July 2017 Newsletter
July is Lake Appreciation Month!
July is lake appreciation month! Are you looking for a way to celebrate? Keep reading to find five ways to get involved with your lake this summer.
Letter from the President
Greetings members and friends of Massachusetts Congress of Lake and Pond Associations!

Let me just start by saying how excited I am to have entered into this new role. I look forward to continue working with each of our Board Members to make MA COLAP a great resource for all of you! In addition to my stepping in as President, we also introduce Frank Lyons as Vice President, Carol Hildreth as Treasurer, and welcome two new Board Members: Melissa Lenker and Steve Slocum. And I would like to give a special thanks to Kasie Auger, our most recent past President. With her guidance and organization, MA COLAP was able to pull off a wonderful Annual Conference this past Spring. We are glad to still have her on as a member of our board! If anyone else has interest in joining our board or volunteering with MA COLAP, please feel free to reach out to us as [email protected].

Please be on the lookout for updates from us; we have some exciting projects in the works that we will need your help with!

Respectfully,

Danielle Marini, President
Five Ways to Get Involved with Your Lake this July for Lake Appreciation Month

1. Join the Secchi Dip-In 2017

Participate in the Secchi Dip-In by taking a transparency measurement one day during the month of July. Volunteer gathered transparency values are used to assess the transparency of lakes in the United States and Canada. For more information, see the Secchi Dip-In webpage.

2. Download the BloomWatch App

Help the Environmental Protection Agency understand where and when cyanobacteria blooms occur using your smartphone. These blooms have the potential to produce toxins that can affect humans, pets, and our ecosystems. To download the app and learn more, visit the BloomWatch webpage. 
3. Monitor Surface Water for MassDEP

Help the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection monitor our state's surface waters by joining their watershed volunteer monitoring effort. Data from volunteers helps support their efforts to assess surface waters, manage non-point sources of pollution and calculate total daily maximum loads (TMDLs). For more information, see the MassDEP Environmental Monitoring for Volunteers webpage.

4. Race the Friends of Hamilton Reservoir Association Paddle Skedaddle

The Friends of Hamilton Reservoir Association is sponsoring a Paddle Skedaddle on Sunday, September 3, 2017 to benefit the Friends of Hamilton Reservoir Inc. Lake Preservation Fund. The paddle-sport race for canoes, kayaks and paddle boards is located at the Aqua Riders of Holland in Holland, MA. Registration lasts from 8:30 to 9:45 AM and the race starts at 10:00 AM. Participants will race along the North Basin in either the long course (7 miles) or the short course (3.5 miles). Registration is $20 and there will be special Holland-themed awards. Complimentary post-race refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Bill Terbush at 614-625-0915 or [email protected].

5. Get Involved with Your Local Watershed Association

Contact your local watershed, lake or pond association to inquire about volunteer opportunities in your community. Start a volunteer lake monitoring program or arrange a lake clean-up.

For more ideas on how to get involved and celebrate lake appreciation month, see the North American Lake Management Society webpage.

News and Updates

The Chapter 91 General License Certification webpage is now live! Click here to view the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection self-certification program for small dock and pier owners.

Do you have a lake or pond picture that you want to see on social media? Tag us on Twitter or Instagram or submit your picture to [email protected] and we will re-post or share. Be sure to include your name and the location of the picture.

Do you need help getting the word out about your lake association event? Email us at [email protected] with the details and we will help spread the word on social media.

MA COLAP | www.macolap.org