Bald Eagle spotted over Andover Lake

Bald Eagle spotted over Andover Lake, Thursday, December 3, 2009. When traveling along roadways near any body of water this winter keep an eagle eye out for these large brown birds with a white head and white tail feathers. Often seen soaring or perched in a tree at the water’s edge. These great birds are generally “winter visitors” in Andover. FYI – in 2009 17 nesting pairs of Bald Eagles successfully fledged a total of 31 chicks in CT; in 2008, 13 nesting pairs of Bald Eagles successfully fledged a total of 21 chicks in CT. In 2007, 10 Bald Eagle pairs produced a total of 15 young. Although sightings of Bald Eagles in Andover have become more common there is currently no nesting activity in Andover. Nesting activities mostly takes place along the shoreline or major rivers.

Annual Lowering of Andover Lake

The Andover Lake Management Association (ALMA) will begin lowering the lake to its winter level during the weekend of October 24. The lake is lowered in stages and is expected to reach its winter level by early November. This is done each year to maintain the quality of the water and of the plants and fish that inhabit it. Anyone who wishes to make repairs to their dock or sea wall should plan on doing so now rather than waiting until spring when ALMA will fill the lake to its summer level, beginning the middle of March. John Benda, Secretary ALMA 742-5606.

ALPOA annual meeting coming up

The ALPOA membership will meet on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 7 PM. Location is the Old Firehouse on Center Street. The proposed agenda is the following:

1. Call to Order- Review and updates on Board Members Terms
   
2. Secretary’s Report-
   
3. ALMA Treasurer’s report. Proposed budget for 2010.
   
4. ALPOA Treasurer’s report. Proposed Budget for 2010.
   
5. ALMA President’s report.
   
6. ALPOA President report
   
   • Update on By-Law Amendments
     
   • Beach Committee
     
   • Newsletter
     
   • Membership
     
   • Website
     
   • LEAP- Awards
     
   • ROWs-Boat Racks
     
7. Old Business
   
8. New Business
   
9. Adjournment
   

All members are welcome to attend, they are even encouraged to participate.

Google Streetview comes to Andover Lake

It is now possible to have a street level view of the streets around Andover Lake on Google maps. For this click here, there click-and-drag the little yellow man over any street that is highlighted in blue. Use arrows to rotate your view or move along the road. Have fun!

There are options for ridding wildlife pests

Yes Wildlife can be a nuisance but why kill them. The CT Department of Environmental Protection has the option to come out and remove the wildlife humanely and relocate it. The Violations officer for the DEP states that its illegal to kill or maim wildlife and anyone who is found to be doing this risks arrest or fines. The DEP does investigate and anyone can call and remain anonymous. the number is 860 424 3353.

Yellow jackets on the lake

Well we sure are having issues with yellow jackets this month. I was driving into my driveway and low and behold there was a hugh bees nest on the hedge. The bees pretty much stay to themselves and are not too aggressive so we have done little to make them go away. I did call the UCONN extension center and they gave me the number of a man who could remove the bees without killing them . They are yellow jackets.com and they can come out to remove the hive, however, they did tell me that come sept 1st or so the bees will start to die and not be a problem. They will all die off by the first frost and I should remove the hive in February so that homeless hornets will not take over the hive for next year... The cost is a couple of hundred for the removal.
I think I will wait .. September is only a couple of weeks away...

Beach gathering coming up!

The 2009 ALPOA Beach Gathering is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, from 4-9 pm. (raindate is Sunday, same time) This annual event is sponsored by the ALPOA board. Food and music is provided. We ask that you bring a dish to share. Reservations from ALPOA members are requested to either 742.1284 or willin at comcast.net.

Sunset at the beach, looking down the lake, on a summer evening, enjoying good food, a bonfire (with s'mores) and listening to great tunes (the DJ happily takes requests) with neighbors is as good as it gets! See you there.

(If the gathering has to be postponed, it will be announced here)

Are there invasive weeds on Andover Lake?

During the last few summers, users of Andover Lake have noticed that underwater weeds have grown more than usual and in some cases have appeared in new locations. This begs the question whether this is problematic, and whether this would be due to new invasive weed species.

The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection has conducted a survey of weeds around the lake and concluded that everything was fine. The survey was, however, limited to areas close to the shore. Hence, ALMA volunteers Rick Linden and George Knoecklein surveyed the rest of the lake a few days ago have come to the conclusion that indeed we have no invasive species. We can credit this to the consistent bleaching by our members of their boats when they bring them back from other waters. Note also, to answer a question above, that the larger quantity of weeds in the lake is most likely due to the clarity of the water, which has never been as good as in recent years. This allows the sun to penetrate deeper in the water and sustain more underwater weeds.

We have, however, an invasive weed on the shoreline: purple loosestrite. ALMA will ask property owner where this weed spreads to pull them. You can identify it with the image accompanying this post, or read more about it here. ALMA may also explore a program at the University of Connecticut that uses beetles feeding on this weed to control its spread. More about this is today's Courant.

Drew Hyatt Receives Top Teaching Award

Andover resident receives ECSU’s top teaching award
By Jonathan StankiewiczFor the Journal Inquirer
Published: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 12:06 PM

James Andrew (Drew) Hyatt of Andover has been awarded Eastern Connecticut State University’s 2009 Distinguished Faculty Member Award.The Distinguished Faculty Member Award is considered Eastern’s most prestigious faculty award because the winner is chosen by his peers.
Hyatt teaches environmental earth science. He has been teaching for 16 years, the last 11 at Eastern.His courses range from general education classes to the highest-level environmental earth science classes at Eastern.
Hyatt, who earned his bachelor’s degree in geography from McMaster University in Canada and his doctorate in physical geography from Queen’s University in Canada, is active outside the classroom.Hyatt has served on many university Senate committees, including the promotions and tenure, organizations, and budget and resource allocation committees.And Hyatt helped with the search for the dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and vice president of academic affairs.Hyatt was praised for his services as a mentor and an advisor. He believes in developing a significant relationships with each of his students.And Hyatt’s efforts have led to record enrollment in his introductory courses in the environmental earth science major.“In terms of teaching, he is among the most dedicated educators at Eastern,” wrote Charles Wynn ,chairman of the distinguished professor committee, in nominating Hyatt for the award. “He always strives to provide his students with high-quality lectures as well as meaningful writing assignments and quantitative computer-based exercises.”Hyatt helps his students prepare for graduate school with research projects that closely resemble those they will be doing in the future.The research Hyatt has done has greatly affected his community.Being able to provide lake sediment data to the Andover Lake Watershed Committee, Hyatt has helped the overall management of that lake.

ALPOA semi-annual meeting coming up

Old Firehouse, Center Street, Andover
June 30th, 7:00
1. Call to Order
2. Proposed By-Law Amendments
3. Discussion: Should dues be raised?
4. Reports from the Secretaries, Treasurers and Presidents of ALPOA and ALMA
5. Committee Reports: (Beach, Membership, Newsletter, Website, Boat Racks)
6. Old Business
7. New Business
8. Adjournment

Make sure to attend to make your vote count!