Volunteer water monitoring training available 4/28
DEEP is sponsoring water monitoring training on April 28th. If you are curious about how to measure water clarity, please attend. The flyer below has the information for signing up. FBL monitors the water clarity along with other parameters twice a month from April to October in both Lower and Middle Lakes. If you want to join us, please let us know.
Lake Monitoring Training flyer
Connecticut Lake Watch program
Lake Monitoring Training flyer
Connecticut Lake Watch program
Lake level rising soon
As of 3/19, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is planning to start raising the water level in the lakes next week.
fbl spring newsletter 2021
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Thank you for your continued support of The Friends of Bolton Lakes. Getting through 2020 without face-to-face spring and fall forums was disappointing to say the least. It’s our hope that these communications to you are informative and reassure you that your organization remains active.
Membership Drive
The 2021 membership drive is now underway. It has never been easier. Please renew or start your membership here by either using the online form or downloading the form and mailing it in. Your support helps us advocate for the health and recreational use of our lakes. As a reminder, memberships are for each calendar year.
Watershed Management Plan
The Bolton Lakes and Watershed Management Plan draft has been completed. The plan was written by Hillary Kenyon Garovoy, consultant, Northeast Aquatic Research along with steering committee members. The steering committee for the plan consists of town officials from Bolton, Vernon, Coventry and Tolland, along with FBL. FBL is represented on the committee by David Forrest and John Williams. Many of our members responded to a watershed survey in the fall to help develop the plan. We thank you for your input. A forum will be established this spring to allow the public to voice comments.
Hatch Hill Dam Reconstruction
The Hatch Hill Dam reconstruction project - to the best of our knowledge - is still targeted to begin work in the Fall 2021.
Spring Virtual Seminar
A virtual Spring Seminar is in the final planning stages. In the fall of 2020 FBL commissioned CAES (Connecticut Agricultural Experimental Station) to do an inventory of the plants in Middle Lake. That study has been completed and Greg Bugby, who was in charge of the study, will give a presentation on what was found.
AIS Grant
In 2019, the CT legislature passed HB6637, an act requiring an invasive species stamp for the operation of a motorboat on the inland waters of the state. A portion of the fund was to be used for fighting invasive aquatic species. This year DEEP (Department of Energy and Environment Protection) called for grant applications to be submitted. The towns of Vernon and Bolton along with FBL jointly submitted their grant request for $35,000. The intent is to use the grant money to combat invasive species in the Bolton Lakes and provide educational outreach to local residents and visitors. The text of the grant can be found here. The grants are expected to be awarded at the beginning of April.
Boat Launch Ambassadors
Last fall five FBL board members were trained by DEEP to be boat launch ambassadors for our lakes. The role of a lake ambassador is to engage boating enthusiasts at our boat launches by educating them about environmental issues. Lake ambassadors will keep track of where boaters are coming from and pass out literature on how to keep invasive species out of our lakes. If you are interested in becoming an ambassador, contact FBL at fbl@friendsofboltonlakes.org. If we have enough interest we’ll set up a second training session in the spring.
Jellyfish
At the end of last summer, Middle Lake had a bloom of freshwater jellyfish. They are small, somewhere between a nickel and quarter in diameter. Here is a picture:
Thank you for your continued support of The Friends of Bolton Lakes. Getting through 2020 without face-to-face spring and fall forums was disappointing to say the least. It’s our hope that these communications to you are informative and reassure you that your organization remains active.
Membership Drive
The 2021 membership drive is now underway. It has never been easier. Please renew or start your membership here by either using the online form or downloading the form and mailing it in. Your support helps us advocate for the health and recreational use of our lakes. As a reminder, memberships are for each calendar year.
Watershed Management Plan
The Bolton Lakes and Watershed Management Plan draft has been completed. The plan was written by Hillary Kenyon Garovoy, consultant, Northeast Aquatic Research along with steering committee members. The steering committee for the plan consists of town officials from Bolton, Vernon, Coventry and Tolland, along with FBL. FBL is represented on the committee by David Forrest and John Williams. Many of our members responded to a watershed survey in the fall to help develop the plan. We thank you for your input. A forum will be established this spring to allow the public to voice comments.
Hatch Hill Dam Reconstruction
The Hatch Hill Dam reconstruction project - to the best of our knowledge - is still targeted to begin work in the Fall 2021.
Spring Virtual Seminar
A virtual Spring Seminar is in the final planning stages. In the fall of 2020 FBL commissioned CAES (Connecticut Agricultural Experimental Station) to do an inventory of the plants in Middle Lake. That study has been completed and Greg Bugby, who was in charge of the study, will give a presentation on what was found.
AIS Grant
In 2019, the CT legislature passed HB6637, an act requiring an invasive species stamp for the operation of a motorboat on the inland waters of the state. A portion of the fund was to be used for fighting invasive aquatic species. This year DEEP (Department of Energy and Environment Protection) called for grant applications to be submitted. The towns of Vernon and Bolton along with FBL jointly submitted their grant request for $35,000. The intent is to use the grant money to combat invasive species in the Bolton Lakes and provide educational outreach to local residents and visitors. The text of the grant can be found here. The grants are expected to be awarded at the beginning of April.
Boat Launch Ambassadors
Last fall five FBL board members were trained by DEEP to be boat launch ambassadors for our lakes. The role of a lake ambassador is to engage boating enthusiasts at our boat launches by educating them about environmental issues. Lake ambassadors will keep track of where boaters are coming from and pass out literature on how to keep invasive species out of our lakes. If you are interested in becoming an ambassador, contact FBL at fbl@friendsofboltonlakes.org. If we have enough interest we’ll set up a second training session in the spring.
