April
By John McKenna
Waterbury Republican-American
MORRIS - The town and the state Department
of Environmental Protection have reached an agreement on a lease
granting the state use of the town-owned Bantam Lake boat launch
through 2008.
Under the terms of the lease, which was approved by the Board of
Selectmen Tuesday, the DEP will pay the town $50,000 in two annual
installments of $25,000. The money will be used to help fund the
invasive weed treatment program Morris, Litchfield, the White Memorial
Foundation and the Bantam Lake Protective Association are sponsoring.
The terms are outlined in a March 21 letter from the DEP's commissioner,
Gina McCarthy, to Morris First Selectman Philip Birkett. McCarthy,
in her letter, said the state will maintain the boat launch, staff
it on weekends and holidays during the summer, and assist with
the permit process for chemical treatment of invasive weeds.
"The DEP is resolved to rebuild the trust between the town and
our agency through better boat launch management and by taking
steps to assist in improving the water quality of the lake," McCarthy
wrote. "It is our sincere desire to maintain this lease agreement
with the town in the future and to pursue plans to renovate the
launch at the expense of the DEP. Such an arrangement would benefit
the town as well as Connecticut boaters."
The DEP leased the boat launch from 1980 to 2005 under a 25-year
agreement that went into effect after a state-funded dredging project
was completed. Before the lease expired, the DEP and town were
unable to reach an agreement on a new long-term deal, and the DEP
has been leasing the launch on a year-to-year basis since.
Local officials wanted a new lease to involve a financial contribution
from the DEP and assurance by the agency that it would better maintain
the launch, which is in disrepair. The DEP, however, balked at
both requests. But at a meeting with Birkett in January, McCarthy,
who became commissioner in 2006, said the state was prepared to
make a greater commitment to the launch and the lake.
"We have developed a good rapport with the state and I'd like to
see that continue," Birkett said. "This time around they are showing
us the money. Hopefully it is a sign of things to come as far as
working for the benefit of the lake."
Sept.
14, 2006
By John McKenna
Waterbury Republican-American
MORRIS - Local and state officials toured Bantam Lake by boat Wednesday
for a look at the result of the first round of herbicide treatment
of Eurasian milfoil, a non-native invasive weed capable of choking
off large sections of the lake.
Five areas totaling 52 acres were treated in June by Aquatic Control
Technologies of Sutton, Mass., the firm the towns of Litchfield
and Morris, the White Memorial Foundation and the Bantam Lake Protective
Association selected to carry out a three-year weed management
plan.
Morris First Selectman Philip Birkett and Bantam Lake Protective
Association president Connie Trolle organized the tour aboard lake
resident Scott Morris's wheelboat, the Jubilee. Litchfield Selectman
Joan Whitbeck and representatives of White Memorial, the Bantam
Lake Protective Association and the Bantam Lake Authority participated
as did state Sen. Andrew Roraback, R-Goshen, and Litchfield Hills
Council of Elected Officials planning director Richard Lynn.
Leading the tour was Gerry Smith, president of Aquatic Control
Technologies. The state Department of Environmental Protection
and the state Department of Health, which must approve permits
for next year's round of treatment, were also represented.
According to Smith, the herbicide killed 95 percent of the targeted
milfoil in the areas of treatment along the shorelines of Deer
Island and North Shore Road, at the Bantam River outlet, the southeast
corner near Morris Town Beach, and the east shore of the north
bay.
"Things look very favorable in terms of controlling milfoil, but
we are by no means where we want to be yet," Smith said.
Herbicide is scheduled to be applied in the spring of 2007 and
2008 under the management plan, which carries an estimated cost
of about $200,000, but Smith said the success of this year's treatment
could mean that less herbicide will be needed next year. Litchfield,
Morris, White Memorial and the Bantam Lake Protective Association
each contributed $25,000 toward the first treatment.
Over the next several months, lake biologist George Knoecklein
of Northeast Aquatic Research of Mansfield will compile a report
evaluating the result of this year's treatment and recommending
a strategy for 2007. If milfoil has been reduced to the extent
believed, Smith said, next year's treatment of the five areas could
be less intensive.
Knoecklein, who took the tour, is also working on a diagnostic
study of the lake's sources of phosphorous and other nutrients
that promote weed growth.
Herbicide will control but not eradicate the targeted weeds, Smith
said. After the three years of treatment are completed, lake residents
will be asked to monitor shorelines for the presence of the weeds.
"There needs to be a sustained, long-term plan involving the people
living on the lake and public officials," Smith said.
Nancy Murray, a biologist with the DEP, spent much of the tour
at the bow of the boat pulling weed samples from the bottom. Although
the first treatment appears to have worked well, Murray said much
work remains.
"These weeds are not completely removed in one season, so that's
why we like to see treatment plans last longer than one year," Murray
said. "The more you can control milfoil, the more chance native
weeds have to take its place."
The tour also provided a look at the 700-foot mesh net Smith's
company placed at the mouth of the Bantam River inlet to control
the growth of fanwort, another non-native invasive weed. Fanwort
began growing in the river and has proliferated at the inlet. The
net extends four to six feet below the surface of the lake and
is designed to control the spread of the weed. Herbicide can't
be used at the inlet because the area is home to species of native
weeds protected under state law.
