Mass has Mussels
The Zebra Mussel has finally made it to Massachusetts. The first infestation has been found in Laurel Lake located in Lee, Mass in the Berkshires in early July. These area lakes are at a much higher risk of infestation due to the lake makeup than any other watershed in the Commonwealth.
Mass has been threatened for many years as there have been known colonies of Zebras on the borders of New York, Vermont and Connecticut. The closest Zebras being in Lake Champlain, Lake George, the Hudson River and to the south in Twin Lakes in Connecticut.
The Office of Fishing and Boating Access and Department of Conservation and Recreation temporarily shut the boat ramp at Laurel Lake to get a grip on exactly what is happening there. The infestation is primarily located in the southwestern area of the lake and appears to be at least a year old.
There is no stopping the Zebra Mussel but controlling them is easier with diligence. The best way to control the spread is to clean all aquatic sporting equipment.
Here are some tips to stop the spread of not only Zebra Mussels but also any aquatic hitchhikers.
· Inspect and thoroughly clean your boat and trailer after removing it from the water. High-pressure, hot water and a mixture of household bleach (1/2 cup bleach to 2 cups water) will help prevent the spread.
· Remove all plants and mud from your boat, trailer and all equipment.
· Empty and dry all buckets and dispose of all bait into trash bins before you leave.
· When away from the waterway, drain all water from your boat and dry all areas. (Motor, live wells, bait wells and buckets etc)
· Thoroughly clean all fishing and recreation equipment. (Nets, life jackets, boogie boards, scuba gear etc)
· Wash, dry and brush pets that have been in the water
Lake Manchaug Water Levels. This spring the dam owner had not placed the flashboards on the dam thus keeping the water levels at extremely low levels. There have been many adverse effects on the lake in previous years due to the same conditions.
On April 21, the DEP issued a UNILATERAL ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER to the dam owner stating "within three (3) days of the date of this ORDER, install the flashboards on the main spillway of the dam and thereafter maintain the water levels at least to the Rule Curve elevations, as described in the June 13, 2008 letter to Mass DEP, unless and until a final Order of Conditions under the Wetlands Protection Act supersedes this ORDER."
The DEP Unilateral Administrative Order documents 7 violations to the Wetlands Protection Act and its Regulations observed directly by DEP including altering several miles of bank, altering over an acre of bordering wetlands, and altering over 50 acres of land under water. April 24th (the third day), two mill employees put the flashboards in and closed the low level gate, thus finally complying with the DEP Order. Now let’s pray for rain!
