Moody Pond and Mount Baker are seen on an early morning in Saranac Lake. (Provided photo — Percy Glanville)

To the editor:

Generations have enjoyed Moody Pond. Did you or your children learn to bike around Moody Pond? Did you or a loved one ever use walks around Moody Pond to recover from illness or injury? Do you enjoy fishing? Do you roller ski around the pond? Do you walk your dog or like to run around the pond?

Here’s the bad news: There’s Eurasian watermilfoil invading Moody Pond. What’s wrong with that? Eurasian watermilfoil beds form dense canopies at the water surface, reducing light penetration. Taking place in the spring, before native aquatic plants have reached their full growth, the watermilfoil shades out the native plants and reduces their growth potential. As a result of the reduction in native plants, Eurasian watermilfoil beds have been found to contain significantly fewer aquatic invertebrates, and consequently a lower abundance of native fish species (http://nyis.info/invasive_species/eurasian-watermilfoil).

But, there’s good news. You can do something to help! The Friends of Moody Pond is a group of local individuals who care about the future of Moody Pond and have organized around a common mission to preserve and protect it. FMP is holding its first fundraiser to bring this invasive plant under control, and everyone is invited to participate! Foil the Milfoil: the Moody Pond Challenge is a virtual fundraiser beginning on July 11 and continuing through Aug. 8.

Here’s how it works: As a participant, you do some sort of challenge (for example, it could be fishing) and either donate a certain amount for your challenge or get “supporters” to donate toward you completing your challenge. So if we use fishing, you could spend a day fishing and ask someone to donate $20 for every fish you catch, or $1 for every cast you make, or something along those “lines.” Participants will seek out supporters for performing an activity of their choice between July 11 and Aug. 8. Ideas are limitless but might include walking a certain number of loops or miles or hours. You could knit, fish, run, dance or read books! If you aren’t interested in doing a challenge, you can support a participant by making a donation.

To conclude the fundraiser, there will be an Ice Cream Social-distanced Celebration on the pond Aug. 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. With local ice cream being served, bands like the Rustic Riders providing entertainment and a silent auction featuring donations from local businesses, this event promises to be a fun way to spend a summer’s day on Moody Pond. The Foil the Milfoil: the Moody Pond Challenge Ice Cream Social is free for “challengers,” and a $2 donation is suggested for others.

Friends of Moody Pond needs to raise $15,000 to begin the process of removing the milfoil, and every little bit helps. All donations are tax-deductible. Checks can be made out to Saranac Lake Rotary Foundation, (note FMP on the memo line) and sent to P.O. Box 1127, Saranac Lake, NY 12983. To donate online or for more information about Foil the Milfoil: the Moody Pond Challenge, go to the FMP web page, www.friendsofmoodypond.org, or the FMP Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfMoodyPond.

Lisa Meissner

Saranac Lake