The updated plan provides further information on most the following projects

1. Progress on Permitting of Dam/Fish Ladder Replacement.  On April 27, 2023, the Barnstable Town Council, at the recommendation of the Town Manager and Department of Public Works approved funding of $125,000 to continue the planning and permitting, expanding the project to include the replacement of the culvert under Lake Elizabeth Drive.  RLPPA has begun working with the DPW to move the work forward in cooperation with that department. 

   During 2022 RLPPA entered into a contract with the Horsley Witten Group to design and permit plans to rebuild the failed dam and fish ladder at the southern end of Lake Elizabeth. On March 6, 2023, RLPPA, through its retained representative, Neal Price at the Horsley Witten Group, filed the first document in connection with its effort to secure a permit to rebuild the failed dam and fish ladder at the southern end of Lake Elizabeth. 

2.  Macrophytes Harvesting (under Amended Order of Conditions SE3-5862). On October 15, 16, and 17, 2022, eleven volunteers manually cut and removed an estimated total of nearly 3,000 pounds of macrophytes from pre-designated portions of Lake Elizabeth and Red Lily Pond. The campaign, sponsored and directed by RLPPA, was extremely successful in clearing substantial surface areas of the two ponds (about 29,000 square feet in Lake Elizabeth, out of the total pond area of about 245,000 square feet; and about 11,000 square feet in Red Lily Pond, out of the total pond area of about 202,000 square feet), and in removing vegetation that impeded recreational paddling activities.  Harvesting will take place in July of 2023.

3. Herring Counts. RLPPA and community volunteers completed 10 weeks of herring counting at the Lake Elizabeth dam site from April 1 to June 15m 2023. Fifteen volunteers ensured that counts took place four times each day.  ONE herring was counted, a number that will be valued at an estimate of 50 by the program.  This is valuable data as it shows the impact of the deterioration of the dam and fish ladder.  This project is part of a Cape-wide program run by the Association to Project Cape Cod.

4. Maintenance of Vegetation on Embankments. In 2022 RLPPA hired a qualified contractor, Arborscapes, to remove invasive species and to provide vista pruning, primarily along Lake Elizabeth, but on a portion of Red Lily Pond as well. This contractor will continue the embankments maintenance for 2023 working with RLPPA. The work is compliant with restrictions from the Barnstable Conservation Commission and has markedly improved the visibility of the Lake and appearance of the embankment. 

5. Storm water Purification. In the course of preparing the Long Range Plan for the ponds, it was noticed that maintenance had been deferred on several storm water control projects that had been constructed as recommended in a 1988 report commissioned by the RLPPA. With the assistance of other community leaders, and funding from the Christian Camp Meeting Association, RLPPA initiated action in 2022 by the Town of Barnstable to clean out the Vortechnics units located in the so-called “Mosquito Ditch” on Old Craigville Road, and engaged a private contractor to remove accumulated roots and debris from the drywells and French drains that had been positioned throughout Craigville Village to filter storm water before reaching the ponds. These efforts will need to be repeated every three to four years.

6. Phragmites Removal in the Herring Run.  For the second year, a team of volunteers cut back phragmites from the entire length of the herring run from the Lake Elizabeth dam site to the entry into the Centerville River.  Studies indicate that consistently cutting back phragmites will provide some control over their regrowth and spreading, which chokes streams and lakes and prohibits herring.

7. General Condition of Lake Elizabeth and Red Lily Pond. In connection with the macrophytes harvesting operation, RLPPA retained our pond management expert, Ken Wagner, to perform water quality testing in both Red Lily Pond and Lake Elizabeth before and after the harvesting operation. In general, the analysis, which is consistent with analyses performed under the PALS program, found the water quality to be acceptable for all designated uses.  This testing program, started in 2022, will continue in 2023 and beyond.

8. Replacement of Lake Elizabeth dock. Although not specifically a project of the RLPPA, RLPPA members are participating in an effort to replace a badly decaying public dock located in front of 109 Lake Elizabeth Drive. A hearing on the Notice of Intent submitted by the Craigville Christian Camp Meeting Association was approved on June 6, 2023 opening the way for future permitting. The costs associated with the permitting process have been funded by private donations. Construction costs for the dock have not yet been funded.

9. Efforts to Educate the Community and Increase Appreciation for the Ponds In addition to the efforts discussed above, RLPPA, consistent with its mission, has been very actively communicating with Craigville Village residents and with nearby neighbors to publicize its activities and to enhance community appreciation of the ponds. During 2022 our website was completely redesigned as a full resource about Red Lily Pond Project and related conservation areas.  https://www.craigville.org/red-lily-pond-project-association.  Articles appear in every edition of the Craigville Chronicle. A highly appreciated “Stella Maris” evening took place in August of 2022 and is planned again for August of 2023.  In addition in the summer of 2023, RLPPA will offer a Guided Nature Walk and an educational program of sustainable practices for Craigville.

Fundraising, Membership, and Finance:

Red Lily Pond Project is funded by donations from individuals, membership dues, and special events.  In the summer of 2022 the annual dinner and auction and a Craigville House Tour were held, both providing well attended community events and raising funds for our work.  In 2022 our membership campaign reached a record high of over 160 adult and child memberships, and our fall annual campaign for donations successfully raised $30,000. 

All of the work undertaken by RLPPA is funded by these efforts and the generous participation of the community is greatly appreciated.  The 2023 membership campaign is now underway and the annual dinner and auction, a Benefit for Red Lily Pond, will take place on August 12. 

In full transparency, the required annual IRS form 990 is provided on the RLPPA website.

Governance:

Red Lily Pond Project is governed by a working board of directors of eleven.  These include:  President, Patricia Deyton, Vice-President Douglas Farquhar, secretary Skye Gibson, Treasurer, Paul Schumacher, Resident Agent Rosemary Toomey, and members Ally Turner (communications), Georgeann Oates, (benefit), Amelia Brown (auction), John Gahan (fundraising), Michelle Fairbanks (representation from TradeWinds), Elizabeth Dalton, and Kathleen Brady (ex officio)