Lake Attitash Association

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What’s New

Mission Accomplished – Weed Control Fundraising Campaign Successful

Mission Accomplished! We did it! Thanks to you! Since November 27, 2020 the LAA has raised $25,000, the amount needed to pay Solitude Lake … [Read More...]

Recognize Your Neighbor & Pay It Forward

"It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood" - Mister Rogers Celebrate the importance of community and take a moment to appreciate and thank those … [Read More...]

Catch Fish – Not Birds with Fishing Line

Fishing Line, Hooks, and Nets Poses Serious Threat to Birds and Wildlife Fishing season is here, so please don’t carelessly … [Read More...]

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Now that the alum treatment is done…..

June 3, 2019

Dear Friends of Lake Attitash:

Now that the alum treatment is done, we must continue to think of ways we can do more to protect our beautiful lake.

Having a “natural” shoreline with native plants and stones is probably the best thing you can do. The Conservation Commissions strongly discourage walls, preferring more natural slopes filled with stone and native plants. There are good reasons for this.

Shoreline plants function to filter storm water runoff, capture pollutants before they reach the lake, and provide wildlife habitat for turtles and birds and prevent soil erosion.   

Storm water run-off is the single largest contributor to water quality degradation in Massachusetts.  It contains fertilizer, pet poop, pesticides, sand, soil, salt, oil and antifreeze.    

Shoreline plants…even just a few ….will help keep Lake Attitash clean.

Our lake management company, Solitude Lake Management, wrote the following in a recent newsletter:   

“Maintaining dense beneficial vegetation around your lake or pond is extremely important for improving water quality, preventing erosion and controlling nuisance geese. Establishing buffer zones takes minimal effort and requires little maintenance. In the long run, it will also reduce the likelihood of excessive lake algae and other water quality issues that come from nutrient loading, thereby reducing the need for constant herbicide treatments, and lowering your long-term costs associated with managing your waterbody.

You will also benefit from proper buffer management by attracting insects, like dragonflies, that feed on mosquito larvae, thus helping to control mosquito populations in and around your lake. In addition, flowering native plants and beautiful sedge grasses can be a very pleasing sight that will undoubtedly increase the value of your property.”
 

So… let’s do something good for the lake!

When thinking about adding native plants along our shore line we all want to protect our access to the lake, our view and we want plants that are easy to maintain.  Here are seven low-growing native perennial plants that have been recommended by Solitude Lake Management Company for planting either in shallow water or on the water’s edge.

7 Recommended Vegetation Species to Plant along your waterfront

Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)


Pickerelweed is a swallow freshwater aquatic plant that grows three to four feet tall, but typically you only see one to two feet since about half of the plant is underground. This low growing perennial plant is ideal when low borders or water views are the goal. It has creeping underwater rhizomes with heart-shaped leaves and violet-blue spikes extending about the water. Its beautiful flowers attract bees and butterflies, as well as dragonflies, which consume mosquito larvae. Pickerelweed blooms from June through November and provides good cover for birds, fish and amphibians.

Blueflag Iris (Iris versicolor)

This clumping plant has several violet-blue flowers with yellow-based sepals that emerge on sturdy stalks among tall sword-like leaves. Their height is anywhere from 2 to 3 feet and they flower from May to August. They grow in swamps, marshes, and on wet shores and are often found in standing water. They have limited wildlife value, so they are resistant to being eaten by waterfowl and other animals.

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

Another plant that not only looks pretty, but attracts butterflies and even hummingbirds with its nectar supply is the cardinal flower. This plant has many brilliant red, tubular flowers in an elongated cluster on an erect stalk. It grows from 2 to 5 feet in damp sites, especially along streams, and flowers from July to October. It grows in damp sites, especially along streams.

Native sedges and rushes

There are many grass-like aquatic sedges and rushes such as bulrush and soft rush. Sedges have triangular stems and grow in shallow water, while rushes have cylindrical stems and grow in clumps. These plants can be expected to spread, but are not aggressive. Their shallow spreading surface roots hold shoreline soil and reduce erosion. You will find that they only need controlling once per year or less. You will also probably find that these plants will reduce problems with more aggressive and invasive aquatic plants. Rushes and sedges are great habitat for wading birds and your shoreline will look more natural and attractive, too. 

