Newsletter for June 2011

CHEBACCO LAKE & WATERSHED
ASSOCIATION Newsletter
A Quarterly Publication of the Chebacco Lake & Watershed Association
www.chebaccolake.org
From the CLWA President’s Chair
“What is being done about the Weeds in the Lake?”
June 2011
July 4th Boat
Parade!
This question has been asked many times by people around the lake and
people who never come to the lake but have heard there is a weed problem.
The Lake Association was founded 25 years ago to find a way to rid the lake
of the non-native, invasive plant called cabomba. Most residents thought it
could be controlled with a minimum amount of effort on their part. Sterile,
weed eating carp were looked at as a good solution but the State has always
been against introducing a non-native species on purpose and the plan was
rejected. The towns ordered a study that was done by Lycott Environmental
Research in 1985. They came to the conclusion that, if nothing was done,
there would be no boating or swimming in a decade or two due to the heavy
infestation of cabomba. Cutting back the amount of nutrients entering the
lake, weed harvesting and herbicide treatments were solutions offered to slow
the growth. Many residents around the lake were firmly against any herbicide
treatment at that time so the option of weed harvesting was used. It was paid
for by the State, Hamilton and Essex. The process removed a lot of cabomba
along with native shoreline vegetation but it proved to be a short term solution. Since that time, the Lake Association has been encouraging residents to
take measures necessary to control the nutrients that enter the lake and cause
the cabomba to grow.
Start planning for our annual July
4th boat parade on Monday, July
4. Be a part of the fun! Show your
creativity! Gather your family and
friends and join the parade.
In 1997, the idea of dredging the lake was discussed. Salem State College offered to do another study as a follow up to the Lycott study to see if this was
feasible. They concluded that this would not work, it could cause a serious
If you’re planning a July 4th cookout, make the boat parade part of
your fun!
The parade will start at 1 pm, at
Centennial Grove and proceed
around the entire lake, passing
the judging area, and ending back
at the Grove for awards. Impress
Judge Judy!
A prize will be given to each boat
entry, and special awards will be
given for most patriotic, best in
show and most original. Last year
each entry received a gift certificate to either The Weathervane or
The Farm!
continued on page 2
Designing With Nature
The Essex
Music Festival
You may have noticed the severe defoliation of the trees around the lake the
past few weeks. This is the work of the Winter Moth (Operophetera brumata). For the past few years, many Massachusetts communities have reported
millions of moths emerging around Thanksgiving. Then, in the spring, these
same communities have witnessed an astonishing number of small, green,
caterpillars that defoliate maples, oaks and other deciduous tree.
The Essex Music Festival will again
be held at Centennial Grove on
August 27.
Landscaping for a Healthy Lake
While there are a few chemicals available to help manage this pest in small
areas, it is extremely difficult to control an infestation in a large wooded area,
continued on page 6
It runs from noon until 10:30 pm.
More information is available at
www.essexmusicfestival.com.
We hope that everyone has a safe
and enjoyable summer on the lake.
A Quarterly Publication of the Chebacco Lake & Watershed Association
www.chebaccolake.org
June 2011
CLWA Officers & Board of
Directors for 2011-2012
From the CLWA President’s Chair
President
Sue McLaughlin algae bloom and the weeds would be back in a short amount of time. We saw
this recently when the pond at Patton Park in Hamilton was covered with water lilies. The Town paid several thousand dollars for an herbicide treatment
and spent over $60,000 a couple of years later on dredging. Two years later
the pond was covered with lily pads again and another herbicide treatment
was used.
Vice President
Robyn Kanter
Past President
Dave Lash Secretary
Christine Grammas
Treasurer
Betty Ozolins Hamilton Representatives
Chuck Bencal Jim Dooner Nancy Doyle Joyce St. Hilaire Essex Representatives
Judy Brain
Brooke Fabian
Kirk Fackre
Kerry Kaplon
David Lenzi Keith Symmes
Web Site E-mail Address
[email protected]
continued from page 1
Salem State felt that the best long term solution was proper management of
the entire watershed through public education concerning the idea that more
nutrients entering the lake equals more invasive vegetation. Over the years,
as more residents have adopted a responsible attitude towards yard care, the
amount of cabomba had decreased in many parts of the lake. It is impossible
to control everything that enters the lake but everyone can do their part. Some
things to consider are:
• Cut back on water use, make sure that your septic system is operating
properly and have it pumped every 2 to 3 years. This will help reduce the
amount of phosphorus seeping into the lake. Use environmentally safe
cleaning products.
