FRIENDS OF CRYSTAL LAKE

2010 ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES

2011-10-02T07:47:00.000-07:00

August 20, 2010

The meeting was held at Diana and Maury Webb's home.

Mal Bornemeier welcomed all, noting the diversity of lake activities. She requested volunteers for new board members and for membership and education committees.

Secretary's report was given by Mary Bast and the minutes were accepted.

Maury Webb gave the treasurer's report. He states that the treasury has been static for three years at $8300. He said that $5 of $10 dues go to OPC. Expenses included funds for the annual meeting and the do not feed the waterfowl sign by Jon Stark. This is posted at the public beach. Maury continued with membership information about our current numbers. We had 67 members in 2009 and 55 to date with 11 new members. We have sent 8 reminders to former members. Maury has an estimate that we have 70 current members.

Steve Bornemeier reported on OPC. He described the OPC mission to protect and preserve lakes and ponds both freshwater and saltwater. The OPC has accomplished publishing Blue Pages and Ponderings, held a forum on waste water management and placed mutt mitts and fishing line receptacles.

Carolyn Kennedy was the speaker about “State of the Lake”

Carolyn showed the group a notebook with data on the health of estuaries and lakes in Orleans.
She described Crystal Lake as healthier than the other lakes in Orleans with the exception of Bakers Pond.
She spoke of the flow of water from the Monomoy Lens into Lonnies Pond.
There are 60 ponds in Orleans. Crystal Lake has 37 acres, is a half mile long, 976,000 cubic meters and is the fourth largest lake in town.
We have studies going back to 1948 on the health of the lake.
Water stays in the lake for thirteen month after it enters.
Carolyn recommends twice yearly water testing since the installation of the road basins were installed.

Judy Scanlon spoke about the herring run and eel count. There is a three year herring count of nine counts per day. She noted the Pilgrim Lake count has been declining. She also noted that Lonnie's Pond is deteriorating. Ann Kilguss, President of Lonnie's Pond stated that the state of the pond is improving.

The meeting was adjourned for social time.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary G. Bast

2009 ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES

2009-09-17T07:57:00.000-07:00

June 25,2009

The annual meeting was held at the home of Sue and John Sargent s at 4pm. There were 30 attendees.

Co-presidents Mal Bornemeier and Sue Sargent welcomed everyone.

Secretary's report. It was moved and seconded that we dispense with the reading of the minutes.

Treasurer's report. Maury Webb reported FOCL had a beginning balance of $7410 on July 31, 2008. Membership dues reported $815, Interest $45, Pond Coalition dues ($525), other expenses ($151), current balance as on April 17, 2009 $7588.

Membership report. Jim Bast reported on the membership profile.

Election of Board Members. Mal Bornemeier and Sue Sargent Co-presidents, Mary Bast, secretary, Maury Webb, Treasurer. We need to recruit at least two more board members.

Our Own Backyards presentation by Steve Bornemeier as a representative of OPC. He emphasized the importance of environmental stewardship and the promotion of individual personal stewardhip. Jim Bast described the initial organizing of OPC with special thanks of Gussie McKusick, the installing of mutt mitts and the success of the Blue Pages. Steve discussed elements of personal stewardship including responsible water use, rain barrel irrigation, composting and mulching, organic fertilizer use and growing “Cape Cod lawns”and promoting moss growth. Using household products that protect our water was noted as a significant help in controlling phosphates and nitrogen emissions into fresh and salt water. Jackie Stowell said she would provide more educational materials to help in this effort. Other discussion included control of grubs and moles with natural products. The MA extension was noted as a resource. Tax credits for energy and environmental improvements to property was raised with the caveat of meeting rigid standards. Dave Hawk talked about the trends in landscape architecture with the growing emphasis on conservation, energy saving and client education.

Reports

Monument Rd. Drains Judith Bruce reported that the drains are installed in such a way as to carry nutrients away from the lake. She included discussion of the Finlay Rd intersection and has not been able to ascertain the efficacy of their installation. With the raising of the subject of Long Pond's alum treatment, she advised that alum doesn't addresss the source and should only be used a last resort. While this seems successful at Long Pond, Judith recommends careful consideration before implementing alum. This is not under consideration at Crystal Lake but was raised as a point of discussion.

John Stark will design and implement signs for no feeding of fowl on the lake. He has talked with Jennie Wood who is amenable to their installation. She says we would plan on paying a $10 administration fee and that Parks and Rec. could install them. The signs should cost @ $200. It was recommended this be paid from our treasury.

The Mutt Mitt program is continuing it's success according to Dave Bryan.

Mal Bornemeier reports that water testing at Crystal Lake occurs about 3 times a year now.

The meeting was adjourned and a social hour followed.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary G. Bast
FOCL Secretary

Education Document Release

2009-07-01T07:05:00.000-07:00

This new document is going to be made available in clear laminate for use in homes around Crystal Lake. This one page brochure can be placed near washer/dryer or other area where guests/renters will be reminded of good practices to preserve our lake. Click on the document to see in larger form. The document was developed and will soon be available from Jackie Stowell.

FRIENDS OF CRYSTAL LAKE ANNUAL MEETING

2008-12-12T14:54:00.000-08:00

The annual meeting was held at the home of Jim and Mary Bast on June 25, 2008 at 4:00. There were 36 attendees.

President Kent Arnold welcomed everyone.

Secretary’s report: It was moved and seconded that we dispense with the reading of minutes of the August 2007 annual meeting.

Treasurer’s report: Maury Webb reported that FOCL has $7,410 in the bank. $525 dues were paid to OPC, and $500 was paid to OPC for the “Orleans Blue Pages” booklet campaign. Communication takes up much of our dues revenue.

Jim Bast reported that we currently have 103 members which is the largest pond membership in Orleans. Remember to use our blog to communicate your thoughts and comments and share information that impacts our lake. The blog is: friends-of-crystal-lake.blogspot.com

Election of board members: Mary Bast, Sue Sargent, and Mal Bornemeier were presented as the slate of new board members This slate was moved, seconded and approved.

Mutt Mitt Report: Dave Brian reported that about 200 mitts were used at both ends of Crystal Lake this year. Thanks to Agway for underwriting the productions the Mutt mitts around town.

Finlay Road drains are up and running. The completion of the road repair is delayed until the utility lines have been changed and summer traffic ends.

Judith Bruce talked about the work of the Wastewater Management Steering Committee (WMSC). The committee has been working on the waste water issues for 8 years. It is a huge task. We know how much nitrogen must be removed from Pleasant Bay. The DEP and UMass have yet to give us the numbers for the estuaries. The WMSC is looking at a conceptual approach which focuses of 3 possible plans.

1. A decentralized system with perhaps 10 local facilities
2. One large central system
3. Large system in South Orleans as well as one in town and perhaps using effluent to irrigate golf courses in that area.

A central system will handle 140 million gallons per day; a decentralized system will handle 204 gallons per day.

All of these suggested systems will work, all can be added to and each can be phased in and is modular in approach. We will not sewer the entire town in plan in the first plan, and how to allocate the cost equitably will be a particular challenge to the town. The Board of Selectmen will make the final decision.

As a measure of how we succeed at reducing the nitrogen levels, we will be looking for the return of eel grass, shell fish and improved water quality.

Workshops to discuss these various plans are scheduled this summer each week beginning July 8. They will be held at Town Hall from 6-8 PM. Your comments and input will be encouraged at these meetings. August 5 workshop will focus on our Crystal Lake neighborhood. We strongly urge each of you to attend. By the end of October, the selectmen will present the chosen option to the town at a special town meeting.

