Common Dragonflies of Green River Reservoir
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Common Dragonflies of Green River Reservoir BY RON KELLEY Friends of reen River Reservoir State Park Another common large dragonfly is the contains a diversity of habitats, Black-shouldered Spineyleg. It is also Green River from the lake itself to adjacent seldom seen during the month of August. It Reservoir streams, bogs, kettle ponds and is a mostly black clubtail, meaning that the Gbeaver ponds. This results in a wide variety tip of the abdomen is swollen and club- Spring 2018 of dragonflies and damselflies. There are a like. Males like to fly about a foot over the Newsletter number of mostly medium sized and dull surface of the water, sometimes hovering for colored dragonflies that can be spotted in short periods. They often try to land on the early to mid-summer but the larger, showier front of your canoe or kayak. I’ve even had ones tend to become most abundant in Au- them dive-bomb my head when swimming. gust and September. This article will feature They appear to be totally black on the fly the three most common on the reservoir. but have some interesting blue markings and One of the most common and easily rec- widely separated eyes when seen up close. ognized dragonflies is the Slaty Skimmer. Continued page 2 It is commonly seen throughout August and can be recognized by its slate-gray color and black head when mature. Skimmers are so-called because the females skim along the surface of the water, periodically dipping the tip of their abdomen into the water to deposit eggs. The females are seldom seen but the males frequently perch on vegetation in sunny areas around the reservoir, where they are easily identified and photographed In This Issue once they land near you. RON KELLEY Black-shouldered Spineyleg 3 Update on Slaty Skimmer Dam Relicensing By Michael Wickenden 4 Dog Paddling on the Reservoir by Sheila Goss 6 Last Season at GRRSP 5 Annual Lecture: Tom Rogers on Wildlife RON KELLEY 2 | Friends of Green River Reservior Dragonflies cont’d from page 1 is probably a Canada Darner. Males Friends of Green River are typically seen patrolling the edge Reservoir, Inc. The largest and most beautiful of the reservoir, where they consume dragonflies commonly seen are the their prey in flight, but trying to get — SPRING 2018 — darners, with the most common spe- them to land for a picture can be very cies on the reservoir being the Canada challenging. Females tend to keep to PO Box 359, Hyde Park, VT 05655 Darner. It usually becomes abundant the forests except when mating and FGRRVT.org from mid-August through September. laying eggs. They insert their eggs into Email: [email protected] If you notice a large dragonfly with the stem of submerged or partially Editor: Sally Laughlin blue spots on the abdomen fly by, it submerged plants. Design: Brian P. Graphic Arts BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Sally Laughlin, President (802-355-2511) Milford Cushman, Vice President (888-3362) Emma Marvin, Secretary (888-9339) Ron Kelley, Treasurer (888-7466) Lisa Dimondstein (233-4179) Sheila Goss (253-0183) Terri Gregory (888-3362) Tom Kastner (279-1998) Eric Nuse (730-8111) Michael Wickenden (888-3365) Honorary Director: Bill Bartlett RON KELLEY RON KELLEY Canada Darner Canada darner inserting eggs into a blue iris stem. Using the new wildlife resistant food storage containers BY SHEILA GOSS hen you head to your the guidelines posted on top of padlock. And use caution with campsite at GRRSP this each locker. They are large enough your children – although there is summer, you may notice to keep your food, beverages, and a child safety release inside, don’t theW new large metal boxes on some scented or flavored toiletries safe let the kids climb in! The purpose of the sites, placed by Vermont De- partment of Forests and Parks with a from bears and other animals. Be is to keep odors from attracting matching grant from the FGRR! sure to latch the pocket style bear wildlife. Let us know what you They are designed to keep resistant latch when you leave the think! Our expectation is that they campers and wildlife safe from un- site. If you want to lock the locker, will prevent animal problems from wanted encounters. Please follow you will need to bring your own developing. Spring 2018 Newsletter | 3 Update on the Green River Dam Relicensing Appeal: 23 March 2018 BY MICHAEL WICKENDEN he Friends of Green River approval, and seems unlikely to be mental standards consistent with the Reservoir Board (“the achieved. long-term preservation of the dam. To Board”) continues to The appeal trial date has been set advance that mission, the Board hired closely monitor Morrisville for April 2 – 13, 2018. On April 2, the Anthony Iarrapino, Esq. to be the TWater and Light’s (MWL) appeal to case will begin with a short discussion Friend’s legal