Progress toward controlling the invasive plant hydrilla in Twin Lakes has been noticed regionwide. Other lake communities now want to learn from the Twin Lakes Association’s experience. So, TLA leadership will present at a virtual conference on Jan. 27 at 7 p.m., hosted in conjunction with the Connecticut Federation of Lakes. Register here.
For three years, the TLA, working closely with scientific experts, sought a solution to the potential devastation from fast-spreading hydrilla. This plant is believed to have entered the lakes from a boat that had previously been in the Connecticut River, a waterway fouled by hydrilla.
Last year brought notable progress through a costly program of herbicides, divers, and boat launch monitors. Since hydrilla was discovered in East Twin in June 2023, the TLA has spent well over $1 million to control the plant. Monitoring and treatment remain an ongoing expense, though it is expected that the lake community will find some relief from costs as the TLA gains more confidence that hydrilla is truly under control.
The objective of this webinar is to share insights and lessons from the TLA’s three-year journey, focusing on how the fight has permanently increased the costs and oversight of managing the lakes.
Presenting at the webinar will be:
- Grant Bogle, President, TLA
- Russ Conklin, VP of Lake Management, TLA
- Bill Barton, Senior Vice President, TLA
- Dominic Meringolo, Project Manager and Environmental Engineer, Solitude Lake Management
- George Knoeklein, PhD, Founder, Northeast Aquatic
The Lakeville Journal, in its Jan. 7 edition, reviewed the TLA’s hydrilla journey in a piece titled The hydrilla menace: 2025 marked a turning point.
A second lake-related story in the same issue highlights the preservation of Mt. Tom’s Hill and Miles Mountain through the combined efforts of a group of Twin Lakes families and five local conservation agencies. This article is titled HVA awards spotlight “once-in-a-generation” land conservation effort anchored in Salisbury. This story notes the critical role that TLA President Bogle played, for which the Housatonic Valley Authority honored him in December.
Save the dates: The June Membership Meeting will be held at Camp Isola Bella on Saturday, June 13. The Annual meeting and Twin Lakes Day will be held at Camp Isola Bella on Saturday, August 8. Details to follow in the spring.