Clock ticking on Candlewood Lake’s future
Unless we wake up, stand up, and get serious now, Candlewood Lake’s destiny will be preordained. Our Lake — and therefore our intertwined future — is in imminent danger of being overrun by zebra mussels. Based on recent findings, these aquatic invaders have succeeded in breaching the lake’s perimeter and while we have not yet uncovered evidence of colonization — the precursor to broadscale infestation — that possibility is very real indeed.
In addition to neutralizing those mussels recently discovered (and the lake’s deep drawdown is one such mechanism), the issue now becomes what bold actions are needed to stem the tide and hopefully prevent further incursions — not only by zebra mussels but by their aquatic invasive brethren as well. Think milfoil, hydrilla, water chestnut, and the list goes on.
It is well established that the dominant method of entry of these aquatic species is hitchhiking on transient vessels as they launch and ply lake waters. Unless preventive action is taken prior to launch by boat skippers and/or ramp personnel, it is inevitable that infected vessels will serve as carriers, depositing these invasive species into an ever-increasing number of waterbodies. The solution therefore becomes how to ensure entering vessels are indeed void of such dangerous critters. The first step is to build awareness of this threat among boat skippers and to provide reference sources to convey proven boat cleaning protocols. The CLA’s website is one such convenient source: candlewoodlakeauthority.org/invasivespecies.
The second step — and one where we have traditionally failed — is to ensure that all vessels destined for Candlewood Lake (including those participating in fishing tournaments) are fully inspected and cleared for launch, and if suspected of carrying zebra mussels or other invasive species, that they are decontaminated before allowed to enter Lake waters. Authorities need to focus initially on the high-volume transient ramps (notably the two state launches at Lattins Cove and Squantz Cove that DEEP monitors), next on the ramps of our five bordering municipalities, and then on those of our private lake communities and marinas.
If indeed Candlewood is to be protected against further incursions, we need to secure these lake-wide access points 24/7/365, provide for trained personnel to fully inspect and clear entering vessels during the open hours, and for those that fail the inspection to provide an accessible decontamination capability before these vessels are granted clearance. Past trained staffing at state and town ramps has been inadequate or non-existent. Little provision has been made to secure these locations during off-hours. Clearly, if we cannot staff our launches, they need to be shut down. And past attempts to locate, fund and staff 1-2 decon facilities around the lake have failed for a variety of reasons.
Given our uncontrolled and porous lake border, now is the time for all parties to come together, commit to driving Candlewood Lake’s destiny, and to systematically take the essential actions necessary to protect our priceless “CT Crown Jewel.” Or, we can simply kiss off trying to prevent further inroads as too complicated or funds-intensive. The choice is ours but no time remains to pussyfoot and little time remains to preemptively act to secure Candlewood’s and our future.