Arrowhead or Duck Potato (Sagittaria latifolia)

Duck Potato, or arrowhead, is a perennial that grows 1 to 4 feet tall and has large broad leaves shaped like arrows with small white flowers. It grows in wet sites or shallow water along lake and stream margins, marshes and swamps. The plant has strong roots and can survive through wide variations of the water level and displays an affinity for high levels of phosphates and hard waters. The underground tuber (duck potato) is preferred by at least 15 species of ducks, including canvasbacks, but many times the tubers are buried too deep for them to reach.

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

This plant has slender leaves and deep pink flowers clustered at the top of a tall, branching stem. It grows to be 2 to 6 feet high with flowers from June to August. Milkweed grows in swamps, thickets and along wet shorelines and the flowers attract and provide food for butterflies, especially monarchs.

Rhododendron Groenlandicum

It is a low shrub growing to 20 in tall with evergreen leaves. The leaves are wrinkled on top, densely hairy white to red-brown underneath, and have a leathery texture, curling at the edges. The tiny white flowers grow in part shade, sun; wetlands, lake and stream shores. The flower clusters are very fragrant and sticky.

You can buy these plants from most large garden centers. Lake Street Garden Center in Salem carries all but the sedge grasses. There are many more beneficial native plants besides the ones recommended here. Just beware of certain undesirable or invasive plants such as cattails, phragmites, purple loosestrife, alligatorweed and smartweed as many of these have an explosive ability to spread and require extensive effort to manage.

Conservation Commission information:

For Merrimac Residents: The Merrimac Conservation Commission has no issue with residents planting native plants around the lake shore or in shallow water provided they are indeed native plants and no mulch or other material is placed around the plants.

For Amesbury residents: The Amesbury Conservation Commission offers a list of suggested plants on their website.  For details please visit https://www.amesburyma.gov/sites/amesburyma/files/pages/suggested_list_of_plants.pdf.

In addition, based on state and local wetlands laws, any proposed projects that involve regulated activities within 100 feet of Lake Attitash are subject to the wetlands permitting process.  Examples of regulated activities include work that would alter grading or work on the lakeshore bank including stabilization.  Section 3.0 of the Amesbury Wetlands Regulations provides a detailed inventory of what constitutes a regulated activity.  The permitting process is intended to ensure that any activities within proximity to the lake do not result in an adverse impact on the lake.   Please refer to the regulations if you are in doubt.  The regulations are available on the Amesbury Conservation Commission website at https://www.amesburyma.gov/sites/amesburyma/files/file/file/amesbury_wetland_regulations_as_voted_june_20_2012.pdf.

This project has been partially funded with Federal Funds from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection under an s. 319 competitive grant.

Alum Treatment done!

May 15, 2019

Dear Friends of Lake Attitash:

Amesbury has let us know that the alum treatment will be completed on Thursday- May 16th.

Boating and other recreational activities can be resumed on Friday 17th.

After the unfortunate accident with Solitude’s larger boat, they had to switch to the use of their smaller boat. This caused the whole process to take longer than planned.

All us well that ends well!

Thank you all for your patience and good will during this process.

Lake Attitash Association

Alum Treatment Is Scheduled

May 8, 2019

Dear Friends of Lake Attitash,

After all this time, the Lake Attitash Alum Treatment is happening this month!

Crystal clear water is coming soon! 


It has been a long journey so here is a refresher for those who are new to the lake. December 2015 – The LAA took its first steps towards obtaining an s.319 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in December of 2015. We knew we had to do something about the recurring cyanobacteria blooms in the lake. It was well known that these blooms are a threat to human and animal health. Thanks to years of research followed by the expert testing and consulting services of Dr. Kenneth Wagner, LAA knew what needed to be done and what the potential options were. In the end, the only option that DEP would consider funding was an alum treatment. Fortunately for us, the reason they would consider funding an in-lake treatment at this time was because over the past decades, through other grants, LAA, Amesbury and Merrimac had done everything that could reasonably be done prevent nutrients from entering the lake by installing main sewer lines and managing the main storm water run-off problems all around the lake.

Giving the lake a one-time alum treatment as prescribed by Dr. Wagner was going to cost approximately $600,000. Raising the required 40% match money (approximately $240,000) became a major project that was all consuming for the next two years. The LAA raised $50,000 from its members (amazing!) and worked to obtain the support of Amesbury and Merrimac who contributed the remaining funds.  We could not have applied for this grant without the commitment and generosity of the city of Amesbury, town of Merrimac and the support of Representatives Kelcourse and Mirra.  

