Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) in Joe's Pond
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Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM), a non-native invasive aquatic plant has recently been discovered in Joe's Pond. EWM is a highly aggressive invasive that represents the potential to dramatically change Joe's Pond as we have always known if it is not contained at a manageable level. Initially, a floating fragment was noticed by an alert Joe's Pond Association (JPA) member; a photograph of which was sent to Kim Jensen of the Aquatic Invasive Species Section (AIS) in the VT Agency of Natural Resources and confirmed as EWM. A subsequent watercraft based visual survey of the littoral zone (shallow water portion of the lake) by a consultant (Arrowwood Environmental) contracted by the JPA located several established populations of EWM all in the area of Sandy Beach Road.
Subsequently, Kim and a team of scuba divers conducted four days of hand pulling the plants growing in these areas and placement of two 100 ft. square benthic mats on the lake bed in an effort to contain the infestation. JPA member Jim Bernotas and Josie Cicia also spent several hours on a later date hand pulling plants in the same area. As of 10/15/24 it appears that hand pulling has not eliminated all the plants in these areas. This map shows the extensive littoral zone in Joe's Pond (the area suitable for EWM propagation) and the locations of the known established EWM populations. |
State divers preparing to harvest milfoil
Placing the Benthic Barrier
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On Friday, 10/04/24, the state Aquatic Invasive Species dive team, assisted by JPA member and scuba diver Jim Bernotas, JPA President Joe Hebert and Joanne and Jamie Stewart, installed approximately 200 square feet of benthic barrier on the lake bed to cover the most dense areas of Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) establishment identified to date. This operation was conducted just off the shoreline along Sandy Beach Road and was preceded by the removal and relocation of any freshwater mussels found within the footprint of the benthic mats. The mats consist of a geotextile material designed to limit the amount of sunlight and solar energy accessible to the EWM thereby killing it over time, and are anchored to the lake bed by pieces of steel reinforcing rod laid on top of the mats. The application of the mats was limited to this small priority area as the AIS believes that more widespread use of the mats results in the elimination of native plant species which, if left intact, serve to deter the establishment of EWM. EWM will quickly and aggressively re-colonize any bare areas of lake bed. Continued vigilance, monitoring, hand pulling and potentially additional treatments may be required next spring. |
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The Need to Monitor and Patrol for Additional Populations
While the boat-based visual survey by Arrowwood Environmental (AE) and by AIS staff did not find any additional established EWM, that does not mean there's no more EWM growing in the lake. Floating EWM fragments are continuing to be found in an area of the pond remote from the known infestation areas. It therefore is imperative that everyone in, on and around the lake be able to positively identify EWM and to actively search and watch for plants and floating fragments. See additional information below regarding an important training opportunity in the spring, 2025. While the highest priority is to immediately contain the existing known populations, nearly as important is the need to find and locate any other established EWM populations.
AE will be under contract to perform a comprehensive surface-based visual and underwater survey in May 2025.
The AIS has provided resources to help identify and confirm what is EWM and what isn't and are provided here:
AE will be under contract to perform a comprehensive surface-based visual and underwater survey in May 2025.
The AIS has provided resources to help identify and confirm what is EWM and what isn't and are provided here:
The Need for On-Going EWM Harvesting
JPA Member Jim Bernotas and niece, Josie
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An EWM harvesting contractor has been engaged to perform an intensive 3-5 day EWM harvesting operation involving a combination of hand-pulling, DASH and benthic barrier placement in late May-early June 2025 in the area off Sandy Beach Road where EWM has previously been identified. This operation will also include any additional areas that may be discovered by the AE conducted survey to be completed prior to the harvesting operation. A JPA dive team is being assembled and equipped under the direction of Jim Bernotas. This team will be responsible for supporting contracted EWM management operations, responding to volunteer-generated and confirmed reports of new EWM establishment to conduct hand harvesting and benthic barrier placement as appropriate, and to augment volunteer conducted survey and monitoring activities.
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In-water Search Tools
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A simple underwater viewer can assist in the search for EWM. The JPA has made a few of these viewers available to the membership. You can easily make your own viewer. Check this link for creating your own "StangelScope". If you do search and find what you believe to be EWM, do not try to pull it up. Take only a small piece to confirm it identification. If its a positive ID, mark the location with a buoy and report your finding to the JPA Milfoil Response Coordinator (see below). |
Scuba diver Kellie Merrell removing milfoil
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The Need for Volunteers and Training
The Official JP Buoy
The JPA has already begun seeking Lakeshore Section Coordinators and volunteers who are willing to monitor and search for EWM and other needed tasks. Certified scuba divers and those skilled in snorkeling are especially valuable skills. But to fully realize the potential benefits of these skilled individuals and other plant surveyors, they need to be trained in both aquatic plant identification and how to harvest and remove the invasives, in this case EWM. EWM readily propagates by fragmentation, thus it is necessary that hand pulling be conducted only by trained persons to minimize the chance of inadvertently spreading it.
The JPA will be conducting an EWM Identification Training workshop following the JPA Annual Spring Meeting on May 24. The training will cover identification of EWM and native milfoils, duties of the Lakeshore Section Coordinators, EWM hand harvesting techniques, marker buoy placement, geolocation protocols, data transfer to the JPA Mapping Specialist, and coordination of EWM monitoring and survey spatial coverage.
Follow this link to the JPA webpage that depicts the 12 lakeshore sections for which Lakeshore Sections Coorinators will be responsible.
If you can volunteer to serve as a JPA Lakeshore Section Coordinator, please contact Jim Bernotas.
Following is more information on the VIP program:
Vermont Invasive Patrollers and Vermont Invasive Patrollers Manual
The JPA will be conducting an EWM Identification Training workshop following the JPA Annual Spring Meeting on May 24. The training will cover identification of EWM and native milfoils, duties of the Lakeshore Section Coordinators, EWM hand harvesting techniques, marker buoy placement, geolocation protocols, data transfer to the JPA Mapping Specialist, and coordination of EWM monitoring and survey spatial coverage.
Follow this link to the JPA webpage that depicts the 12 lakeshore sections for which Lakeshore Sections Coorinators will be responsible.
If you can volunteer to serve as a JPA Lakeshore Section Coordinator, please contact Jim Bernotas.
Following is more information on the VIP program:
Vermont Invasive Patrollers and Vermont Invasive Patrollers Manual
How You Can Help
The JPA has designated a Milfoil Response Coordinator, Barry Cahoon. If you wish to volunteer to help the JPA contain and control this insidious invasive, send an email with your contact information to the Coordinator. You will be added to the volunteer list and will receive pertinent communications on how you can help. If you have any special skills, please include that information. Barry can be contacted via email at: [email protected] or 802-535-0049.
Additional Information
The JPA response to the EWM threat will be guided by the AIS document Managing Aquatic Invasive Species and the Joe's Pond Association Eurasian Watermilfoil Management Plan. Please take the time to study and absorb the valuable information contained in these important and informative documents. They includes all the action elements necessary for an effective JPA response to the infestation. Many of the resources available to JPA are included. The AIS has also provided these resources to help raise lake awareness: Boating Resource Guide and Lakeshore Property Guide.
Joe's Pond Association has formed a Eurasian Watermilfoil Committee in support of JPA efforts to contain and, if possible, eliminate the current infestation of EWM. Please see milfoil meeting minutes webpage.
Joe's Pond Association has formed a Eurasian Watermilfoil Committee in support of JPA efforts to contain and, if possible, eliminate the current infestation of EWM. Please see milfoil meeting minutes webpage.