The plan to introduce these chemicals into the lake has been officially withdrawn. This outcome serves as a reminder that the health of our shared water is something we must continue to watch over together. Thank you for staying committed to finding a more responsible way forward.
April 24, 2017
Final supporters
New Fairfield is planning on using massive amounts of herbicides and algaecides on Candlewood Lake this spring- 60 acres of herbicides and up to 150 acres of algaecides are planned. All of this was planned without soliciting input from residents, the DEEP, the CLA or other stakeholders.
Candlewood is a shared resource- no individual Town should be allowed to poison the waters of Candlewood to achieve short term control-what one Town does in its waters affects all of Candlewood. Candlewood is not a swimming pool to be managed by chemicals but is a fragile, interconnected and interdependent waterbody that must be carefully managed. The current Carp program was well researched by the CLA and was approved by all five Towns, the DEEP and FirstLight as the most cost effective, most ecologically responsible program to manage milfoil. To introduce massive amounts of herbicides even as the Carp program is ramping makes no sense, and could negatively impact the Carp program as herbicides can lead to fish die-offs due to oxygen depletion. Other non-toxic means exist to manage milfoil (and have been successfully used by the other Towns) as we wait for the Carp program to ramp. These include hand pulling, suction harvesting and the use of benthic barriers.
We all know the hard work that must be done around the lake; better shoreline buffers, better septic management, improved storm water practices, work to limit fertilizer usage within the watershed and possibly nutrient inactivation or aeration to manage the excess nutrients already found in the sediments owned by FirstLight. No one should support a path that includes the use of poisons (which is the correct term for the non-specific herbicides and algaecides) that New Fairfield is proposing to use. New Fairfield should be directing its efforts in these areas and not proposing the widespread use of poisons. New Fairfield formed a buffer committee several years ago- this committee has only met once or twice in the several years since it was formed- why isn’t more work being done in this area in New Fairfield instead of promoting the use of poisons? FirstLight has repeatedly sought waivers on required buffer installations in New Fairfield- why hasn’t the Town opposed these waiver requests? The CLA has spearheaded the research of lake management strategies that resulted in the Carp program- why has New Fairfield withheld funding from this critical organization? Why didn't New Fairfield's CLA delegates attend all of the educational sessions where the CLA brought in experts to discuss various management strategies?
Although the shallow drawdown this year (driven by the discovery of zebra mussels at the Rocky River penstock) may increase the milfoil challenges this year, it does not justify the use of poisons within Candlewood.
The Connecticut DEEP will be required to hold public hearings to weigh the risks of this program. Make your voice heard by contacting your Selectman or Mayor, the DEEP and by signing this petition. Let them know that you oppose the widespread use of poisons in our lake.
Updates
March 2, 2017
Moving past twenty-five hundred signatures underscores how many people recognize the fragility of our shared waters. This number confirms that the community values long-term ecological health over the convenience of chemical solutions.
Reached 2,500 supporters
February 27, 2017
Reached 1,000 supporters
February 5, 2017
Reached 100 supporters
January 30, 2017
1,071 Comments
The introduction of pesticides to Candlewood Lake is biologically unsound. As a biologist specializing in fisheries, the destruction of aquatic vegetation affects every level of the ecosystem; most likely irreparably. Please don't proceed with this program!!!!
I have been fishing at candlewood Lake for over twenty seven years please don't destroy this fragile environment poison is not the way to go it has never worked just take a look at Saratoga lake and what it has done to it !
As an avid bass fisherman, Candlewood lake is the most important feature CT has to offer. The fact that one town did this without soliciting the DEEP, other towns or the residents of CT who care about the lake proves that they know what they're doing is wrong.
It is my understanding that the lake is a back up reservoir for the area. Do we really want to introduce these chemicals into water that could become drinking water in a future immergency? Let stick with the carp and give them time to do their job.
The use of these toxins is a serious danger to our longterm health, that of our youth, and the yet unborn children of this community. As a healthcare professional I urge community leaders to consider the health ramifications for generations to come.
I am not a resident of Candlewood, but I have friends on there and use the lake with them seasonally. Don't take a shortcut on maintenance by dumping toxic chemicals into this beautiful lake.
Please don't put chemicals in Candlewood lake. They do nothing but destroy our fisheries. Fish matter as well. Candlewood Lake is one of the best if not the best in New England. Please think about this in a whole. Killing the vegetation will kill Candlewood Lake. Thank you Scott Garrison 8604598287
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The plan to introduce these chemicals into the lake has been officially withdrawn. This outcome serves as a reminder that the health of our shared water is something we must continue to watch over together. Thank you for staying committed to finding a more responsible way forward.
