RE: HB # 6637 February 26, 2019 Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the Environment Committee, My Name Is Carolyn Rowan From
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RE: HB # 6637 February 26, 2019 Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, members of the Environment Committee, My name is Carolyn Rowan from New Fairfield Connecticut, and I am writing in support of HB #6637: AN ACT REQUIRING AN INVASIVE SPECIES STAMP FOR THE OPERATION OF A MOTORBOAT ON THE INLAND WATERS OF THE STATE. I would like to thank the Committee and the co-sponsors of H.B 6637: Rep. David Arconti, 109th Dist., Rep. Kenneth M Gucker, 138th Dist., Sen. Julie Kushner, 24th Dist., Rep. Emil Altobello, 82nd Dist. I am writing you today as a founding member of Candlewood Voices, as well as a Conservation-Inlands/Wetlands Commissioner for the town of New Fairfield, Connecticut. Candlewood Voices is a grassroots group dedicated to the stewardship of Candlewood Lake, Connecticut, by all those who love its beauty, and the surrounding watershed. We have a growing membership representing the five towns around the lake, and beyond. Those five towns include Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford and Sherman. Candlewood Voices strongly supports the concept of the bill (H.B. 6637): a yearly purchased Aquatic Invasive Species stamp for all vessels operating in the Connecticut inland waters, with a modest user fee based approach that is affordable and appropriate. We believe that this would make a big, sustainable dent in the enormous cost of combatting Aquatic Invasive Species in Candlewood Lake. Let me briefly share a little background about Candlewood Lake, if you are not that familiar with it. I am including a picture from a drone, to highlight its beauty. As the largest lake in Connecticut, it is precious and unique. Though much of the shoreline is developed, a substantial portion of it is wild. It is a mecca for migrating birds, and water fowl, including loons, and merganzers, as well as year round birds, like a variety of owls, herons, peregrine falcons and majestic Bald Eagles. We also have a host of interesting mammals that belong to the lakes eco system, not limited to red fox, coyote, deer, black bear, American mink, mountain lion, and fischer cat. Importantly for our local economy, Candlewood Lake is also ranked 22nd in the nation for trophy bass fishing. Anglers come from all across the country to participate in bass tournaments and fish our waters. Our beautiful lake is, however, vulnerable to natural forces, development pressures, over-use, storm water surges, pollution, and political and profit forces: as you may know, the lake is owned by FirstLight Power Resources (FirstLight Power Resources operates a portfolio of power generation plants in Connecticut and Massachusetts that are primarily pumped hydro storage and traditional hydroelectric facilities). And yet, it remains a crown jewel of Connecticut. We must join voices and protect it, with all of the tools we as Connecticut citizens possess. That is why I write you today, to talk about our greatest challenge to protect the lake: Aquatic Invasive Species, and the need for HB 6637. I am sure you will hear from experts who talk about the scientific research behind the threat of Aquatic Invasive Species, namely Milfoil, Zebra Mussels and Hydrilla, as well as the potentially dangerous blue-green algae. I am going to leave that to the experts. I will just briefly state that Aquatic Invasive Species are increasingly impacting recreational use, environmental health, and property values on Candlewood Lake. For example, it is difficult to swim in certain areas, and the town beaches have to be weeded of milfoil by divers every year at great expense to our local citizens. Lakefront homeowners go through huge expense to rid their dock and swim areas of milfoil. I personally spend $1500 a year to have my shoreline weeded by divers, and to place benthic barriers on the lake bottom in front of my dock and swim area. The invasive weeds get tangled up in boat propellers causing boat damage. There is one cove at Candlewood Lake that had real estate values plummet because the cove became overrun with Milfoil, and was unnavigable by boats. Our beaches around the lake have had to be closed because of dangerous algae blooms, which can make people sick and can even be fatal. We, as a lake community are currently fortunate to have support from the Candlewood Lake Authority and some of our town governments to protect and manage the lake responsibly when it comes to Aquatic Invasive Species. However, both the CLA and our Town Governments lack the financial resources to fight this growing threat of invasive species. They are currently managing Milfoil in a natural and ecologically safe way with Triploid Grass Carp (Sterile Grass Carp). Our milfoil has gone way down in acreage since the Carp were placed in the lake several years ago. This was an expensive, but necessary measure to combat Milfoil. Candlewood Voices as a community group successfully opposed corporate and local government meddling to treat the milfoil problem with dangerous chemicals by passing an ordinance in our town. As far as we know, we do not currently have Zebra Mussels or Hydrilla. It is just a matter of time though, before a boat hull transports them from another local lake or river that does have them to Candlewood Lake. Zebra Mussels, currently found in the Hudson River, and Lake Lillinonah, could mean the death of Candlewood Lake as a recreational and sport fishing destination, which would make housing prices plummet, and would kill our local economies. A condition known as avian vacuolar myelinopathy, associated with Hydrilla kills bald eagles. Our beautiful bald eagles at Candlewood Lake could be at risk of completely disappearing should Hydrilla take hold in the lake. This is all extremely concerning to us as stake holders, and stewards of Candlewood Lake. We need financial help to combat this threat. Bill # 6637 is a sensible way to help create a sustainable fund to fight Aquatic Invasive Species. Here are some facts about the cost of combating Aquatic Invasive Species from the Connecticut Federation of Lakes: • Nationwide, invasions from non-native species cost the US an estimated $137 billion dollars per year on control and damage. • Invasive species are the 2nd most common cause for native species being listed as federally endangered or threatened. • $30 million/year is spent to control zebra mussels in Great Lakes. They are now in 5 CT water bodies. • Millions are already being spent each year in CT to control milfoil, fanwort, water chestnut, toxic algae, phragmites, and other aquatic invasive plants. • Coventry Lake – First public lake in CT with Hydrilla. Small patch discovered 4 years ago. Town and DEEP have been treating the past three years. Town is undertaking a long-term effort to eradicate. $130,000 per year for 6 – 10 more years! • Boats and trailers coming out of the CT River represent a threat to other lakes and a potential liability for taxpayers and municipalities in other areas of the state. • This will become much worse if Hydrilla spreads throughout the state. Again, Candlewood Voices supports initiatives for a healthy lake, and urgently feels that this requires a strong, financially funded, sustainable, unified plan to combat AIS in Candlewood Lake. Candlewood Voices strongly supports the concept of the bill (H.B. 6637): a yearly purchased Aquatic Invasive Species stamp for all vessels operating in the Connecticut inland waters, with a modest user fee based approach that is affordable and appropriate. Please pass this bill and help Candlewood Lake remain the Connecticut jewel that it is. Thank you, Carolyn Rowan 63 Bogus Hill Road, New Fairfield, CT 06812 (914) 912-2521 .