• Plant native trees and shrubs. They don’t need extra care and absorb a lot
of nutrients before they can enter the lake. Reduce the amount of lawn
and allow a buffer zone to grow along the shoreline. Don’t use fertilizer
or herbicides.
If you still have a lot of cabomba in front of your property, check to see if you
or your neighbors are doing everything possible to slow the amount of runoff.
You can hand pull or rake out cabomba for a swimming area. Try to remove
any floating pieces since they will root again.
The Lake Association will continue to offer suggestions as we all work towards keeping Chebacco Lake a great place for everyone to enjoy now and
in the future.
Sincerely,
Sue McLaughlin
President, Chebacco Lake & Watershed Association
More News from Around the Lake
Alewife Update
During April and May quite a few people volunteered their time to stand at
the Apple St. bridge to participate in the annual alewife count. This year’s
results were very disappointing - most of us didn’t see any. Perhaps all of the
work being done on the Essex causeway retaining wall next to the river had
something to do with it since other rivers had good fish runs.
continued on page 3
2
A Quarterly Publication of the Chebacco Lake & Watershed Association
www.chebaccolake.org
Water Level Monitoring Goes
Hi-Tech
Is the lake too high? Too low? How much rain produces flooding? Are beavers and vegetation choking Alewife Brook? Despite how critical water level
management has become, until now, lake level monitoring has been more anecdotal than empirical. This year though, we’re
taking a giant leap into the modern age: the
Association has purchased and installed a water level data logger that will record the lake’s
water level every hour to the nearest quarterinch. Downloaded to a PC and matched up with
public precipitation data, we’ll be able to record
fluctuations during the year and changes over
time.
Dave Lash
Another Disappointing
Alewife Season
Once again this spring, the Association participated in the annual alewife
count coordinated by Peter Phippen of Eight Towns and the Bay. We sent
observers to the Apple Street bridge on the weekends in April and May looking for alewife coming upstream to spawn in Chebacco Lake. Sadly, despite
over 30 sessions, no alewife were spotted, suggesting that this year’s alewife
population is probably down again.
Locally, we strive to keep Alewife Brook clear of any obstructions preventing
the alewife run. Last summer, for example, Association volunteers worked
with the Department of Marine Fisheries cutting back vegetation and removing debris. Nevertheless, it may be that the declining alewife population is a
product of over-fishing in the Atlantic fisheries. Association Board Member
Chuck Bencal, who works in the industry, reports that colossal fishing ships
have been netting mackerel and herring for over a decade. Marine Fisheries
has recently documented that lake herring schools (alewife) have been netted right alongside ocean herring. Fortunately, Marine Fisheries and NOAA
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) have dramatically cut
the allowable quota for this year. Hopefully, we’ll see the alewife population
rebound in the years ahead.
Dave Lash
June 2011
More News from
Around the Lake
continued from page 2
Centennial Grove
Robyn Kanter has continued to attend meetings about the future of
Centennial Grove. This summer
the Ipswich YMCA has rented it for
their programs.
Semi-Annual Clean Up
On May 15th we held the semi-annual clean up of areas on Chebacco Road that belong to the Town,
the boat ramp and the shoreline.
Volunteers Chuck Bencal, Nancy
Doyle, Jeff French, Chris, Nick and
Peter Grammas, Sue McLaughlin, Viktoria Racz and Michael
Vincent picked up about 20 bags
of trash.
Boat Ramp Update
This year the Town of Hamilton
has informed us that they will not
be funding the portable toilet at
the boat ramp. They feel that since
the ramp belongs to the State it
should not be the responsibility of
the Town. Chebacco Lake is the
property of the State and they purchased the land for the boat ramp in
the l960’s so that everyone, not just
lakeside residents, could enjoy the
lake. The CLWA feels that this is an
important health issue as well as a
common courtesy for boaters so we
will be paying the bill for the boating season. We hope that Hamilton
will reconsider this issue next year.
July 4th Boat Parade Reminder
The Fourth of July will be here soon,
so let’s see how creative everyone
can be for this year’s boat parade.
This event has been happening on
the lake for at least 50 years.
Sue McLaughlin
3
A Quarterly Publication of the Chebacco Lake & Watershed Association
www.chebaccolake.org
June 2011
Yesteryear on the Lake – The Eastern Railroad
This is the earliest photo that has been located
showing the Essex station and yards, circa 18731874. The engine is Eastern’s first #12 “Rough and
Ready,” built by Taunton in 1847. Note that it is an
inside connected engine. This picture was on half of
a stereopticon view.
Walker Transportation Collection Beverly (Mass.)
