Gentle Reminder

We have  had reports of boaters wandering into the restricted zones on the pond where signs and markers are warning about Eurasian water-milfoil (EWM).  People here at the pond understand that we have a critical situation here at Joe's Pond right now involving a vigorous infestation of EWM and how  important it is that activity in those marked areas is restricted to all except the professional divers and their support crew. Maps showing the restricted areas,  particularly behind the islands and along the Sandy Beach Road shore, are available on the Joe's Pond website. Motor boats, kayaks, canoes, even swimmers should stay away from those areas as even small particles can break off the plants and float away to start new patches of this really terrible weed. In addition, they could carry some of the weed to other bodies of water.

The Joe's Pond Association Board and the crew are doing their best to identify and combat EWM and  keep our Association members and people in the surrounding community informed about where the danger spots are, but we cannot be certain that everyone who comes to Joe's Pond is aware. Therefore, it is important that we continue to help visitors understand how important it is that they stay away and don't risk spreading the EWM further. Keep your guests, and any others you encounter who are strangers to our lake, informed. 

We must all be vigilant, and if you see someone in a restricted area who is not supposed to be there, they are probably not aware of our present situation with EWM, so politely let them know how serious the problem has become. Hopefully they will appreciate being told and will respect our concerns and retreat from the areas where there's EWM. 

It will take the cooperation of our entire community to successfully combat this infestation. Pitch in, and speak up.