Who We Are and What We Do
OUR MISSION
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. Our mission is to enhance the environment, ecology and water quality conditions on the shoreline or in BOARD MEMBERS Luca Conte, President LOCAL LINKS
Lake Bomoseen, Vermont.
Ellen Oppenheimer, Vice President
Steven Moskowitz, Treasurer
Dawn Custer, Secretary
Steve Anderson, Board Member
Colin Fingon, Board Member
Trey Schaft, Board Member
Lindsey Waterhouse, Board Member
LBPT Facebook Page
Lake Bomoseen Association
Town of Castleton
Town of Hubbardton Phone: (802) 273-2951
EURASIAN MILFOIL INFORMATION
INVASIVE SPECIESFrom The Adirondack Explorer PROCELLCOR HERBICIDE USE EXPANDED TO MORE ADIRONDACK LAKES IN 2024 When an appeals court in May sided with the Adirondack Park Agency’s approval of a plan to use an herbicide in Lake George, it set the stage for a pitched fight over the first-ever chemical control of invasive plants in the Queen of American Lakes.
By Zachary Matson, December 24, 2024
Despite a concerted effort by the Lake George Association to block the use of ProcellaCOR in a pair of north basin bays to kill invasive Eurasian watermilfoil, state agencies and courts rejected a litany of concerns from residents and the lake association.
Property owners argued that the herbicide, which has been used in scores of lakes across the state and Northeast, had not been tested enough to ensure safety to their drinking water or Lake George’s prized environment.
The Lake George Park Commission, which sponsored the herbicide project, argued that it had been vetted by state and federal experts and approved for use in countries around the world. Previous methods of milfoil control were costly and largely ineffective, and ProcellaCOR record of use was compelling, proponents said.
APA’s approval of the herbicide, despite widespread public opposition, contrasted with how a similar fight played out in Vermont.
Ultimately, the herbicide was dropped into Lake George on June 30, marking the first chemical management of an invasive plant in the lake’s history.
The herbicide was not detectable within 24 hours, according to monitoring, and when divers visited the site a month later they observed dead and dying milfoil throughout the application sites.
Tensions between the LGA and park commission ran high, but in the wake of the monitoring the leaders of the two organizations went public with a truce and promise to work together to study the herbicide’s impact and whether to expand its use to other infested bays.
The lake association’s new leader said he planned to follow the science as the organization formed a view of future herbicide uses on the lake.
Lake George wasn’t the only lake to deploy ProcellaCOR as lake communities continued to line up for approval to use the latest weapon in the fight against the Adirondacks’ most pervasive aquatic invader.
Paradox Lake, Chateaugay Lake, Brant Lake and Caroga Lake all used the herbicide over the summer. Residents on Horseshoe Pond in the northern Adirondacks rallied to raise money to treat their private pond, while also pressing state officials to do the same on the adjacent Deer River Flow, where invasive milfoil still flourishes.
DONATIONS & NEWS
DONATIONS No board members or officers receive any form of remuneration. Annual overhead expenses are less than $1,000. Your donations provide the funding for our grant program and various State lake permits described in the last column Checks made out to Lake Bomoseen Preservation Trust can be mailed to: LBPT, PO Box 356, You may also use the PayPal link below, where all major credit cards and are accepted. Please note that PayPal fees will apply if the link is used for payment. For Venmo, please search under Lake Bomoseen Preservation Trust
Bomoseen, VT 05732.
PayPal Link
Venmo: search Lake Bomoseen Preservation Trust. NEWS Weed Harvesting Becoming Available Thanks to the Lake Bomoseen Association, the LBPT has acquired a large orange mechanical weed harvester and related equipment used for the transfer of harvested weeds to local organic farmers' fields for use as natural fertilizer. Our new acquisitions are undergoing testing, spot usage and planning for the 2024-25 season So that we may develop weed harvesting, DASH and benthic barrier services in 2024-25, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to the Lake Bomoseen Preservation Trust, Inc., A benthic barrier is a piece of material (film, sheet) that lays on the Benthos layer (floor) of a lake or pond to keep sunlight from getting to the nutrient-rich soil on the lake bottom. The material is usually heavier than water which allows it to settle firmly on the lake's bottom. But in most cases, additional weight is needed to keep the material in place. Gases of decomposition forming under the material can be a problem (the addition of rebar in the side sleeves prevents this).
Thank you for considering a donation to our organization.
PO Box 356, Bomoseen, VT 05732.
Benthic Barrier Program Plans for 2025
One possible vendor for this product is at https://lakebottomblanket.com. Homeowners will be able to review and order products on their website. The barriers are 10 ft. wide and come in lengths of 20, 25 and 30 ft (longer lengths may be currently out of stock).
The LBPT has a limited number of benthic barriers that can be leased for the season or purchased for $100 per barrier. Please contact us at conteparker@gmail.com to learn more about availability and installation.
Eligible homeowners must have a permit for installation of Benthic Barriers, which can be obtained in two ways:
1) Pre-existing permitted areas, such as the LBPT's Float Bridge Bay Area Permit, or individuals who have secured the General Permit for DASH/Benthic Barriers previously.
2) A new 8-year permit through a General Permit application (which can be filed by the homeowner, or by the LBPT for a $75 fee).( Also, for areas with 5 or more homeowners who are interested in securing a 10-year Area Permit for both DASH and/or Benthic Barrier services, the LBPT will assist in the preparation and submission of a new Permit Application to the DEC for the 2024-25 season; (contact Luca Conte below).
Here are some answers to questions you may have:
The benthic blankets can be ordered online and ship in 2-3 days; Each benthic blanket requires purchase of 5 or more 10-foot lengths of rebar from a local hardware store (e.g. Gilmore carries the 10' requisite lengths) depending on the length of the blanket and number of blankets installed;
2-4 blankets are recommended for treating areas around docks and swimming sites;
All blankets should be removed from the lake by October 1 and can be stored for re-use the next season;
Please email Luca Conte (conteparker@gmail.com) for suggestions of blanket installation vendors who may charge a fee. A video of the do-it-yourself installation is also available at the lake bottom blanket website; .
Funds are limited. The LBPT can provide a limited number of subsidies on a first-come, first served basis. However, we will also maintain a waiting list for those who would like to be considered for any additional grant funding for the 2024-25 season. Please email Luca Conte (conteparker@gmail.com) to express your interest in this program and to establish your name on the service list. Regular updates on these programs can be obtained by following the LBPT on Facebook.