EWM Working Group - 2024
Dive Week has come and gone for 2024. We had four successive productive days together with our commercial divers, definitely our best EWM control effort since the Working Group was formed. Although we had good skimming support from our dedicated volunteers, fragments continue to rise to the surface when the team has moved on. All property owners are reminded and encouraged to monitor their own waterfront and close by for fragments that have floated ashore. Since August marks the beginning of self fragmentation for EWM, vigilance on your waterfront should continue until late fall. If you need an EWM refresher visit www.dragandsprucelakes.ca and check the identification guide and other resources at the top left side. If you haven’t made a contribution to the EWM Fund we ask that you consider doing so now. The four days of diver supported control measures and need to replace our work platform will deplete our EWM Fund. Now is the time to top up the fund for next year.
As promised a week ago daily progress was reported on Facebook. For those who missed the updates or don’t use Facebook, the text of the postings follows.
Tuesday - Dive Week 2024 Update
Day 1 was impacted by the rainfall which made it difficult to lay matting at Site 4. Hand harvesting was performed at nearby Site 9 with a very positive outcome. Site 6 was visited late in the day to plan tomorrow’s harvesting. Day 2 will start early with a return to Site 4 to continue mat deployment and possible hand harvesting. Next will be hand harvesting at Site 6, and then Site 16. Further progress north along the west shore will depend on available time. Also happening late in the afternoon will be reloading material on the raft.
Wednesday - Another Dive Week Update
Day 2 was a huge success. Site by site this is what happened:
- Site 4, 9 mats plus harvested
- Site 6 harvested
- Site 16 harvested
- Site 18 harvested
- Site 13 harvested
- Site 15 harvested
- Domain unnumbered harvested
- Site 10 inspected
- Site 3 inspected
- Site 2 harvested
Sites 2 and 3 are being closely monitored by property owners who are also performing hand harvesting.
Thanks to Bob Heyes who guides the dive team and skims at every location. Thanks to Dominique Binckly who coordinates our volunteers and dragged the empty barge. Thanks to Jay Heaman who supervised rock loading. And thanks to our volunteers.
The plan for Day 3 is to visit Site 11 in South Bay to perform matting and harvesting. This could occupy the day.
I caught up with the team today at Site 6. After monitoring this small outbreak for 3 years we saw it growing at a slow rate due to the quiet nature of its location. It was finally large enough to harvest this year.
Thursday - Only one more sleep…….
And our dive team gets to head home. But not before one more attack on Site 1, our primary site south of Harris Beach. It will be an early start and will involve some matting, some hand harvesting, some skimming, some paddling and some socializing. If you’ve never been to one of Bob Heyes’ gatherings around a milfoil outbreak, you should add it to your list of things to do - all the cool people are doing it.
Today we made history by visiting Sites 11 and 20, the furthest south and west since our first campaign. Mats and harvesting in South Bay, just harvesting at the end of Outlet Bay. As we near the end of Dive Week 2024, remember to check your own waterfront in case fragments have found their way to your shore. Your attention will help to prevent new outbreaks and keep our costs from skyrocketing.
Friday - Dive Week 2024 is a Wrap
This morning the focus was at Site 1 to use what remained of the rock supply. We have a few mats left and they will be stored for use next summer. With the calm conditions early this morning Bob was able to clearly see the growth. This outbreak has remained thick and healthy and has spread south (away from Harris Beach). The Working Group with assess the extent of growth in August and develop a strategy for next summer. More to come, but the important message for boaters is that the milfoil extends some distance south of the hazard buoys.
The remaining dive time was used to continue hand harvesting at Site 11, resulting in nearly complete control.
Thanks to everyone who helped to make this week our best Dive Week yet. We can’t do it without leadership, commitment, volunteer effort and continuing contributions to the EWM Fund. As you can see in one of the photos volunteering isn’t all hard work. Join our volunteer corps so you can have fun with us.
Jim Miners For The EWM Working Group
Website: Drag and Spruce Lakes Property Owners' Association
Facebook: Our Community of Drag and Spruce Lakes