CARPE DIEM!

District Attorney Robert Tendy returned to his former job as Putnam Valley Supervisor for a few moments to help release Sterile Grass Carp into Putnam Valley’s Lake Oscawana. This was part of multi-faceted program to control weeds in the lake, and it was one of the last projects Tendy completed before he left Putnam Valley to become Putnam County District Attorney.

It was more than three years ago that Tendy, his former Town Hall Staff, and members of the Lake Oscawana community began the work to bring grass carp into the lake, which was being choked off in some areas as invasive weeds such as milfoil began to grow uncontrollably. “It was a painstaking process, with a lot of environmental concerns that had to be addressed. We started in the summer of 2012, and were approved shortly before I left office at the end of 2015. When I heard that the carp were being put into the lake this week, I wanted to be sure to attend. It was a beautiful day, I saw many of my old friends, and it was really nice to be back, if only for a brief visit.”

The carp are small now, about 10  – 12 inches, but can grow to about 3 feet long. They don’t reproduce, and are used in lakes that are overcome with weeds, particularly invasive weed species. “These carp, as they grow and eat the weeds, in about 2 – 3 years will begin having a noticeable effect toward reducing weeds in the lake. It’s great to see that everyone’s hard work and perseverance paid off. Putnam Valley has beautiful lakes, and Lake Oscawana is the jewel of them all. We always did everything we could to keep it that way.”

After the release of the fish into the lake, Tendy hurried back to the District Attorney’s office. “It’s such a beautiful day, and it is really nice being back. But we  have a lot of things to do at the District Attorney’s office, so my little vacation is over.”