Increases in impervious areas, such as driveways and roofs, serves to alter the way water flows in a watershed. Increased impervious areas in a watershed reduce percolation while increasing the speed of the water entering the lake thereby increasing its potential for erosion. This basically translates to increased nutrient transport to the lake and such […]
Impervious Area and Stormwater Management Read More »
The basic principal behind salt management is the same as fertilizer management. Any salt applied to asphalt for ice control will be transported to the lake once the snow melts. Increasing lake salinity will then result along with changes to the ecosystem. Reduce the amount of salt that is used or utilize alternative agents such
Applications of lawn fertilizers and other lawn chemicals may directly run into the lake when it rains. Before conducting any fertilizer applications take a soil sample and determine what nutrients are necessary for a healthy growing lawn. These services are often offered at low or no cost through the local soil and conservation service or
Fertilizer Management Read More »
Establishment or maintenance of an area of native plants and grasses in an approximately 100 foot buffer along the lake shore can enhance nutrient filtering all while increasing vital habitat for the lakes inhabitants. Creating such a buffer can help to intercept sediment and phosphorus before it flows into the lake thereby helping to reduce
The Association employs a limnologist (a specialist in lake ecology) to monitor the health of the lake. Monitoring includes annual checks of the lake’s ecological balance, together with tests of its water with regard to acidity, oxygen, organic matter, and trace elements. This information is used by the Association’s Lake Committee in its recommendations for
Water Quality: Algae and Weed Control Read More »
The Princeton Hydro 2018 Report indicates that Lake Sagamore is in excellent condition. Phosphorus concentrations were slightly above the recommended threshold, while transparency is acceptable and nuisance plant growth is minimal. The following section will touch briefly on what the community can do to ensure the lake is in as good or better condition for
Activities to Protect Lake Quality Read More »
Winter pictures are shown in the slide show on the home page. Click the picture to see larger images. You can also access them from the Picture Galleries at the bottom of the home page and on the menu bar. From the Picture Gallery you may also view several other picture series related to seasons,
New Winter Pictures Read More »
Aside from the irritation caused by mosquito bites, we need to be concerned about the role mosquitoes play in transmitting West Nile virus (which has now spread throughout the USA) and several forms of encephalitis. There are 62 mosquito species in the state: some feed during the day and others at night; some breed in
These are a group of predatory worms (annelids, related to earthworms), one type of which attacks mammals. They lie on shallow, mucky (not sandy) bottoms in quiet water and react to moving shadows by swimming towards the shadow-casting object. Their bite is totally painless and non-toxic because the saliva includes anesthetics, anticoagulants, and powerful antibiotics,
A small aphid-like insect from Japan, the woolly adelgid can kill mature hemlocks and can become a serious problem around Lake Sagamore and, more generally, in the Northeast. Make sure that you inspect your trees (those infected will have brittle, dark leaves covered with white wool on the underside). To prevent the loss of the