1. A presentation by Neil Kamman (DEC Manager of Lake Monitoring and 
   Assessment) on the National Assessment of Lakes.  Neil worked for EPA on 
   this assessment; its good news for us that he is back full time at DEC.  
   Some key points: 

    * Blue green algae (and the accompanying cyanotoxin exposure) is the 
      greatest threat to the recreational condition of a lake. 

    * When habitat is poor, the biological integrity of the lake is impaired. 

    * Habitat ( he was referring to the natural conditions on the lake's edge) 
      is more important than phosphorus to water quality.  Neil was speaking 
      statistically, we know that when our lake's shore is disturbed that more 
      phosphorus is entering the lake and is carried on sediment particles. 

    * Two recommended action points are low impact development approaches and  
      shoreline management (both needed to keep good "habitat").   

2.  Susan Warren (DEC Lakes & Ponds Section Chief) had two gifts for us, one a 
   template for a bookmark and a colorful, eye catching poster.  each 
   encourages the restoring of natural buffers. 
 
3.  Leslie Matthews and Ann Bove (DEC Invasive Species) had their usual 
   display of Aquatic plants, both native and Invasive.  The new invasive 
   plant, variable leaf milfoil, has not been observed to have spread out of 
   Hall's Pond and Missisqoui Bay.  It is under control in Hall's Pond, but is 
   spreading a little in Missisquoi Bay.  Jan, you probably already know this, 
   but Leslie announced that she will travel to lakes to give a refresher 
   course to VIPs & I would guess would include any of our searchers who could 
   attend. 
 
4.  Millie Archer, of Vermont League of Cities and Towns (a non-government 
   group to support towns), is back!  Her new task, beginning in October, is 
   to develop a model zoning ordinance specific to lake shores.  This should 
   be more helpful to the Planning/Zoning Board than the present model 
   ordinance available which is specific to riparian areas (which most 
   properly refers to stream & river banks). Ron, Steve, Allan, Richard -  
   this is for you. 
 
5.  Amy Picotte (yes, the correct pronunciation is pea-cot) presented 
   information on a new DEC rating system, called the lake score card,  for 
   the condition of lakes and ponds.  Leslie Matthews had a big part of this 
   also.  The system is too detailed to explain here, but Ron, Erik and I had 
   an earlier email from Amy which describes the system if anyone else is 
   interested.  Soon, the system, which answers the question "How is my lake 
   doing?" will be available on DEC's web site.  Thanks to Al there is a link 
   to this site on our seymourlakes.org site. 
 
6.  Kellie Merrell (DEC Lake Assessment) was not there, but she was quoted, 
   "wherever there are lawns on the shore of a lake, water quality declines".  
   Kellie is known nationally as an expert on the relationship of shore and 
   near shore conditions on water quality. 
 
7.  Ginny Garrison, FOVLAP's Legislative Affairs Committee Chair, reported 
   that several new laws relating to lakes were passed in the 2010 session.  
   Perhaps the most important one for me to share with you is Act 110.  Act 
   110 establishes a Shoreland Management & River Management Program within VT 
   ANR (Agency of Natural Resources).  Among other details, by Feb.1, 2011 ANR 
   "must offer financial incentives to towns to encourage municipal adoption 
   and implementation of zoning bylaws to protect shorelands, river corridors 
   and buffers".