Pawtuckaway Lake Association

Our rebirth as a Weed Watch force commenced in June 2007, at the Pawtuckaway Lake ImprovementAssociation’s (PLIA) annual meeting. PLIA President Tom Duffy, in presenting the work of the Lake Host program,noted the recent absence of Weed Watcher activity. I along with my partner Peggy Tucker volunteeredto rejuvenate it. At that meeting we all naively believed

that our wonderful lake was free of any exotic weeds. Our mission then and now is to back up the Lake Hostprogram. The inspection of vessels coming into our water represents the first line of defense. They are thegate keepers. If you can stop milfoil and other exotic quatic plants before they enter the lake, you have wonthe battle for that day. But what if you missed an exotic

weed or it enters the lake by a different route, what then? Here is where we the Weed Watchers come in: topatrol the shoreline in order to detect any exotic weed. Like many forms of cancer sooner is much better thanslater in terms of detection. Little did we know that our work would soon expand to eradication. 

Recruitment

There were three groups who initially joined our ranks. First, there were the volunteer Lake Hosts living on the lake who wanted to get more involved. These Weed Watchers on Pawtuckaway Lake in Nottingham represented a great asset since they had already been through Lake Host training in Concord which included information about plant identification. The next group which has provided the backbone of the team were those individuals who lived on the lake and had an interest in protecting it but had no exotic weed training.

Finally, there was a small number of folk who simply frequented the lake for recreation and wanted to be part of the effort. We had the troops but most lacked elemental knowledge of exotic aquatic weeds.

Training and First Year’s Adventures: The Summer of 2007

At this key moment in our development, we needed training. A biologist from the Department of Environmental Services came and ran a training at our home on the lake. We had a number of attendees from the lake for the training. We gained from the training the ability to be able to better identify the exotic weeds, and the knowledge that our lake, because of its shallow depth and long shoreline, was a prime environment for exotic aquatic weed infestation.

At the training one of our lake residents provided his pontoon boat as a floating classroom. As we toured the lake the DES biologist raked up aquatic plants, discussed what she found, and gave plenty of time for “hands on” identification and questions. Our lake is long and dendritic, and we migrated into some of the deeper coves and bays in search of plants. One couple on the lake was concerned with some new growth they noticed in one particular area of the lake. We went to investigate. The DES biologist identified and confirmed we had a large area of growth of common reed (Phragmites australis),an invasive plant. So went our notion we were free of any weed danger!

The DES biologist indicated that it would take several years to eradicate that infestation. First, by pulling and cutting the weeds and then later returning when the lake was down to attack their roots. Indeed, it did take us several years to gain the upper hand.

This discovery lead to a summer and fall campaign against this plant. First, the team scoured the lake for other infestations. They found a total of seven locations including the original site. They then commenced throughout the summer and into the fall cutting, pulling and removing the reed from those locations. It was a wrestling match to get these plants out. We did see evidence of its strong ability to rejuvenate as we revisited some of our earlier efforts, but the new growth was less dense. In the fall, with the water down, we attacked their extensive, protracted and lengthy rhizome (root)systems with some success. The only way to  permanently eradicate the Phragmites is to not only cut them off but also to pursue their rhizomes all the way into the mud.

Lessons

In the process of discovering and then beginning to eradicate the seven infestations of Phragmites, we learned many things. First, to paraphrase a famous idea, it takes a village to protect a lake ( see the pictures of the team effort). We mounted many assaults on these infestations.- with a number of vessels: several battleships, aka, pontoon boats and many destroyers, aka, kayaks and canoes. Numerous folk participated in the water and on the vessels-young and old, lake residents and visitors.

Second, wear thick gloves. When attacked, the broken Phragmites fight back and cut. Several received painful hand gashes.

Third, wear thick soled water shoes. The Phragmites lives in rocky bottom areas so standing in the water while pulling or cutting them can be difficult and precarious.

