A Few Words From The President

Greetings! Welcome to our second newsletter! This issue is packed with information on water quality testing and results, progress with rectifying storm runoff from Rt. 16, and progress in identification and stemming of invasive plant life. We hope you find this issue to be of beneficial reading and informative. Meetings are held monthly, the first Thursday evening of the month at 7 pm at the Mendon Senior Center. We encourage your participation and input. Some times the most interesting information is shared at these meetings such as the recent sighting of a buck swimming across the lake or the mention of the historical map of the lake in the town highway barn. Comments and letters are welcomed! Enjoy the Holiday Season!

Thanks Ted King,

President, LNA

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Deep Sump Catch Basins Installed

It’s over! The fifty year long assault on Lake Nipmuc from storm water laden with sediment, road salt, deicing chemicals, grease, oils and heavy metals has finally come to an end. As we go to press, the Mass Highway crews are installing the deep sump catch basins along the Old Taft Ave. section of Route 16 that will correct the problem. For awhile, the progress was frustratingly slow. The promises seemed empty and the excuses seemed endless. We realized that the project was more complex than originally thought. But neither was it the Big Dig! We had just about resigned ourselves to another winter of polluted storm runoff when Representative John Fernandes once again came to the rescue. The results were almost immediate. The members of the Lake Nipmuc Association would like to express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to John Fernandes, William Clougherty of Mass Highway, and anyone else who has been involved in this tremendous effort to protect our lake.

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Name That Weed “Weed Watchers Workshop”

On July 8th, The Lake Nipmuc Association took a giant step toward protecting our lake from those much dreaded invasive species. Michelle Robinson, aquatic biologist from the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Lakes and Ponds Program, conducted a Weed Watcher Training at the Senior Center. The class was well attended and Michelle’s presentation was both informative and entertaining. She began by passing out copies of “A Guide to Aquatic Plants in Massachusetts” and “The Massachusetts Lake and Pond Guide.” Then she distributed plastic dishes, each containing a section of a different plant, along with a small magnifying glass. Participants were instructed to examine each sample in turn and, by using step- by- step reference charts in the back of the aquatic plant guide, come to a conclusion as to the identity of the plant. This identification could be checked against pictures and details in the guide. When a successful match was made, victorious cries of, “I’ve got it! I’ve got it!” could be heard throughout the room. The samples included both native and alien varieties with names like Water Chestnut, Little Floating Bladderwort, Wild Celery, and Eurasian Milfoil. Michelle concluded the session by answering questions that dealt with concerns and issues relevant to Lake Nipmuc, especially the Purple Loosestrife and Water lilies. Once invasive species are established they are almost impossible to remove. But if those who live around the lake, or fish and swim in its waters, are able to recognize these exotic plants before they gain a foothold, they can be easily eradicated. If you were not present at the training but would like the identification charts and other information on invasive weeds. Please send us an e-mail at info@lakenipmuc.com and type in your request or write to us at Lake Nipmuc Association, PO Box 159, Mendon, MA 01756

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The Devil in Disguise (project purple)

This past summer, Lake Nipmuc Association members, with some assistance from the Mendon Parks Department, gathered over 70 trash bags of Purple Loosestrife from along the shores of Lake Nipmuc. As one member pointed out, we didn’t need “… a bylaw or government mandate, a grant, or a subsidy to get something worthwhile accomplished.” We just went out and did it ourselves. And that was certainly a major accomplishment. But it was only the first step. Purple Loosestrife is a hardy, highly competitive, and invasive species. Each plant produces one to three million seeds. These seeds have a 60 to 70% survival rate and can remain viable for several years. As if that isn’t enough, the root systems can send out up to 50 shoots per plant to make new plants. So it can be no surprise that Purple Loosestrife can totally dominate an area and destroy biodiversity by displacing native species. It can be no surprise that it can fill in wetlands, reducing flood retention, and can cause water bodies to become increasingly shallow. In old English folklore, there are tales of the devil hiding evil intent behind a pleasing disguise. So it is with the Purple Loosestrife. It presents as an irresistibly lovely flower and some might find its lavender hued blossoms to be a gardener’s delight. Don’t be fooled! Get rid of it! Or send us a message on the website and we will get rid of it for you. For the next few years, as any remaining seeds sprout and grow, or any remaining plants begin to bloom, the members of the Lake Nipmuc Association will work aggressively to take back our lake from this alien invader.

