Disturbing News

 Joe's Pond Survey Results - Eurasian Water Milfoil -May 2025

 To the Joe's Pond Association membership, 

This past week, Arrowwood Environmental, assisted by the Joe's Pond Association (JPA}, conducted a 3 day survey of the Joe's Pond littoral zone (shallow water area) searching for the presence of Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM).  The survey consisted of a combination of visual observation from the surface and underwater investigations via SCUBA.  The surveyors placed 45 JPA buoys, consisting of a fluorescent red piece of foam swim noodle, at all locations where EWM was found.  See the photo of the JPA marker buoys below.

 

 

Most of the EWM was found growing along the Sandy Beach shoreline, around the islands, and a concentration north from the islands to and along the Channel Drive shoreline.  Additional scattered plants were found off the fishing access, the US 2 shoreline on the Second Pond, and off the end of Island Drive.

Please see the attached map depicting all locations where EWM was found during the 05/26-05/28 survey.  

 

This map is also available at:  https://www.joespondvermont.com/management-map.html

 

A similar web map is viewable on the JPA website at https://www.joespondvermont.com/management-map.html  upon which these EWM location data points will soon be depicted and will be continually updated as new EWM locations are discovered, geolocated and reported to the Mapping Specialist, Rob Stewart.

It is and should be deeply concerning for all JPA members and others who enjoy the myriad gifts of Joe's Pond to witness this significant proliferation and expansion of the area populated by this insidiously aggressive and persistent invasive aquatic plant, just since last fall.

Despite the disappointing results of the survey, the JPA retains its faith in the strength, dedication and commitment of the membership to pull together and prevail in our struggle to contain and, if possible, eradicate the EWM infestation.

But realistically, it is likely to be a much more challenging, difficult, expensive, and long-term battle than it appeared it might be last fall.

 The JPA has engaged an EWM harvesting contractor who we expect to be operating in Joe's Pond either the first or second week of June.  JPA members will be supporting the harvesting operation at all times not just on the water but also providing lodging, meals, EWM disposal, and supporting equipment.  Our goal is to hand pull all the EWM found during the survey, and any additional plants found, conduct more surveys in the course of the harvest, and place benthic barriers on the lake bottom wherever dense concentrations of EWM have become established.

Although the JPA has engaged a consultant and a contractor, at considerable expense, to survey and remove EWM, we must not, we cannot, become complacent or ignore our own responsibility to continue on-going survey and monitoring and respond to newly identified EWM establishment by hand harvesting and placing benthic barriers where appropriate.

 If you were unable to attend the JPA annual spring meeting on 05/24 or the EWM Management Training conducted the same day, please take the time to read and study the incredible amount of information on the JPA website:   https://www.joespondvermont.com/ about EWM and the JPA response to the infestation and what you, the members, must do to prevent EWM from taking over our lake for which we have the responsibility to protect.  A professional video produced by Jamie Dimick is now available on the website so that all members can access the information provided in the training.

 Possibly even more important, critical, and of immediate concern for the JPA membership at this point in time and on-going is the avoidance of watercraft-induced fragmentation.  Based on the pattern of new growth that we are seeing from the survey, and the knowledge we are receiving from those on other VT lakes who have experienced and suffered EWM infestations, by far the most prominent vector of proliferation and spread is fragmentation of growing plants by watercraft.  Once broken off, released plant fragments then drift off, sink to the bottom and establish another plant in a new location.  With 145 acres out of the 405 total acres of Joe's Pond consisting of the littoral zone, there is a 38% chance that a drifting EWM fragment will sink to the bottom at a location where it can readily root, grow, and spread.  

 This year's EWM growth is already nearing and, within a week or two, will have reached the water surface where it will be unavoidably vulnerable to fragmentation by watercraft.

Yet distressingly, this primary mode of EWM proliferation may be the most difficult to minimize and control.  How do we reach every watercraft user on the lake and ensure they modify or restrict their boating behavior every time out on the water to avoid EWM fragmentation?  We are all part of this problem and potentially, its solution.

 If we fail in this, based on the history of other VT lakes with EWM, the consequences are virtually guaranteed:  we will never be able to achieve eradication and the JPA will be burdened with the considerable and unsustainable costs of EWM management forever.

 Just imagine going out for an evening cruise then coming back to your dock after picking up a fragment of EWM and having that plant fragment dislodge, sink to the bottom, and begin to grow a new patch of invasive aquatic plant right in front of your camp where your grandkids love to swim and play.

It is imperative that boaters adopt the following practices:

1.      Study and become familiar with the attached map of the littoral zone (12 foot depth or less).  This is where the EWM grows.

2.      Avoid boating through the littoral zone unless necessary for shore access and egress.

3.      When passage through the littoral zone is necessary or unavoidable, move slowly.

4.      Stay away from any marker buoys placed to alert where EWM has been found and as shown on the enclosed map.  Buoys will be placed and removed as EWM is discovered and then harvested.  JPA will attempt to keep the on-line map up to date, but ultimately, boaters must watch for the buoys and give them a wide berth.

5.      Exclusion signs will soon be placed alerting boaters of the presence of EWM in the most concentrated areas (currently) of establishment (Sandy Beach and Channel Drive).  Please obey these signs and keep out of these critical areas unless you are a camp owner within these sections and for the purpose of access and egress.

6.      Become proficient at identification of EWM by studying the information on the JPA website.

7.      Whenever passing through the littoral zone, watch for EWM.  If seen and confirmed, obtain a marker buoy from the Lakeshore Section Coordinator and anchor in place. 

8.      Inspect your boat after each trip on the lake for EWM fragments.  Remove and dispose of any fragments found upland.

9.      Know that your boating behavior can be either a serious impediment to JPA's goal of containing EWM proliferation potentially leading to failure of our efforts, or alternatively, an essential action supportive of and contributing to our success.

10.  If you observe lake users demonstrating ignorance of or willful disregard for these boating practices, consider, if appropriate and safe, informing and urging irresponsible boaters to modify their behavior and especially, conveying why this is necessary.

11.  If you rent your camp and make a boat available to renters, or allow boat access and egress from your dock, please be absolutely sure your renters are aware of and committed to boating behavior compatible with these practices.

12.  Support the work of the JPA by contacting a Lakeshore Section Coordinator and volunteering your time, energy, and attention to helping monitor and survey the littoral zone for new EWM establishment.  See the JPA Website at:  https://www.joespondvermont.com/lakeshore-sections-map--coordinators.html

 We still have two Lakeshore Section Coordinator(LSC) vacancies for Section E. West Shore Road (fishing access to lake gauge rock), and Section F. Sandy Beach South (lake gauge rock to Meadow Lane).  Please let's work to locate and identify someone willing to take on these sections. You don't have to be a camp owner in either of these sections to become the designated LSC.  By the way, these are two of the easiest sections on the lake to survey as the littoral zone is quite narrow along most of the shoreline in both.

Prior to collecting the information gained through the lake-wide EWM survey, I stated at the JPA Spring Meeting, that this will be a critical year that will likely make or break our attempts to contain or eradicate the EWM infestation.  The magnitude and extent of proliferation that the survey has revealed renders this statement even more true.  There is no more important or imperative time to become engaged in supporting the JPA in this effort than right now.  It simply and unequivocally can't be left up to somebody else.

I believe success is still within our grasp but is in extreme and imminent danger of slipping irretrievably away.  It is not hyperbole to state that this is an emergency and Joe's Pond is in crisis.  Only through the involvement and unflagging commitment of all our members pulling together can we succeed.

Thanks for all your attention, support and help.

In solidarity for Joe's Pond,

Barry Cahoon, JPA Water Quality Director

EWM Response Coordinator