Jellyfish
At the end of last summer, Middle Lake had a bloom of freshwater jellyfish. They are small, somewhere between a nickel and quarter in diameter. Here is a picture:
The scientific name is Craspedacusta sowerbyi. What we saw on the lake is the adult phase. Most of their life is spent as small polyps on the bottom of the lake. Only when conditions are right in terms of availability of food, mainly zooplankton, temperature and light are hydromedusae produced. Hydromedusae are the small jellyfish we saw. Lakes can go years and years between blooms while the polyps sit on the bottom of the lake. Like all jellyfish, the freshwater jellies have stingers that they use to paralyze their prey. But the stingers are so small they cannot penetrate human skin. So, they pose no danger to swimmers. Late summer and late in the day is when the jellyfish are most active.
On our website is a link to a video shot by Heath Frazier this past summer from jellyfish he caught in Middle lake. And here is a link to find out more about freshwater jellyfish from the United States Geological Survey.
The following is an interview with an expert on freshwater jellyfish. Warning: the first eight minutes is on the freshwater jellyfish and then the video gets weird... jellyfish in the atmosphere, maybe aliens.
https://youtu.be/-b2H4uva_kw
Monthly FBL Meetings
We continue to have members with diverse information and knowledge join the monthly meetings. We urge everyone to stay involved with FBL and attend a virtual meeting. It's easy. Just send an email to fbl@friendsofboltonlakes.org to request the ZOOM link. The meetings are held at 6:30 PM on the third Wednesday of each month.
Stay safe.
FBL, Board of Directors
On our website is a link to a video shot by Heath Frazier this past summer from jellyfish he caught in Middle lake. And here is a link to find out more about freshwater jellyfish from the United States Geological Survey.
The following is an interview with an expert on freshwater jellyfish. Warning: the first eight minutes is on the freshwater jellyfish and then the video gets weird... jellyfish in the atmosphere, maybe aliens.
https://youtu.be/-b2H4uva_kw
Monthly FBL Meetings
We continue to have members with diverse information and knowledge join the monthly meetings. We urge everyone to stay involved with FBL and attend a virtual meeting. It's easy. Just send an email to fbl@friendsofboltonlakes.org to request the ZOOM link. The meetings are held at 6:30 PM on the third Wednesday of each month.
Stay safe.
FBL, Board of Directors
2021 membership drive
The 2021 membership drive has begun. We hope you will join us or renew your membership now. We continue to offer an online renewal option - you can renew by credit card or PayPal as an alternative to filling out and mailing a registration form. You can access these options with the "Join or Renew" link below.
We have tried to anticipate some of your questions in our Membership FAQs page at the link below (and in the menu). Because FBL is a registered public charity, many employers will match your membership dues and other contributions. We encourage you to apply for a matching gift if your employer offers one.
Join or Renew
Membership Frequently Asked Questions
We have tried to anticipate some of your questions in our Membership FAQs page at the link below (and in the menu). Because FBL is a registered public charity, many employers will match your membership dues and other contributions. We encourage you to apply for a matching gift if your employer offers one.
Join or Renew
Membership Frequently Asked Questions
FBL winter newsletter 2021
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The Friends of Bolton Lakes welcomes in a new year with the firm hope that the pandemic will be behind us and we can begin to enjoy a bit of normalcy in and around our wonderful lake region.
FBL achieved many of the goals we set last year in spite of the difficulties presented by the pandemic. We have continued our joint work with the towns of Bolton and Vernon moving closer to watershed management rather than individual lake management. In early spring of 2020, the Middle Lake had an algae bloom that sickened a dog but dissipated rapidly. In addition, the Middle Lake had a small fanwort patch that was treated late in the summer. The Lower Lake had a curly pondweed outbreak that was treated. Overall, it was a good year for lake clarity and lake health.
Here are some relevant things to look for in 2021.
The Bolton Lakes Region Watershed Plan is well on its way to completion.
• DEEP (Department of Energy and Environment Protection) approved the request to use the remaining funds from the STEAP (Small Town Economic Assistance Program) Grant to allow the watershed plan to be initiated.
• Many of our members responded to a recent watershed survey. We thank you. The current views of our lake stakeholders will be compared with the future views from a second survey.
• A forum will be organized in the spring for receiving public comment and to discuss the plan’s implementation projects. Funding to complete the watershed plan will come from town resources. More to come.
The State’s Office of Policy and Management, Budget & Financial Management Division has approved funding for the Hatch Hill culvert [dam] renovation. The design was previously accepted by the DEEP Division of Dams and Dam Safety in 2018. The request for proposal is in process and expected to be finalized this spring. Construction is targeted for fall 2021 immediately following the fall drawdown.
At its first meeting last February the stakeholders of the Bolton Lakes Watershed included FBL, the towns of Vernon and Bolton, DEEP, and consultants from NEAR (Northeast Aquatic Research). Together they established short- and long-term goals to develop an effectively managed drawdown program, developed a set of protocols for maintaining the seasonal water levels of the lakes and created a procedure that could mitigate the known uptick of invasive plants and other non-native species that are infiltrating the lakes. The meetings will continue and will be part of the watershed management plan.
The equipment that detects Cyanobacteria in the lakes purchased with a Connecticut Federation of Lakes grant is being used to contribute to the national BloomWatch project collecting data on cyanobacteria. Additionally, two lake level monitors were purchased with funds from the STEAP grant. One logger was placed on the Lower Lake, the other on the Middle Lake and they have been monitoring the lake levels every hour since November. We are still working with DEEP to obtain data on the sluice gate valves to understand how they are opened and closed to regulate the level of the lakes. That data should allow us to keep lake levels more constant during the drawdown periods.
A virtual Spring Seminar is being organized to present the results of the CAES (Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station) invasive plant species survey of the Middle Lake which was completed in 2020. Invasives such as fanwort and milfoil continue be on FBL’s radar. We are attempting to have signs erected at the boat launches and have a boat launch ambassador program to alert lake visitors of the dangers of invasive plants. FBL will continue to monitor and test the water quality and clarity in the Bolton Lakes and share the findings with the towns and NEAR. The data is vital to the implementation of the watershed plan. This year we hope to make some of that data (clarity and temperature) available on our website.
