Milfoil Update and Other News

 I'll start off with the Milfoil Update - please read the whole message. The battle to overcome Eurasian watermilfoil is far from over and it will take your cooperation if we are going to be able to  control it or eventually be rid of it.

 Subject: Milfoil Update

We are continuing to discover more Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) plants along and near the inlet channel.
Several harvesting operations have been conducted there. Warning signs have been placed to divert boat traffic away.

This is considered an extremely high priority infestation area for these reasons:

1.  Fragmentation of plants here are likely to re-infest the Sandy Beach and Channel Drive/Islands areas in which extensive efforts and investments were made in 2025 to eradicate dense stands of EWM in these locations.
2.  The entire Third Pond littoral zone is vulnerable and susceptible to infestation from the inlet channel source.

The Joe’s Pond Association will be implementing these measures:
1.  Lakeshore Coordinators will be monitoring the inlet channel area closely and marking any EWM found.
2.  The JPA Harvesting Team will pull plants as soon as possible following discovery.
3.  The JPA advises that all watercraft including paddlers should strictly avoid entering the inlet channel area upstream of the warning signs or near any orange marker buoys.

The JPA cannot emphasize enough how much of a hazard for EWM re-infestation and proliferation is posed by this outbreak at this location. Increased flow rates alone, such as occurred last Thursday evening [torrential rain storm], can fragment and transport EWM down into the lake. However, our current knowledge indicates there are a limited number of EWM plants here such that we feel the potential for eradication of this outbreak is achievable if we all do our part.

Thank you.

For the Joe’s Pond Association
Joe Hebert, President
Barry Cahoon, EWM Management Coordinator

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This is an uphill battle, but the EWM Management Team is working hard to keep ahead of the infestation. There is no controlling the weather, but we can all do our part to support the team's efforts by staying away from the channel and all marked trouble spots.

 

I learned this weekend that a long-time former Joe's Ponder, George Karnedy (West Shore Road) passed away recently. George loved Joe's Pond and served as president of JPA in 1985. He also initiated a Fishing Derby in 1982 that was fun for a few years. George was an avid fisherman and hunter. He came to camp every November for deer hunting, and loved roaming the hillsides nearby, searching for a buck. He sold his cottage to the Geers in about 2003, and although he has been gone from Joe's Pond for many years, those here who knew him will be saddened to learn of his passing.

 

The National Weather Service is advising that tomorrow, Tuesday, July 14th, will be extremely hot and by the end of the day we can expect severe thunderstorms with heavy rainfall and strong winds. This can be a damaging combination, so be prepared. Take measures to stay cool during the heat of the day, but also be sure water toys, lawn decorations or furniture are secure or inside by evening when stormy weather is expected. There could be power outages from downed trees or lightning strikes. 

 

Some of you will remember the micro-burst that hit in 2012 - this is the Chase cottage. There was extensive damage on the east shore of the pond during that storm. I believe that was considered a "straight-line" wind storm. According to the weather people, a micro-burst is more concentrated and can have winds of 100 mph - like a tornado. With weather patterns changing radically everywhere, we need to heed warnings and take precautions as best we can. Stay safe.

Violent Weather!

 We had a very hard storm sweep through our area last night. There was torrential rain, strong wind, and a few sharp cracks of lightning and thunder. It didn't last very long, and we didn't get the hail or mini-tornado winds that some nearby communities got, but I'm sure there were broken tree limbs and maybe some trees uprooted locally. I really thought some of my big old trees might come down on my lower lawn, but as far as I know, there was no damage. I did have a lot of water coming off of my roof next to the porch. I watched for a while as it beat down on the patio, but the wind was constantly changing and I was getting sprayed with water, so I finally retreated to the house. This morning everything looks normal and my pond is back up after being about six inches below normal!

I want to remind folks about the Italian Dinner at the Joe's Pond Pavilion this Saturday - it is always a great meal, so if you don't already have tickets, get in touch with Jeremy or Lori Grenier, 802-505-0032, to see if they still have tickets available.

Also, if you are up for chicken BBQ, the Cabot United Church has dinners available by donation on Saturday, starting at 5:30. Their meals are always very good. This is a takeout meal - or you can eat on the common where there are usually tables available. I enjoy getting takouts. 

Then, mark your calendar for July 26th - and visit North Danville's Old Home Day evening event featuring Howard Coffin. See poster - Howard's presentations are always great. He is a powerful speaker and is an authority on the Civil War as it pertained to Vermont. I have heard this presentation and it is very interesting. You won't be disappointed.

So much to do, so little good weather to do it in! 

We are expecting an unusually nice weekend, but getting all that rain last night (I measured 2.27 inches) in such a short period of time - and so close to the infamous July 10th date of disastrous storms that hit Cabot Village two years in a row - did sort of rattle my nerves a bit. I haven't heard, but I'm betting that all the work accomplished in the village to prevent flooding again paid off. The babbling brooks that come off the hillsides into the Winooski in Cabot can become raging, powerful tools of disaster in mere minutes when there is heavy rainfall like last night. We can only hope the measure to mitigate damage worked. The ground was dry, which might have helped some, but rain that heavy isn't absorbed quickly enough, so there's bound to be serious runoff.

Take care - summer storms may not be as serious here as in other parts of the country, but we still need to be cautious. Stay safe and enjoy the nice weather while it's here!
 

More Things to Do!

 I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth. We were fortunate that the weather was actually pretty nice the whole weekend. Fortunately, it cooled down a bit for the Fourth - that heat last week was pretty intense!

It was a busy weekend, and I'm just getting to my emails. I found this message about a very interesting series of classes at the Joe's Pond pavilion - starting today!!! It's too late to go to the class today, but there are two more classes, so get things together and plan to be there next Monday at 10. 

Art with Andrea

This July, I am excited to offer an adult art class held at the Joe’s Pond Pavilion on Mondays from 10–11am. 

Students are asked to bring their own sketchbook and preferred drawing tools. Each session will introduce a specific technique that builds from week to week, supporting both skill development and personal artistic exploration.

Class dates: July 6, 13, 20. The class fee is $10. 

If you would like to RSVP or simply reach out with questions, email me at andrea.aimi@gmail.com 

                                                                

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And here's a reminder about the Paint & Sip Afternoon coming up!

Who knows, perhaps there's a hidden "art colony" here at Joe's Pond that is emerging. Participants last year reported it was great fun. Susan told me that Cabot Creamery is donating the cheese again this year to munch as you sip wine or flavored seltzer water. Can't beat that! Do let Susan know you will be there as they need to order the supplies. Information is on the poster - click to enlarge. Have fun!

 Then this morning I noticed  another local festivity that you may want to go to. This is at Harvey Lake in Barnet - it will be sort of an Old Home Day and 250th Celebration on July 18th.  It looks like a fun event, something for everyone - an all-day event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Announcements

To the Members of the Joe's Pond Association:

As are many of you, the JPA is looking forward to celebrating the Independence Day holiday, this being a special one: the 250^th anniversary of America's declaration of independence.

This message is a reminder to those who plan to go out on the lake on Friday evening 07/03 to view the fireworks, that numerous plants and patches of invasive Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) have been confirmed in the Second (middle) Pond.  These plants have exhibited surprisingly robust growth through this past spring and now early summer such that some plants have already grown near and even reached the water surface.

It is in this condition that EWM becomes extremely vulnerable to fragmentation by watercraft activity.  Fragmentation is the primary vector of EWM proliferation and spread to other parts of the lake; either drifting by wind and current or direct transport on watercraft.

Mike & Sue Yesalonia and Michelle Parker and Larry Rossi, JPA Lakeshore Coordinators for lakeshore sections B & C, have recently conducted surveys in an attempt to identify any additional established EWM in the Second Pond.  Jim Bernotas, leader of the JPA EWM Harvesting Team will have pulled as many plants as possible in the Second Pond prior to the fireworks event.  However, as always, there will undoubtedly be remaining plants either not found or not harvested.

If you do go out on the water to view the fireworks, please consider not entering the Second Pond.  The fireworks should be fully visible from the lower end of the Third Pond above (upstream of) the Upper Narrows.  If, for whatever reason, it is essential that you enter the Second Pond, stay within the navigation channel delineated by the yellow marker buoys.  Another good reason not to enter the Second Pond is that it would not be desirable at all if a marker buoy anchor rope were to become entangled in a boat prop. The buoys won't be all that visible at night.

The JPA expended tremendous efforts and financial investment in 2025 in an attempt to eradicate EWM from the Third Pond.  These commitments were largely successful.  So far in 2026 we have found EWM in the Third Pond only in a small area adjacent to the inlet channel where, in response, hand pulling operations have recently been conducted.

Every JPA member has a responsibility to help protect these gains accomplished through our EWM management operations both last year and this year.  Please do your part during this 250th Independence Day celebration (and after) to avoid jeopardizing everything we achieved in 2025.