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1st Annual Lake Nipmuc Clean Up

On Saturday, October 25th, members of the Association came together for the first Annual Lake Nipmuc Clean Up. Trash bags, gloves, and orange safety vests were provided by the Blackstone River Watershed Association.

The first objective was the ditch by the old trolley line. From the amount of cans, bottles, broken garden tools and other assorted debris, it appeared that this had been used as a dumping ground for a long time. Next to be tackled was the stretch of Rte. 16 between Old Taft and Taft Ave. Climbing up and down the steep embankment and slogging through wetlands, the volunteers gathered more rubbish. A large water tank was rolled onto the side of the road for Highway Department pick up. After cleaning an area near Park Street, Laura Tosches treated everyone to coffee and banana bread at her Taft Ave. home. 

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Water Quality Monitoring The Test Results: What Do They Mean?

From May through October, Association members, with assistance from Tammy Gilpatrick of the Blackstone River Coalition, have tested the waters of Lake Nipmuc at 7 different locations. Because it can have adverse health effects, the most important of these tests was for E. coli. A more detailed report on E. coli was published in last month’s newsletter but it bears repeating that the E. coli itself is usually not harmful. It does, however, indicate the presence of disease causing bacteria and this can cause swimming to be a health risk. None of our test results were responsible for the closings of the town beach. All were in the excellent category. With one exception. As it turned out this single incident, early in the summer, resulted from the feeding of Canadian Geese.

An awareness of the consequences resulted in the cessation of this activity, the geese left, and, by the following month, so did the E. coli.

Next in importance would be the test results for phosphates. This is a nutrient for plant life. It is a fertilizer. It does what fertilizers are supposed to do. It makes plants grow and that is a good thing in your vegetable or flower garden.

But it is not so good when it causes rampant weed growth and algae blooms in the lake. Thick patches of water lilies can interfere with swimming and boating. Decaying plant matter can lower oxygen levels. And tax money must be spent on chemicals to control the weeds.

Although a number of locations did test in the good to excellent range, many tested in the poor range at least once for phosphorus. One was so bad that it was literally off the charts. The sources of high phosphorus readings are failing cesspools or septic systems, lawn fertilizer run off, and pet waste. An additional source can be soil and rocks. These results indicate there is a problem with too much phosphorus getting into the lake. If we all work together, we can find a solution.

Additional parameters tested were nitrates, turbidity, temperature, conductivity, and ph or relative acidity. We will give an account of those results and their significance in the Winter Edition of the Lake Nipmuc Newsletter.

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Bears in the Woods of Lake Nipmuc

After the rain had kept her indoors for what seemed like forever, a Lake Nipmuc resident decided to take a walk in the woods. Little did she know that the first step from the pavement onto the winding dirt road would bring a sight that she never would have expected to see in Mendon. The sun was shining through a canopy of trees and the classic autumn palate of red, orange, and yellow was vibrant. The leaves under her feet were like colorful crunchy confetti and, as she became absorbed in the awesome beauty of nature, she felt a sense of peace.

The ground was still wet from the recent heavy rain and she cautiously stepped over the moss-covered rocks. A trail veered off to the right. It had been a couple of years since she had ventured onto that path, so she decided to take it once again. At the crest of the hill, she was trying to avoid stepping in the mud when she noticed a dent in the flat clay surface at one side of the trail. Her eyes were immediately drawn to a smooth curved imprint about a half inch deep in the soft surface. Looking back, she noticed two more prints that she had passed by. She realized that these were the fresh tracks of a Black Bear!

Other people have seen bear tracks in Mendon. There are definitely bears in the woods in the vicinity of Lake Nipmuc.   For more info: check out Mass Wildlife: Black Bears.

Please share any stories you may have or close encounters with Lake Nipmuc wild life. Send e-mail to info@lakenipmuc.org

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Join or Renew Your 2009 Membership Lake Nipmuc Association - Membership Form

Why Join the Lake Nipmuc Association?

·          Water Quality Monitoring- The LNA monitors conditions, identifies areas of concern and engages local citizens in the protection and enjoyment of Mendon’s most valuable natural resource.

·          Educational Forums- The LNA provides public workshops to increase public understanding and community stewardship of Lake Nipmuc.

·          Newsletter- The LNA publishes four newsletters a year in the summer, fall, winter and spring.

·          Meetings-The LNA holds monthly meetings on the first Thursday of the month, 7:00 PM, at the Mendon Senior Center on Providence Rd.

Meetings are open to the public.

The LNA is a volunteer organization. We rely on donations and membership dues to support our programs. Donations are tax deductible.