The hope is to put “shovel to the ground” by 2012. Any plan will be phased in over 25 years.

Senator O’Leary is working on low or no-interest funds which will be available to towns for these projects. The State may impose mandates on us if we do nothing now as well as lose favorable funding. Judith added her awareness to include fresh water ponds with the estuary mandates.

Kent Arnold introduced our guest speaker, Lindsay Strode of Cape Organics. Lindsay began by stating that the financial investment we have in our properties is tied to the health of our Lake. One thing we can do to protect this resource is to maintain a buffer zone of 10-15 feet along the lake front. A border of shrubs by the lake acts to prevent erosion and helps to keep leaves from falling into the lake; try bayberry, sweet fern and sedge. He brought several samples of native and indigenous plants for us to learn about and handle. Some suggestions were: Atlantic White Cedar, Virginia Rose, Sweet pepper, natural grasses and the many varieties of viburnum. Lindsay reminded us that planning is critical because it keeps you focused on your planting goals. Plan ahead, you can still do the work in stages.

Fall is the best time to plant a lawn and to put lime down. Use less fertilizer on native plants, and compost at 20%. Use very light fertilizer after year one. Organic matter holds nutriments; too much peat is not helpful. Remember, landscape is always changing; you can change and rearrange your plants. If you remove plants for construction, replant them when projects are completed. Lindsay suggested the following places to find native plants: Ernst Conservation Seed in PA, Sylvan Nursery in Westport, and NRCS.

There was a consensus among those members attending that late June is a good time for the FOCL Annual Meeting.

The meeting was adjourned and a social time followed.

Respectfully submitted,
Marilyn Bornemeier
Secretary

APCC Action Alert Second Notice:

2008-08-05T16:51:00.000-07:00

The Environmental Bond is on the Governor's Desk.
We Must Make Sure that Funding for Wastewater Infrastructure STAYS IN THE BILL.

The wastewater infrastructure funding provisions in the bill would dramatically reduce the very high cost of wastewater infrastructure for Cape Cod communities. Governor Deval Patrick needs to hear from us how critically important the Clean Water Act portion of the Environmental Bond bill is to the future of Cape Cod and other communities.

If you have not already called the Governor's Office, PLEASE do so as soon as you can. (If you have already called, thank you very much.)

Call Governor Deval Patrick's office at 617.725.4005.

Tell the person answering the phone that you want to "ask the Governor to support the Clean Water Act portion of the Environmental Bond WITHOUT AMENDMENT."

Other Talking Points
Nutrients from poorly treated wastewater have severely degraded, bays, estuaries and rivers across the state in violation of the Federal Clean Water Act. The already high cost of solving this problem will only go up.

If we don’t address this problem now, we will see increased financial stress on local and state budgets, and on individual homeowners.

The Massachusetts Clean Water Act contains important planning tools, and 0% loans to cities and towns to address wastewater problems in rivers, bays and estuaries across the state.

This provision will provide significant local aid, and has the endorsement of environmental, housing and labor groups, as well as the business community.

Two Important Meetings Alert

2008-07-30T11:24:00.000-07:00

(copy of email from Jim Bast)

To Friends of Crystal Lake, there are two upcoming meetings of direct and specific interest to us:

1. Public Hearing on Nutrient Management Regulations - at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday, July 31st, in the Orleans Town Hall Nauset Room the Board of Health will discuss their proposed new "regulations to minimize, to the extent possible, the increase of excess nitrogen and phosphorus in the local environment." BoH can enact these regulations entirely on their own, so the hearing is particularly important if you want to express interest in what essentially limits a one acre lot to four bedrooms or a ratio thereof (e.g., two bedrooms on a half acre). There are numerous aspects and nuances of the proposed regulations, on which I am no expert. But you may desire to talk with Sue Sargent who is very knowledgeable on the subject, as Sue has engaged BoH on the proposal and has had her letter to the editor published in the paper. A phone call to Sue (508.255.1005) will work better than an e-mail, as Sue's computer is down temporarily.

2. Wastewater Workshop - at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 5th, in the Orleans Town Hall Skaket Room the Orleans Wastewater Management Steering Committee (WMSC) will present a workshop on the three options under consideration for a Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP). Our opportunity is to learn much more about the need for a CWMP, what such a Plan might include and cost, and to provide our inputs to the WMSC. Early arrival is encouraged, as the Skaket Room has been filling up for these very interesting workshops, and alternative seating in the Nauset Room is a little less attractive (especially for the Q&A period).
a. Feedback - at our June 25th FOCL Annual Meeting our Board requested all members to let them know after this workshop if they felt it would be desirable for us to all meet for further discussion of the three options and the CWMP, especially if we felt that FOCL should develop an advocacy position for quick input to the WMSC as they evaluate "public acceptability" of the Plan. Please get back to me quickly after August 5th, I'll collate responses, and forward them to the Board (or you may prefer to contact Sue or Mal or Mary or Sally or Maury or Kent directly).
b. Alternatives - if you can't attend the August 5th workshop, there will be two other ones on August 12 and August 19th.

For info on not feeding the ducks, there are now signs posted by Sue and Mary at the Crystal Lake beach on Monument Road asking people to not feed the ducks. John Stark will soon have improved laminated signs for us. As might be expected, some people ignore the signs, and as unexpected, some are rather hostile when asked politely not to do so. So far the Town has not taken the signs down or complained to us about them.

Further feedback is requested on our e-mail broadcast messages, since we have e-mail addresses for "only" about 85% of our members. This one time, could you please respond to me (using "Reply" but not "Reply All") that you received this message. Also please let me know any e-mail addresses of other FOCL members that you may have readily at hand, and how often you visit our FOCL blog (www.friends-of-crystal -lake.blogspot.com). While Maury will quickly post this e-mail on our blog, we are fairly sure that not all FOCL members visit our very informative blog on a regular basis. Because our e-mail list is not complete, our Board considered sending out a postcard on the two meetings described above, but time and family visits to all of us here on Cape Cod overwhelmed the opportunity to get out a postcard mailing.

Thanks, Jim
508.237.5588

PLYMOUTH GENTIAN ON WEBB'S SHORELINE

2008-07-25T14:55:00.000-07:00

Don't Feed the Ducks

2008-07-25T14:53:00.000-07:00

FOCL ANNUAL MEETING

2008-07-08T11:03:00.000-07:00

FOCL 2008 ANNUAL MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

2008-05-29T17:43:00.000-07:00

To our members of Friends of Crystal Lake, following up on suggestions at our 2007 FOCL Annual Meeting, this year we will hold the session earlier in the season. We will meet at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25th, at the home of Sue and John Sargent, 35 Crystal Lake Drive. This should be a very interesting meeting as we follow up on the report we received last year on Crystal Lake from Ed Eichner of the Cape Cod Commission, as we hear about more progress on storm drains to handle road runoff on both sides of the lake, and receive more info on the upcoming Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP) and what the three options look like for our neighborhood. Also, we will have a presentation on good environmental stewardship and natural resource protection by Lindsey Strode, President and owner of Cape Organics, a firm that has been a leader in this role here on Cape Cod for 22 years.

Another added benefit of our 2008 Annual Meeting is that the Sargent home will be fully ready for its distinguished place on the garden tour, and it's already truly beautiful.

A mailing will go out soon on our Annual Meeting and include our modest dues notice for another year at only $10. See you on June 25th.

