Borough of Mountain Lakes
Chair:
Laurence Molloy
Borough
Manager: Gary Webb
Committee
discussed turtle populations. Noted
healthy populations of Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) despite some road
kill during egg laying season. The
Snapper is a very large turtle: up
to 35 pounds or even more. Large
head and beak, shell small relative to body and rough, tail as long as
body. The Snapper scavenges but
also eats live fish, the young of water fowl, and any other water animal it can
get in its mouth. Dangerous when
defending itself while out of the water.
Also
populations of Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta picta); smooth shell,
yellow spots on head, shell covers
body, up to 7” long.
.
Manager's Report:
● Progress of
Birchwood docks: Last shipment of
aluminum came in last week. Will
not make target date to install plastic deck. Use Crystal Lake water to augment
Birchwood. This could reduce
Crystal Lake level a foot for every two feet of increase in Birchwood but
Crystal has always been one of the first lakes to recover from drought.
● Birchwood
dam project. Bids due 6/21. The
Committee history of design of containment and over-topping in flood conditions,
discussion of heights at various points around the lake.
● Manager
meeting again with Crystal residents to discuss pumping. Allied Biological did not see a problem
with the pumping project from their perspective of lake
management.
● Some repair
of Wildwood's spillway coming.
Allied Biological
Report:
Treatments:
Sunset 5 acres of Curlyleaf Pondweed treated. Wildwood treated for filamentous algae;
a weed treatment coming.
Filamentous algae observed in Mountain Lakes; see 12 acres of Naiad,
which is positive for control of nutrients. Alum treatments not scheduled yet due to
the rain. Grunden's is brown and is
due for alum treatment. Sunset alum
treatment likely.
● No sign of
Eurasian Milfoil yet. Treatment may
have been successful in reducing this noxious water weed.
General:
● After
discussion of the health and aesthetic issues involved, the Committee voted to
support the Council and Manager on any legal goose control actions if the
Federal depredation permits are not sufficient.
● Chair to
review public awareness poster samples.
● Links are up
on the Web site.
Next meeting
Tuesday July 9th at 7:30 PM