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Officers
Lee Kauppila - President
Paul Bertalan - Vice President
Terry Payea - Treasurer
Terry Payea - Secretary
Nick Rosato - Director
Contractors: Skip Lisle; Beaver Deceiver Intl.
https://beaverdeceivers.com/about-skip/
Arrowwood Environmental
Email us at: cedarlake@monktonvt.com
Photo taken Winter 2024 by Caleb Kenna
Cedar Lake Association 2025 Aquatic Survey 2025 Results
Press Release Cedar Lake Association 2025 Grant in Aid Program. Cedar Lake Aquatic Study is attached in PDF format. Please feel free to read it over.
2025 Cedar Lake Aquatic Vegetation ReportIn the peaceful town of Monkton, VT there is a beautiful lake called Cedar Lake, otherwise known as Monkton Pond. This lake is frequently used by fisherman, kayakers, canoe paddlers and boaters and is a focal point of our town. The pond is also a habitat for many welcome aquatic inhabitants and is surrounded by protected wetlands that allow the wildlife to prosper and thrive.
As in many lakes and ponds in Vermont, Cedar Lake is infested with Eurasian Milfoil, an invasive species that is threatening the lakes health. The Cedar Lake Association is an organization that consists primarily of lakeshore owners, (although all are welcome) that works diligently to put together a management plan to protect the future ecosystem of the Monkton Pond. We have received multiple permits from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources for current projects in place.
In order to maintain future management planning it is necessary to inventory and document the current native aquatic vegetation, determine rare species and identify invasive species in the pond. Knowing what is there will allow us to be able to protect what is endangered, as well as develop and execute a plan to manage the invasive vegetation. 6 years ago the Lewis Creek Association received a grant to conduct this survey and the results are published on our Cedar Lake Association website. An updated survey is required in order to continue forward. The CLA is fortunate to have worked with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources and received a grant from the Aquatic Invasive Species Program for the Aquatic Nuisance Control 2025 Grant in Aid Program, the grant is for the full cost of the survey which is $4,760.00.
CLA has contracted with Arrowwood Environmental of Huntington, VT to perform the Aquatic Plant Invasive Species inventory on Monkton Pond. The fieldwork of the survey has been performed this past summer and the results will be posted on the CLA website in April 2026, and shared with Lewis Creek Association and published for all to see. We are grateful for this assistance as it is a necessary step moving forward to be certain to protect what is endangered, and to be able to secure the appropriate resources to move forward with milfoil infestation management plans. It is a statewide effort to manage these invasive species, and there are many busy hands and minds coming together to help manage the infestations. If anyone is interested in joining the Cedar Lake Association please write us at cedarlake@monktonvt.com. Please be sure to review arrowwoodvt.com for information on how the surveys are conducted as well as anr.vermont.gov website for available resources and processes
Beaver Dam Update 2025
We have contracted Skip Lisle to come in October 2025 to build an extender to the beaver deceiver device two that is in place. The beavers have built another dam 10 feet down the outlet and the extension will permit the water to pass for a couple more years. This is part of the maintenance of the device as installed. The dam was breached and the water dropped to a normal level in weeks time. This was privately funded by CLA as previous devices in place.
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Aquatic Survey Grant 2025
Cedar Lake Association has applied for and received a full grant for $4,600.00 to have Arrowwood Environmental conduct a new aquatic survey of the invasive species in Cedar Lake. Of course it is to properly document the milfoil infestation but an updated inventory of all of the species in the pond is necessary. This is required to be able to continue to apply for permits for harvesting and bottom barriers or to approve any activity on the pond with the direction of forming a management plan for the ecosystem maintenance on Monkton Pond. This survey will be done later this summer or early Fall 2025. The established dates will be posted when ready and the results will be posted once the study is complete.
Important Loon update/recap from Cedar Lake Association 2025;
Death of the Loon
Susan Lavigne reported the results of the necropsy to the association via e-mail.
