Greetings Salem Campers! How quickly we have arrived at the end of the summer! Cooler nights and days and beautiful colors developing all around signal the end of another camping season. We at The Salem Lakes Preservation Association, Inc. are very grateful for the property owners who have joined the group this year, and we are especially thankful for your generosity in contributions to assist with the fight against Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM).
Increased effort this summer has revealed far more invasive milfoil than in previous years. Our diver made 45 dives for a total of 137 in-water hours. EWM was found in locations all around the lake. Current eradication and mitigation efforts are barely keeping up with the growth. Volunteers put in about 350 hours to assist with this effort. Costs of approximately $8,000 for divers and $2,000 for supplies and other expenses are covered partly by a State of Vermont grant ($6,000) and partly from the generosity of Salem Lake property owners. The forecast from the Memphremagog Watershed Association for next year is for far fewer grant dollars, if any at all.
Areas around the lake were checked and serviced for EWM. This included:
Boat access/Clyde River inlet: 50 to 75 plants were removed. Bottom barrier installed.
Route 105 area, especially Major's Drive: More than 200 plants removed. Bottom barrier installed.
Clyde River outlet/Salem Drive: More than 300 plants removed. Bottom barrier installed.
Taplin Road/Birch Drive: More than 200 plants removed. Bottom barrier installed.
Hideaway Drive: More than 100 plants removed. Bottom barrier installed.
Town Beach/4H Road: More than 90 plants removed. Bottom barrier installed (none at Town Beach due to swimming activity).
Robbins Drive/Dumas Road: More than 50 plants removed.
East Salem Drive: More than 375 plants removed. Bottom barrier installed.
Many clusters of plants were found among boat and jet ski moorings. Some property owners consented to the clearing of a channel in front of their beaches to allow safe access to and from their docks and moorings. These channels were marked by buoys and are available to any property owner who requests one.
The entire EWM mitigation project would not be possible without volunteers such as Lenny Boulanger, Roger Cartee and Dennis Bond who offered the use of their pontoon boats all summer to support diving efforts. Ed Wells, our leader in the battle against EWM has been invaluable in scheduling, organizing, and assisting with removing and placing barriers and buoys. He was also diligent in plotting GPS locations for newly discovered patches of plants. GPS expert Ross Ogilvie and several other members were extremely helpful in the campaign to protect our lake.
As you can see from the names mentioned, very few folks have been carrying the load attempting to keep EWM at bay. Statistics show that EWM has spread across the entire lake. We need more eyes checking the water. We need more people who are willing to donate the use of a pontoon boat for a few hours, or perhaps assist during dives. We can train you on how to recognize EWM and let you know where to report any sightings. We have water scopes at the Fishing Access that may be borrowed when you want to assist in monitoring along the shoreline.
We are at a "make-or-break" point in controlling this invasive plant. We need everyone around the lake to take up a role in some way. Remember one thing: if EWM takes over the lake, what will your camp be worth?
We accomplished a great deal this summer and our gratitude goes out to the donors, volunteers, boaters and campers who support our efforts by respecting buoys and marked areas, and by being good stewards of our beautiful lake. This is the time for you to really familiarize yourself with EWM and be ready to look for it around your property. ALL FIVE of the larger EWM site discoveries in Big Salem in 2020 wer made by volunteers. NOT by our ONE diver.
Consider volunteering your boat or join a dive team in 2021. If you haven't already become a member of the association, become one or consider the idea of being one of the directors. Either way, continue your support as we strive to keep our lake as clean and as beautiful as it has always been. Drop an email to us to let us know if you're interested in assisting us next year. Or let us know if you have any questions.
Thank you for all you do. See you next summer!
From the Salem Lakes Preservation Association, Inc.