March 2017 – Rob Desmarais, DPW Director for Amesbury worked with the LAA and Ken Wagner and submitted the grant proposal in March 2017. He wrote a winning proposal!

December 2017 – the LAA and Amesbury learned that the Department of Environmental Protection had awarded close to $360,000 for an alum treatment in Lake Attitash. With the match money we had set aside we had the $600,000 needed for the alum treatment.

December 2018 – Amesbury put out the bids for lake management companies to apply the alum.

January 2019 – Amesbury awarded the contract to Solitude Lake Management Services, the same company that has been conducting the annual weed management services for the LAA since 2012.

2019 – Amesbury sought and obtained the necessary permits to conduct the alum treatment.
This alum treatment is our reward for diligent, long term planning and effort and the support and wisdom of local leaders and the Department of Environmental Protection.

What is next?

  • Solitude and Amesbury have scheduled the start of the alum treatment for April 22. They expect the treatment to be completed in about 6 days. Assembling the required equipment and storage tanks at the State boat ramp off Route 110 will likely take a week prior to the treatment. Removing the equipment will take 2-3 days after the treatment has been completed. Weather can impact the timing and completion of the project.
  • The alum will be applied in the deepest sections of the lake, at depths of 11.5’ or more. Approximately 195 acres of this 365 acre lake will be treated. Dr. Wagner’s testing showed that the primary source of the nutrients that feed the cyanobacteria is in the sediment. Phosphorus has accumulated there for decades. His research also showed that and that deepest levels of sediment are in the deepest parts of the lake.
  • The alum will be applied from a boat that will be launched from the State Boat Ramp.
  • The Amesbury Conservation Commission has ordered restrictions on boating on the lake starting one day before the treatment and continuing until 2 days after the treatment has been completed. These restrictions will be posted around the lake by the Amesbury DPW. 

We want to do everything we can to prolong the effectiveness of this treatment. Its benefits are expected to last over 15 years but the more we can do to prevent nutrients from entering the lake through soil erosion and unfiltered storm water run-off the healthier our lake will be. Remember our New Year’s resolutions??

Go Wild!  Put your lawn on a diet! No fertilizer … or follow the law and only apply what your soil test prescribes.
Pick up the Poop!
Storm water running over your property?  – put in a buffer garden to absorb the storm water and the nutrients. 
Stop shore line erosion and storm water gullies – plant low bushes, grasses and perennials along your shoreline.
Clean up your shoreline – do what you can to stop additional nutrients from decaying leaves and lake weeds from reentering the lake. 
 Keep your compost area at least 25’ away from the lake edge.
 Pay attention to storm drains and retention basins near you and report any need for maintenance.
Slow down your boat! Drive slowly in shallow areas so as not to disturb the sediment and release those nutrients!
This project has been partially funded with Federal Funds from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection under an s. 319 competitive grant.

Lake Attitash Lovers New Year’s Resolutions!

January 24, 2019

2019 Lake Attitash Lovers New Year’s Resolutions!

This is going to be a Happy New Year for Lake Attitash!

This year we are going to get an amazing gift. Our lake is scheduled to receive a $600,000 alum treatment in early spring, thanks to a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, fundraising from the LAA membership and support from Amesbury and Merrimac. This treatment will seal the excess nutrients that have accumulated in the sediment in the deepest parts of the lake. Shallow areas, less than 11 feet deep, will not receive the treatment as it would be too easily disturbed by boat activity.

We can all do our part in to insure the success of this once-in-a-lifetime gift. We can commit to minimizing the flow of nutrients into the lake though storm water runoff and soil erosion as much as possible. What we do on our property around the lake and in the watershed has a huge impact on the water quality in Lake Attitash.

Here are 10 simple ways that we can make a difference!

1) Fertilizer use: Go Wild! Go Natural! If you must use fertilizer, first complete a soil test to determine exactly what is needed and then applying it only what is prescribed. Visit UMASS at: https://ag.umass.edu/services/soil-plant-nutrient-testing-laboratory/ordering-information-forms  for reliable soil testing. Soil testing can help you save time and money. Remember phosphorous us public enemy #1 for our lake. 

  • Pick up after your pets. Poop is loaded with nutrients that feed plants and harmful algae blooms. It is also a source of bacteria, creating a significant public health hazard.