We were pleased to have had members join the monthly meetings and bring their valuable insights. I urge and challenge everyone to stay involved with FBL and attend at least one monthly virtual meeting during 2021. It’s easy. Just send an email to fbl@friendsofboltonlakes.org to request the ZOOM link. The meetings are held at 6:30 PM on the third Wednesday of each month.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Stay Safe, Stay healthy
David Forrest, President FBL
The Friends of Bolton Lakes welcomes in a new year with the firm hope that the pandemic will be behind us and we can begin to enjoy a bit of normalcy in and around our wonderful lake region.
FBL achieved many of the goals we set last year in spite of the difficulties presented by the pandemic. We have continued our joint work with the towns of Bolton and Vernon moving closer to watershed management rather than individual lake management. In early spring of 2020, the Middle Lake had an algae bloom that sickened a dog but dissipated rapidly. In addition, the Middle Lake had a small fanwort patch that was treated late in the summer. The Lower Lake had a curly pondweed outbreak that was treated. Overall, it was a good year for lake clarity and lake health.
Here are some relevant things to look for in 2021.
The Bolton Lakes Region Watershed Plan is well on its way to completion.
• DEEP (Department of Energy and Environment Protection) approved the request to use the remaining funds from the STEAP (Small Town Economic Assistance Program) Grant to allow the watershed plan to be initiated.
• Many of our members responded to a recent watershed survey. We thank you. The current views of our lake stakeholders will be compared with the future views from a second survey.
• A forum will be organized in the spring for receiving public comment and to discuss the plan’s implementation projects. Funding to complete the watershed plan will come from town resources. More to come.
The State’s Office of Policy and Management, Budget & Financial Management Division has approved funding for the Hatch Hill culvert [dam] renovation. The design was previously accepted by the DEEP Division of Dams and Dam Safety in 2018. The request for proposal is in process and expected to be finalized this spring. Construction is targeted for fall 2021 immediately following the fall drawdown.
At its first meeting last February the stakeholders of the Bolton Lakes Watershed included FBL, the towns of Vernon and Bolton, DEEP, and consultants from NEAR (Northeast Aquatic Research). Together they established short- and long-term goals to develop an effectively managed drawdown program, developed a set of protocols for maintaining the seasonal water levels of the lakes and created a procedure that could mitigate the known uptick of invasive plants and other non-native species that are infiltrating the lakes. The meetings will continue and will be part of the watershed management plan.
The equipment that detects Cyanobacteria in the lakes purchased with a Connecticut Federation of Lakes grant is being used to contribute to the national BloomWatch project collecting data on cyanobacteria. Additionally, two lake level monitors were purchased with funds from the STEAP grant. One logger was placed on the Lower Lake, the other on the Middle Lake and they have been monitoring the lake levels every hour since November. We are still working with DEEP to obtain data on the sluice gate valves to understand how they are opened and closed to regulate the level of the lakes. That data should allow us to keep lake levels more constant during the drawdown periods.
A virtual Spring Seminar is being organized to present the results of the CAES (Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station) invasive plant species survey of the Middle Lake which was completed in 2020. Invasives such as fanwort and milfoil continue be on FBL’s radar. We are attempting to have signs erected at the boat launches and have a boat launch ambassador program to alert lake visitors of the dangers of invasive plants. FBL will continue to monitor and test the water quality and clarity in the Bolton Lakes and share the findings with the towns and NEAR. The data is vital to the implementation of the watershed plan. This year we hope to make some of that data (clarity and temperature) available on our website.
We were pleased to have had members join the monthly meetings and bring their valuable insights. I urge and challenge everyone to stay involved with FBL and attend at least one monthly virtual meeting during 2021. It’s easy. Just send an email to fbl@friendsofboltonlakes.org to request the ZOOM link. The meetings are held at 6:30 PM on the third Wednesday of each month.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Stay Safe, Stay healthy
David Forrest, President FBL
bolton lakes and watershed survey
The Towns of Bolton, Vernon, Coventry, and Tolland are working together to craft a Bolton Lakes and Watershed Management Plan. With your input to the Bolton Lakes and watershed survey, we can make a management plan that will truly help improve and maintain these delicate ecosystems. The survey closed on Sunday, December 20th. Thank you to those who provided responses to the survey.
Thank you.
The Friends of Bolton Lakes
Thank you.
The Friends of Bolton Lakes
Fall lake Drawdown
On Tuesday, October 13, 2020, Bolton and Vernon town officials hosted a Zoom meeting. The towns’ limnological consultant NEAR (Northeast Aquatic Research), FBL board members, DEEP (Department of Energy and Environmental Protection) personnel, and other representatives participated in the meeting. During the meeting, DEEP reported that the annual drawdown of the Bolton Lakes will begin on or about November 1st and will be 18 inches as it has been for the last few years.
The 18-inch reduction is from the normal surface level. To date, both lakes' water levels are already several inches below normal levels so an 18-inch drawdown should be accomplished quickly.
This year NEAR, in partnership with FBL, will monitor the level of the lakes and receive drawdown data from DEEP. The data that is collected will aid in developing operational protocols for future drawdowns of the lakes. As always, the reduction rate will depend on the weather and other factors.
The 18-inch reduction is from the normal surface level. To date, both lakes' water levels are already several inches below normal levels so an 18-inch drawdown should be accomplished quickly.
This year NEAR, in partnership with FBL, will monitor the level of the lakes and receive drawdown data from DEEP. The data that is collected will aid in developing operational protocols for future drawdowns of the lakes. As always, the reduction rate will depend on the weather and other factors.
Fanwort treated - watch for and report sightings
September 2020
Recently, a small patch of fanwort and a larger patch of milfoil were treated on the southwest side of Middle Bolton Lake. That treatment appears successful. This weekend four strands of fanwort were found near the boat launch on Hatch Hill. On advice from the lake limnologist, we are asking everyone on the lake for two things. First, if you see some plant you don't know or you do know but know it should not be in the lake, use the FBL "Report a Suspicious Plant" menu item.
