Lenox explores Laurel Lake preservation options

The town is trying to figure out the best way to deal with the invasive species in Laurel Lake.

LENOX – Although a harmony currently exists between two of the principal parties involved in the management of Laurel Lake, conflict may be looming on the horizon.

Laurel Lake is located in-between Lenox and Lee, and its management is shared by the two towns.

A popular recreation area, the lake also has significant populations of Zebra Mussels, an invasive animal, and Eurasian Watermilfoil, an invasive plant. This has raised concerns with some environmentalists, particularly those involved with the Laurel Lake Preservation Association.

The LLPA made a presentation to the Lenox Board of Selectmen at its Nov. 14 meeting. This was done to update the selectmen on their efforts to combat the Zebra Mussel and Eurasian Milfoil populations, as well as to inform the selectmen elected this year about the association and its mission.

‘The Laurel Lake Preservation Association…is a volunteer citizens’ organization that is concerned with keeping the lake, Laurel Lake, beautiful and healthy,” said LLPA Member Floyd Tuler.

Much of the presentation was done by Dr. Kenneth Wagner, a consultant hired by the Laurel Lake Preservation Society to supervise the temporary draw downs in Laurel Lake’s water level. The draw downs have been the primary method that the society has used to reduce the zebra mussel population. The society has been doing three-foot draw downs of Laurel Lake since 2010 and will continue to do so until the end of 2012. The association is currently in the middle of the last of these draw downs, although, under DEP rules, they could ask the town to be able to do more draw downs over the next four years.

“I don’t anticipate a real problem from a scientific or ecological perspective if we were to expand that draw down from three- to five-foot,” said Dr. Wagner, noting no one has asked for a five-foot drawn down yet, and the Lenox Conservation Commission hasn’t been very receptive to the idea.

Still, Dr. Wagner didn’t rule out a five-foot draw down as a viable option to combat the Zebra Mussel population.

He also said, besides the invasive species, the overall health of the lake was good.

“Water quality is good, real good,” said Dr. Wagner, who argued a lake management plan, which the conservation commission has been pushing for, should be a lower priority than combating the milfoil and Zebra Mussels.

Additionally, Dr. Wagner expressed a wish for the conservation commission would do more to work with the association to combat invasive species. He also lamented the lack of action on the control of Zebra Mussels and Eurasian Watermilfoil by some state government organizations.

Lenox Conservation Commission Chairman Neal Carpenter was asked to speak on the Laurel Lake issue by Lenox Board of Selectmen Chairman Kenneth L. Fowler, and he provided a different perspective on the matter.

“We follow guidelines with DEP…that’s [a lake management plan] one of the things they’re asking for,” said Chairman Carpenter on why the conservation commission wants to see a lake management plan from the association.

He also reiterated the commission’s opposition to a five-foot draw down, although he said they currently had no issues with continuing the three-foot draw downs.

“At this point the whole commission is against a five-foot draw down,” said Chairman Carpenter, noting the large amount of Lenox land a five-foot drawdown would dewater.

“We’ve got something to think about,” said Chairman Fowler, who said the selectmen would have to discuss the five-foot draw down issue more with the conservation commission.

Posted by Bera B. Dunau on November 29, 2012. Filed under Community News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry