Hello Drag and Spruce Lake Property Owners,
There are many signs that summer has arrived – hot days, warm nights, open dining patios, Fleming College summer programs, Music in the Park, the Summer Festival, increased activity on the water and, of course, increased activity under the water. The Eurasian Watermilfoil has already begun its annual growth cycle and the EWM Working Group is preparing for its annual program of identifying new outbreaks and monitoring and controlling previously identified outbreaks. This year we are hoping to work with our commercial pe team during the week of July 17, weather permitting. If you have already registered as a volunteer to help with this activity you will receive an email closer to that week asking for your help. If you have not registered as a volunteer and would like to, email me at dslpoaewm@gmail.com and I will pass your details along to Dominique Binckly, our volunteer coordinator.
There have already been a few emails and posts on Facebook indicating either floating EWM fragments or visible plants. It is important to remove all fragments from the water and dispose of them well away from the water. If we all do this along our own waterfront it will reduce the likelihood of new growth. If you believe you have found an EWM outbreak, please follow the link below to report your findings to us so that we can confirm the identity of the plant. Our shoreline plant study started last summer revealed that only 4% of plants sampled were in fact EWM. The remaining 96% of aquatic plants are important to maintain the quality of our water and the health of our lake. For those who know that they have EWM plants in front of their property you are entitled to remove these by hand after July 15 – if you choose to do so keep in mind that you can only do this directly in front of your property and the risk to a swimmer associated with entering a dense EWM outbreak is real.
Finally, the DSLPOA website has many resources related to EWM. Try these links to inform yourself or pass them to others who may be new to our lakes or visiting.
Identifying and reporting new outbreaks
A video about our efforts in 2022
This summer we expect to spend between $25,000 and $30,000 on your behalf. If you have made a recent donation to the EWM Fund, thank you. If you haven’t done so we would appreciate your contribution. Visit the top left of the DSLPOA website to make your donation to fund this important work.
Jim Miners
For The EWM Working Group
Website – Drag and Spruce Lakes Property Owners’ Association