I’m sure that as a paddler, recreationalist, you’ve come across an intersection of people trying to do the right thing from two sides. Keep a body of water true to its roots and one that evolves into the next phase of an estuary.  ProCellaCOR EC is a new herbicide that is being applied to lakes and ponds to control Eurasian Milfoil. Here in Vermont the DEC, Department of Environmental Conservation, has put a priority on eradicating invasive above the needs of natural process and above the science that could bare out whether it’s safe to use.

Over the last several weeks, the DEC, has allow through the permit process, the application of this herbicide onto several of our lakes and ponds.  The signage that warns the public, or should warn the public, looks like a 5th grader lost pet notice more so than a dire warning of public health.

Several attempts to get in touch with the DEC have been meet with contempt from them. “we’ll get back to you whenever..”  The explanation of the permit process when the question is clearly over the signs.

Notice posted in the Lake St. Catherine area.

from the road… a 50MPH state route.

The recreational boating industry has been pushing these “pleasure Craft” for years now. They are OK in very few selected bodies of water. The idea that small lakes are a good place to operate these destructive boats. Lake with fragile ecosystems are not a good place for these. Any lake where loomy , sand soil accounts for a large part of it is not a good place for them. Lake that are on the small sized are certainly not good places to use them. Lake where there are lots of fishermen, and paddle craft are not great places for them. It’s time to put a huge limit on selfishness.

This video made back in 2013 still speaks to us today if you care about paddling on a urban river.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUO0VpJ3Pg4&fbclid=IwAR33ydXfO09-ZHS2VpH4x1Fu6fooqYkLsy-BWEDkXcNj3pFKUrgbt0gv2oQ

Help your local water shed by bring attention to your issues with the local political process; City Hall, Town meeting, local colleges and universities, etc.

Planning a paddle that is just for fun does require a little bit of information.  Water quality issues include not only flow rates, but things that might be in the water as well. This site provides a good amount of informational links that paddlers should use before heading out. https://anrweb.vt.gov/DEC/IWIS/

Paddle safe, have fun, and come back refreshed and alive