April 24, 2017
Final supporters
New Fairfield is planning on using massive amounts of herbicides and algaecides on Candlewood Lake this spring- 60 acres of herbicides and up to 150 acres of algaecides are planned. All of this was planned without soliciting input from residents, the DEEP, the CLA or other stakeholders.
Candlewood is a shared resource- no individual Town should be allowed to poison the waters of Candlewood to achieve short term control-what one Town does in its waters affects all of Candlewood. Candlewood is not a swimming pool to be managed by chemicals but is a fragile, interconnected and interdependent waterbody that must be carefully managed. The current Carp program was well researched by the CLA and was approved by all five Towns, the DEEP and FirstLight as the most cost effective, most ecologically responsible program to manage milfoil. To introduce massive amounts of herbicides even as the Carp program is ramping makes no sense, and could negatively impact the Carp program as herbicides can lead to fish die-offs due to oxygen depletion. Other non-toxic means exist to manage milfoil (and have been successfully used by the other Towns) as we wait for the Carp program to ramp. These include hand pulling, suction harvesting and the use of benthic barriers.
We all know the hard work that must be done around the lake; better shoreline buffers, better septic management, improved storm water practices, work to limit fertilizer usage within the watershed and possibly nutrient inactivation or aeration to manage the excess nutrients already found in the sediments owned by FirstLight. No one should support a path that includes the use of poisons (which is the correct term for the non-specific herbicides and algaecides) that New Fairfield is proposing to use. New Fairfield should be directing its efforts in these areas and not proposing the widespread use of poisons. New Fairfield formed a buffer committee several years ago- this committee has only met once or twice in the several years since it was formed- why isn’t more work being done in this area in New Fairfield instead of promoting the use of poisons? FirstLight has repeatedly sought waivers on required buffer installations in New Fairfield- why hasn’t the Town opposed these waiver requests? The CLA has spearheaded the research of lake management strategies that resulted in the Carp program- why has New Fairfield withheld funding from this critical organization? Why didn't New Fairfield's CLA delegates attend all of the educational sessions where the CLA brought in experts to discuss various management strategies?
Although the shallow drawdown this year (driven by the discovery of zebra mussels at the Rocky River penstock) may increase the milfoil challenges this year, it does not justify the use of poisons within Candlewood.
The Connecticut DEEP will be required to hold public hearings to weigh the risks of this program. Make your voice heard by contacting your Selectman or Mayor, the DEEP and by signing this petition. Let them know that you oppose the widespread use of poisons in our lake.
Updates
March 2, 2017
Moving past twenty-five hundred signatures underscores how many people recognize the fragility of our shared waters. This number confirms that the community values long-term ecological health over the convenience of chemical solutions.
Reached 2,500 supporters
February 27, 2017
Reached 1,000 supporters
February 5, 2017
Reached 100 supporters
January 30, 2017
1,071 Comments
No entity should put any chemicals into Candlewood Lake without rigorous review by the CLA. We also have bald eagles feeding from the lake and the town of New Fairfield could be in violation of federal law if it exposes them to herbicides and algaecides.
The introduction of pesticides to Candlewood Lake is biologically unsound. As a biologist specializing in fisheries, the destruction of aquatic vegetation affects every level of the ecosystem; most likely irreparably. Please don't proceed with this program!!!!
I have been fishing at candlewood Lake for over twenty seven years please don't destroy this fragile environment poison is not the way to go it has never worked just take a look at Saratoga lake and what it has done to it !
As an avid bass fisherman, Candlewood lake is the most important feature CT has to offer. The fact that one town did this without soliciting the DEEP, other towns or the residents of CT who care about the lake proves that they know what they're doing is wrong.
It is my understanding that the lake is a back up reservoir for the area. Do we really want to introduce these chemicals into water that could become drinking water in a future immergency? Let stick with the carp and give them time to do their job.
The use of these toxins is a serious danger to our longterm health, that of our youth, and the yet unborn children of this community. As a healthcare professional I urge community leaders to consider the health ramifications for generations to come.
I am not a resident of Candlewood, but I have friends on there and use the lake with them seasonally. Don't take a shortcut on maintenance by dumping toxic chemicals into this beautiful lake.
Please don't put chemicals in Candlewood lake. They do nothing but destroy our fisheries. Fish matter as well. Candlewood Lake is one of the best if not the best in New England. Please think about this in a whole. Killing the vegetation will kill Candlewood Lake. Thank you Scott Garrison 8604598287
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No entity should put any chemicals into Candlewood Lake without rigorous review by the CLA. We also have bald eagles feeding from the lake and the town of New Fairfield could be in violation of federal law if it exposes them to herbicides and algaecides.