Jim Bast
508.237.5588

PS: I've reminded us earlier and you've seen the OPC yellow card, but please recall that The Pleasant Bay Alliance is sponsoring a presentation of the MEP Technical Report for Cape Cod Bay estuaries by Dr. Brian Howes of the SMAST UMASS Dartmouth this evening at the Orleans Elementary School cafeteria. I believe the start time is 6:00 PM, although the town web site lists it at 6:30. This meeting will detail the current TMDLs for the Namskaket, Little Namskaket and Rock Harbor estuaries, which are critical ingredients to the CWMP that greatly affect how much sewering needs to be done and at what cost.

ORLEANS POND COALITION NEWS

2008-04-21T18:24:00.000-07:00

Greetings to Friends of Crystal Lake Members, I hear that spring is arriving in Orleans (I'm currently in Florida) and that the water level in our lake is quite high, which is a good thing in case we have another drought later in the summer. And it sounds like we've been stocked again with new trout, as evidenced by numerous fisherpersons in the lake.

I have two pieces of information from the Orleans Pond Coalition, on which Board I sit as your representative of FOCL. The first is to mention that the OPC newsletter, Ponderings, which you should've received last week, was a town-wide mailing (rather than just to OPC members) because it has a great deal of educational information regarding the upcoming Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan. So the mailing address for Ponderings was "Postal Patron" rather than your own in Orleans (or your out-of town address). Please don't worry, the OPC database still has your own address as a member of OPC (since FOCL pays your OPC dues from our treasury). If you did not receive an issue of Ponderings, please let me know by return e-mail or a call (508.237.5588).

The second is to follow up on the information in Ponderings regarding OPC's appeal for the large amount of funds needed to support its extensive "Clean Blue Waters for Orleans" educational program (more issues of the newsletter, a 56-page Orleans Blue Pages booklet, the mutt mitt program, Fourth of July parades, to mention just a few). Later this week or next you'll receive a letter from OPC's president, Judith Bruce, with a beautiful brochure and more information on the appeal directly to you for donations to OPC. Your FOCL Board enthusiastically encourages your support to OPC at whatever level you are comfortable, recognizing that your personal donations to OPC will be matched by the Friends of Pleasant Bay. Also, you can be assured that FOCL's interest in the Clean Blue Waters program has already been signaled by a $500 donation to OPC from the our treasury.

Oh, yes, we will be coming to you in a month or so with our request for your own very modest $10 annual dues to FOCL, and with news of our upcoming Annual Meeting in June. We've already paid your $5 dues to OPC for 2008, and we look forward to your continuing support to FOCL so we can give aid to worthy projects that protect and enhance the quality of Crystal Lake's waters.

Message from Jim Bast

2007 FOCL ANNUAL MEETING

2007-12-01T17:47:00.000-08:00

August 29, 2007

The meeting was held at the home of Kent and Jean Arnold on Wednesday, August 29th at 4 PM. There were 37 members present. President Kent Arnold welcomed everyone, and brief introductions were made around the room. He thanked the officers and the board for their ongoing work, noting that election of officers is upon us and that current officers have agreed to continue in their positions for another year. Kent asked that members consider running for office as well as participating on any of the various committees. Sign-up sheets were passed around.

ED EICHNER RE ORLEANS FRESHWATER PONDS UPDATE
Judy Scanlon introduced our guest speaker, Ed Eichner, Chief water scientist for the Cape Cod Commission, an agency of Barnstable county which serves both a regulatory and advocacy role. Ed presented a summary of the Review and Interpretation of the Orleans Freshwater Ponds Volunteer Monitoring Data. He began with an overview of the history behind the collection of data which began in 2000 and included 18 ponds in Orleans. Orleans Water Quality Task Force volunteers gathered the data. Analysis of the original data was provided by the National Park Service and UMAS-Dartmouth school of marine science and Technology (SMAST). Studies were done between June and September when eco systems are up and running and use is the highest. The more in-depth, detailed review of the original data was completed using 5 Orleans ponds: Baker, Cedar, Crystal, Pilgrim and Boland. The overall project was completed using funding to the Pond and Lake Stewardship (PALS) program from Barnstable County’s Growth Management Initiative. The review included delineation of watersheds, review of phosphorus loading, as well as dissolved oxygen and temperature profiles, Secchi transparency readings, and phosphorus concentrations. The identification of watersheds areas allowed the Cape Cod Commission staff to review current and future sources of phosphorus loads. Ed reminded us that the key to a lake’s health is its phosphorus level; too much encourages plant growth. As plants die, they lose oxygen, decompose and settle at lower levels causing stratification, which in turn cuts off oxygen below that layer. This creates an anoxic situation.

Bathymetry maps were developed to determine the natural flow of water through each lake and to determine the where phosphorus is coming from e.g. wastewater, fertilizer usage, road runoff, or internal loading. Homes on the up side of water flow will have the most impact on what goes into the lake.
In conclusion, Crystal Lake is relatively unstable with significant internal impairments. 40-50% of our lake fails to meet state standards for dissolved oxygen of less than 6 ppm. This is not good news for us. Our phosphorus loading is equivalent to two homes (with expectation that will triple in the future). Most of Crystal Lake’s phosphorus is coming from sediment at the bottom (internal loading) and only occasionally are the impairments seen at the surface. The clarity of the lake is deteriorating as well.

What is the next step for us and what can we do to protect further deterioration? Ed Eichner discussed several options, such as evaluating the sediment to assess how thick it is and how much phosphorus is present. One solution is to add alum to the lake which would cover the sediment, trapping it so it cannot be released (lasts perhaps 20 years). Another is to add an aeration system. Long term, we should look at the watershed, links to the waste water plan, storm water infrastructure, and consider buffer zones. Basically, the town will have to decide what should be done and how much and who will pay.

This was a very technical and detailed study and the conclusions and recommendations and /or remedies will take many years to develop and implement….but it is a start. A draft of Ed’s report summarizes the findings and recommendations. It is available on the Town of Orleans web site.
Judith Bruce reported on progress of the Wastewater Management Steering Committee. They hope to have the comprehensive plan completed by the May ’08 town meeting. It will include recommendations for a combination of systems including, individual, cluster, and larger plants. It will also suggest locations, costs, plan for financing, and a time line for staging implementation. It will address issues of both wastewater and run-off affecting fresh and salt waters. The comprehensive plan will be phased in over time. The most critical areas will be identified and recommendations set forth.

MUTT MITTS PROGRAM
Judith also reported that our mutt mitts program at Crystal Lake has been very successful. 80 mitts were dispensed at the beach, while 160 were used at fisherman landing. No bags were left behind and few droppings were reported. Good job.

FINLAY ROAD PROJECT
Judith gave us an update on the Finlay Road construction plans. Work is expected to begin this fall. The intersection will be widened to include turning lanes from both sides. There will not be a traffic light at this time, though wiring will be installed underground should it be needed in the future. The storm drains will be replaced and additional “rip rap” will be added at the storm break to help filter the road run off. No pipe will be installed connecting the over flow pond to our lake.

TREASURER REPORT & BLOG
Maury Webb reported that we currently have $7,657.00 in the bank. Our Blog is updated often so please visit it at: friends-of-crystal-lake.blogspot.com. New information will be posted there.

MEMBERSHIP
Our membership stands at 106.

ORLEANS POND COALITION
Len Short, president of Orleans Pond Coalition (OPC), reported that this year they arranged a bus tour for our selectman and other town officials to visit three different waste water systems in our town. Among them were Stop and Shop and the Community of Jesus. OPC is currently working on a booklet on waste water information which will be distributed town wide. They are hoping to raise the $30K needed to produce this from private donations. This spring they also mailed a small brochure of information about care of lawns to all Orleans residents.

