Water drafting and invasive species

Andover Lake, contrarily to most other Connecticut lakes, does not have a problem with invasive species. To make sure it stays so, we have regularly asked users to bleach their boats after use elsewhere, apparently successfully. However, another way of catching some foreign seeds is by taking water in the lake. A water pump typically starts by expulsing some water, which may have been contaminated elsewhere.

We have had recently several instances where someone pumped water (a gardening company, a DOT truck), thereby threatening our lake. Andover Lake is a private lake, and taking water is considered trespassing. To make this clear, ALMA and the Wetlands Commission of the Town of Andover have drafted a joint letter that makes this clear. Print it and keep it handy in case you catch someone water drafting from out lake.