counsel and enable our the Vermont Superior Court, Envi- to set a date for a site visit. Hearings participation in the Green River Dam ronmental Division (“the Court”) of will begin on April 3rd and will be held Relicensing and Appeal. The Board pe- a water quality certification issued by in the Costello Courthouse on Main riodically meets with counsel to review Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resourc- St. in Burlington. The parties will legal filings and plan strategy. In Feb- es (ANR). The water quality certificate present their evidence in the following ruary 2017, members of the Board met is required by the Federal Energy order: Morrisville Water and Light; with MWL Trustees and participated Regulations Commission (FERC) American Whitewater/Vermont Pad- in a MWL sponsored public hearing and is used by FERC to establish the dlers Club; Vermont Natural Resourc- at People’s Academy. In addition, the conditions for the renewal of a 30-year es Council/Trout Unlimited; Vermont Board reached out and met with Julie Green River Reservoir Dam license. Agency of Natural Resources. Moore, the Secretary of ANR; with FERC is the ultimate authority that Many issues raised in MWL orig- VNRC’s Jon Groveman, Esq., Public regulates both the construction and inal appeal have been the subject of Policy and Water Program Director, operational phases of hydro-projects. recent court orders. For example, on and B.T. Fitzgerald, Dam Project & MWL’s appeal raised over a dozen June 13, 2017, the Court ruled that Vermont Dam Task Force Coordina- issues in regards to the certificate. “state and federal water quality laws do tor; and with Christine Hallquist, for- Principally, MWL claims that ANR not authorize consideration of eco- mer CEO of Vermont Electric Coop. has not accurately applied Vermont’s nomic or social factors.” Consequently, Our discussions have centered around water quality standards. A conse- lost hydro-power production and the how we can collectively come together quence of ANR’s alleged inaccuracy is resultant decrease in MWL revenue as to reach a beneficial and reasonable their recommendation for a significant a result of decreased winter water level solution. What we can confirm is that decrease in the amount and timing of draw-downs is not a factor that the all parties share the long-term vision of water released that would be available Court will consider when it evaluates a safe, functioning dam and reservoir to produce winter hydro-power. MWL MWL’s appeal. What remains to be de- that meets or exceeds state and federal states that if they have to abide by the cided by the Court is whether ANR’s water quality standards. What is still conditions of ANR’s water quality water flow recommendations accurate- unclear is the appropriate application certification for Green River Reservoir, ly result in achieving Vermont’s water of those standards to the Green River the profitability and utility of the dam quality standards, or, as MWL and Reservoir and how their application will be compromised. If that is the American Whitewater’s and Vermont will affect the dam’s future operations. case, MWL has publicly stated that Paddlers Club’s expert witnesses will Rest assured that the Board will re- they may consider asking FERC for testify, ANR’s requirements limiting main active in keeping its membership permission to remove the dam and winter water draw-downs are overly informed and working with any and return the reservoir to its pre-reser- restrictive. The Court’s decision is all interested parties to achieve a solu- voir natural condition. A FERC dam expected by the fall of 2018. tion that preserves an environmentally removal legal proceeding is typically The Friend’s fundamental mission sound reservoir. an expensive, multiyear exercise, which remains the preservation of Green would also require Vermont ANR River Reservoir’s highest environ- 4 | Friends of Green River Reservior Dog Paddling on the Reservoir: Tips for safe and enjoyable canoeing and kayaking with dogs BY SHEILA GOSS y husband and I quiet, calm body of water, are avid paddlers with an easy access launch site. at Green River Choose a time of day when Reservoir and are there are fewer other boaters Madvocates for safe and fun outdoor or dogs around; the fewer dis- adventures with dogs. We paddle tractions, the more successful over 100 days a year (always with your initial trips will be. our rescue mutts) from the end of For all dogs we suggest the April until November. We enjoy use of a dog life jacket. This multi-day canoe camping trips, day jacket can provide thermal trips, picnic paddles, and love ex- protection, provides a nice ploring new waterways. We usually SHEILA GOSS handle should you need to lift paddle the beautiful lakes of north- your dog, and it makes your ern New England and the Adiron- When checking out canoes or dog visible to other boaters.