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Town, DEEP negotiate buoy placement after state insists markers are required on Cedar Lake
Summary
At a special April 29 meeting, Chester officials and DEEP boating staff discussed state-required buoys to mark silt curtains on Cedar Lake intended to prevent Hydrilla; DEEP said the buoys are required but agreed to evaluate alternative locations and anchoring to accommodate lake vegetation.
Chester officials and state boating regulators met April 29 to discuss placement and specifications of buoys DEEP requires to mark silt curtains on Cedar Lake that the Cedar Lake Watershed Commission installed to prevent the spread of Hydrilla.
First Selectwoman Cynthia Lignar opened the special meeting at 9:00 a.m. with Selectwoman Bandzes and Selectman Radicchi present; guests included Nancy Byrne, chair of the Cedar Lake Watershed Commission (CLWC), and staff from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Boating Division.
Nancy Byrne told the board she and the CLWC remain concerned the mandated buoys were “not appropriate in size and location, including location in thick lake vegetation,” and she questioned whether the buoys were required for the silt curtains. Peter Francis, DEEP’s Boating Division director, replied that “the buoys are required per DEEP’s boater safety guidelines, and this requirement is not negotiable,” while DEEP staff said they would meet internally to evaluate possible alternative locations and anchoring options.
Board members expressed concern about the expense of purchasing and installing the buoys and discussed technical specifics such as depth, height and diameter. DEEP representatives, including Program Specialist Yolanda R. Cooley, said the CLWC and the Town may propose a modification to meet DEEP specifications and that DEEP would review proposed alternatives at its office.
Byrne said she will consult the Town Department of Public Works about custom buoy ideas that could satisfy DEEP specifications while fitting into areas of dense vegetation. Town and DEEP officials agreed to continue communications until they reach an acceptable buoy solution that serves the intended safety purpose and accommodates site conditions.
The meeting concluded at 9:53 a.m. after Cynthia Lignar moved to adjourn and Paul R. seconded; the motion passed unanimously.
