Theodora Pinou, Western Connecticut State University, Professor of Biological and Environmental Sciences,  MS in Integrative Biological Diversity Program Director and Coordinator. 

Pinou is Department Chair and Professor of Biology Sciences at WCSU. She is also a Curatorial Affiliate in Vertebrate Zoology at the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University. She received her BA, MA, and Ph.D at New York University in Biology, with a focus in vertebrate evolution and ecology.

Larry Marsicano, Brawley Consulting Group LLC., WCSU Limnology Instructor, Welcome address and speaker introduction

Larry obtained his B.A. from Western Connecticut State University in 1988 and his M.A. from Connecticut College in 1993.  He managed the Freshwater Ecology Laboratory at Connecticut College for Dr. Peter Siver from 1990 to 1997 which specialized in paleolimnology and regional lake water quality studies.  His publications can be viewed at the Silica Secchi Disk website.  In 1998 he was hired by the Candlewood Lake Authority and in 2003 became the Executive Director of that public lake management agency, the largest lake in Connecticut.  He held that position until 2017 when he became a Principal Partner at Aquatic Ecosystem Research, LLC.  He is now the Senior Limnologist for Brawley Consulting Group LLC, and teaches limnology to graduate students in the WCSU MS in Integrative Biological Diversity Program.

Connecticut Federation of Lakes (CFL): A Voice for Our Lakes

Abstract: At this session, James Fischer will introduce the Connecticut Federation of Lakes (CFL), a statewide organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing Connecticut’s lakes for recreation, ecology, and local communities. The presentation will highlight CFL’s core focus areas—including invasive species management, water quality protection, and advocacy for sound policies—while sharing examples of current initiatives. Attendees will also be invited to participate in a statewide survey that will help shape future priorities for lake conservation and community engagement.

James Fischer, Research Director, White Memorial Conservation Center, Inc.. President, Connecticut Federation of Lakes (CFL).

Mary Becker, Supervising Environmental Analyst, Water Monitoring and Assessment Program, CT DEEP

Mary Becker is a Supervising Environmental Analyst in the Water Monitoring and Assessment Program with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).  She has over 20 years of experience at DEEP with work focused on bioassessment, computational ecology and development of open source tools to support environmental management of aquatic resources.  She received her BA and MA degrees from Clark University in Environmental Science and Policy and MS in Digital Mapping from the University of Kentucky.

Connecticut State Lake Watch Volunteer Program & Connecticut Web-Based Lakes Reporting Application

Abstract: The Connecticut Lake Watch network is a statewide volunteer (i.e., community science) water quality monitoring program coordinated by the DEEP Water Monitoring and Assessment Program (WMAP) as part of the larger Connecticut Volunteer Water Monitoring Program. Connecticut Lake Watch participants are trained to monitor lake or pond water clarity using a Secchi disk and thermometer. Monitoring ideally occurs weekly from early spring until fall. In addition, volunteers are trained to identify and report algal blooms that could lead to unsafe recreation conditions. The data collected can be used to guide local lake management efforts, inform CT DEEP water quality assessments, and evaluate trends in lake and water quality statewide over time. The raw data is synthesized into reports for individual lakes and available through a web-based mapping application.  The mapping application also provides lake reports for data collected by WMAP as well as information on lake shoreline land cover and development.  Come learn more about CT Lake Watch and how to participate!

Melissa Czarnowski, Volunteer Monitoring Coordinator, Water Monitoring and Assessment Program, CT DEEP.

Melissa received her BS in Natural Resources with a concentration in Climate and Water Resources from the University of Connecticut in 2014. She has worked with the Water Monitoring and Assessment Program of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for 9 years. Her main responsibilities include overseeing the stream connectivity program, streamflow regulations, the diatom program, and the volunteer water monitoring program, as well as assisting in lake surveys and macroinvertebrate sampling.

Connecticut State Lake Watch Volunteer Program & Connecticut Web-Based Lakes Reporting Application

Abstract: The Connecticut Lake Watch network is a statewide volunteer (i.e., community science) water quality monitoring program coordinated by the DEEP Water Monitoring and Assessment Program (WMAP) as part of the larger Connecticut Volunteer Water Monitoring Program. Connecticut Lake Watch participants are trained to monitor lake or pond water clarity using a Secchi disk and thermometer. Monitoring ideally occurs weekly from early spring until fall. In addition, volunteers are trained to identify and report algal blooms that could lead to unsafe recreation conditions. The data collected can be used to guide local lake management efforts, inform CT DEEP water quality assessments, and evaluate trends in lake and water quality statewide over time. The raw data is synthesized into reports for individual lakes and available through a web-based mapping application.  The mapping application also provides lake reports for data collected by WMAP as well as information on lake shoreline land cover and development.  Come learn more about CT Lake Watch and how to participate!

Jeff Arpin, Amston Lake Association

Jeff Arpin is the Amston Lake Health Committee chairman since 2022 and leads a team of 10 residents and works with specialists in the care of our beautiful private Amston Lake in Amston and Hebron, CT.  With an education in Engineering, Jeff works with the committee to understand the lake’s health through the use of data collection, analysis and expert consultants. The Committee was established in 2017 by a 9-member Board of Directors (BOD) to better understand our lake’s health, to provide recommendations to the BOD, and to educate our district residents on our current and past lakes health.

Keith Suchy, Alexander Lake Association

Keith Suchy oversees volunteer monitoring activities at Alexander Lake, located in Killingly, Connecticut. Alexander Lake in an oligotrophic / low algal productivity lake with Secchi disk reading generally exceeding 6 meters.  Nonetheless, lake wide algal blooms were experienced in the early to mid-2010s and smaller localized blooms have been observed in recent years. Keith will discuss Alexander Lake and the volunteer monitoring efforts that occur there in conjunction with monitoring by environmental consultants.

Peter Neely, Twin Lakes Association

Peter and Kathy Neely were the volunteer water quality monitors on East Twin Lake in Salisbury, CT for 5 years (2018 to 2022). Data and water samples collected were provided to environmental consultants and laboratories for analyses.  Those were used to assess the health of the lake and any trends or changes that might be related to ongoing lake management efforts (e.g., plant management). Peter will discuss his experiences providing this service for his community.

Henry Moore, Woodridge Lake, Goshen, CT

Henry served as co-chair, then chair of the Boating Committee for the 385-acre Woodridge Lake beginning in 2000. Upon merging with the Lake & Dam Committee (LDC), he served as chair for about 7 years before being elected to the Board of Directors, where he is about to begin his 8^th year.

During Henry’s tenure as chair of LDC, the community of 785 member lots struggled to accept herbicides as the appropriate solution for weed control. Membership approved a program that provided for herbicide use to reduce the weeds to a level that Grass Carp could maintain.

Henry has been collecting water samples monthly for several years and has accumulated experience that may be helpful to others.