EDUCATION
Thank you Jackie Stowell, for the excellent display of educational materials you presented at our meeting. The one thing we can all do to help the health of our lake is to use only phosphorus free dishwashing soaps. Samples were available as well as a complete list of dishwashing products and the phosphorus % in each. There is legislation pending in Boston which would ban phosphates from all these products. FOCL will write a letter to that committee and we encourage each of you to write or e-mail as well.

The board encourages anyone who is interested, to attend town meetings and meetings of the Comprehensive Wastewater Management Steering Committee to keep abreast of the latest developments.

2008 ANNUAL MEETING
Next year’s meeting will be in June at the home of Sue and John Sargent. The date will be determined.

Respectfully submitted,

Mal Bornemeier, Secretary

ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE

2007-07-31T11:51:00.000-07:00

The Friends of Crystal Lake will hold our 2007 Annual Meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 29th at the home of Jean and Kent Arnold, 23 Meg’s Lane. We are most pleased that the chief water scientist of the Cape Cod Commission, Ed Eichner, will again be with us, this time to give us his specific findings on Crystal Lake. Ed has analyzed the many years of water sampling data our volunteers have collected and has prepared specific recommendations for future steps to protect and improve our water quality. He will have a very interesting slide presentation, and there will be ample time for questions and answers. Jim Bast can e-mail to anyone who desires it a copy of Ed’s full report on the freshwater ponds of Orleans, just contact Jim at 508.237.5588 or jimbast@aol.com.

Our Annual Meeting will be a great time to catch up on other current activities around Crystal Lake, see old friends, and meet new FOCL members. We can also see the completed renovations of the Arnold home, and welcome Jean and Kent as permanent Orleans residents. Refreshments will be provided, so please RSVP to our FOCL Secretary, Mal Bornemeier (508.240-.2389 and malborne@aol.com) so we can get an idea of the numbers. FOCL members are encouraged to bring friends and new candidates for membership to this important and interesting meeting. The draft of last year’s minutes are enclosed.

ANNUAL DUES NOTICE

It’s time again for FOCL members to renew their membership.* Annual dues for 2007 remain at $10, one half of which goes to the Orleans Pond Coalition (OPC) to ensure theta every FOCL member also enjoys the benefits of OPC membership ( the Ponderings newsletter, a larger forum and advocacy group for topics related to Crystal Lake). Please return your annual dues in the enclosed envelope, along with any additional contributions you may want to make to the FOCL treasury. FOCL is a registered not-for-profit organization. There will be special recognition given at the Annual Meeting to all those who have paid their 2007 dues before August 29th.

July 29, 2007

FOCL ANNUAL MEETING

2007-07-11T17:47:00.000-07:00

Please mark your calendars now for the Friends of Crystal Lake Annual Meeting that will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 29th. We'll be honored to have again the top water scientist of the Cape Cod Commission, Ed Eichner, present his analysis of years of data on Crystal Lake and his recommendations for the future. As I mentioned last month, Ed's report on the ponds of Orleans was just released in June, and I can e-mail anyone a copy of the 73-page report in advance for your reading interest (it's not as pretty a picture as we'd like, and I'm not able to extract just the Crystal Lake section). More information to follow in the mail, including your 2007 dues envelope.

We need a host for this Annual Meeting, a portion of which must be held indoors so we can view Ed's very interesting PowerPoint slides. Please e-mail me or call me (508.237.5588) if you'd be willing to host the meeting (we'll get plenty of members to help with the chairs and drinks and snacks).

Hope everyone is having a great summer!

Jim Bast

Orleans Freshwater Data Presentation to Orleans Board of Selectmen

2007-06-20T12:52:00.000-07:00

To the Friends of Crystal Lake, on this Wednesday evening, June 20th, Ed Eichner of the Cape Cod Commission (and our speaker at the last FOCL Annual Meeting) will present his "Review and Interpretation of Orleans Freshwater Ponds Volunteer Monitoring Data" to the Orleans Board of Selectmen. It's anticipated he'll be first up on the agenda after Citizen Comments, or pretty near 6:30 p.m. in the Nauset Room at Town Hall. It would be helpful for lots of us to be there, in part to learn more about the Crystal Lake info and in part to show support for the recommendations that will be presented for corrective steps that should be funded by the Town of Orleans. Ed calls these "development of an integrated pond remediation and monitoring program."

Crystal Lake is given extensive coverage in this report. I haven't had a chance to review all of Ed's comments and recommendations on future steps, but the Executive Summary states, "Crystal Lake is relatively impaired, but most of the impairment is deeper in the pond and only occasionally are the impairments seen at the surface." The nature of Crystal Lake's current and future condition is one of the reasons why I've indicated earlier that our area will probably be given high and early attention in the upcoming Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan for Orleans.

The summary of his detailed section on Crystal Lake states:
"The overall assessment of Crystal Lake shows an impaired ecosystem that generally presents as healthy based on surface conditions, but can rapidly display its impairments when existing internal sources of nutrients are mixed into the upper waters. Projections of watershed nutrient loads suggest that the eutrophication will accelerate and worsen. It is recommended that management/remedial strategies be developed to address the internal sources of nutrients, existing watershed loads and future potential watershed loads that will eventually reach the pond. Existing data are sufficient to develop management/remedial strategies." Ed suggests that Crystal Lake monitoring be cut back to twice a year, same as for all other 17 ponds in Orleans.

Your Board is considering asking Ed Eichener to again come to our Annual Meeting this year. We'll let you know the date and place for this meeting soon. Meanwhile, please plan to attend the BOS meeting on Wednesday evening if you possibly can.

I have Ed's report on my computer can e-mail you all 80 pages if you desire. I believe hard copies are available at Town Hall.

Jim Bast

FOCL Update 02/05/07

2007-02-27T19:38:00.000-08:00

To our members of Friends of Crystal Lake,

Mary and I hope all is well with everyone now that we’re already into the second month of what seems like just a blink ago was New Year’s Day. Here are a few items of current interest regarding our beautiful lake.

1. Lake conditions
a. believe it not, Crystal Lake is finally frozen over, although not thick enough yet for ice fishing (darn!).
b. the level is still quite high, but water is flowing out as fast as the drain pipe can handle it. So likewise our cranberry bog is frozen over, and this ice may be thick enough for skating (please check with us before trying, as we have fragile new vines in there).
c. water quality and our Crystal Lake watershed are getting new attention. A brand new environmental report was just released late last month by a consulting company that has been hired by the Town’s Wastewater Management Steering Committee (WMSC) to assess the needs of protecting all of Orleans fresh water bodies. This new study is a sub-set of the larger report being prepared on all of Orleans needs in protecting all our fresh- and salt-water bodies (please see item below about an upcoming meeting on Feb. 26th). I will try to have professional interpretations of this new report soon, which seems to indicate that our water quality is better than some lakes, but that the watershed in which we’re located needs help to protect the onward flow to Pleasant Bay, and that the Crystal Lake area should be high on the wastewater management priority list for the future.
d. we are still waiting for the separate report on Crystal Lake from the Cape Cod Commission and Ed Eichner (remember Ed, the CCC top water scientist who talked with us at our Annual meeting last year?). This will be the detailed status of Crystal Lake’s water quality, with recommendations for corrective actions in the future. It is hoped this report will be released in the next couple of months.

2. Communication from Orleans Pond Coalition – you should’ve received a week or so ago the January 20th letter from the OPC membership chair (yours truly). This letter went out to over 900 people on the OPC mailing list, including all of us in FOCL because we are all members of OPC through the $5 dues that FOCL passes along to OPC. I hope you’re not confused by seeing yet another dues appeal over my signature, as your $10 dues should still come to FOCL. At the same time, if you want to make an extra contribution to OPC, be my guest. And if you didn’t get the OPC letter, please let me know.