Historical Society & Museum
In 1872, the Essex branch of the railroad was 5.9 scenic miles built for passenger service and to move ice from the ice houses that were built along
the shore of the lake. Departing the Hamilton-Wenham station it headed past
several stations and stops beginning with the Miles River station, then the
Woodbury (Essex – Gloucester – Beverly – Ipswich Trolley) Crossing station, then on past the Drivers Ice House (built 1877) just past Echo Cove
Road at what was known as Ice House Bend, then the smaller Alvah Day Ice
House near the actual red gate of Red Gate Road, then two different Charles
Mears Ice House locations (built 1893 & 1900), then his son Bertram Mears
Ice House at what is now Ice House Lane, then a siding and stop at Centennial Grove, then on behind the Trolley Barn to the busy Essex Falls station
(at Apple Street), and terminating initially at the Essex Depot station (behind
the Town Hall and Post Office), but from September 30, 1887 until February
26, 1927 the service was extended across the Causeway marshes to terminate
at the Conomo Depot station (still standing on Southern Avenue) next to the
large Shoe Factory.
The second station, 2.5 miles from Wenham, was
Woodbury, known locally as Woodbury’s Crossing, since it crossed Essex Street here. Trains were
always flagged over this crossing. August 1, 1936.
Photo Albert G. Hale
This stretch of track was known as “ice house
bend”. The track curved around an inlet of the pond
where most of the ice houses were. It was also the
steepest grade on the branch. Some long picnic
trains had to be double-headed here. The EssexHamilton town line runs right across the middle of
the picture.
Photographer unknown. Dana A. Story Collection
4
The train carried a mixture of passenger and freight cars regularly depending
on the time of year and activity. Most often the freight cars carried the ice out
such as 1925 when 463 car loads of ice were shipped by the Charles Mears
house alone. Occasionally there would be a warm winter and ice would be
hauled in from New Hampshire. This was mixed with passengers who labored
in the area cutting the ice and other jobs. Normal service was four trips “down
the line” toward Essex and four trips “up the line” toward Hamilton Wenham
station daily, but during the warmer weather the Grove would be the destination for many from far and near and extra trips were necessary. Hundreds of
people from as far as Boston came by train to spend the day. Many groups
filled 20 railroad cars and one picnic was so large that it needed two trains
and 42 railroad cars. President Calvin Coolidge was the only sitting President
A Quarterly Publication of the Chebacco Lake & Watershed Association
www.chebaccolake.org
June 2011
who came to Centennial Grove, doing so at the request of the Essex (County
Republican) Club on July 29th, 1925. A standard trick was when they heard
the train coming they would look up the line at Ice House Bend and count how
many cars were coming in order to know how much clam chowder to make for
the guests about to descend upon them. The railroad ran the Grove on a lease,
but after ten years it ended and the Low family took position of the property
again and ran it until 1922, and others tried to continue it after that time.
The train had a turntable at the Essex depot to reverse the engine, but because
of the lack of a siding track, the cars were emptied of passengers and pulled
and released on a “flying switch” to have the passenger cars continue on by on
the main line while the engine went off on the switch and got turned around to
The Charles W. Mears Ice House on Chebacco
Lake. Late 1920s. It stood at the foot of what is
now “Patriot’s Landing.” Here the ice harvest is being put into a house.
E.J. Story Photo
Engine #212 stands in the yard as Essex depot. PTA is in white overalls with fireman
E.O. Brown by the engine. In the background is the Essex Town Hall. Photo by E.J.
Story, April 1907. Dana A. Story Collection
then reattach to the cars and load up. The engines on the line were usually the
ones in poorer repair and heavily used, but the Essex crew would give them
extra care to have them up to the task. The rise up ice house bend, particularly
when loaded with heavy ice loads or many passenger cars would sometimes
require a second engine or more either in front or pushing from behind. The
trains did haul timber and lumber for ship building at times but this was not a
primary activity. The train hauled in the materials and coal to build and operate
the trolley and its power plant from 1895 until 1920. As automobiles became
more common, the trolley stopped, and a few years later the extension on to
the Conomo station did as well. With the advent of refrigeration and several
devastating fires, the ice business ceased. Activity at Centennial Grove slowed
during the Depression and World War II. The trains stopped running along
the branch into Essex on December 10, 1942 and the tracks were removed a
week later for the war scrap iron effort. The article A Recollection of the Essex Branch and then book Daily except Sundays both written by Dana Adams
Story capture the romance of his working nearly all his life on the branch and
include excerpts from his diaries sharing his personal observations and reflections on his work in all seasons.
