Lake Garfield Working Group February Meeting
At the February meeting of the Lake Garfield Working Group, the discussion focused on updates of current town and regional projects designed to protect and enhance the health of Lake Garfield and the Konkapot and Housatonic Rivers, as well as developing resiliency for the detrimental impacts of climate change that are becoming more apparent from one year to the next.
With funding through a state Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) grant program, the Town of Monterey has completed the first phase of the replacement and expansion of the deteriorating Main Road culvert adjacent to town hall. A conceptual engineering design has been chosen by the select board to reduce the potential of flooding along Konkapot River in the center of town. Monterey is now preparing to apply for additional MVP grant funding to accomplish the final design and permitting phase of the culvert project.
Monterey is also about to embark on another water quality design project with recently approved federal funding. This project will be administered through the state to reduce the flow of nutrients including phosphorus into Lake Garfield. Phosphorous contributes to the growth of potentially harmful microscopic blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) and larger aquatic plants such as the invasive Eurasian watermilfoil in Lake Garfield. Following early completion of this grant during this coming spring, the town will be eligible to apply for additional federal funding this year for the construction of a pollution filtration system in the Lake Garfield watershed.
On a regional basis, the Friends of Lake Garfield (FLG) have initiated and organized a program for the past two years to assist the state and the Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to monitor the growth of blue-green algae in Lake Garfield. It was reported that with the experience gained from their monitoring efforts, the FLG spearheaded a regional grant application to the state Department of Environmental Protection in partnership with the fifteen-member Lakes and Ponds Association of Western Massachusetts (LAPA-West). The grant application requests funding to purchase specialized monitoring equipment and supplies for the long-term water quality monitoring of blue-green algae and bacteria in state regulated lakes, ponds, and rivers of Berkshire County, including Lake Garfield and the Housatonic River. If the state awards funding for the project, the new equipment will be utilized to monitor twenty water bodies in three watersheds to promote the state water quality goals and protect these important natural resources. All equipment and supplies will be purchased and available to commence the regional water quality monitoring program prior to June 2021.
The Lake Garfield Working Group continues to be a valuable source of environmental information to the Monterey Select Board for the protection of Lake Garfield. Stay tuned for future updates and join us at our March remote meeting following the instructions to be posted on the town website. — Steve Snyder Chair, Lake Garfield Working Group