• Engaged
Maryland
Department of Environment,
when appropriate, for further
testing of samples.
• Assessed
Lake
Anita
Louise with Hood College
researchers
regarding
draining and re-treating
the lake in the winter of
2017-2018 for the red
cyanobacteria Plankothrix
will not likely be necessary.
Natural Areas for
Monarchs and other Pollinators
Friends of the Lake continues to monitor and care for the Monarch
Waystations established in 2015. One is on Eaglehead Drive near the
run-off pond berm as you head towards the dam and the other is in
Summerfield near the dog park.
Sometimes, all you need to
do to establish a Monarch
Way Station is to stop
mowing and let nature
take over. But sometimes,
nature
needs
help,
especially in disturbed,
highly trafficked places.
Over the years FOL has
added many native plants
to our Monarch Way
stations, such as
Eastern Red Columbine, Red Milk Weed, Swamp Milk Weed, New
England Aster, Partridge Pea, Lance Leaf Coreopsis, Spotted Joe Pye
Weed, Indian Blanket, Blazing Star, Wild Perennial Lupine, Wild
Bergamot, Evening Primrose, Beard Tongue, Black Eyed Susan, Sweet
Cone Flower, Brown Eyed Susan, Rigid Goldenrod, Zinnia Elegans,
Borage (Starflower).
• Helped finalize technical 2016 monitoring summary
reports for Lake Anita Louise and Lake Linganore,
published in LLA member portal.
FOL also spread wildflower seed mixes by casting them by the handful
or through seed bombs. Seed bombs are little nuggets of clay and
compost that you mix with native seeds and throw at the ground. Last
winter, with Brownie Troop 81360 and other volunteers, FOL made
seed bombs and then threw them into the Monarch Way Station on
Eaglehead Drive. Also, non-native, invasive plants that threaten to
choke out the native plants that pollinators need were removed.
• Arranged the presentation of biological monitoring
findings by Hood College researchers at June 2017 Clean
Water Workshop, in collaboration with Cleanwater
Frederick, Potomac Conservancy, and Clean Water
Fund.
• Communicated testing and monitored results on the
Lake Linganore website, LLA member portal, community
Facebook pages, Lake Talk, and other Lake Linganore
social media outlets.
• Began collaborating with Frederick County and Hood
College on a plan for enhanced monitoring of Lake
Linganore water quality during dredging, set to begin in
2018.
LakeTalk January 2018 11