Keith L. Symmes
Conductor John Buckley stands in the baggage car
door. That the car is hitched to a freight car was
a common occurrence. Many Essex Branch trains
were mixed. Often it was cars of ice that were attached to the passenger trains.
Photo by Burt Adams, circa 1900. Dana A. Story
Collection
Train 2606 arrived at Hamilton & Wenham on the
second to last run up the branch on that cold Saturday afternoon on December 19, 1942. Less than
four hours later, all service on the branch would
end. The abandonment notice was posted at Miles
River.
Dana Story
5
A Quarterly Publication of the Chebacco Lake & Watershed Association
Designing With
Nature
continued from page 1
like we have just experienced. The
only bright spot for management
is the controlled release of Cyzenis
albicans, a Tachinid fly that parasitizes winter moth: in fact, winter
moth is the only insect it attacks.
Unfortunately, this fly is only being
released in small, controlled numbers. This same fly was introduced
in Nova Scotia after the original
North American infestation in the
1950’s and now controls this pest
with great success.
The trees that have suffered heavy
defoliation must put out a second
flush of growth to survive. Water
is critical for trees at this time!
Research has shown that four years
of consecutive deforestation of deciduous trees will cause branch
mortality and weaken the tree to the
point that secondary invaders such
as wood borers and bark beetles
can overcome a weakened tree’s
natural defenses.
The Lake Association plans to look
into this problem and perhaps see
if the towns can get involved in the
controlling of this serious threat
to all the trees in our area. Please
do what you can by making sure
damaged trees on your property
get extra water this season. For
more on the winter moth, you can
check out articles online, especially those done by the UMASS
Extension program.
Robyn Kanter
6
www.chebaccolake.org
June 2011
Just for Fun!
Be an Artist
Copy this frog by drawing it one square at a time.
Chebacco Lake & Watershed Association
Membership Application/Renewal Form
For many years the Chebacco Lake & Watershed Association has been working hard to protect our
most valuable asset – Chebacco Lake and its surrounding watershed. The CLWA continues to educate
the community about our lake’s history and ways in which we can preserve, protect and continue to
enjoy Chebacco Lake. The CLWA conducts water quality testing, works to maintain water flow at
Alewife Brook, and supports conservation efforts to protect Chebacco Lake and its watershed. We
coordinate lakeside clean-ups, we sponsor our annual July 4th boat parade, and we host our website,
www.chebaccolake.org, which provides up-to-date information and bulletins.
Please join the CLWA. It’s an investment in the future good health and beauty of Chebacco Lake. All
memberships expire annually on January 31. We hope you’ll join us.
[ ] New [ ] Renewal
[ ] Member $25
[ ] Patron $50
[ ] Sponsor $75
Name:
Mailing Address:
Lake Address (if different) :
Phone:
E-mail Address(s):
Please circle all that apply to your household:
Lakeside resident / Property within 500’ of lake / Seasonal resident /
Non-resident property owner / Sport or recreational user of lake area /
Recreational user of Chebacco Woods
All memberships expire January 31.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR MEMBERSHIP!
Please send completed form and dues to:
Chebacco Lake & Watershed Association
P O Box 2344
So. Hamilton, MA 01982
7
Parade begins at 1 p.m.
Don’t miss the
Annual July 4th
Boat Parade
Chebacco lake & Watershed Association
P.O. Box 2344
South Hamilton, MA 01982
Fresh Water Mussels
Chebacco Lake has an abundance of freshwater mussels. While many people consider them an annoyance
(especially if stepped on by a bare foot) they are an important part of the ecosystem and help improve water quality. They filter water by removing algae, plankton, small bits of decomposed plants as they slowly
move along the lake bottom. They are a food source for muskrats, otters and wading birds. Mussels are also
an environmental barometer on water quality. The scientists who did the two lake studies were surprised
that there were so many. The mussel has an interesting life cycle; it attracts a fish by waving what looks
like a worm from their shell. When a fish is near, the mussel releases the juveniles, called glochidia, which
attach themselves to the fish for a few weeks. They don’t harm the fish and fall off when they reach the
next stage of their development.
Many years ago mussels were used by Native Americans for food,
tools and jewelry. From 1890 until about 1950 most of the buttons on
clothing were made from the shells. Now, mussels are harvested in
parts of this country and shipped to Asia where tiny pieces of the shell
are implanted in oysters to make cultured pearls and the meat is used
for animal food.
If the mussels are in an area where people will be wading, please don’t dispose of them. They can be tossed
to another area in the lake and continue to help clean the water.