Let's work together to keep the known major EWM infestations in the First and Second Ponds from spreading back up to the Third; so that our limited resources can be focused in 2026 on the lower two ponds and so that full eradication of EWM from all of Joe's Pond remains potentially within our reach.

Thank you for your help.

For the Joe's Pond Association

Joe Hebert, President

Barry Cahoon, Eurasian Watermilfoil Management Coordinator

 

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Please join us for the 2nd Annual Paint & Sip event at Joe’s Pond!

Come unwind, paint, and enjoy an afternoon filled with laughter, creativity, and good company. My daughter-in-law—a high school art teacher who regularly hosts these events—will be leading us again this year.

Event Details:

• When: Monday, July 27, from 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

• Where: JPA Pavilion

• Cost: $50 (Includes all painting supplies, wine, cheese, crackers, and seltzer)

Special Shopping Table: In addition to painting, we will have some beautiful, donated items for sale:

• Jane Brown: Handcrafted earrings – $4 each or 3 for $10

• Jules Chatot: Framed watercolor sketches of Joe's Pond scenes – $40 each

Supporting a Great Cause: All proceeds from the ticket sales and shopping table will go directly toward our ongoing efforts to fight milfoil at Joe’s Pond.

RSVP: Seating is limited and we need to order supplies, so please let me know as soon as possible if you plan to attend. I will be at the JPA meeting [Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m.] 

so I will be able to sign you up.  Feel free to bring a friend!

Thank you, and I hope to see you there!

Susan Bouchard

978-590-9342

chatotbouchard@icloud.com

Important Information

 The following is from JPA secretary Jamie Stewart: (Thank you, Jamie - this is very helpful.)

In a blog this past week you had a question on what was going on with the harvesting on Joe's Pond of the Eurasian Water Milfoil.  I would like to direct you to:  https://www.joespondvermont.com/ewm-committee-meeting-minutes.html

     I encourage all of your readers to keep up with the JPA website and the meeting minutes which should answer a lot of the questions.  The milfoil committee is determined to be as open and communicative as possible.  Below is an explanation of our rationale with respect to harvesting for 2026.  We do not want to wear out our divers and snorkelers.  The below is within the 6/9 milfoil meeting minutes:

2026 EWM Harvesting Plan & Priorities - Below is the draft plan by Barry that was discussed:
 In recognition that the pond is taking its sweet time warming up this spring, it is anticipated that EWM growth will also lag a bit and may not become easily observable until mid-late June at which time the harvesting team’s efficiency would be enhanced.  Therefore, it is likely the Harvesting Team may not be mobilized until the 3rd or 4th week of June.
It is important to consider conserving the team members’ energy level and commitment over a long season.  If we shorten it up by a few weeks on the front end, we might be able to better maintain our participation and effectiveness later. The DASH work by VTHozers should be focused on the 1st and 2nd ponds scheduled for July 13-17 (unless the June aquatic vegetation survey by AE reveals unanticipated growth in the 3rd pond.
Prior to July 13-17, we may choose to mobilize the harvesting team only if we are seeing EWM (on the 1st and 2nd ponds) approaching the surface where it is most vulnerable to boat-induced fragmentation or in close proximity to a dock.  The marked navigation channel and the warning signs should provide some level of protection here and this becomes another measure to conserve our limited harvesting resources.  If it can be left to the DASH operation with minimal risk, we should consider it.
If EWM growth is observed in the 3rd pond at any time (including early June) the harvesting team's priority will be to hand pull those areas as soon as they can be visited.
 

The main concern about our dive teams is burnout.  We need to wait until the plants are more visible.  If we find plants in the 3rd pond we need to get them fast.  We will have DASH concentrate in the First and Second pond.  If we do find plants in the littoral zone, we could let it go until the DASH team arrives.  In any event, we need to wait for next week’s survey.  Jim Bernotas wants to do an exploratory dive 2 weeks before DASH.  This would not be a full-blown harvest day.   He wants to get in a reconnaissance dive prior to the Fireworks when we can expect boats to crowd into the 2nd pond and not stay out of the littoral zone.  Discussion then occurred about benthic barriers.*  They will likely be used in the second pond but not the first pond.  These barriers will be staged on Jim Bernotas’ lawn.  We are not to cut the rebar.  Leave them at 20-foot length.  Lake Eden has extra barriers for our use, and we need to pick them up.

