Present on Zoom:
Grant Bogle, Marie (translator) and Jeff Bravin, Jean Bell, Dan Kadlec, Carey Fiertz, Jessica Swartz, Eric Stoer, Russ Conklin, Rich Haupt, Bill Barton, Jackie Blombach, Sharon Aiuvalisit, Blake Morrison, Jack Mahoney, Adam Mayer
2026 Lake Management Update:
Russ provided an overview of the treatment and water testing plans for the 2026 season. In essence, the plan is similar to last session but includes additional water quality testing points in East Twin and extensive use of divers to search the littoral zone of East Twin for hydrilla over the summer. As of yet, we have not received our NDDB letter from CT DEEP and inquiries are being made as to its status. We anticipate beginning treatments in mid May, assuming all the permitting is complete by the end of April. See slides for more details on the plans for 2026.
Budget:
The projected 2026 TLA budget is similar to 2025 (See details in slides)
Projected Expenses =$500k (primarily lake management costs and the watershed study)
Projected income =$500k (from dues and donations, town of Salisbury and Grants)
The TLA enters 2026 in a strong financial position. We hope costs may moderate over time, but they will never drop to historical levels given the need for ongoing extensive surveys and investments in keeping invasive species out of the lake and/or under control.
Grants:
Jackie presented the current status of grants. Since 2023 the TLA has been awarded $311, 000 in funding! CT DEEP awarded the TLA a third grant of $75K to support our hydrilla control efforts in 2026. In addition, as previously reported, the Bates Foundation supported the watershed study once again with $25K, the Millbrook garden club gave $3K, and The Jack Langerman Community Foundations gave the TLA $5K.
In 2027, the US Army Corp of Engineers will be launching an expense recovery grant similar to the CT DEEP AIS grant program, which will be run in the state of CT by CAES. More information to come in the fall.
Fund Raising:
- 2025 was a banner year with 245 donors contributing a total of $504,889. This is an increase of $204,000 over 2024 contributions. Also, total TLA membership giving is growing as a percent of total donors and in terms of the average contribution per donor.
West Twin Tape grass control plan:
The TLA will continue to utilize the town harvester in Aug and Sept for biomass removal from Middle and West Twin. In addition, the TLA has launched a new initiative with Salisbury School to keep the rowing lane free of tape grass. A new harvester will be received by The Salisbury School in late April and after training, it is anticipated that harvesting within the rowing lane will occur between June and August. Initial funding for the new harvester and seed capital to support this project has been made available by a generous donor. The TLA will reimburse the Salisbury School for operating and maintaining the equipment. This will be a learning year for all in terms of logistics and costs.
In addition, the TLA is exploring how to leverage the capabilities of the Salisbury School with regard to how best to use the lake for educational purposes and how the Salisbury School may serve as a scientific advisor to the lake community.
Monitors:
Adam Mayer indicated that most of last year’s monitors will be returning. Monitors will be active on weekends in May, seven days per week from Memorial day to Labor Day, and on weekends in September. Adam requested support to better train the monitors on such issues as the history of Twin Lakes, identifying native vs invasive plants, what impact invasives can have on the lake and what’s being done to protect it going forward.
Watershed Study Status:
Initial results indicate that of the 14 inlets to the lake, 4-6 have high phosphorus and/or e-coli. Given the importance of this study to understanding trends in the watershed, it has been decided to duplicate the testing completed in 2025. Stream testing will begin again shortly by the HVA team. Given the initial results, it has also been decided that the TLA will focus initial education efforts on steps all land owners adjacent to the lake can take to help mitigate development and man-made issues. This includes things like septic maintenance and the need to create and or expand shoreline natural buffers. More to come at the June TLA meeting.
Dan Kadlec commented that both the HVA interim report and the latest water quality report by NEAR should have an executive summary that is more easily digested by lay people.
Contract approval:
The Board was asked to approve three contracts for the 2026 season all which are within the range of what was spent in 2024, as well as a contingency approval of $25K for unexpected events. The contact vendors and amounts are:
SOLitude (herbicide application and testing): $200, 000
NEAR (water quality testing, aquatic plant surveys and divers): $150,000
HVA (Watershed study, year 3): $50, 000
Contingency: $ 25, 000
A vote was taken where Carey Fiertz proposed that the contracts be approved and Jessica seconded. All members unanimously voted and agreed to the contract approvals.
Key dates to remember:
Annual meeting June 13, possible speakers were discussed
Annual Meeting and TLD Aug 8
June 24 possible social event at Salisbury School which would include members of the Salisbury School faculty and leadership team, members of the TLA Board and Salisbury Rowing Club members.
The meeting was adjourned after 75 minutes.
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