Friends of Moody Pond members are pictured from left: Tristan Glanville, Cary Johnson, Donna Walsh, Susan Rdzanek, Jay Federman and and Heidi Kretser. (Provided photo)

SARANAC LAKE — The Friends of Moody Pond annual meeting will take place on Monday, June 23, at 7 p.m., at 12 Labrador Lane in Saranac Lake. Community members who cares about the pond are welcome to attend the annual meeting, become a member, and find out more about what the nonprofit organization is doing to “Reflect; Restore; Celebrate; Moody Pond.”

This year is the sixth anniversary of the Friends of Moody Pond non-profit organization and the fifth year of enlisting invasive dive teams to remove the aquatic invasive Eurasian watermilfoil from Moody Pond. By harnessing the collective power of individuals, community businesses and environmental organizations, the group has battled, raised and spent over $100,000 bringing the EWM that invaded the pond in 2018 under control. The efforts to “Save Moody Pond” show decreases in the amount of EWM harvested over time.

“This is certainly good news,” said Guy Middleton, executive director of the Upper Saranac Foundation. “However, as the Eurasian watermilfoil plants become smaller and more scattered, it actually becomes more challenging for divers to locate and remove them across the 24-acre pond. As a result, harvesting still demands a substantial amount of dive time. The nature of our work has shifted — we’ve moved away from several concentrated, week-long harvests to shorter, more frequent management periods spread throughout the summer.”

FMP is also announcing its upcoming fundraiser, the Sixth Annual Online Auction. The auction begins on July 12 and concludes on Saturday, August 9, at the Sixth Annual Ice Cream Social on Moody Pond, 331 Forest Hill Ave., from 4 to 7 p.m. For instructions and to participate, visit the Friends of Moody Pond website at friendsofmoodypond.org/our-events. FMP is currently accepting donations and membership dues. Visit the “donate” button located on the Friends of Moody Pond website at www.friendsofmoodypond.org, where 100% of donations are used to remove the Eurasian watermilfoil from Moody Pond.