Second, avoid fishing in the area right in front of the boat launch and ask others to avoid fishing there too. Fanwort spreads through fragmentation which can be caused by fishing. Treating invasive species works through vigilance and identifying issues before they become big problems. Your help is essential. We've included a picture of fanwort below.
Thank you,
Friends of Bolton Lakes
Recently, a small patch of fanwort and a larger patch of milfoil were treated on the southwest side of Middle Bolton Lake. That treatment appears successful. This weekend four strands of fanwort were found near the boat launch on Hatch Hill. On advice from the lake limnologist, we are asking everyone on the lake for two things. First, if you see some plant you don't know or you do know but know it should not be in the lake, use the FBL "Report a Suspicious Plant" menu item.
Second, avoid fishing in the area right in front of the boat launch and ask others to avoid fishing there too. Fanwort spreads through fragmentation which can be caused by fishing. Treating invasive species works through vigilance and identifying issues before they become big problems. Your help is essential. We've included a picture of fanwort below.
Thank you,
Friends of Bolton Lakes
Fanwort treatment on mbl and more
August 2020
As summer draws to a close we have some information to share with you about our lakes.
Curly Pondweed on Lower Bolton Lake
The curly pondweed on Lower Bolton Lake was treated in July and the treatment seems to have worked. Currently there are no plans for additional treatment.
Fanwort and Milfoil on Middle Bolton Lake
At the beginning of July a member of FBL submitted a sighting of fanwort to the FBL invasive plant reporting tool. Later in July, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, contracted by FBL, conducted a Middle Bolton Lakes Plant Survey. As a result a small patch of fanwort and a slightly larger patch of milfoil was identified near the shore on the southwest side of the lake. The survey findings were then verified by the Northeast Aquatic Research limnologist. Subsequently, the town of Vernon funded a chemical treatment to be administered by Solitude. The treatment chemicals will combat both milfoil and fanwort. It will be done this Thursday, August 27, 2020 (changed from Tuesday, August 25). Relying on protocols from 2019 with similar treatments there will be minimal, if any, restrictions on lake use either by swimming or watercraft.
Koigate on Middle Bolton Lake
In April a large orange and white koi [carp-like fish] was spotted in Middle Lake near the boat launch. In May, two were spotted together on the southeast side of the lake in shallow water. Although it is an illegal act to use the lakes for disposal the initial feedback from the authorities was ‘not to worry’ until they had a chance to complete their research and convey their findings to FBL. See the picture below.
Since then the fish have been spotted several times in various places around the lake. Jeff Phelon, a FBL member, also contacted the DEEP (Department of Energy and Environmental Protection) Fisheries Division on his own out of concern that the koi might be invasive. Chris McDowell, from the DEEP Fisheries Division, responded with the following information: “Dumping Koi or any other fish in the lake is illegal. But the koi are harmless to the environs of the lakes and DEEP has no record of a sustained population of koi or goldfish in a Connecticut lake. Therefore, DEEP is not going to take any action to eradicate the fish. That said, if the eagles do not take advantage of an easy prey, feel free to take them out of the lake.” Similar to most carp, they will bite on a hook hidden in a ball of bread. If you do catch the koi or find their bodies, please take good pictures and send them to FBL at fbl@friendsofboltonlakes.org. We will forward them to DEEP so that they can document having them in the lake.
As summer draws to a close we have some information to share with you about our lakes.
Curly Pondweed on Lower Bolton Lake
The curly pondweed on Lower Bolton Lake was treated in July and the treatment seems to have worked. Currently there are no plans for additional treatment.
Fanwort and Milfoil on Middle Bolton Lake
At the beginning of July a member of FBL submitted a sighting of fanwort to the FBL invasive plant reporting tool. Later in July, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, contracted by FBL, conducted a Middle Bolton Lakes Plant Survey. As a result a small patch of fanwort and a slightly larger patch of milfoil was identified near the shore on the southwest side of the lake. The survey findings were then verified by the Northeast Aquatic Research limnologist. Subsequently, the town of Vernon funded a chemical treatment to be administered by Solitude. The treatment chemicals will combat both milfoil and fanwort. It will be done this Thursday, August 27, 2020 (changed from Tuesday, August 25). Relying on protocols from 2019 with similar treatments there will be minimal, if any, restrictions on lake use either by swimming or watercraft.
Koigate on Middle Bolton Lake
In April a large orange and white koi [carp-like fish] was spotted in Middle Lake near the boat launch. In May, two were spotted together on the southeast side of the lake in shallow water. Although it is an illegal act to use the lakes for disposal the initial feedback from the authorities was ‘not to worry’ until they had a chance to complete their research and convey their findings to FBL. See the picture below.
Since then the fish have been spotted several times in various places around the lake. Jeff Phelon, a FBL member, also contacted the DEEP (Department of Energy and Environmental Protection) Fisheries Division on his own out of concern that the koi might be invasive. Chris McDowell, from the DEEP Fisheries Division, responded with the following information: “Dumping Koi or any other fish in the lake is illegal. But the koi are harmless to the environs of the lakes and DEEP has no record of a sustained population of koi or goldfish in a Connecticut lake. Therefore, DEEP is not going to take any action to eradicate the fish. That said, if the eagles do not take advantage of an easy prey, feel free to take them out of the lake.” Similar to most carp, they will bite on a hook hidden in a ball of bread. If you do catch the koi or find their bodies, please take good pictures and send them to FBL at fbl@friendsofboltonlakes.org. We will forward them to DEEP so that they can document having them in the lake.
Membership
Thanks to all who have renewed their membership! Your interest and financial support keep the Friends of Bolton Lakes a viable advocate for the continued health of our lakes and enables us to assist the State and towns with their management. If you haven't found time to join/renew yet, please use the membership link provided in the menu.
Lost and Found
After hurricane Isaias, three nice, tethered inner tubes washed up just past the point on Middle Bolton Lake. If they are yours contact FBL at fbl@friendsofboltonlakes.org.
Stay safe. Stay healthy.
Thank you.
