Orleans Pond Coalition
Annual Meeting Recap and Thank You
Annual Meeting Recap
| This past Sunday we celebrated our 19th annual meeting. Thank you to all the brave souls who ventured out last Sunday in the heavy rain. For those of you who were unable to attend, you missed a good one! So letâs recap. First, welcome to our new directors: Ginny Farber, Clint Kaiser and Rich Levy. Great additions to our Board of Directors! Second, we want to thank our outgoing directors Judith Bruce and Natalie Timoshin. Your contributions have been invaluable and are appreciated! Thank you! The highlight of the evening was our keynote speaker, Paul Gantzer, Ph.D., Inventor of the technology weâre currently evaluating in our Sarahâs Pond Oxygen Demonstration Project. Dr. Gantzerâs talk was titled: âAdapting to a perpetually changing environment. Current insights from the Sarahâs Pond Oxygen Demonstration Project.â Dr. Gantzerâs opened his talk by providing a primer on how ponds lose oxygen and how cyanobacteria blooms develop. He then helped us understand how healthy levels of oxygen present at the sediment/water interface is a key factor in preventing hazardous algal blooms. He provided background on his invention called oxygen saturation technology (OST) and how it works, as well as insights into how the project has continued to optimize OSTâs effectiveness over the past two years. Over the course of the project, Dr. Gantzer has modified the piping of the oxygen delivery system, the techniques used to service the equipment and installed remote monitoring capabilities to more easily assess the performance of the system. The performance of the system has improved over time and the basic theory underlying it has been demonstrated capable of producing positive results. Upon completion of Dr. Gantzerâs presentation, a series of thoughtful questions were raised by the audience including the request for more information on operational costs. Dr Gantzer indicated the current electrical costs to operate the system during the warmer months is approximately $10.00 per day, though Dr. Gantzer indicated this will improve as equipment is optimized. All year end test samples are now with our environmental consultant Ken Wagner for analysis.Please stay tuned for Kenâs year-end report.This will give a more complete insight into 2022âs performance. You can find Paul Gantzerâs presentation on our website and Ken Wagnerâs report will be posted on OPCâs website when complete.Regardless, ongoing monitoring is planned for 2023 to confirm successful operation. |
Fall clean up tip:
Fall is here and with you leaves accumulating on your yard who would have thought that you really donât need to rake all of them up? As Bob Villa says: âDonât rake âem, mulch âem! Your back will thank you, and youâll be able to spend your autumn mornings sipping cider instead of bagging leaves.â Mulched leaves will help provide nutrients to your lawn and help it green up next spring. Enjoy!
Rainbowâs and hope:
Did you see the incredible rainbow to the east after the heavy rain on Wednesday?
A rainbow is often a sign of hope, the beauty after the storm, a pot of gold and good fortune at the rainbowâs end. For many, a rainbow carries a personal symbolic meaningârepresenting inclusivity and diversity, an all-embracing image of love and friendship. May this image bring good fortune for us all in 2023. Please consider joining OPC and help us with our mission to protect the clean waters of Orleans.