3. Storm water runoff – although Massachusetts has apparently approved funds to fix not only the traffic intersection of Route 28/Pond Road/Finlay Road but also the storm drains there, and although there was some talk of the work starting in late 2006, there is no visible action yet. It’s hoped the work will start in the spring, in time to improve the control of storm water runoff into Crystal Lake.

4. Important meeting – on Monday, February 26th there will be a meeting of great importance to all of us, on “Why Does Orleans Need to Manage its Wastewater.” This will be a presentation by the WMSC’s consulting engineering firm on the needs that our Town has for planning wastewater systems to protect our priceless water resources, including Crystal Lake. It will set the stage for further meetings to explain what options the Town might use as it develops a so-called Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan (CWMP) for approval at the May 2008 Town Meeting. I already hinted earlier that there’s an early and very preliminary suggestion that Crystal Lake should be on the high priority list in the CWMP. OK, too many acronyms maybe, but eventually we around Crystal Lake will learn the two gut issues at stake in this huge and complex challenge – how will it affect me? and how much will it cost me? So attendance by all of us at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, February 26th, at the Snow Library is encouraged.

5. Possible Fund Raiser – one of our members, John Stark at 110 Monument Road, has floated an idea about possibly having a July tag sale by our members, with proceeds going to the FOCL treasury. Your Board of Directors thinks this could be an interesting and fun opportunity, which would need one or more of us to take leadership and pull it off successfully. Please respond to Kent Arnold (karnold2@twcny.rr.com) or John Stark (attaboyluther@roadrunner.com) or me if you’re interested in helping on this creative idea.

Jim Bast

MINUTES ANNUAL MEETING, JUNE 10, 2006

2006-11-20T18:13:00.000-08:00

Kent Arnold, president, welcomed everyone to the FOCL annual meeting held at the home of the Bornemeiers. There were 35 attendees including several Orleans Pond Coalition (OPC) members. Attendees introduced themselves and shared where they lived and their particular interest in Crystal Lake.

Kent passed out a list of committees and encouraged everyone to participate in some way.

Judy Scanlon introduced our guest speaker, Ed Eichner, Chief Water Scientist with the Cape Cod Commission who has been involved with the Orleans Water Quality Task Force (WQTF) since day one. Ed presented a detailed power point overview of the Data that has been collected from the 18 lakes included in this study from 2001 to 2005, with emphasis on Crystal Lake.

The study involved gathering Data on dissolved oxygen levels, water temperature variations, secchi readings(measuring clarity of the water), dissolved nitrogen levels, as well as chlorophyll, alkaline and bacteria levels.

Now that the Data has been collected, the task ahead for Ed’s group is: 1. review the Data, 2. develop recommendations, 3. work with the WQTF to select a smaller number of ponds which will be studied in more depth in an on going study, and 4. document these results and make specific recommendations. A formal report should be available by July 2006. Crystal Lake has been selected as one of 5 Orleans lakes included in the on going, more in depth study.

Ed pointed out that Crystal Lake is definitely changing and has become stratified during the months of June through September. This is caused by the overall accumulation of nutrients that settle to the bottom of the lake. It is the presence of phosphorus in particular that encourage plant growth and in turn deplete the oxygen levels at the lower levels of the pond. The more nutrients, the more plant life, and ultimately less oxygen for fish life. It is a careful balance. The upper part of Crystal is pretty clean. The deeper you go, the higher the concentration of nutrients present. The dissolved oxygen at the bottom is zero, and this bottom level is creeping up. This indicates we all need to take action.

Ed noted that ponds tend to trap and hold nutrients; that is the nature of ponds. They are more efficient at holding on to phosphorus than nitrogen. We can help our lake now by using only phosphorus free dishwasher detergent. Down the road, the real answer may be a change in the way we process wastewater discharge. The Orleans Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan will hopefully be available in 2008.

The question was asked what should we do now to help the health of our lake? Until the comprehensive plan is released, Ed suggested that we do the following:
1. create a lakeside buffer zone of grass to cut down on runoff, 2. use only phosphate free cleaning agents, 3. do not fertilizer lawns, and 4. routinely pump septic systems.

The issue of Rt. 28 run-off came up. A catch basin at the head of Crystal Lake is a critical part of the road improvement on Rt. 28. Ed responded that it is a complicated situation because the State is involved and this issue needs to get on their capital plan. This is an area that demands our ongoing attention

A question came up about the reddish color of the lake. Judith Bruce suggested we have the water tested for bacteria. It is most likely due to tannins from decaying leaves particularly since the lake has been unusually high.

Our meeting continued at the conclusion of Ed Eichner’s presentation. It was voted to accept the minutes from the last meeting August 28, 2005.

Kent Arnold is putting together a History of Crystal Lake and welcomed any and all input relating to this effort including pictures, and stories about early days around Crystal Lake.

Dave Bryan, reported that the Mutt Mitts program has been a tremendous success. Over 400 mitts were used at town landing end of Crystal Lake and 200 at the beach end. Judith Bruce reported that 2,800 were used at Rock Harbor. She is looking for volunteers to service Nauset Beach in the fall. Agway will underwrite the cost of all the mitts this year.

Jim Bast reported that FOCL has received our 501(c)3 IRS designation. We are officially a tax exempt organization.

Maury Webb has developed a BLOG web site for FOCL. This is a great way for all of us to access the latest information and current happenings relating to our lake. The site address is: http://friends-of-crystal-lake.blogspot.com. Hope you will all use it often.

Jim Bast reported that our membership is 108 and is the largest of the Orleans pond groups.

Len Short, president of the Orleans Pond Coalition (OPC) reported that this organization continues to advocate for clean water and get information out to as many people as possible. They recently organized a bus trip in conjunction with Friends of Arey’s Pond and toured 8-9 sites of detached sewer processing plants on Cape Cod. These can be unobtrusive systems and represent one approach to dealing with the wastewater issue. OPC will hand out samples of phosphate free dishwasher detergent at area craft shows this summer.

Samples were also given out at this meeting. There are various brands available including ECOVER, SEVENTH GENERATION, BI-O-KLEEN. These are available at Stop and Shop, Star Market and the Health Food store.

Maury Webb reported the current balance in our treasury is $6,184.06. A complete report was distributed.

The next meeting will be held in June 2007. It was suggested that we ask Sandy Macfarlane to be our guest speaker. We welcome any offer to host this event.

The meeting was adjourned and a social gathering followed.

Respectfully submitted,

Marilyn Bornemeier, Secretary

Current Items of Interest to FOCL (Jim Bast EMail of 10/17/06)

2006-10-17T18:28:00.000-07:00

To the Friends of Crystal Lake,

Fall seems to be really here with the cooler weather and beautiful sunsets on the north side of the lake where trees are just now beginning to change colors.

The fall season also brings the Orleans Pond Coalition (OPC) Annual Meeting. I hope you read about this in the most recent issue of Ponderings, which along with the Annual Meeting are just two of the many benefits you gain from FOCL paying your annual OPC dues for you. Hope to see you at 10:00 a.m. this coming Saturday morning at the Orleans Yacht Club, where the guest speaker will be Maggie Geist, Executive Director of APCC. Maggie always has interesting comments about connecting our lives to the Earth we live on, and she is familiar with Crystal Lake. At the meeting I expect to be elected for another term as FOCL's member on the OPC Board. Continuing on the OPC Board will be another FOCL member, Frank Hogan from Friends of Lonnie's Pond, and joining the Board will also be another FOCL member, Ted Larson, who is the representative of Grand View Association. So we are well-represented in our "umbrella" collaborative.