Last summer a Good Samaritan observed one of the loons on our Monkton Pond struggling and reached out for help. Help came quickly but sadly the loon was found deceased on a nearby lawn on the pond. A necropsy was done in Nov. 2024 and the Vermont Loon Conservation processed the notes and shared them with us.
They wrote: “It looks like a fishing gear issue, as two hooks and line found in the gizzard. Sometimes loons can live just fine w/ this stuff in the gizzard but can be difficult to determine. And unfortunately, not much we can do about loons finding easy food w/ live bait. We can ask boaters to be aware of loons diving nearby and move to another spot on the lake if loons are right there or wait a few minutes for loons to move on. Hoping the older loon and maybe new mate return this year.” They are providing us with a handout that is being shared with lake associations about fishing lead free but also raises awareness about loons taking live bait. We will be sharing that as soon as we can get the most up to date version in j peg format. We are going to print out and post it in the access area and will share on face book. Please spread awareness and fish with caution.
Notes from the Vermont Loon Conservation Center are below as well.
One of birds died 7/6/2024. Beaching and then found dead.
Necropsy. Adult male 3.05 kg. Poor body condition. Dark spotting on liver.
Possible small (5mm) fungal lesion on left lung. Two metal hooks and
Monofilament in gizzard. Did not find metal flakes in GI tract that were
Observed in x-ray.
Summary of findings: Fishing gear – other. Likely complications with
Fishing gear and subsequent starvation.” A photo from the study of the deceased loon is attached.
Results and information on this post provided by the team below:
Eric Hanson and Eloise Girard
Vermont Loon Conservation Project
Vermont Center for Ecostudies
802-586-8065 home/work for Eric
Received x ray
Last Annual Meeting was held June 8th 2024. Meeting Minutes will be posted soon.
May 20th, 2024 we joined the Monkton Historical Society for a presentation and discussion of the history of the Monkton Pond and the Cedar Lake Association. The meeting will be displayed on the Historical Society page and a link will be provided soon.
Monkton Pond Flooding Update 1/5/24
In October 2023 due to excessive rain the pond began to flood again, and beavers did build additional dams in front of the functioning beaver deceiver that is in place. This was expected to happen over a few years time, but the high volume of rain we have these days is a hardship at times. The combination of the mass of rain and the extra dams created had forced high water levels in the pond. In November 2023 the Cedar Lake Association brought Skip Lisle back in to install an additional deceiver device to work in tandem with the device already in place. This has helped manage the increasing water levels due to the rain and allowed the water to lower at a moderate pace to set a more tolerable water level and avoid continued flooding. The device also helps to avoid a massive surge of water that goes out into the outlet at one time as that can be disruptive to those down the stream as well. The installation of the device was funded privately by the Cedar Lake Association at a cost of $4000.00. We have found that Skip Lisle is very reliable, professional, and experienced in the realm of the beaver dam management and the installations alleviate flooding and promote healthy natural water level management which helps to maintain the ecosystems of the wetland. With that said, the volume of rain is problematic all across VT, and we would be in trouble without the deceivers in place. We are keeping an eye on it and appreciate local feedback as we move forward.
Monkton Pond Barge Project 2023 (posted 1/5/2024)
In June 2023 the Cedar Lake Association was permitted by the Agency of Natural Resources/Department of Environmental Conservation to build a DASH ramp to aid in control of Eurasian watermilfoil in Cedar Lake. Approved Application link is below. We began building the barge in July 2023 and purchased the materials through the Association funds. In the Spring 2023 we will be stepping back into the project to complete the building of the barge so it can be used accordingly and as permitted. Nick Rosato is the leader of the project and we appreciate any assistance to get the barge to its completion as well as harvesting the milfoil in the pond. More information to come.
https://anrweb.vt.gov/Pubdocs/DEC/ENB/SHORE/20971-3966-ANC_ApprovedApplication_06.20.2023.pdf
The Lewis Creek Association Research
The Lewis Creek Association has conducted a survey of Monkton Pond as part of a management plan for aquatic invasive species in the Lewis Creek watershed area. Bristol Pond was also surveyed. The LCA has also launched a Boat Steward Program in Bristol Pond and we are looking to establish that in Monkton Pond as well. It is our goal to collaborate with LCA on future projects that will help us manage the invasive species in Monkton Pond. The LCA has done an incredible amount of research and some links for the information distributed are below.
