Boat launch stewards monitor vessels for invasive plants

There sure have been some gully washers in the area but for the most part things have stayed above water. This past week showers were kind of a hit or miss thing with rain in Old Forge but not in Inlet or visa versa.

I’ve dumped three inches of water out of my rain gauge twice this week, two of which came in less than an hour on Friday.

Most of the dirt roads have been holding their own with some scalding in places and major ponds in the road over to Otter Brook from the Big T in the Moose River Area.

We were at Helldiver the other morning watching for the Moose. A couple of canoes were already on the pond by 6 a.m. and he was a no-show that morning.

While we were there a big black cloud went by south of us. We could see the rain across the pond but we only got a few sprinkles.

The beaver and single loon were the only entertainment there that morning.

Later we went over to the Beaver Lake Trail which was almost canoeable. There was a stream running down with some lakes in places on the trail.

We got to the lake about 11 a.m. and saw a pair of loons with a chick in tow which made the wet walk worthwhile.

There are several large blowdowns across the trail so it’s not too handy for mountain bike traffic.

The main road in the Plains is open past Otter Brook to the Brooktrout Trailhead and barricaded there.

There were some four-wheelers running around in the area over the weekend, which is not legal. I don’t know if they were caught or not. If I see one they will have their picture taken for sure.

Motorcycles are also still prohibited on the roads in the area.

I have checked several loon nests in the area this week. Some are still sitting on their second nests and some have pulled off chicks in all this wet weather.

Some were nesting on bogs that went up some in the high water. They were able to keep their eggs above water by adding some material to the nest.

I have had some complaints about people getting too close to nesting birds. It is a violation to disturb these nesting loons.

If I catch someone doing that they will be seeing the local judge.

They have enough problems fighting nature-related things without having humans causing them to lose their nests.

At many of the local boat launch sites there are stewards checking for invasive aquatic plants that could be transferred to our waters from outside the area.

They have a list of waters that are effected by the plants so if you have recently been in those contaminated waters your boat and trailer will be checked quite thoroughly.

All watercraft will be checked but these moreso. Just last week the steward at Fourth Lake Boat Launch in Inlet found curly pondweed in the intake of a jet boat.

This one weed could have gotten free and spread faster than the Eurasian milfoil that’s already here.

Be responsible when moving your boat or any watercraft from one water body to another.

Our beautiful lakes are one of the big draws that bring visitors here.

Let’s not spoil them with some weeds that may cover entire areas of a lake.

In my pond, the pink pond lilies are doing great this year. There are several blooms and more to come as many more buds are sticking out of the water.

Some butterflies are starting—or trying to—in all our wet weather. I saw my first monarch on the 4th of July as it flitted through the Craft Fair at the Adirondack Bank parking lot. I’ll bet it was looking for some milkweeds.

Lots of white admirals, great spangled fritillaries and many small skippers have hatched this week also.

I saw where, some big green luna moths were toasted by the lights at the EZ Mart in Inlet.

Speaking of milkweeds, some of the flowers are just right for eating. Just cut off the flower buds before they open or just after they open and toss them in a pot.

Boil for about seven minutes. Most of the spiders and ants will come to the top and get drained off.

Add a little butter, salt and pepper and a touch of vinegar and these will taste better than they smell.

The monarchs can spare a few, or you can get them near the highway where DOT will probably cut them down anyway.

While you’re out gathering milkweeds you won’t have to look very far to find some litter. Even though there was Community Pride Day and most of the highways got spruced up it doesn’t take very long and more litter appears.

Some of our visitors don’t enjoy the beauty around them. It’s a long way to the nearest McDonald’s, yet its name appears on a lot of the litter I pick up.

They must have passed a trashcan somewhere along the 60 miles they traveled from the fast food place to here.

Find one of them and keep our beautiful roadside greenery and wildflowers trash-free.

Some grouse and turkey babies are hiding in the weeds, but that’s another story.

See ya.