It's Lakes Awareness Week in CT

Lakes Awareness Week

Governor Malloy declares this week Lakes Awareness Week in Connecticut

Our lake is loved by many...but it needs to be cared for by all. It's a good time to think about what we can all do to help Candlewood Lake.

Candlewood turns 90 this year! Built in 1928 our lake is just a baby in lake years, but it faces many of the same environmental challenges of lakes that are much, much older.

The Connecticut Federation of Lakes (CFL) stated, "The two key issues lakes face are Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) and Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB). Most often AIS are introduced into Connecticut lakes by boaters that unknowingly transport invasive aquatic plant fragments on boat propellers, in bilges, or on trailers. HABs, also known as cyanobacteria or "blue-green algae," are often a result of increased human nutrient pollution. Blooms are unsightly and in some cases are detrimental to human and pet health."

You can help prevent the spread of invasive plants and animal species such as zebra mussels by ensuring your boat and trailer has been properly cleaned, drained and dried before coming to or leaving Candlewood Lake.

Nutrients can enter our lake from our watershed, including our lawns, as stormwater runoff during a rain event. There's a saying "Green Lawn, Green Lake"...so if you missed Soil Testing Day this April, Connecticut residents can still get their soil tested for free by the CT Agricultural Experiment Station to see if it needs any nutrients. It can help save you money and benefit Candlewood Lake. In addition, if you have a septic system please ensure that is is functioning properly and pumped out regularly.

"Shoreline development and recreational uses contribute to added stress that can affect water quality and the health of our lakes. This can be counteracted by good lake stewardship practices to minimize erosion and restore shoreline vegetation where ever possible," said CLA Chairman Phyllis Schaer.

State Representative David Arconti requested the proclamation for the State. “In western Connecticut and across the State our lakes, ponds, and reservoirs are some of our most important natural resources,” said Rep. Arconti. “It is important that we find more ways to support them and groups like the CFL who do a great job advocating on behalf of our inland water resources.

The CFL will mark Lake Awareness Week 2018 on Candlewood Lake, the largest lake in the State. Phyllis Schaer will host an on-the-water meeting. CFL board members Constance Trolle and Larry Marsicano, and representatives from several lakes will brief Rep. Arconti and other legislators on the current status of these issues and on the efforts locally to address them.

Join the Candlewood Lake Authority, and the Connecticut Federation of Lakes, in helping to protect our amazing lakes!

For more information:

www.candlewoodlakeauthority.org/bluegreenalgae

www.candlewoodlakeauthority.org/invasivespecies

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Submitted by New Fairfield, CT

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