3) Protect the shoreline from storm water run-off. If you see gullies or washouts after heavy rain this means that storm water loaded with nutrients and pollutants is running unfiltered into the lake and eroding soil into the lake. Contact the LAA for assistance regarding good solutions. Lakeattitash.org

4)  Plant native plants along your shoreline to absorb nutrients before they can enter the water. Plants along the bank can also dissuade Canada Geese from the area. 

5) If you are disturbing the soil within 25′ of wetland or shoreline contact your conservation agent for advice on how to protect the lake. 

6) Clean up your shoreline regularly. Do what you can to reduce the amount of decaying weeds, leaves, and trash that bring additional nutrients and pollutants into our water.  Clean up your shoreline regularly. Do what you can to reduce the amount of decaying weeds, leaves and trash that bring additional nutrients and pollutants into our water.

7) If you maintain a compost pile make sure it as least 25′ away from the edge of your wetland or shore. 

8) Check on any catch basins or storm drains near you. If they need maintenance contact the Amesbury or Merrimac Public Works Departments and ask them to clean them out. 

9) Keep an eye out for drains that appear to be blocked and report them to the appropriate Public Works Department. We need to prevent storm water runoff from going directly into the lake bringing those nutrients and pollutants with it. 

10) Last but not least…. if you are a boat owner always respect the speed limits, other boaters and our shoreline. Reduce speed in shallow areas near the shore. Your wake erodes shorelines and disturbs the sediment, allowing the release of the nutrients that have accumulated there into the water column. These nutrients, notably phosphorous, feed the weeds and algae. 

Enjoy the New Year, and let’s all make it a happy and healthy year on Lake Attitash.

This project has been partially funded with Federal Funds from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection under an s. 319 competitive grant.


LAA at Amesbury Con Com Meeting on Jan. 7th

January 4, 2019

Lake Attitash needs your help.  Please attend the Amesbury Conservation Commission meeting on Monday, January 7th at 7 PM at the Amesbury City Hall, 62 Friend Street in Amesbury to support the Lake Attitash Association’s request to extend its permit to treat for invasive weeds in 2019. (Good news – we are early on the agenda!) Without the Commission’s permit approval there will be no weed treatment and we will potentially be back to the days of clogged boat props, swimming entanglements, fishing snags and more.  Your support lets the Commission know how important this permit is to the people who enjoy using Lake Attitash.  See you there!Note: many of you attended the December Conservation Commission meeting when this permit was first requested. You will recall that the decision was “continued” to January 7. LAA was asked to provide an opinion from our lake management company regarding the interaction of Diquat (the herbicide we typically use for invasive milfoil) and alum (the grant funded treatment scheduled for next Spring to address the cyanobacteria blooms). We will be providing this additional information on January 7.

Amesbury Con Com Meeting

November 23, 2018

Amesbury Order of Conditions for weed management – LAA’s Order of Conditions (OoC) from the Amesbury Con Com expires on March 19, 2019.  We are starting the process of renewal of our OOC now and have submitted a request to extend our OoC to John Lopez, Con Comm agent for Amesbury.  LAA is on the agenda for Dec 3rd for both our Vegitative Management Plan and Order of Conditions extension.  The Con Com meetings are in the Amesbury City Hall and start at 6:30 PM.  Please feel free to attend and support this request.  LAA’s Order of Conditions with Merrimac was extended this year for 3 more years until June 28 2021. 

2018 ANNUAL MEETING

November 23, 2018

The 2018 Lake Attitash Association annual meeting was held on Thursday, August 9th.  Over 70 people attended.  The guest speaker for the evening was Stephanie Hanson, from Comprehensive Environmental, Inc who gave a presentation about the history, current status and proposed treatment plan to manage the Cyanobacteria problem in Lake Attitash.  There were also other presentations from LAA Officers and Board members on how to keep phosphorus out of the lake, and what lake residents can to to help educate others about good management practices.  

KIDS FISHING DERBY

August 13, 2018

LAKE ATTITASH

KIDS FISHING DERBY

August 18th

8 AM till 12 Noon

(Rain date August 19th)

Two Age Groups 12 & Under and 13 to 16

No registration required!!!!