Another fall event of interest to all of us is the Special Town Meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, October 23rd, at the Middle School Gymnasium. The biggest excitement may be how soon in the evening a quorum can be mustered. But one Article of particular interest to us concerns "checkerboarding," which is non-exciting term in the rather dull topic of wastewater management. The effect on each of us by voting favorably for this Article will be to give flexibility (read: lower cost) to the Town when it comes time for "sewer systems" of various types to be built under a Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan. For example, this might mean that if some kind of alternative sewer line were to go down Crystal Lake Drive or Meg's Lane or Lake Farm Lane in the future (illustrative examples only, not a prediction!), the Town would not be required to hook up every single home, which is the present situation and is a guaranteed maximum-cost method. A far better explanation will be given at the Town Meeting, so hope to see you there. [FOCL is not advocating on this issue, I'm just providing information and a personal point of view from my informed position on the Orleans Citizens Advisory Committee.]

Regarding another item of interest to FOCL, I'm pleased to let you know that positive progress is apparently being made on improving the storm drains at the intersection of Route 28 and Pond Road and Finlay Road. Although the primary issue there is traffic safety, incorporated into the changes are plans to reduce road runoff into Crystal Lake by the upgrading of all existing storm drains and adding several more. This is an issue on which FOCL has advocated, and there is a possibility that we could see work at the intersection later this fall. We got a lot of help on this issue from the Town and OPC and the Conservation Commission and the Water Quality Task Force, where prominent FOCL member names like Bea Auty, Judith Bruce, Judy Scanlon and John Sargent come to the forefront.

Our thanks go to Bea Auty and Mal Bornemeir who faithfully sampled Crystal Lake water all summer long. Our volunteer efforts continue to be very important, and we hope to see later this fall the results of a comprehensive analysis of our historical data and trends by the head water scientist at the Cape Cod Commission. Those of us who were able to attend our FOCL Annual Meeting in June (thanks, Mal and Steve Bornemeir!) remember the very interesting presentation by Ed Eichner and we look forward to his recommendations for improvements. This is another area of activism by FOCL, in that we successfully advocated for getting the County funds needed for Ed's work at CCC.

Our thanks also go to David Bryan who kept the Mutt Mitt stations filled all summer long at the Monument Road beach and the Town Landing on Route 28. Mutt mitts are provided free through the efforts of OPC. And further thanks to Maury Webb and Bill Stowell who led the charge on removing another bunch of invasive purple loosestrife around our lake.

Jim

PS If anyone did not receive Ponderings a couple of weeks ago, please let me know so I can get the OPC mailing list updated. And if you are among some 30 members who have not yet paid their 2006 FOCL dues of a measly $10, please feel free to do so before you get a reminder letter from me in the next week or so.

Friends of Crystal Lake Committees

2006-06-10T14:32:00.000-07:00

1. Water Quality Monitoring Committee

a. Establish group of volunteers to monitor water quality of Crystal Lake.
b. Set up method of collecting road runoff sampling after rainfalls.
c. Coordinate activities resulting from Orleans Water Quality Task Force Baseline Water Quality Study for Crystal Lake.

Bea Auty & Mal Bornemeir, Co-Chairs with support, supervision and boat from Judy Scanlon

Don Heyer, Dave McConney, Dave Waddington, Jim Bast, Edwina Brown, Sue Sargent, Diana & Maury Webb

2. Monument Road Beach Committee

a. Monitor use of the Public beach, including use and maintenance of the new sanitary facility.
b. Monitor and report traffic/parking problems around the lake (both the beach and boat landing).
c. Coordinate activities with the Management Plan Committee.
d. Seek a cross walk at the Monument Road beach

Mary Bast and Peggy Shipman, Co-Chairs
Jim Boyd, Irene MacGillivray, John Sargent, Ann Kelleher, Sally McOsker, Sue Sargent

3. Management Plan Participation Committee

a. Area Open Space Management Plan of October 2000.
b. Recommend FOCL responses to the membership.
c. Monitor the Conservation Commission Management Plan.
d. Track all Town of Orleans meetings and topics for FOCL interest items, inform the FOCL Board.

Dave McConney, Chair

Mal & Steve Bornemeier, Pat Kelleher, Dave Waddington

4. Education Committee

a. Make membership aware of methods of protecting the lake through use of environmentally safe detergents, pesticides and fertilizers.
b. Receive training in collecting and identifying benthic (bottom dwelling) invertebrates and aquatic insects.
c. Attend workshops to learn more about kettle ponds, wetland habitats, vernal pools, etc.
d. Provide materials to the membership and public to increase awareness of areas of concern and methods to protect the lake.
e. Provide information on wild flowers and other vegetation on the lake's shores.

Jackie Stowell, Chair

Bea Auty, Mal Bornemeier, Don Heyer, Priscilla Morrison,

5. Membership and Dues Committee

a. Increase membership.
b. Make recommendations to officers regarding membership renewal dues.

Jim Bast, Chair

Kathy Brophy, Pat Heyer, Larry Trabulsi

6. FOCL Blog/Website Committee

a. Develop and maintain a FOCL Blog or Website to promote communications

Maury Webb, Chair

7. FOCL History Committee

a. Develop a history of Crystal Lake

Kent Arnold, Chair

PLYMOUTH GENTIAN

2006-06-02T13:30:00.000-07:00

2006-05-15T17:58:00.000-07:00

ANNUAL MEETING AND DUES MAILING

The good news is that spring really will come to Crystal Lake soon, and to celebrate the better weather we’re having our FOCL Annual Meeting early this year. Please join us at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 10th, at the home of Mal and Steve Bornemeier at 100 Monument Road. We are very fortunate to have at our meeting the top water scientist on Cape Cod, Ed Eichner, from the Cape Cod Commission. Ed will share with us the results of his findings concerning the ecological health of Crystal Lake, based on his analysis and interpretation of sampling data our members have collected in the years 2000-2005. It was partly the result of FOCL advocacy that funding for this study was provided by Barnstable County. It should be a very interesting meeting, followed by fun socializing right on our lake. Please attend, bring friends who might want to join FOCL or just hear Ed Eichner, and contact Mal (508.240.2389 and malborne@aol.com) to confirm so we can have lots of drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Extra parking is available at the town beach just down the road.

The other good news is that our 2006 dues for Friends of Crystal Lake are staying at only $10. Better yet, for the first time ever we are now a fully qualified not-for-profit organization as recognized by the IRS under their familiar section 501(c)(3). Having achieved this “gold standard” that is reserved for only the most worthy NPOs means that everyone can continue to trust FOCL completely with large and small donations beyond their dues and deduct them for their income tax purposes. A dues/donation envelope is enclosed for your easy payment, hopefully before June 10th.

Also enclosed are the minutes from our 2005 Annual Meeting. Please note that Don Heyer is looking for a chair of our Education Committee and Kent Arnold is looking for historical information. The minutes confirm that FOCL is a vibrant organization with lots of good things going on to justify your membership.

You should have received very recently your copy of Ponderings from the Orleans Pond Coalition, just one of the benefits that come from the $5 of your dues that go to OPC for your membership in this larger group that helps us. Crystal Lake’s bathymetry is featured in Ponderings! If you didn’t receive Ponderings, just let Jim Bast know and he’ll get OPC’s mailing list corrected.

We look forward to seeing you at the Bornemeier’s, June 10th. And to receiving your dues soon.

