Sure Sign of Fall!

It's official! Fall is here! Labor Day Weekend is over, the air is crisp and smells of dry leaves and ripe apples! And locals are gearing up to entertain visitors looking for autumn colors. Cabot's church is hosting their wonderful Harvest Supper this Saturday:  

Saturday - 5 pm to 6:30 pm - eat in or dine out.  Red Flannel Hash, Ham, Baked Beans, Cole slaw, rolls and deserts. A bargain at $15, and you won't be disappointed! It's old-fashioned fare made by really good cooks - from recipes learned and kept through generations. Traditional and delicious. Comfort food - perfect for a cool early fall evening. It will be worth the drive to get there! Take the scenic route over Cabot Plain!

 And here's a photo from my neighbor across the road, Liz Randall. I had just been there and who shows up after I felt but a mother  bear and her two cubs! The dust had barely settled from my driving through, so they were probably watching us, waiting for me to leave. I'm sorry I missed seeing them. Perhaps they will visit me and eat up some of the apples under my old tree that really had a bumper crop this year! Jamie said a bear visited them last night (perhaps the same trio) and tipped over a bucket of apples they had left on their deck. They are inclined to be curious, especially the cubs. 

We had our final meeting of the Joe's Pond Association for this season on Saturday. Barry Cahoon brought us up to date on our battle with Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM), and for those of you who could not attend the meeting, here is a report for you from Barry: 

To the Members of the Joe's Pond Association:

This message is being shared with all JPA members for the benefit of those who were unable or chose not to attend the fall meeting this past Saturday 09/05/26.

While the JPA feels it has, through the 2026 season, achieved significant progress toward potential eradication of the Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) infestation, members need to be aware that we remain at a very critical juncture that may constitute the difference between complete eradication or struggling to contain EWM far into the foreseeable future.

The three attached maps show the progression of EWM proliferation and the results of JPA EWM management activities from 2024 to 2026

If we assume that the ProcellaCOR treatment recently applied in August, 2026, on the First and Second Ponds has been 100% effective (not confirmed yet), the only other area on the lake at which we are currently aware of active EWM growth is in the area of the inlet channel. 

At first glance, this may seem like we are out of the woods and in very good shape.  However, the reality is that we could not have chosen a less desirable area for EWM to be persisting nor one in which EWM growth poses a greater danger of reinfestation on a widespread scale.

The reasons for this are:

1.  The EWM is concealed by dense beds and stands of native vegetation, thus, is extremely difficult to find.
2. The EWM is growing in very shallow, densely vegetated water (6"-1 ft.) inhibiting searching for the EWM by kayak, paddleboard, SCUBA, SNUBA or snorkeling
3. If EWM plants are found, in such shallow water, harvesters cannot swim to it, they must crawl through deep muck and then work to remove the plant by feel only because it will not be visible due to the turbidity.
    
    

   4. Mature plants are being observed growing horizontally as much as 5 ft. along the water surface becoming highly vulnerable to fragmentation by wind, high flows, turbulence, or even wildlife movement, especially this time of year when EWM reaches the end of its growth cycle and becomes brittle and much more susceptible to fragmentation
   5. This infestation is ideally positioned to contribute potentially hundreds of plant fragments that can drift downstream and re-infest the areas along the Sandy Beach shoreline and between the Channel Drive shoreline and the islands.  A plume of EWM plants growing from drifting fragments that have sunk to the bottom and regenerated can be seen on the attached 2026 map downstream of the inlet toward Pearl's Island.
   6. If this re-infestation scenario were to occur, we would be right back to where we were at the beginning of 2025.  It could be as if we had accomplished nothing over the past two seasons.

   
   

   This message is being shared not to discourage anyone.  The purpose is to alert all members that this battle is far from over, yet if we can sustain our commitment, our energy, and our fortitude, we can still prevail.  Total eradication is within our grasp.  We simply must not let this opportunity slip away.  It may never be offered again.

   
   

   The JPA Dive Team and Surface Supporters have tirelessly attacked the infestation in the inlet area throughout the 2026 season.  However, due to the advancing season, there is a limited number of surveying and harvesting operations that can be conducted before it gets too cold.  It's almost a guarantee that EWM will survive in this area into the 2027 growing season at which time the JPA will renew its efforts to contain and eliminate this threat; but it won't be easy.

   
   

   This area is highly unlikely to be treated with ProcellaCOR due to a number of factors, most importantly, the widespread existence of native vegetation species that are sensitive to this herbicide.

   
   

   In 2027, the JPA will be asking for a renewed level of commitment to monitoring and surveying over the entire Joe's Pond littoral zone by JPA Lakeshore Section Coordinators and other volunteers.  We must not relax our vigilance.

   
   

   The JPA expresses deep and sincere appreciation to all who contributed to our EWM management efforts and/or made financial contributions in 2026.  Please stay positive, aware, and totally committed to this campaign for EWM eradication.

   
   

   For the Joe's Pond Association

   Joe Hebert, President

   Barry Cahoon, EWM Management Coordinator

   

   
   

   

   
   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Thanks to Barry and the EWM team - and everyone who has worked so hard to get control of this awful weed. They have worked long and hard to get to this point and they are truly amazing.
    
   Once we have eradicated it (and it looks like we have a good chance of that!), we need to be watchful that it doesn't get re-introduced here. I expect there will be regular inspections of the littoral zones for years to come - and hopefully, a boat wash station to prevent spreading the stuff from one body of water to another. Convincing the State of Vermont to be more supportive and use common sense in their decisions will be key to keeping our lake (and others) clean and EWM free.