Friends of Bolton Lakes
Thanks to all who have renewed their membership! Your interest and financial support keep the Friends of Bolton Lakes a viable advocate for the continued health of our lakes and enables us to assist the State and towns with their management. If you haven't found time to join/renew yet, please use the membership link provided in the menu.
Lost and Found
After hurricane Isaias, three nice, tethered inner tubes washed up just past the point on Middle Bolton Lake. If they are yours contact FBL at fbl@friendsofboltonlakes.org.
Stay safe. Stay healthy.
Thank you.
Friends of Bolton Lakes
cyanobacteria warning lifted - lakes are fine 6/6/20
Both lakes were tested again this week for cyanobacteria and both lakes came back clean. The health departments that govern the lakes lifted the warning about letting children and pets swim in the lakes. The warning signs at the launches and other access points have been removed.
We will have a more complete discussion of what happened in the summer newsletter.
We will have a more complete discussion of what happened in the summer newsletter.
Algae Blooms MBL and lBL - not a current problem
Alert (5/29/20) from Kim Welch, Bolton Lake Commissioner:
Unfortunately both Lower Bolton and Middle Bolton Lakes have documented cyanobacteria algae blooms based on last week's water testing samples. As a result, the CT Eastern Highland and North Central Health Districts have recommended a health notice be posted. The CT DEEP has issued and posted the signs. The image shown below reflects the actual signs used for this purpose.
The lakes remain open for recreational activity but such activities should not occur where algae is visible. Keep dogs out of the water.
Cyanobacteria conditions can change rapidly, therefore weekly water testing will continue while algae is visible. This algae can produce toxins that could pose a health risk to people and dogs when they are exposed to excessive algae. While these algal conditions exist, please be alert and avoid areas with visible cyanobacteria or algae concentrations and/or scums in the water as well as on the shore and keep dogs out of the water. Please be aware that dogs tend to be more susceptible to cyanotoxins than humans because they often drink lake water and may lick their fur after swimming through a dense cyanobacteria accumulation, which concentrates cells in their bodies potentially resulting in a sick dog.
Regards
Kim Welch
Bolton Lake Commissioner
lake@boltonct.org
Here is a link to the Department of Health and DEEP guidance statement on cyanobacteria:
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Departments-and-Agencies/DPH/dph/environmental_health/BEACH/Blue-Green-AlgaeBlooms_June2019_FINAL.pdf?la=en
FBL will send out more information next week once another round of testing has been completed.
Stay safe, stay lake vigilant and stay healthy.
Unfortunately both Lower Bolton and Middle Bolton Lakes have documented cyanobacteria algae blooms based on last week's water testing samples. As a result, the CT Eastern Highland and North Central Health Districts have recommended a health notice be posted. The CT DEEP has issued and posted the signs. The image shown below reflects the actual signs used for this purpose.
The lakes remain open for recreational activity but such activities should not occur where algae is visible. Keep dogs out of the water.
Cyanobacteria conditions can change rapidly, therefore weekly water testing will continue while algae is visible. This algae can produce toxins that could pose a health risk to people and dogs when they are exposed to excessive algae. While these algal conditions exist, please be alert and avoid areas with visible cyanobacteria or algae concentrations and/or scums in the water as well as on the shore and keep dogs out of the water. Please be aware that dogs tend to be more susceptible to cyanotoxins than humans because they often drink lake water and may lick their fur after swimming through a dense cyanobacteria accumulation, which concentrates cells in their bodies potentially resulting in a sick dog.
Regards
Kim Welch
Bolton Lake Commissioner
lake@boltonct.org
Here is a link to the Department of Health and DEEP guidance statement on cyanobacteria:
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Departments-and-Agencies/DPH/dph/environmental_health/BEACH/Blue-Green-AlgaeBlooms_June2019_FINAL.pdf?la=en
FBL will send out more information next week once another round of testing has been completed.
Stay safe, stay lake vigilant and stay healthy.
covid-19
FBL reached out to both Vernon and Bolton leadership to ask if there is anything FBL can do at this time. Vernon was appreciative of the offer. Bolton asked us to pass along some information.
From Sandy Pierog, First Selectman, Town of Bolton:
"Thanks for the offer. Helping us reach as many residents as possible would be of great assistance right now.
You can ask your members to be sure they:
Stay safe, everyone.
The Friends of Bolton Lakes
From Sandy Pierog, First Selectman, Town of Bolton:
"Thanks for the offer. Helping us reach as many residents as possible would be of great assistance right now.
You can ask your members to be sure they:
- Sign up for CT alerts from the state at: www.ctalerts.gov.
- Sign up for the e-mailed Bolton Bulletin at https://bolton.govoffice.com/index.asp?SEC={76FAA039-AE70-4EDF-B2F4-3CA467479711}&Type=QUICKFORM.
- Watch for info on how to participate in public meetings from home on our web page bolton.govoffice.com .
- Check out our guide to doing business with the town during the health crisis- https://bolton.govoffice.com/vertical/Sites/%7B30EEBA3C-BE1C-42AE-911F-0E304A672785%7D/uploads/COVID19_Bolton_Operations_Manual_3.20.2020_12-00pm(1).pdf ."
Stay safe, everyone.
The Friends of Bolton Lakes
Friends of Bolton Lakes available on amazon smile
What is Amazon Smile? AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice.
You get to AmazonSmile by going to smile.amazon.com. The first time you go to the site, you can select a charity to donate to - in this case, Friends of Bolton Lakes. This does not change any of your other Amazon settings. You can bookmark smile.amazon.com to make sure you are using the smile website. You will see Amazon Smile in the upper left-hand side of the browser window. There is also a separate Amazon Smile app if you shop at Amazon from your phone.
Thank you. If you have any questions, please use the Contact Us menu selection.
You get to AmazonSmile by going to smile.amazon.com. The first time you go to the site, you can select a charity to donate to - in this case, Friends of Bolton Lakes. This does not change any of your other Amazon settings. You can bookmark smile.amazon.com to make sure you are using the smile website. You will see Amazon Smile in the upper left-hand side of the browser window. There is also a separate Amazon Smile app if you shop at Amazon from your phone.
