(Jan. 28, 2016) A report by the OPA Environmental and Natural Assets Committee showed mixed results in the community’s efforts to control its Canada goose population in the last two years.
According to the October 2015 document, tests conducted by Horn Point Laboratory in 2014 showed poor water quality at the South Gate Pond. The Worcester County Health Department posted warnings there, “banning human contact” with the pond, and a committee investigation showed “a direct link between large resident Canada goose population and [harmful] algae blooms.”
Originally, the committee advised Ocean Pines to hire a contractor to remove the geese, which the report said was recommended by the U.S. Department of Natural Resources and permitted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The document added that removal had been “implemented by many golf courses and communities,” and that the geese could be used to feed area homeless.
“This solution, to put it mildly, was met with very strong opposition from a small but very vocal group of Ocean Pines residents,” the report said.
The committee was charged by the board of directors with developing nonlethal control measures as alternative, although it had strong doubts about the effectiveness of such steps. Still, in Oct. 2014, the board unanimously approved a seven-step program that included installing two-foot stakes around the ponds and stringing monofilament lines between the stakes.
Ocean Pines Public Works started a “no mow” program around the ponds and used “Flight Control” spray around the Worcester County Veteran’s Memorial in order to deter geese.
Several other steps recommended by the committee, and approved by the board, were either neglected or apparently disregarded altogether.
“The Association was responsible for entering into a contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for nest control work,” the report said, adding that contract was never fulfilled despite the fact that money was appropriated. Six “No Feeding Geese” signs were also never produced.
A permit was obtained allowing public works to “oil” goose eggs to stop them from maturing, although it is unclear how much of this was done. The report said a permit was granted “too late in spring to work effectively” at the South Gate, and volunteers, not public works, oiled a dozen eggs at the North Gate.
According to a census taken before and after egg oiling, there were 40 “nonmigratory” geese and three domestic geese at the North Gate in 2014, and 40 nonmigratory geese, five nonmigratory goslings and three domestic geese in 2015.
At the South Gate, there were 71 nonmigratory geese, 31 nonmigratory goslings and 14 domestic geese in 2014, and 142 nonmigratory geese, 38 nonmigratory goslings, 11 domestic geese and five domestic goslings in 2015.
The committee recommended public works “assume all responsibilities” for the program, and advised that egg oiling be performed each spring. The stakes and monofilament lines were not effective and should be removed, and the no-mow area should be reduced to a foot high, the committee said.
Flight Control spraying should continue as needed. In addition, the report stressed the need to revisit the notion of hiring a contractor to remove the geese.
“Along with this effort, it is imperative the Association start an education program informing Property Owners and all residents of the necessity for the control work,” the report said, adding that domestic geese were not a target. “Through this education program, our committee feels complaints about this program may be reduced and hopefully eliminated.
“If all these programs are followed then it is our belief all of God’s creatures can live harmoniously in and around the ponds,” the report concluded.
Director Tom Herrick, the board liaison to the committee, noted that the board had not made any decisions regarding the report and its list of recommendations, and nothing was imminent.
“Various options will be discussed as to how the Board will proceed in helping make Ocean Pines continue to strive in maintaining a safe and healthy environment at our ponds,” Herrick said in an emailed statement.
Herrick went on to say “many alternative means” needed to be discussed before any decision could be made. He said his concern was the health of the North and South Gate ponds, and that his comments on the committee report during a recent board meeting on the budget were only meant “to see if funding would continue to be allocated to support the various support programs that are being suggested by the Environmental and Natural Assets Committee, which address this need.”
According to the October 2015 document, tests conducted by Horn Point Laboratory in 2014 showed poor water quality at the South Gate Pond. The Worcester County Health Department posted warnings there, “banning human contact” with the pond, and a committee investigation showed “a direct link between large resident Canada goose population and [harmful] algae blooms.”
Originally, the committee advised Ocean Pines to hire a contractor to remove the geese, which the report said was recommended by the U.S. Department of Natural Resources and permitted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The document added that removal had been “implemented by many golf courses and communities,” and that the geese could be used to feed area homeless.
“This solution, to put it mildly, was met with very strong opposition from a small but very vocal group of Ocean Pines residents,” the report said.
The committee was charged by the board of directors with developing nonlethal control measures as alternative, although it had strong doubts about the effectiveness of such steps. Still, in Oct. 2014, the board unanimously approved a seven-step program that included installing two-foot stakes around the ponds and stringing monofilament lines between the stakes.
Ocean Pines Public Works started a “no mow” program around the ponds and used “Flight Control” spray around the Worcester County Veteran’s Memorial in order to deter geese.
Several other steps recommended by the committee, and approved by the board, were either neglected or apparently disregarded altogether.
“The Association was responsible for entering into a contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for nest control work,” the report said, adding that contract was never fulfilled despite the fact that money was appropriated. Six “No Feeding Geese” signs were also never produced.
A permit was obtained allowing public works to “oil” goose eggs to stop them from maturing, although it is unclear how much of this was done. The report said a permit was granted “too late in spring to work effectively” at the South Gate, and volunteers, not public works, oiled a dozen eggs at the North Gate.
According to a census taken before and after egg oiling, there were 40 “nonmigratory” geese and three domestic geese at the North Gate in 2014, and 40 nonmigratory geese, five nonmigratory goslings and three domestic geese in 2015.
At the South Gate, there were 71 nonmigratory geese, 31 nonmigratory goslings and 14 domestic geese in 2014, and 142 nonmigratory geese, 38 nonmigratory goslings, 11 domestic geese and five domestic goslings in 2015.
The committee recommended public works “assume all responsibilities” for the program, and advised that egg oiling be performed each spring. The stakes and monofilament lines were not effective and should be removed, and the no-mow area should be reduced to a foot high, the committee said.
Flight Control spraying should continue as needed. In addition, the report stressed the need to revisit the notion of hiring a contractor to remove the geese.
“Along with this effort, it is imperative the Association start an education program informing Property Owners and all residents of the necessity for the control work,” the report said, adding that domestic geese were not a target. “Through this education program, our committee feels complaints about this program may be reduced and hopefully eliminated.
“If all these programs are followed then it is our belief all of God’s creatures can live harmoniously in and around the ponds,” the report concluded.
Director Tom Herrick, the board liaison to the committee, noted that the board had not made any decisions regarding the report and its list of recommendations, and nothing was imminent.
“Various options will be discussed as to how the Board will proceed in helping make Ocean Pines continue to strive in maintaining a safe and healthy environment at our ponds,” Herrick said in an emailed statement.
Herrick went on to say “many alternative means” needed to be discussed before any decision could be made. He said his concern was the health of the North and South Gate ponds, and that his comments on the committee report during a recent board meeting on the budget were only meant “to see if funding would continue to be allocated to support the various support programs that are being suggested by the Environmental and Natural Assets Committee, which address this need.”