Sincerely,

Kent Arnold, Jim Bast, Mal Bornemeier, Sally McOsker and Maury Webb, Officers and Directors

Enclosures: Dues Envelope and 2005 Annual Meeting Minutes

Proposed Article for OPC’s Ponderings Spring 2006

2006-04-09T11:54:00.000-07:00

The Friends of Crystal Lake’s 2005 Annual Meeting in August at the beautiful home and gardens of Anne and Pat Kelleher on Meg’s Lane was an informative and social event for nearly forty members. We received an update on the Orleans Pond Coalition from its first President and newest member of FOCL, Judith Bruce. Judith told us we are the largest pond group in OPC, and we pledged continuing support of OPC’s valuable activities by paying for all FOCL members to be in OPC. We also had an interesting update from Judy Scanlon, one of our Founding Members and head of the Orleans Water Quality Task Force, on progress of our frequent water sampling and expected data analysis from Barnstable County with the funds for which FOCL had helped advocate. Action plans continue to focus on education about phosphate-free products and septic management, water testing, storm drains at the Route 28/Finlay Road/Pond Road intersection, a possible crosswalk at the Monument Road beach, removal of purple loosestrife and other invasive species, possible cleaning facilities for boat bottoms before they are put into Crystal Lake, and re-stocking of the Mutt Mitt dispensers at each end of the lake.

New officers of FOCL include Mal Bornemeier as Secretary and Sally McOsker as Director. Kent Arnold continues as President, Maury Webb is now Treasurer and Jim Bast is now Vice President. They lead our growing membership of about 106 families and friends interested in protecting and enhancing the pristine qualities of Crystal Lake. FOCL is proud to announce that it is now a fully-approved public not-for-profit organization under IRS section 501(c)(3), having recently become a Massachusetts-registered organization also, and FOCL is exempt from MA sales tax on its purchase of goods and services. New membership and donations are always welcomed, and are now deductible to the full extent of the law. Inquiries can be directed to Jim Bast, Membership Chair, 508.255.7357 and jimbast@aol.com. And all are welcome to attend our FOCL 2006 Annual Meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 10th, at the Bornemeier home, 100 Monument Road, followed by socializing right on beautiful Crystal Lake.

Final 03/25/06

REQUEST FOR INPUT ON HISTORY OF CRYSTAL LAKE

2006-04-08T07:59:00.000-07:00

To: Members of Friends of Crystal Lake

From: Kent A. Arnold, President

Subject: History of the Lake

Date: March 20, 2006

For the last two or three years, FOCL has talked about developing an historical document about our lake. Recently, I volunteered to put this interest into motion. We would like this project to be fun, inclusive, reasonably scholarly and accurate and a work in progress that can be enjoyed by all during the process as stories of the lake and its families are compiled.

As a preliminary outline, I have developed the following potential chapter topics that I hope member will contribute to in order to start to assemble information and stories that will ultimately comprise the history:

1) GEOLOGICAL EVOLUTION. I would welcome any geology buffs to submit to me notes of the geological history and bibliographic references that would explain Crystal Lake’s formation and/or the general context of the Cape’s fresh water pond origins.
2) HOW ORLEANS WAS SETTLED. I would welcome any good references on the history of Orleans and any particular references to Crystal Lake or similar lakes in Orleans. I’m guessing these first two chapter headings will comprise a short introduction to our history.
3) BEFORE CAMPS AND HOMES. Does anyone have written material or family stories about the earliest occupants along the lake before the camps and homes? I’m guessing this period would be before 1940, but I await being enlightened to the “before the camps” period.
4) THE FIRST FAMILIES AND HOMES. Do FOCL member have family histories about their ancestors on the lake or property owners before their families started to vacation or own property on the lake? We would love to hear those stories and compile information.
5) THE CAMP PERIOD. I think I have learned that there were at least two camps on the lake starting in the 1930’s or 1940’s, but I am anxious to learn as many details of those camp histories as I can. I am looking not only for information directly on the camps, but also for contacts you may know who have knowledge of that period who could be contacted and interviewed and who might have documents that could be copied for our historical records.
6) SUMMER COTTAGES. After the camps, the land appears to have been parceled off for people to buy and build homes, many of whom had been campers in their youth or their families had rented cottages on the lake in years past. If you know the history of your cottage or a cottage that preceded your home on or near the lake, we would like to know about it.
7) PERMANENT HOMES. How did the occupancy of the lake properties evolve to become a lake of permanent homes, many of them year round? We are interested in the stories of the current home owners on or near the lake and how those families came to own the property and their personal histories on or near the lake.
8) POT POURRI. Many of you may have additional ideas for chapter headings and lines of inquiry not included above. Please send them so as to broaden our investigation.
9) PICTURES. We would love to have copies of pictures that you have acquired or are in your family archives over the generations. Please consider sharing them for our historical files. (I recently heard that one of our families has some photos from the 1890’s when the lake was much lower than it is today.)

This endeavor could take years, but I envision sharing early drafts of chapters and interesting information that we accumulate in this effort with the FOCL membership as we go along, so that the stories can be enjoyed sooner rather than later.

With the above outline as a starting point, I ask the FOCL membership to consider doing the following four things:

1) Send your documents, pictures, stories, names (with addresses and phone numbers) to contact for more information and references to research.
2) Volunteer to join the committee to help in this endeavor.
3) Make suggestions for additional topics beyond those listed above for chapter headings or topics of interest relevant to our lake.
4) Label your submissions as you think they apply to the 9 headings above or to some additional topic or heading you think we should add.

Should we have chapter headings dealing with water quality over the years, the cranberry bog, the watershed and how the water gets into and out of the lake, government actions that have impacted the lake, the public beach and boat landing histories, the history of the roads around the lake? Others?

Please talk about this project with your family and share your knowledge and thoughts. Send any relevant information to me at karnold2@twcny.rr.com or mail to me: Kent Arnold, 9 Wynnridge Road, Fayetteville, NY 13066.

I would like to thank Bea Auty and Ellie and Murray Rust who have already contributed background and ideas to pursue in this project.

We will make regular reports to the membership at our annual meetings and through e-mails and hard copy drafts as we make progress. In advance of your input to this interesting and on-going project, I thank you for your help.

Sincerely, Kent Arnold

Minutes of 3/8/06 FOCL Board Meeting

2006-04-05T08:16:00.000-07:00

Minutes of FOCL Board Meeting
3/8/06

The meeting was called to order by Kent Arnold at 10:10 at the Arnold’s home
In attendance were: Kent Arnold, Jim Bast, Sally McOsker, and Mal Bornemeier

It was voted that Sally McOsker join on the Board to complete the 2008 term of Carol Taylor who has resigned as Secretary. Additionally it was voted that Mal Bornemeier take over the position of Secretary and Jim Bast take over the position of Vice President, both positions hold for one year..

The minutes of the 09/22/05 Board meeting were reviewed and the status of each issue discussed as follows:

There has been no new information regarding the status of the route 28/Finlay Road intersection project. We understand that there was a commitment a couple of years ago of funds by the Conservation Commission to pay for an engineering study to correct road run off into Crystal Lake. Jim will talk to Judy Scanlon about this situation. Jim Bast will follow up again with Glen Dixon regarding possible availability of funds from a Poland Springs settlement which might be used to help finance catch basin on Route 28..

We are waiting to learn of Crystal Lake data inclusion in the analysis of historical test data in the Barnstable County study. Jim will continue to press Judy Scanlon, chair of the Orleans Water Quality Task Force, for this assurance and a time frame for the results, expected to be in early 2007.

Jim will continue to look into the progress our crosswalk committee is making on securing a safe walkway across Monument Road to the beach area.

Maury Webb will be surveying the lakefront for evidence of invasive plants and contact the owners and make plans for the plants to be removed. Maury should let Jim know it map and permission slip requested by Maury has been received.