Thank you. If you have any questions, please use the Contact Us menu selection.
Friends of bolton lakes has a new email address
Please be advised the the email address for Friends of Bolton Lakes has changed to fbl@friendsofboltonlakes.org. Because of this change, notifications from FBL may end up in your junk or spam mail. Please add this address to your contacts to ensure you don't miss any lake updates. Thank you.
Aquatic plants in lower and middle bolton lakes
Aquatic plants are a necessary and natural part of the lake ecosystem. Many plants co-exist peacefully with other species and with the people that enjoy the lakes. Some, however, are invasive. While any aquatic plant has the potential to become a nuisance, invasive species are far more likely to do so. They out-compete native plants and can proliferate explosively to disrupt the ecology and recreational use of the lakes.
The attachment provides updated information on the aquatic plants in the Bolton Lakes with a focus on the invasive species found in the lakes. We also discuss two potential invaders, hydrilla and water chestnut. While they are not yet in the Bolton Lakes, they are present in nearby lakes and ponds and pose the risk of turning up here. We ask everyone to be on the lookout for them and report any sightings promptly.
Hydrilla is perhaps the most worrisome invasive plant. According to the Centre for Agriculture and Bio-Sciences International: “[Hydrilla] is one of the most troublesome aquatic weeds in the world.” Hydrilla has been found in the Connecticut river and in nearby Coventry Lake where it was discovered in 2015.
According to New York’s Invasive Species Information website, “[Water chestnut] can form nearly impenetrable floating mats of vegetation … [that] can severely limit light penetration into the water and reduce or eliminate the growth of native aquatic plants beneath the canopy.”
Water chestnut has been found in Vernon in Tankerhoosen, Dobsonville and Talcottville ponds. Because those ponds are so close, the risk of it finding its way to the Bolton Lakes is high. It is unrelated to the water chestnuts commonly used in cooking.
The document linked below has important information that should be of interest to all residents and lake users. It provides more detail on hydrilla and water chestnut and information on the other plants, currently of concern in the lakes. These include curly-leaf pondweed and mudmat in Lower Bolton Lake, and fanwort and variable-leaf milfoil in Middle Bolton Lake. It includes links to authoritative online information and tells how to report any invasive or suspicious plants you see.
Thank you for your interest in the Bolton Lakes and for any monitoring assistance you can provide.
Link to document containing updated information on aquatic plants in MBL and LBL
The attachment provides updated information on the aquatic plants in the Bolton Lakes with a focus on the invasive species found in the lakes. We also discuss two potential invaders, hydrilla and water chestnut. While they are not yet in the Bolton Lakes, they are present in nearby lakes and ponds and pose the risk of turning up here. We ask everyone to be on the lookout for them and report any sightings promptly.
Hydrilla is perhaps the most worrisome invasive plant. According to the Centre for Agriculture and Bio-Sciences International: “[Hydrilla] is one of the most troublesome aquatic weeds in the world.” Hydrilla has been found in the Connecticut river and in nearby Coventry Lake where it was discovered in 2015.
According to New York’s Invasive Species Information website, “[Water chestnut] can form nearly impenetrable floating mats of vegetation … [that] can severely limit light penetration into the water and reduce or eliminate the growth of native aquatic plants beneath the canopy.”
Water chestnut has been found in Vernon in Tankerhoosen, Dobsonville and Talcottville ponds. Because those ponds are so close, the risk of it finding its way to the Bolton Lakes is high. It is unrelated to the water chestnuts commonly used in cooking.
The document linked below has important information that should be of interest to all residents and lake users. It provides more detail on hydrilla and water chestnut and information on the other plants, currently of concern in the lakes. These include curly-leaf pondweed and mudmat in Lower Bolton Lake, and fanwort and variable-leaf milfoil in Middle Bolton Lake. It includes links to authoritative online information and tells how to report any invasive or suspicious plants you see.
Thank you for your interest in the Bolton Lakes and for any monitoring assistance you can provide.
Link to document containing updated information on aquatic plants in MBL and LBL
the american red cross has issued the following safety tips for a heat wave
- NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN OR PETS ALONE IN ENCLOSED VEHICLES.
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
- Avoid extreme temperature changes.
- Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
- Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.
- Postpone outdoor games and activities.
- Use a buddy system when working in excessive heat. Take frequent breaks if working outdoors.
- Check on those who do not have air conditioning, or who spend time alone.
- Check on animals frequently, and make sure they have plenty of cool water.
- Discuss heat safety precautions with members of your household.
- Those without air conditioning should seek relief from the heat during the warmest part of the day at places such as libraries, theaters, and shopping malls.
2019 REQUEST FOR CHANNEL CATFISH LAKE MONITORING ASSISTANCE
The Friends of Bolton Lakes (FBL) is asking for your help in monitoring Channel Catfish in Lower Bolton Lake. The vigilance of FBL members and fishermen who reported smaller, possibly juvenile Channel Catfish in Lower Bolton Lake enabled us to alert the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to the possibility that Channel Catfish might be spawning in Lower Bolton Lake. Some Columbia Lake residents have reported that Channel Catfish might be spawning in nearby Columbia Lake.
DEEP suspended Channel Catfish stocking in Lower Bolton Lake after the severe algae bloom in 2012. Between 2007 and 2012, DEEP stocked over 17,000 yearling Channel catfish, a non-native species, into the lake. DEEP netted small Channel Catfish in Lower Bolton Lake during its September 2017 survey. DEEP testing to determine the age of the fish found that the fish they caught were spawned before 2012, the last year of stocking. Although DEEP agreed not to stock Channel Catfish into Lower Bolton Lake in 2019, DEEP wants to resume stocking next year in the spring of 2020. Last October, DEEP indicated that, if stocking is resumed, 700 adult fish might be stocked every 2 years, but nothing has been finalized.
