I start my public comment this evening with three premises. I've lived on Candlewood Isle for 32 years and enjoy a direct beneficial interest from a healthy lake, and secondly, I'm absolutely for any solution to scientifically and economically address the millfoil problem. Lastly, lets assume for the moment that the weevils are an effective solution, such a premise eliminates the 'science' as a distraction from this comment.
However, lets look at the big picture of Candlewood Lake.
- its a commercial enterprise for electric power generation that has been sold and resold,
- its a commercial/gaming destination for fishing events and tournaments,
- it supports commercial businesses, marinas and two restaurants,
- it supports recreation for thousands of local families and visitors,
- it indirectly supports many local businesses,
- its a revenue generator for all five municipalities surrounding the lake providing higher assessments on more expensive home and hence taxes.
There are five municipalities surrounding the lake, numerous tax districts, private communities, commercial enterprises directly tied for revenue to the lake [marina's for example], State of Connecticut, DEP, EPA, Army Corp of Engineers, Candlewood Lake Authority [CLA], Club A, and other organizations with vested interests in a the lake as a destination. Each of these vested interests and associated stakeholders must be involved in defining the scope of and metrics for a successful solution to the millfoil problem. And from my research each of these stakeholders have acknowledged the issue; however each has a different set of methods and priorities for addressing the issue.
Leadership within an organization focused on the proper scope for a comprehensive plan and one that can succeed, without dependence on a single voter constituency is necessary if we are achieve a successful solution. A single organization, a quasi-municipal organization, in my opinion should be the responsible agency providing leadership addressing the millfoil problem. This organization being non-partisan, non-political would provide the largest tent for inclusion of those municipalities, commercial, private and others of vested interest. A Millfoil Task Force with representation from each of the vested and beneficial organizations would provide the best approach for success in addressing the problem.
The quasi-municipal organization in my opinion that can provide the required leadership for this lake issue is the Candlewood Lake Authority.
Their Mission Statement: The Candlewood Lake Authority provides lake, shoreline and watershed management to foster the preservation and enhancement of recreational, economic, scenic, public safety and environmental values of the Lake for the City of Danbury and the towns of Brookfield, New Fairfield, New Milford and Sherman in cooperation with the State of Connecticut and Northeast Utilities.
The CLA is aggressively acting to protect those values enumerated through its legislative agenda. CLA is focused on being the watch dog to set the course of Candlewood Lake's future. I can see no better organization with the local and legislative agenda and organization to provide the necessary leadership and guidance to the various stakeholders and properly addressing the Millfoil issue in a non-partisan program.
A weevil is any beetle from the Curculionidea superfamily. They are usually small, less than 6 mm (¼ inch), and herbivorous. Due to the shape of their heads, weevils are commonly known as snout beetles. There are over 60,000 species in several families, mostly in the familyCurculionidae (the true weevils). Some other beetles, although not closely related, bear the name "weevil", such as the biscuit weevil (Stegobium paniceum), which belongs to the familyAnobiidae.
Many weevils are damaging to crops. The grain or wheat weevil (Sitophilus granarius) damages stored grain. The boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis) attacks cotton crops. It lays its eggs inside unripe cotton bolls, and the young weevils eat their way out.
Weevils are often found in dry foods including nuts and seeds, cereal and grain products. In the domestic setting, they are most likely to be observed when a bag of flour is opened, although they will happily infest most types of grain including oats, barley and breakfast cereals. Their presence is often indicated by the granules of the infested item sticking together in strings, as if caught in a cobweb. If ingested, E. coli infection and other various diseases can be contracted from weevils, depending on their diet.