Native weeds serving as habitat for fish aren't affected by the
herbicide, nor are the fish, Smith said.
Officials to visit the lake
September 8, 2006
By Dawn Caminiti
The Litchfield Enquirer
Just months after the start of a three-year treatment plan to
eradicate the weeds taking over Bantam Lake, state and local officials
are anxious to see what progress has been made.
Morris First Selectman Phil Birkett and Litchfield Selectman Joan
Whitbeck will tour the lake Sept. 13 with representatives from
the state Department of Environmental Protection, the state Department
of Public Health, White Memorial Foundation, Bantam Lake Protective
Association and members of Aquatic Control, the Massachusetts company
that applied the herbicide treatment.
We'll take a tour of the areas that were treated to assess the
success, which to me I think is very, very good. We've had excellent
results from the treatment," Mr. Birkett said.
"I think it's good thing for all of us to get together to
see what was done and what we hope to accomplish so that when we
begin the permitting process this fall and into the winter the
people writing the permits for us will be able to see with their
mind's eye what we're doing and what we've accomplished," Mr.
Birkett said.
At 916 acres, Bantam Lake is the largest natural lake in the state.
It borders Litchfield and Morris and for years the two towns have
been trying to secure state funding to clean up the growing invasive
weeds taking over the lake.
After failing the secure state funding, the towns of Morris and
Litchfield, along with the White Memorial Foundation and the Bantam
Lake Protective Association each contributed $25,000 toward the
weed eradication program.
Already a screen at the Bantam River inlet was installed to control
the spread of fanwort, a growing problem in the river. In June,
five areas of Bantam Lake were treated with pesticide to kill the
invasive weeds in the lake.
A similar treatment is planned for the next two years, followed
by a maintenance program. A permit from the DEP is required for
each new year of treatment.
Aquatic Control, an aquatic vegetation management company, has
successfully completed similar treatment programs in New Hampshire
and Massachusetts
© The Litchfield Enquirer 2006
Morris still seeking help for lake cleanup
January 2006
By Dawn Caminiti
Staff Reporter
The Litchfield Enquirer
Morris’ first selectman is continuing his battle to get assistance
from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection with
regard to the monumental clean-up project planned for Bantam Lake.
The 916-acre lake is the state’s largest natural resource.
Recently Litchfield, Morris, the White Memorial Foundation and the
Bantam Lake Protective agreed to fund a three-year pesticide treatment
program to eradicate the invasive plants (such as milfoil, fanwort
and water chestnut) taking over the lake.
“I think we’re all very disappointed that the state
doesn’t live up to its responsibility to be a constructive
participant in protecting a unique natural resource, which is our
largest natural lake, and I think the state’s failure has
resulted in the towns taking matters into their own hands,”
said State Sen. Andrew Roraback (R-Goshen), who has been working
closely with Morris to find aid for the lake.
First Selectman Phil Birkett sent a letter to David Leff, commissioner
of the Department of Environmental Protection, outlining the program
and requesting any assistance from the state. Previously he had
asked for financial assistance in exchange for the state’s
access to a boat launch on East Shore Road. The state’s lease
with the town expired last year in June and a new one has yet to
be negotiated. “I write with great disappointment that an
accord could not be reached between the Town of Morris and the Department
of Environmental Protection with regard to the Bantam Lake Boat
Launch lease,” Mr. Birkett wrote in his Dec. 27 letter, which
went on to say that “the state of Connecticut DEP was asked
to partner with us toward to goal of weed eradication as a part
of the lease negotiations. I feel strongly that the State of Connecticut
DEP has a vital role to play in the clean-up of the state’s
largest natural lake.”
Mr. Birkett asked for continued assistance to secure permits for
the duration of the three-year program and on-going maintenance
following it. The DEP has already approved a one-year permit for
an herbicide treatment.The letter also asks for assistance monitoring
wells within the lake’s parameter, promoting public awareness
and coordinating with Aquatic Control, the organization overseeing
the chemical treatment plan. He also requested support for the Heritage
Lake designation and funding assistance for a two-year diagnostic
feasibility study.“We need to know the enemy we’re fighting,”
he explained Monday. “If people are putting different chemicals
in the lake, we need to know about that. We have to have a handle
on what we’re doing.”
Last year State Rep. Craig Miner (R-Litchfield), who is also working
with the town to find aid, introduced a bill to designate Bantam
Lake as a heritage lake making it part of a preservation program,
but the bill was tabled in April. It would need to go before the
environmental committee in order to be considered again. Mr. Miner
said Wednesday that he would reintroduce it if Mr. Birkett wanted.
“I don’t personally believe that designation is helpful
in getting the DEP to be any more active than they already are,”
Mr. Miner said, adding that the town would have greater luck continuing
to use the boat launch as a negotiation tactic.
“I think the town of Morris has the state of Connecticut in
a different position than it otherwise might be because access to
the lake is very important to the DEP and the prospect of trying
to develop a launch at some other place is very expensive and highly
unlikely,” Rep. Miner said.
Sen. Roraback that point, adding that the state owes the town as
much financial and technical support as it can given in exchange
for its access to the lake. “What we’re trying to do
is have the state do as much as it can to support the efforts to
clean up the lake,” he said.
© The Litchfield Enquirer 2006
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