 acres2014 – hand pull: 2,744 plants, 1,838 gallons algae, 108 cu. ft. tapegrass

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DPA provides a 25% Cost share

7-Year Activity & Cost Recap

7 year average: $25,753/year

2014 – Springtime Algae

April/May/June: Algae– Late ice out, long

winter

– Algae covers growing milfoil,

– 1838 gallons floating mats removed!

• A new problem

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2014: 2,744 plantsvs

2013: 44,699 plants

2014 Milfoil – What happened?

Will it be back? probably.Something will eat the Nitrogen and Phosphorus

• The triclopyr in 2013 was much later in the season, and acted longer• We had a long winter and a late ice out – and cloudy days• Algae covered up the plants and blocked sunlight• Similar reports from other ponds per the DCR

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Growing Problem: Tape Grass / Eel Grass / Water Celery

Valisneria Americanus

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

• Native species, forms floating mats at end of season – collected, removed

• Shallow root system, good candidate for hand pulling, raking

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Dudley Pond is a nourishing broth of plant food.

When we remove the milfoil,

We are weeding the garden for whatever else finds its way here.

We should not be surprised.

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2014 Tapegrass Management

July 2014 Tapegrass Survey

• Its not an ‘invasive’

• Its not in our Order of Conditions

• We need the OK to ‘manage’ it

• We removed floating mats. (108 cu. ft.)

• New DCR rules make it easier to manage as a ‘nuisance’ species

Managing Tape Grass

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First Noticed: ~9 yrs ago in the Peter's Cove area

-Past 3 Yrs: Showing up in north side of Dudley Pond. Now many dense, small patches have been established.

Current situation:• Thickest growth along the Chat to Peter's cove shoreline

• Chat cove has at least 4 20x20+ ft patches in the middle of the cove

• Mansion beach has a ~40x30 ft patch just off the beach

• Patches all around the pond

-The Challenge : it grows tall and thick, hides milfoil, tangles divers

hunting for invasives and boat props and paddles.

-The Question: May/can we manage this plant's growth to prevent

overpopulation?

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2014 E-coli Measurements

Thanks to Lisa Newton for taking weekly samples all summer.

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Very Heavy Rain before samplewashed the beach

Our Defensive Line - penetrated

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Ducks, Geese, and Swans are attracted by residents feeding them.

They poop on the beach.

The results.

And swimmers get this:

2014 –Water Chemistry Measurement Program

• Points correspond with historic sampling points• Sampling: April, August, November

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

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Carlson Trophic Index – measure of Eutrophication

2014 –Water Chemistry – Phosphorus in Aug.

Reports available:

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http://issuu.com/wswqc/docs/april_2__2014_dp_wq_reporthttp://issuu.com/wswqc/docs/draft_aug_3__2014_dp_wq_report

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

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• Storm drains collect untreated road crud & lawn chemicals and send them directly into the pond.

• At many points around the pond, surface runoff flows overland into the pond – failed basins, no controls

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Stormwater Outfalls: Drains to Dudley

Better stormwater

control =

healthier pond, less nutrients,less herbicide

less weed-control cost.

Wayland must attend to MS4 requirements

near lakes.

2014 Politics , Funding & Permitting:

Year ahead:

• SWQC town budget in good shape.

• Recreation & Conservation taking over Dudley Woods and Rocky Point.

• BoH investigating septic failures

• All Wayland is aware of nutrient problems on DP.

Mass permit extension act is over –We must get a new order of conditions!

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

• DPW cleaned & mapped & inspected Simpson Road stormwater drainage.

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SWQC will propose mandatory pumping and status reports of septic systems 300’ from water at next town meeting.

2014 Politics – Scrutiny & the ‘NO’ signs

• Dudley Pond is the hot topic in Conservation, Health, DAAC, and ZBA hearings.

• Much building happening.

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DPA welcomes.This sign doesn’t.

SWQC wants do something

more welcoming.

The LaClaireCollection - 2014

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Thanks to Allison for her tireless efforts collecting and curating the Dudley Depths artifact collection.

Ask about our variety of underwater calling plans.