 

As an update:  Harvesting has happened in the upstream area of the inlet channel.  This is upstream of the 2025 treatment area.  Fully grown plants were at the top of the water and beginning to mat over.  There are orange buoys up there to be geolocated and 2 warning signs placed there to keep people out.  Kayakers are the hazard here.  Their paddles will fragment the plant.  This will be very difficult for the kayakers to stay away from that area as it is so  beautiful to kayak in.  

Hope this helps and please encourage your readers to stay away from the channel area, stay within the navigable water way delineated by the yellow buoys in the middle pond, and stay completely out of the 1st pond.  Many thanks.

Jamie

 

* Benthic barriers (often called lake blankets, bottom screens, or weed mats) are physical sheets or screens placed directly on the bottom of lakes, ponds, or rivers to suppress the growth of aquatic plants. They act as an underwater "sunblock," depriving plants of light and physically pinning them down. 

 

 

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I thank Jamie for this information and add a note to remind readers that the dive teams  work very hard and continuously, and they will appreciate any help you can give them. If you are interested in diving - GREAT! They will train you in the procedure being used; but if you aren't a diver, there are a variety of  supporting teams that can use your help. Just ask what you can do. They are a dedicated and serious but fun-loving group, and I'm sure you will enjoy being part of this important work. Even if you are here for only a short period of time but want to help - get in touch with Barry Cahoon or Jim Bernotas. 

 

Barry: bear817@hotmail.com, or 802-748-5333.

Jim: 802-684-1205, or 413-665-5044 

Reminder

 For those of you who were not at our Spring Meeting and therefore may not know that the boat parade that had been planned to celebrate the Fourth of July will not happen. It was decided that because of there being so much Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) around the perimeter of the pond, it was not a good idea to have unnecessary boat traffic that might spread the invasive weed even further. So if you had planned to decorate your pontoon boat or kayak for that event, take your thinking cap off for the time being. Reviving the Boat Parade would be really nice - and perhaps that could be a great way to celebrate having EWM well under control or, with lots of luck and hard work - GONE! What a celebration that would be!

Photo on the left above is of the fire boat, manned by the late Ralph Hastings and his crew in the 1978 parade, and on the right, Jules Chatot, Sr. in front, and John LaGue - both fondly remembered as JPA members cutting up a bit in probably the same parade, or perhaps 1979.

So instead, we hope to have a candle-lit shoreline in the evenings of the 3rd and 4th. Marti Talbot is hoping to bring back that custom. Luminaries are available at Hastings Store in West Danville, or get in touch with Marti at  802-563-5022, and her cottage is at 1279 West Shore Road, if you want to pick some up from her. They are $1 each, and proceeds will go towards the expense of fighting EWM.  

With many folks visiting the pond for the holiday weekend, please be reminded to minimize your boating if possible, and when you do take your water craft out, please stay away from the marked areas close to the shoreline. Unfortunately, that leaves very small sections in the two smaller ponds for boats to navigate in - so best to not go into those two ponds for the present.

I haven't had a report of recent diving excursions from the Milfoil Exterminators crew, but I expect they will be diving and reporting findings soon. 

An interesting comment came to me today regarding the loss of one of our loon chicks. Mary W. sent the following message that set me wondering about that large turtle the dive crew came face-to-face with last year?! Here is what Mary's found:

 

Loon Report

 Sadly, we have lost one of the two baby loons hatched by the loons in the third, or big, pond. All seemed to be going smoothly until about a week ago while walking on the rail trail near the bridge, Jane Segale noticed something going on with the loons. She later sent me an email saying she had seen something in the water that seemed to be one of the chicks in trouble, so she took her kayak out to see if she could help, but by the time she got there, it was obvious the chick was gone - badly mauled by something. The suspect is the eagle, but nobody knows for certain, and the loon chick sank before she could retrieve it. She said it seemed to have a broken neck and a gash on its chest, and was obviously dead.

Several people have asked, having heard rumors that one chick is missing. I wrote a post after Jane contacted me, but apparently it never actually published. I have hunted for it, but I wasn't able to find it, and her email has also been deleted. Unfortunately, I purged my trash last week before I realized there was a problem. I suspect it may have been due to an update that was going on about the same time as I was blogging. My apologies to Jane for not getting the news out to everyone sooner.

We are experiencing a remarkable stretch of very pleasant weather - surprisingly, we had a lovely weekend and the sun shines on us today, as well. The forecast was for thunder storms late Saturday and Sunday, but that didn't happen - at least, not here at Joe's Pond. We'll take it! Enjoy it, and we can only hope we have a repeat performance next weekend!