Weigh in at Merrimac Boat Ramp between 11AM and Noon

1st, 2nd & 3rd Prizes for Both Age Group for:

Longest Fish

Heaviest Fish

(one prize per individual)

CATCH AND RELEASE PREFERRED

Thoughts or questions, e-mail info@lakeattitash.org. Cancellation info will be posted on the website: Lakeattitash.org

 

Sponsored by the Lake Attitash Association

Grand Illumination Boat Parade

August 13, 2018

Saturday, September 1st

Grand Illumination Boat Parade

Meet at State Board Ramp in Merrimac at 6:30
Rain Date: Sunday, September 2nd

Dress your boat and house with lights and decorations… or come as you are!!!
Sponsored by the Lake Attitash Association 

Let’s get serious! The Law about Fertilizer Use!

July 9, 2018

Dear Friends and Protectors of Lake Attitash:

 

Let’s get serious!

 

Fertilizer use in the watershed is serious business! You need to know about this new law!

 

There is a new law in Massachusetts restricting the use of fertilizers containing Phosphorous on all non-agricultural turf or lawns in order to protect our waterways.  (“An Act Relative to the Regulation of Plant Nutrients” 330 CMR 31.00)

All fertilizer labels have three bold numbers. These three numbers represent the primary nutrients (nitrogen(N) – phosphorous(P) – potassium(K)).

Here are some of the restrictions in the new law:

 

  • Fertilizer containing Phosphorous can only be applied when a soil test has indicated that it is necessary OR when a new lawn is being established, patched or renovated
  • No fertilizer of any sort can be applied between December 1 and March 1 to frozen or snow covered soil, to saturated soil, or soils that frequently flood, or to soil within 20’ of a water supply well or within 100’ of surface water that is used for public drinking water supply.
  •  any plant nutrient / fertilizer applied shall not exceed UMass guidelines for plant nutrient application rates to turf.
  •  Soil tests for nutrient analysis shall be obtained from the UMass Extension Soil Testing Lab or a laboratory using methods and procedures recommended by UMass. Soil tests are valid for three years.

 

Why all the restrictions?

 

 

 

  • Stormwater carries nutrients from fertilizer use, pet waste, faulty septic systems and other sources into our lakes and waterways. An abundance of Nitrogen and Phosphorous in the water acts like fertilizer and creates excessive growth of weeds and algae. The blue-green algae / cyanobacteria blooms that frequently occur in Lake Attitash are a significant health hazard and are caused by excessive amounts of nutrients in the water and the sediment.
  • Algae are relatively short lived; when they decay, algae consume the available oxygen in the water. This can lead to a die-off of fish and animals, cause the water to become murky and odorous, and limit recreational activities.
  • TOO MANY NUTRIENTS IN THE WATER CAN RESULT IN ALGAL BLOOMS, WHICH CAN BE TOXIC TO HUMANS AND ANIMALS

What we can do to protect our lake from excess nutrients flowing into the lake from your land?

                             

Excellent examples of shoreline buffer strips

Leave or create a buffer garden, a strip of natural or unfertilized vegetation along your shoreline. This prevents erosion and helps use up any excess nutrients before they enter the lake.

 

  • Get your soil tested. Put your lawn on a diet. Feed it only when it is necessary according to the test results. UMass Extension offers low cost soil testing – visit the following website for more information: https://ag.umass.edu/sites/ag.umass.edu/files/pdf-doc-ppt/routine_home_grounds_112917_0.pdf
  • Do not apply fertilizer before heavy rainfall
  • Minimize fertilizer use on slopes
  • Use a mulching mower. This reduces the need for fertilizer on your lawn by one-half.
  • Use native plants as they thrive without fertilizer.
  • Don’t overwater your lawn. Consider using a timer or put out an empty tuna can – when it’s full you can stop watering.
  • Use organic mulch whenever possible.
  • Compost or mulch yard waste. Don’t leave it in the street or sweep it into storm drains or streams.
  • Cover piles of dirt or mulch being used in landscaping projects.

 

You can find No-Phosphorous Fertilizer at Home Depot and Lowes and other garden supply stores!   

 

Details about this law are available at: www.mass.gov/eea/docs/agr/pesticides/docs/plant-nutrient-regs-turf-and-lawn-factsheet.pdf

 

Information in this message taken from a Massachusetts DCR publication “Phosphorus in Fertilizer”

 

This project has been partially funded with Federal Funds from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) under an s. 319 competitive grant.

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