Fourth, find and use the right tools. There are two phases of the assault process. In the summer, the initial efforts involve pulling and cutting them. Moments of triumphs occur here when team members can firmly extract the Phragmites with the longest rhizomes. Garden tools work well such as clippers. In the fall, to pursue the extensive rhizome networks, use garden rakes, handhold three pronged tools pitchforks, claw-like implements and hoes.  Tracing the rhizomes to their points requires kneeling, so wear knee pads.Fifth, have an exit strategy. Namely, what are you going to do with the vast amount of Phragmites you  have ‘harvested.” We employed several methods. We used an empty canoe to contain and then carry the pulled weeds to shore (see canoe photo). If we had only one pontoon boat, we would bag the weeds in industrial black plastic bags. In either case we kept the weeds for months in those bags or brought them to landfill areas far from anybody of water.  We discovered that our town dump/recycling center was less than enthusiastic about receiving our weed harvest.

Sixth, is a public relationship piece. Although when we pulled weeds, we were in the lake, we were also in front of homes. The dwellers watched us with concern and curiosity. Each time we carefully explained to them what we were doing and why. Only one person has objected to our efforts. In that case, we had the backing of DES that these invasive weeds are in the lake, which is under state jurisdiction, and therefore, they had to  be removed.

Finally, seventh, it is team effort and actually fun. We involved many folk in the adventures and enjoyed working together.

The Big Picture

Although our first years seemed focused on the seven areas of Phragmites on the lake, the overall mission was to protect the entire lake. To that end, we began at the initial training with the state biologist to divide the lake’s shoreline in sectors. The Weed Watchers either volunteered for or were assigned to one of these sections to patrol at least once a month during the growing season. In the beginning, we encouraged folk simply to get used to their area and become familiar with the normal growths there. Then, later, they would be better able to spot any new and potentially exotic weeds.

Rapid Response

Although regular surveillance of the lake is the key, once someone finds a ‘weed’ it is important to react swiftly. Here is an example of a situation last summer 2010. A purple loosestrife infestation was spotted on Horse Island.

The call came in on Friday July 9, 2010 at 6 PM from Lilia Guerra from Sachs Road. She reported a sighting of purple loosestrife on the Eastern edge of Horse Island where it opens to the South Channel. We agreed to meet Saturday morning weather permitting to see the site. We met in a downpour and I pulled one of the suspicious plants.

Peggy Tucker then took the plant sample to Therese Thompson on Sunday morning. They both were checking boats at the Fundy at 4 AM for a fishing tournament Sunday. Therese confirmed our concerns and recommended pulling the plants and removal of their flower/seed heads (the pinkish purple flower on top of it). At 5PM on Sunday, Gary St. Pierre, Peggy Tucker and Steve Soreff returned to the Horse Island site. First, we cut and bagged all the heads off the now flowering plants, then pulled all of them out. It proved to be a localized but extensive number of purple loosestrife plants. In checks throughout the rest of the season none were detected.

Vigilance, Persistence and Success

Vigilance and persistence led to the success of the Lake Pawtuckaway Weed Watch Warriors. We remain continuously on patrol whether in our assigned sections or when just out for fun. Indeed, it is hard to not be looking out for Phragmites wherever we travel. We see them in Raymond near its center and on the bike path. I even spotted some huge Phragmites while traveling in Israel.But once found, the persistence comes in. As the state biologist indicated when she labeled our first discovered Phragmites infestation between the Twin Island: it will take time to eradicate it. And it did. We attacked that and six other locations on the lake, summer and fall, rain or shine and day after day. But that determination has led to our success. When we go back, we see that the original infestation is gone. We see normal lake plants and a healthy shoreline.

Acknowledgements

Our achievements have been facilitated by the support and training by Department of Environmental Services, the Lake Associations, Lake Hosts and the PLIA. And thanks to all the now nearly 100 people who have patrolled the lake, pulled the weeds, followed the rhizomes, transported the Phragmites from the lake, and supported our efforts. It takes a community to have an exotic weed free lake.