September 20, 2012 pdf edition - Quaboag Current

PAGE 4 A Turley Publication • www.turley.com I Thursday, September 20, 2012
- opinion -
editorial
The watershed
belongs to all of us
It’s important to note that as the Quaboag
Quacumquasit Lake Association moves forward
with its welcomed campaign to reduce point-source
pollution on North and South ponds by targeting Spencer’s
Waste Water Treatment Plant, all of us will still
have to play an important role in improving the quality
of this critical Seven Mile River Watershed.
It is well documented that effl uent fl owing into
North Pond is the direct result of Spencer’s plant not
being able to handle the incoming load during some
storm events. Thus, plant runoff nutrient fl ows are
negatively affecting both water bodies by feeding
the creation of algae blooms and invasive species of
plants and weeds. North Pond has been considered
endangered for almost 10 years now by the state. On
the surface level, the simple fact is the Department of
Environmental Protection and federal Environmental
Protection Agency absolutely need to set more
stringent discharge requirements for Spencer’s plant,
which is thankfully in the works.
While we understand that upgrades to the plant
could amount to millions of dollars, Spencer could potentially
fi nd alternative solutions like Ware with its
major commercial and industrial employers in town.
Ware voters recently approved a measure to upgrade
its aging sewerage plant by partnering with the town’s
largest employer and major wastewater discharger,
Kanzaki Specialty Papers, which kicked in millions of
its own to help that effort.
Beyond the Spencer plant’s own needs to upgrade
and come in to compliance with a forthcoming new
DEP permit review process, we need to recognize that
nutrients come from other places as well, including the
impact of boaters on these at-risk water bodies. Both
North and South ponds are well-used fi shing and boating
hot spots. And the summer cottages that line their
shorelines are mostly on private septic systems, which
can and do fail from time to time. You also have to
factor in other non-point source pollution areas such
as local and state road runoff, abutting farms rich in
fi eld nutrients, and even the chemicals people dump
on their lawns.
All of this adds up to a process known as eutrophication,
the most pervasive of water quality problems in
ponds and lakes. Not surprisingly, we are directly responsible
for two additional stresses on lakes: overuse
and invasive species.
Quabbin Reservoir did itself a huge favor a few
years ago in limiting boating activity in critically sensitive
areas and requiring licensed fi sherman to clean
the bottom of their watercrafts before fl oating on the
reservoir. The reservoir also now rents boats that are
clean to avoid the threat of introducing invasive species.
Many invasive plants, such as watermilfoil, spread
by attaching to boat motors and trailers.
Neither North nor South ponds have the resources
to institute a boat monitoring system or bring every
failed private septic system into compliance. However,
it’s no secret that motorboats operating in shallow
water stir up bottom sediments. This resuspends sediments,
and releases nutrients back into the water. So
boats and jet skis are external factors infl uencing the
end game of the upstream nutrient release problem at
the plant.
If Spencer is going to have to upgrade its plant discharge
protocols - and it absolutely should - we all need
to upgrade our thinking about what impacts our local
ponds in terms of recreational and living conditions.
It’s all connected, but the watershed’s major source
of lake pollution at the Spencer plant must be solved
before the in-lake problems can even be addressed
through possible dredging and chemical treatments.
Letter to the Editor
With heartfelt gratitude
TO THE EDITOR:
Again and again Hannaford Supermarket proves
their commitment to the community; this summer they
sponsored the 3rd annual Hearts for Heat Cookout to
benefi t North Brookfi eld’s emergency fuel assistance
program. Under the direction of store manager Dianne
Lincoln, several staff donated their time to set up the
tent, cook the dogs, and help make the fundraiser a huge
success. Hannaford’s also provided a $50 gift basket of
Inspiration products for the popular raffl e.
The store’s contribution goes a long way in helping
Things that gardeners can do to reduce mosquito exposure
By Roberta McQuaid
Columnist
I
spent some time this past week completing a research
project on mosquitoes: their life cycles, habits
and most importantly, their ability to transmit
disease. Most of what I gleaned was incredibly interesting,
and pertinent to those of us who enjoy outdoor activities,
especially gardening. Let’s read on to learn what
we can do to reduce our exposure to these potentially
dangerous pests.
In an effort to avoid the heat of the sun, I prefer to
garden at dawn or dusk. Unfortunately, many mosquito
species are on the prowl then. Researchers report that a
good portion of them are drawn to dark colors. For that
reason wear light-colored, loose-fi tting clothes when
working in the garden. Long sleeves and long pants are
a must. Use DEET or other repellents registered for
mosquitos sparingly on all exposed areas of the body,
avoiding the eyes and mouth, wounds and skin irritations.
Follow the directions on the can especially when
using on children. Women that are pregnant or nursing
should avoid the product altogether. Also note how long
protection will last based on the concentration you have
chosen. Wash off the repellent once you come indoors.
Over the years there have been many claims regarding
certain scents or products that when used either
cause us to be more or less attractive to mosquitoes.
Garlic may repel vampires, but as far as mosquitoes go,
the proof was not there. Folks that consumed alcohol,
on the other hand, were indeed more appealing - as were
those that ate limburger cheese. Mosquitoes are naturally
drawn to fl oral scents - they consume plant nectar
for food, but it is unproven whether scented shampoos
or aftershaves and the like will cause you to be bitten
more than your unscented counterpart.
We can reduce mosquito populations in our home
landscape quite easily by simply getting rid of anything
that pools water for more than a few days. Why? Because
the mosquito is dependent on water for its various
life stages. After reading this, I assessed my own yard.
The old galvanized wash tub that was never used as a
planter had several inches of water in it, and some mosquito
larvae to boot. I dumped it out. The over-turned
kid’s pool had also accumulated water. It’s time to defl
ate it and put it away for the season. What does your
fi ll an all important fuel disbursement during the cold
winter months. 100% of the proceeds from this event
will be used to provide heat (oil, natural gas, propane,
pellets, cordwood, or electricity) to qualifi ed North
Brookfi eld residents during the 2013 heating season.
Hearts for Heat cannot thank Hannaford enough.
Without their assistance with most every endeavor, our
organization would be unable to help as many families.
With heartfelt gratitude.
Sue Lewandowski
NB Hearts for Heat Founder and President
yard contain? Buckets, tarps, plant saucers, neglected
bird baths or other garden accents can all trap water.
Double check your gutters, and clean them if necessary.
Many of you will wonder: will my water garden breed
mosquitoes? You will likely not have a problem if your
water feature contains fi sh - they eat mosquito larvae.
There is also some research that suggests small bodies of
water draw dragonfl ies and damselfl ies. Both eat adult
mosquitoes and dragonfl y larvae consume mosquito
larvae as well. Bats and purple martins also have the
reputation for eating large quantities of mosquitoes, but
from my research I learned that in natural settings both
are opportunistic feeders and all in all eat a variety of
insects, a small percentage of them being mosquitoes.
As homeowners, we should keep our lawns clipped to
within 4 inches to remove resting grounds for mosquitoes,
as well as reduce weedy vegetation from up against
the house. Repair broken window screens as needed.
Researchers are skeptical about bug zappers and ultrasonic
devices; traps offer more hope, not as a sole means
of control but for use in conjunction with other methods.
For more information consult the American Mosquito
Control Association at www.mosquito.org.
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EDITOR
Tim Kane
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and Jeanne Bonsall
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