The press release about Bristol Pond is on the LCA website at https://www.lewiscreek.org/press-releases-and-news
The map of survey results, a copy of the management plan, and boat launch steward summary are at https://www.lewiscreek.org/library (scroll down to the bottom of the Invasive Species section).
Surveys were funded and the results are here: https://bit.ly/3g5Sr5V Note that you should click on Monkton Pond to see those particular results. Many invasive species are very widespread throughout the pond as you will see.
A link to the pdf of the final Management Plan as they have put out is below.
Lewis Creek Watershed Invasive Exotic Plant Management Plan (1)
We had reached out to Kate Kelly from the LCA a few months ago as well as the state of Vermont Watershed Division Lakes and Ponds Program and will work going forward with teams as needed to best manage the invasive in our pond.
Thank you to Kate Kelly and the Lewis Creek Association for sharing their findings and working to improve the quality of the watershed in our area. Please join LCA and CLA if you are interested in assisting.
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Please check out our story in the August 20th issue of the Addison Independent. 08-20-2020 Addison Independent
July 24th & 25th Skip Lisle, the Wildlife Biologist & Engineer came to Monkton and installed the Beaver Deceiver Water Flow Device with the help of some members of the association. The installation was made possible by the generous donation of $2000.00 that we received from Protectors of Wildlife. The association funded the remainder of the project with funds made available with the reinstatement of the Cedar Lake Association. We thank Skip Lisle for his expertise, POW for their generous donation, as well as Lionel Charbonneau for his countless hours of dedication to helping us to reactivate the Cedar Lake Association. Stay tuned for an update on the story to be published in the Addison Independent on our behalf.
Please note the short video link along with the photos of the installation below.
Update – On June 13th, we were able to successfully retrieve one of the old baffles cages embedded in the mud as well as some of the clogged tubing in preparation for the beaver deceiver water level device installation. Water levels are currently lower than usual now and attention to that will be considered diligently as we proceed. The device is meant to prevent overflow. We are also working with the State of VT to achieve grants and direction for cleaning up the ponds milfoil and weed overgrowth consuming our lake.
Beaver Dam Update on June 1st 2020. It is our plan to have a workday the weekend of June 13th and 14th to remove the old beaver baffles from the pond. The expectation is that by the end of June the installation will be installed where the old baffle was. The lake water has been monitored and is currently close to normal levels.
Beaver Dam Update on Monkton Pond March/April, 2020
Due to the historic water levels of the pond, the beaver dam was breached on Thursday March 26th. A large breach, as well as multiple smaller breaches were created inside the dam. The water level is 2 feet higher than normal and has caused flooding on the properties surrounding the pond. The dam will continue to be breached for at least two weeks to allow the water levels to continue to drop. We will continue this effort to lower the water to its normal level.
We will then be installing a Beaver Baffle and a Water level device in April or May. We have received a grant for $2000.00 from the Protect Our Wildlife organization for the device and installation, we have the additional funds needed to complete the project. Please visit the Beaver Deceiver Website. This will be in place as soon as the water level is established and the Beaver Deceiver is able to come in these uncertain times of our pandemic. It certainly is an ongoing project for many.
The before and after photos from this week are below.
We will be using this site to provide the community with updates as we go, and we will post our meeting minutes, our upcoming projects, details about our officers and members and more details about the upcoming installation.
We welcome new members to the Association and look forward to serving the community in theMeeting Minutes Officers April 2025 future to help maintain our lake for all of us to enjoy for decades to come.
Meeting Minutes:
Cedar Lake Assoc. Meeting Minutes.Dec 5 2019
Cedar Lake Assoc. Meeting Minutes Jan 25
Cedar Lake Assoc. Meeting Minutes Sept 23,2020
Cedar Lake Assoc. Meeting Minutes July 29,2023
Cedar Lake Association Meet Minutes 2025