Yearling Channel Catfish between 9 and 12 inches long were stocked into the lake from 2007 to 2012. The fish should grow at a rate of roughly 2 inches per year, but the growth rate has been less than this. Given that the most recent stocking took place in 2012, any Channel Catfish caught in Lower Bolton Lake less than 16 inches in length could have been spawned in our lake.
We are asking you to please forward any evidence you have of Channel Catfish spawning in Lower Bolton Lake.
1. If you observe any nesting sites of the Channel Catfish, please notify us and provide the location.
2. If you catch Channel Catfish less than 16 inches long, please take a photo and measurements to share with FBL, wrap the fish in aluminum foil, put it in your freezer, and contact FBL so we can have the channel catfish tested to determine its age. The smaller the fish, the more likely it was spawned in Lower Bolton Lake.
3. If you have observed a reduction of bass, pickerel or other fish populations in Lower Bolton Lake following the introduction of channel catfish, please email us and share your observations.
4. We are interested in feedback regarding your thoughts on the issue of resuming Channel Catfish stocking in Lower Bolton. Please send your photos, observations, and comments to FBL, friendsofboltonlakes@comcast.net.
You might find the illustrations below helpful in identifying Channel Catfish. Note that unlike Brown and Yellow Bullheads, Channel Catfish have a distinctly forked tail.
Thank you.
DEEP suspended Channel Catfish stocking in Lower Bolton Lake after the severe algae bloom in 2012. Between 2007 and 2012, DEEP stocked over 17,000 yearling Channel catfish, a non-native species, into the lake. DEEP netted small Channel Catfish in Lower Bolton Lake during its September 2017 survey. DEEP testing to determine the age of the fish found that the fish they caught were spawned before 2012, the last year of stocking. Although DEEP agreed not to stock Channel Catfish into Lower Bolton Lake in 2019, DEEP wants to resume stocking next year in the spring of 2020. Last October, DEEP indicated that, if stocking is resumed, 700 adult fish might be stocked every 2 years, but nothing has been finalized.
Yearling Channel Catfish between 9 and 12 inches long were stocked into the lake from 2007 to 2012. The fish should grow at a rate of roughly 2 inches per year, but the growth rate has been less than this. Given that the most recent stocking took place in 2012, any Channel Catfish caught in Lower Bolton Lake less than 16 inches in length could have been spawned in our lake.
We are asking you to please forward any evidence you have of Channel Catfish spawning in Lower Bolton Lake.
1. If you observe any nesting sites of the Channel Catfish, please notify us and provide the location.
2. If you catch Channel Catfish less than 16 inches long, please take a photo and measurements to share with FBL, wrap the fish in aluminum foil, put it in your freezer, and contact FBL so we can have the channel catfish tested to determine its age. The smaller the fish, the more likely it was spawned in Lower Bolton Lake.
3. If you have observed a reduction of bass, pickerel or other fish populations in Lower Bolton Lake following the introduction of channel catfish, please email us and share your observations.
4. We are interested in feedback regarding your thoughts on the issue of resuming Channel Catfish stocking in Lower Bolton. Please send your photos, observations, and comments to FBL, friendsofboltonlakes@comcast.net.
You might find the illustrations below helpful in identifying Channel Catfish. Note that unlike Brown and Yellow Bullheads, Channel Catfish have a distinctly forked tail.
Thank you.
Report on the Sediments Nearby the Atlantic White Cedars in Upper Bolton Lake - wednesday, may 22 - 7:00 p.m.
Given the north-to-south waterflow among the Bolton lakes, the health of the upper lake affects both the lower lakes. At 7:00 PM on Wednesday, May 22nd, 2019, at the Notch Road Municipal Center, 106 Notch Road, Bolton, recent UConn graduate Connor Mitchel and his faculty advisor, Will Ouimet, presented the results of their investigations into the sediments in the northern reaches of Upper Bolton Lake. The team made three visits to the lake. Following a reconnaissance visit in fall 2018, the team made two over ice-trips to collect through-ice cores and ground-penetrating-radar measurements.
The project was proposed to the Bolton Lakes Watershed Conservation Alliance (BLWCA) by Debbie Surabian of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. BLWCA, which facilitated the work, contacted Dr. Robert Thorson who arranged for UConn's participation.
The presentation was well attended. Additional information will be posted as available.
The project was proposed to the Bolton Lakes Watershed Conservation Alliance (BLWCA) by Debbie Surabian of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. BLWCA, which facilitated the work, contacted Dr. Robert Thorson who arranged for UConn's participation.
The presentation was well attended. Additional information will be posted as available.
Connor Mitchel, his UConn advisor Will Ouimet, and Peter Van Dine of FBL.
volunteers received lake monitoring training
FBL has had an active, ongoing, water-quality monitoring program for the Bolton Lakes since 2014. Now Northeast Aquatic Research (NEAR) has asked for our help in collecting additional data from Middle Bolton Lake. In turn, we requested volunteers to attend lake monitoring training in order to participate in our ongoing three-lake monitoring program.
The work involves taking measurements and collecting water samples in shallow water near the boat launch and spillway, and in deeper water. The intent is to learn more about the flow of nutrients between the lakes.
The Town of Vernon, understanding the importance of this work, sponsored a training session by NEAR for the volunteers. The training was held April 17th. Thank you to those who volunteered and attended the training.
The work involves taking measurements and collecting water samples in shallow water near the boat launch and spillway, and in deeper water. The intent is to learn more about the flow of nutrients between the lakes.
The Town of Vernon, understanding the importance of this work, sponsored a training session by NEAR for the volunteers. The training was held April 17th. Thank you to those who volunteered and attended the training.
find a suspicious aquatic plant? it is now easier to report it.
We have a new method for finding out what the plant is:
It is very difficult to completely eliminate invasive aquatic plants once they become established. As a result it is crucial that residents, fishermen, and boaters remain vigilant as they enjoy the Bolton Lakes on a daily basis.
