What's New
October 15, 2021
An ugly bloom was discovered on the lake a few days ago, and it turned out to be cyanobacteria. People and pets should avoid contact. Use the links in the DEM comments below to learn more about cyanobacteria (blue/green algae)
Please read the DEM comments below:
There appears to be some accumulation of the cyanobacteria happening at various points along the shoreline. We have several lakes that have similar conditions, wind-driven accumulation that is broken up easily and difficult to sample effectively. If there are further reports of deteriorating conditions with high accumulation, we’ll look to sample further. We expect with shorter days and cooler temperatures that the cyanobacteria will naturally abate in the late fall and winter. If any questions come in regarding the cyanobacteria, they can be referred to: DEM.OWRCyano@dem.ri.govor our website with further information here: www.dem.ri.gov/bluegreen.
Our annual meeting was held yesterday, Saturday, October 10, 2021 at the Pavilion behind West Greenwich town hall. We discussed the end-of-year report from Pond and Lake Connection and voted on Directors and Officers. We reelected the same set of officers: Dan Albro, President; Ken Brown, Vice President; Kelly Albro, Secretary; and Kathy Fallon, Treasurer. Directors reelected were Ken St. Onge and John Berchem. A new Director and recent resident of Mishnock, Kevin Obrion was also elected to the Board. Kevin has an impressive background in fresh water lake science and management. The Board is thrilled to have his youth, education and experience. Our next meeting for Directors is January 8, 2022 10 am at the Barn. LMPA will have to decide on a treatment plan for 2022.
A big thank you to Kevin Breene for offering the Pavilion as a meeting place. It is beautiful. Take a look.
September 29, 2021
Many of our members live with septic systems or cesspools. There is a lot to know to keep your system working efficiently. Proper maintenance of cesspools/septic systems is especially important if you live on a lake. DEM provides extensive information on this important subject. Learn more by clicking here , or:
Learn what not to put down your kitchen sink (such as fats, oils, or greases), how to properly dispose of food waste, and how to use cleaning supplies in moderation. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIWoB2QtBvY [youtube.com]
September 08, 2021
On Monday, September 6, an LMPA board member was kayaking and discovered a disturbing scene - a number of turtles had been caught and killed in a net trap. Here are some pictures she took. People around the lake mostly love turtles. Let us hope this was some kind of mistake, someone trying to catch crayfish or something similar, and left the net. It may have blown into the southeast corner of Mishnock Barn property. It was not tethered.
August 28, 2021
Our Annual Meeting and Elections are scheduled for Saturday, October 9, 2021, 11am to 1pm at the Pavilion behind Town Hall, 280 Victory Highway, West Greenwich RI. This is a lovely setting and we hope for a good turnout.
The Fund Raiser , Rock for Lake Mishnock Benefit Concert was a success!.
June 18,2021 We have a video of two new swans..
June 17, 2021: This could be a big day. Two swans were sited on the lake earlier in the week and they are still there! Many are watching to see if they build a nest. As you may know from Swan Story on the website we've been without swans for a while and that leads to more geese.
There will be a fundraiser at the Mishnock Barn Sunday, June 27. Read about it.
Pond and Lake will survey and treat Lake Mishnock for invasive milfoil
Wednesday, June 16, at 0900.
June 2, 2021
There will be a meeting for Directors on Saturday, June 12, 2021, 10am at the Mishnock Barn. This is the first meeting since Covid "took over". The agenda is open, but we will certainly discuss the upcoming lake inspection, milfoil, treatment options for the future, and fundraising. It will be good to get together.
EARTH DAY 2021
If you would like to learn more about the health of lakes in Rhode Island or would like to volunteer to help monitor them, click here and you will be connected to URI Watershed Watch.
You can contribute to the Lake Mishnock Preservation Association (LMPA) by choosing it as your charity when you order through Amazon.com. Amazon has a program called Smile Amazon that allows customers to choose a favorite charity. Amazon donates a certain percentage of the cost of every purchase to that charity. So it costs you nothing! It's money you've already spent. To learn more click here
March 4, 2021
It has been many months since the LMPA website has been updated. Two factors converged at the same time: Covid 19 and the slow deterioration of the platform for maintaining the website. The Covid pandemic brought to a halt our meetings and activities. Our website provider decided they didn’t support the platform I used for over 15 years. Increasingly it became obvious another website would have to be created. The original was the repository of much of the organization’s history. I did not want to lose that. In any event, this new website is under construction with the hope of keeping as much of our history as is reasonable. I’ll admit to a little hoarding. Your patience is appreciated. We keep our domain name and change the website host. Without the technical help of Mike Berube this would not be possible. Thank you Mike!! Mike will continue to work with me in building the new website.
On February 15, 2021, The Pond and Lake Connection sent out Notices to all lake abutters explaining upcoming periodic lake inspections and targeted treatment of invasive vegetation. These Notices are required by The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and are part of the permitting process. When the time comes for treatment Notices will be posted around the lake.
It’s been a difficult year, but daylight is in view! I hope many of you have received vaccinations and the rest will soon. The vaccination process, after a rocky start, seems to be moving well in West Greenwich.
We have two audacious cardinals nesting near our home and they’ve been singing the joys of spring since mid February. Nancy and I have seen flocks of robins, red-winged blackbirds, and killdeer. So, they think it’s spring. We’ll have a Board meeting as soon as we think it’s safe.