Lake Management
The overall challenges to lake management is how to best preserve, protect and enhance the lake environment. We need to manage water quality and maintain the beneficial uses that include swimming, boating, fishing, other recreational activities, as well as sustaining aesthetics & economic value of Lake Lashaway. It is also important to strive for a sensible balance between recreational activities and providing a healthy habitat & resting place for desirable water fowl & migratory birds. Clearly, this is quite the task for a limited amount of member volunteers to be able to manage successfully. As lake residents and users of Lake Lashaway, it is important to be part of the Association and if you can, volunteer some of your time.
Remember to Clean, Drain, Dry… before launching your boat in any lake and upon leaving!
Protect our lakes and ponds for future generations to enjoy.
Draw Down Process
Lake level drawdown and the subsequent exposure of sediments to prolonged freezing and/or drying can potentially be a means of aquatic weed control. Drawdowns serve to stress plants and could physically remove them from their habitat; however, lake drawdown is also rather unpredictable. The potential for drawdown success is affected by certain conditions, namely, the capability to draw down the lake to an adequate level to maximize exposure and sub-freezing temperatures during the winter months of the drawdown.
STOP Aquatic Hitchhikers!
Recreational activities such as boating may spread aquatic invasive species. Some aquatic invasive species can attach to boats, while others can become tangled on propellers, anchor lines, or boat trailers. Many species can survive in bilge water, ballast tanks, and motors.
Fortunately, completing simple steps can prevent the transport of aquatic invasive species.
- Remember to Clean, Drain, Dry… when leaving a body of water.
- All visible plants, mud or other debris should be removed from the watercraft and equipment.
- All drain plugs should be pulled with any standing water allowed to fully drain.
- Also never release plants, fish, or animals into a body of water unless they came from that body of water.
Protect our lakes and ponds for future generations to enjoy.
Herbicide Treatment
Aquatic herbicides and algaecides have been used successfully for several decades. Several thousand acres of nuisance aquatic vegetation have been managed in the northeast with annual herbicide treatment. Because these products are added directly to the water, the EPA requires extensive data to assess the safety of herbicide before it can be approved and registered for use in aquatic systems. The risk assessment process is complex and can take 6 to 10 years to complete. EPA-registered & State-approved herbicides can be highly effective products to use in controlling aquatic invasive species.
For the treatment of the invasive species of Milfoil and Fanwort, the most successful and cost-effectIve method is the use of Diquat dibromide herbicide. Diquat has been registered by the EPA and approved by Massachusetts and many other states for years, including the state of California. Doctor Cheryl Pikora, MD, a LLCA member and concerned resident, has researched the use of Diquat. READ MORE.
Donate to the Lake Fund and or Pay Dues
Address
Lake Lashaway Community Association, LLC
P.O. Box 72
East Brookfield, MA 01515
lakelashaway@gmail.com