Mal and Steve Bornemeier will be hosting the FOCL annual meeting at 4:00 p.m. on June 10, 2006 at their home at 100 Monument Road. It was suggested that we invite someone to speak to the group about perhaps the water quality study results. Jim Bast will speak to Judy Scanlon for her input and suggestions. Mal will arrange to have phosphorous free dishwasher products available at the meeting for purchase.

As head of the historical committee, Kent Arnold will write a request to all FOCL members asking them to share histories, pictures and memories of life on the lake. Jim will send this communication to the membership. In addition, Kent hopes to conduct interviews and begin putting together some type of booklet.

Kent will follow up with Dave McConney, head of the Management Plan Participation Committee, to see how that committee can become more proactive.

Mal and Bea Auty will be the co-chairs of the water quality testing team. They will coordinate with Judy Scanlon in that effort.

The minutes were approved following this discussion.

New Business:

Jim Bast reported that FOCL is now registered as a Massachusetts Corporation and has an Employee Identification Number (EIN, #86-1147869). Mal will file a new officer changes form with the State as well as the 2006 annual report form which requires a $15.00 fee. Through the efforts of Jim Bast, FOCL has also received 501(c)(3) status. All donations are officially tax deductible. Jim will draft a notice to all members stating what this means for us. The next step by Jim and Mal is to secure the State sales tax exemption forms.

Dave Bryan, our Mitts for Mutts representative, has reported that they have helped greatly in keeping the beaches at either end of the lake cleaner. OPC pays for these mitts.

Jim Bast reported that our current bank balance is $5,097. There are currently 105 members. 12 people did not renew membership last year. Shortly we will pay out $5/member to OPC. Jim moved that we set 2006 dues at $10. Sally seconded the motion and the motion carried. The dues letter will be sent out in March.

Jim mentioned that Areys Pond organization will sponsor and pay for a trip to visit alternative wastewater management systems in our area, such as clustered septic systems, regionalized systems, and sewers. It was suggested that we wait until we have the official town comprehensive wastewater plan before deciding what direction we should go with this.

Kent will look into posting our laminated water information sheets at the beach site.

Jim will pursue how to get the boat washing procedure signs displayed at either end of the lake.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:30

Respectfully submitted,

Mal Bornemeier, Secretary

Purpose, Goals, and Objectives of FOCL

2006-04-04T19:47:00.000-07:00

The Purpose of the Friends of Crystal Lake (FOCL) is to promote and support efforts to protect, enhance, and restore the pristine water quality and shoreline habitats of our Lake, so that the Lake’s overall ecological health can be maintained to ensure its continued enjoyment and safe recreational use.

Goal I Promote the Highest Quality of Crystal Lake Water

Objectives

Promote and support environmental stewardship by participation in ongoing and future efforts to collect good baseline environmental data regarding the present health of the Crystal Lake.

Help achieve ongoing comprehensive management plans with consensus and funding from the Town of Orleans, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and others by providing recommendations for corrective action, and providing input to a final Sustainable Lake Management Plan.

Goal II Promote Reasonable, Responsible and Safe usage of Crystal Lake

Objectives

Create a forum for discussion of all relevant issues affecting access to and use of the lake, including numbers of people who use the lake, traffic and parking near the beach and town landings.

Advocate on behalf of FOCL’s specific recommendations and those of the Orleans Conservation Commission’s October 200 Open Space Management Plan and other appropriate agencies that gain FOCL consensus.

Goal III Achieve High Public Awareness of FOCL’s Purpose

Objectives

Create, publish, and distribute information about the purpose of FOCL, and its concern for improvement of the lake’s water quality and its safe usage, including information on environmentally safe products and property management practices that minimize negative environmental impacts.

Recruit as many dues-paying members of FOCL as possible

Participate in all planning activities associated with Crystal Lake, including:

1 The town of Orleans Water Quality Task Force’s volunteer freshwater monitoring efforts,
2 The Orleans Pond Coalition (OPC)
3 Development of a sustainable lake management plan; abdm
4 Obtaining funds for continued water quality monitoring,

Conduct other activities appropriate to FOCL’s purpose

Adopted at FOCL Meeting September 8, 2001, updated 8/5/05 for OPC

Annual Dues are $10. Mail to Jim Bast, 128 Monument Road, Orleans, MA 02653

Currently, FOCL pays the $5 annual OPC dues so that each of our members is also an OPC member.

2005-09-26T18:00:00.000-07:00

Friends of Crystal Lake Annual Meeting August 28. 2005
Summary of Minutes

Thirty-seven people attended the meeting at the home of the Kellehers where members introduced themselves and gave a brief history of their association with the lake. The minutes of the June 5, 2004 FOCL meeting were approved.

Jim Bast reported that membership is growing slowly with some turnover and 9 new members. He urged us all to again invite those we know in the neighborhood around the lake who are not members to join as we all are stewards of the lake. There are currently 21 unpaid members.

Jim also reported that we have cash on hand of $5,890.63. This money will be helpful if we need matching funds for a grant of some kind. (complete finance report available)

Judy Scanlon reported that due to heavy lobbying the county allocated $105,000 for analyzing the data that has been collected on lakes in Harwich, Brewster, Eastham and Orleans. Crystal Lake will definitely be included in this study and a report will be forthcoming.

Judith Bruce, chair of the Orleans Pond Coalition, reported that FOCL is the largest pond group in Orleans and OPC is very grateful for our support. FOCL pays the dues of all its members to be members of OPC. She clarified that it would cost a family the same $10 in dues to be a member of just OPC, so she urged all of us to remain members of FOCL.

OPC in its first two years has been busy advocating for clean waters, helping get the "pooper scooper" law passed and the mutt mitt program up and running, and presenting two Water Fairs.

The work to be done at the intersection of Finlay Road and Route 28 is a current issue where we might have an opportunity to have input. It would seem to make sense to upgrade the catch basins on route 28 to prevent road runoff at the same time that any work is done at this site. However, there is currently no money in the town or state budget to fund these improvements. Judith reported that we could write a warrant for town meeting to address this issue.( as we did to ban combustion engines on the lake).

The Monument Beach committee will talk to the Police Chief about a crosswalk on Monument Road to improve safety.

It was reported that more purple loosestrife ( a very invasive plant) has been spotted on the south side of the lake. Bill Stowell will speak to the owner and with permission, pull it out.

Jim Bast, from the nominating committee, presented the following slate of Directors for approval:
Jim Bast 2007
Kent Arnold 2006
Maury Webb 2007
Carol Taylor 2008
Marilyn Bornemeier 2008

The issue of sewers was raised as being one of the solutions to waste management. The town is investigating them. Also, a group of neighbors who are interested could possibly put in their own system, at their own expense, if they desired to do so.
We were reminded that phosphate free DISH WASHING DETERGENT, SEVENTH GENERATION, is available at Stop and Shop in the last aisle and also at the health food store, (phosphates are an enemy to our lake)

Don Heyer is looking for a replacement as Education Chair - please let him or Kent know if you are willing to take this position. Anyone is welcome to join any committee .Let one of the officers know of your interest by phone or Email (jimbast@aol.com)

Is anyone interested in writing a history of Crystal Lake?

A question was raised about required approvals for putting moored floats in Crystal Lake. In the absence of any real knowledge present, it was suggested that the Harbormaster, Dawson Farber, be contacted.

It was agreed that we should hold the next meeting in June. Anyone interested in hosting the meeting please contact a board member. We like to share the pleasure. Reimbursement for drinks is offered. Thanks to the Kellehers for hosting this year!

Respectfully submitted,

Susan W. Sargent, Secretary