If you spot an aquatic plant you suspect is non-native or invasive in Lower, Middle or Upper Bolton Lake, including Cedar Swamp, use our new Suspicious Plant page to report it.
Benefits of the new method:
Link to:
Connecticut’s Aquatic and Wetland Invasive Plant Identification Guide
Fanwort Identification Information
It is very difficult to completely eliminate invasive aquatic plants once they become established. As a result it is crucial that residents, fishermen, and boaters remain vigilant as they enjoy the Bolton Lakes on a daily basis.
If you spot an aquatic plant you suspect is non-native or invasive in Lower, Middle or Upper Bolton Lake, including Cedar Swamp, use our new Suspicious Plant page to report it.
Benefits of the new method:
- It's quick and easy.
- You can report a suspicious plant with your phone when you see the plant (take a photo and fill out the form on the FBL site) or by using your computer (upload a photo to the form on the FBL site).
- The suspicious plant form enables you to enter all required information to help identify suspicious plants.
- You should still gather the sample and refrigerate it in a ziploc bag with enough water to keep it moist in case follow-up is needed.
Link to:
Connecticut’s Aquatic and Wetland Invasive Plant Identification Guide
Fanwort Identification Information
Tick populations on the rise - know what to do
As predicted, the tick population has increased. be aware of what to look for and what to do it you find a tick. The Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station provided an informative document.
CAES Tick Repellent Fact Sheetcaes_tick_repellent_fact_sheet.pdf
CAES Tick Repellent Fact Sheetcaes_tick_repellent_fact_sheet.pdf
AQUATIC pLANT sURVEY
The Friends of Bolton Lakes conducted their annual aquatic plant surveys of Lower and Middle Bolton Lakes on 7/20-21/2016. The surveys were performed from pontoon boats circumnavigating the lakes and following up on guidance from lake residents. The great majority of responses to our request for input came from Middle Bolton Lake residents whose concerns included the proliferation of milfoil, pondweed, lily pads, cattails, and phragmites.
The top-level finding is that at the time of the survey Lower Bolton Lake was generally clear of obstructive plants but Middle Bolton Lake has experienced prolific growth of both native and non-native aquatic plants.
The key changes noted in the Middle Lake are:
We submitted samples of the most prevalent pondweed in Middle Bolton Lake to both Northeast Aquatic Research (NEAR) and the CT Ag Station. Both identified the weed as Potamogetan Bicupulatus, also known as “snailseed pondweed.” Unlike milfoil this plant is not likely to spread through fragmentation but it is a prolific seed-producer. A link to a photo looking into one of its beds, taken by a lake resident, is below.
We forwarded our report to Joyce Stille and Kim Welch at the Town of Bolton, John Ward and Steve Krajewski at the Town of Vernon, and Dr. George Knoecklein and his team at NEAR.
Further, we requested that the Town of Vernon ask Dr. Knoecklein to look into the current Middle Lake situation as soon as possible to determine what may have caused the dramatic change in the conditions there and what might be done to address it.
The documentation of our surveys is attached. In the report you will find maps showing the routes taken on Lower and Middle Bolton lakes and tables of the plants spotted at each observation point.
Thanks to all who provided input to help focus our survey and for your continued support.
The top-level finding is that at the time of the survey Lower Bolton Lake was generally clear of obstructive plants but Middle Bolton Lake has experienced prolific growth of both native and non-native aquatic plants.
The key changes noted in the Middle Lake are:
- A significant increase in water clarity well above historical norms;
- widely distributed rapid growth of pondweed and re-growth of variable leaf milfoil;
- obstruction of some waterfront properties by phragmites/cattail beds and lily pads.
We submitted samples of the most prevalent pondweed in Middle Bolton Lake to both Northeast Aquatic Research (NEAR) and the CT Ag Station. Both identified the weed as Potamogetan Bicupulatus, also known as “snailseed pondweed.” Unlike milfoil this plant is not likely to spread through fragmentation but it is a prolific seed-producer. A link to a photo looking into one of its beds, taken by a lake resident, is below.
We forwarded our report to Joyce Stille and Kim Welch at the Town of Bolton, John Ward and Steve Krajewski at the Town of Vernon, and Dr. George Knoecklein and his team at NEAR.
Further, we requested that the Town of Vernon ask Dr. Knoecklein to look into the current Middle Lake situation as soon as possible to determine what may have caused the dramatic change in the conditions there and what might be done to address it.
The documentation of our surveys is attached. In the report you will find maps showing the routes taken on Lower and Middle Bolton lakes and tables of the plants spotted at each observation point.
Thanks to all who provided input to help focus our survey and for your continued support.
As a concerned group of citizens, FBL is dedicated to preserving our lakes (Lower, Middle and Upper Bolton Lakes) and watershed through research, education and public awareness. These lake ecosystems are major natural resources for the Towns of Bolton, Vernon, Coventry and Tolland. Sustaining their environmental quality is the joint responsibility of FBL, these Towns and the State of Connecticut.
Lake Emergency Contacts
To report boating accidents or illegal activity on DEEP property (Boat Launch) call the DEEP at
860-424-3333.
To report trespassing, illegal activity on Town property (beach at Indian Notch) call State Police Resident Trooper at 860-643-6060.
Sewer Emergency Contact info - BLRWPCA (Bolton Lakes Regional Water Pollution Control Authority)
Emergency number during Bolton Town Hall business hours: 860-649-8066 x6111
Emergency number off-hours: 860-375-0112
Routine questions or problems: 860--649-8066 x6111
Lake Emergency Contacts
To report boating accidents or illegal activity on DEEP property (Boat Launch) call the DEEP at
860-424-3333.
To report trespassing, illegal activity on Town property (beach at Indian Notch) call State Police Resident Trooper at 860-643-6060.
Sewer Emergency Contact info - BLRWPCA (Bolton Lakes Regional Water Pollution Control Authority)
Emergency number during Bolton Town Hall business hours: 860-649-8066 x6111
Emergency number off-hours: 860-375-0112
Routine questions or problems: 860--649-8066 x6111