State Bog Renovation Update

Thumbnail Timeline
•2006 crop was harvested 13-14 Sept 2006.
•Existing vines and weeds were mowed and baled during the week of 9 Oct.
•Fumigation and rototilling began 16 Oct. Fumigation process was completed 24 Oct.
• Water samples taken, tested, and received reports of "no detects" of active ingredient 30 Oct-1 Nov.
• Lettuce bioassays indicated significant dissipation of Basamid from soil samples taken from fumigated areas 10 Nov.
• Tree cutting and chipping activities conducted 6-17 November.
•Earth moving activities to standardize bed shapes began early December 2006.
•Installation of irrigation system started in May 2007 and completed early June.
•Planting new vines June 7-8, 2007.

Planting is completed. Some final roadwork and ditchwork is still ongoing. Please be careful if you are walking around the bog.

Irrigation lines are installed and planting has started. Again, please be careful if you are walking around the bog. Washout areas are present due to heavy rainfall.

Ditch banks are being hydroseeded. Section contours are being finalized. Installation of the irrigation system is planned for early May and the bog should be ready for planting by mid-May. Please continue to be careful if you are walking the bog as the perimeter roads are being shaped and truck activity may be heavy.

Farms surfaces are being leveled and new production areas and roads are being created. Depending on the activity, you may not be able to walk the entire perimeter as new roads are created. Please be careful if you choose to enter the work area.

Earth moving activities began early December. There will be machinery and debris around the bog. Please be careful and watch out for machinery, uneven pathways and debris as you walk around the perimeter of the bog.

Tree clearing should be completed by Nov 17. Earth-moving activites should begin soon. Please be careful and watch out for machinery and debris as you walk around the perimeter of the bog.

Tree clearing and chipping to be conducted during the week of 6 Nov. The cutline has been moved in (as compared to what was shown on the original plan at neighbor meeting) from our property line to maximize the width of tree buffer zone as much as possible.

Bioassays being conducted to verify dissipation of fumigant. We are collecting soil samples several times a week to test whether the fumigant has dissipated from the soil. Dissipation is affected by rainfall and soil temperature. As of 6 Nov, the bioassay (using lettuce seeds) indicated that fumigant is still present. For this and other safety reasons, we ask that you please do not walk anywhere on the production area. Walking the perimeter road is fine.

Water in canal and production areas tested for Basamid. Water samples were collected on Monday 30 Oct and shipped to a lab in California on 31 Oct to test for the presence of Basamid. Both samples came back with a result of "No detects" for dazomet, the active ingredient in Basamid (detection level 0.5 ppb). We had held all water within the production area and bypass canal since the first application of Basamid on 16 Oct. To minimize the development of anaerobic conditions in the soil (which hinders the dissipation of the fumigant from the soil), we started releasing water from the canal on 1 Nov. We will continue to slowly release all water from the production area until water levels reach a desired equilibrium.

Bog was fumigated with Basamid during the week of Oct. 23. Please do NOT walk around the perimeter or on bog, especially with small children or dogs. Please heed pesticide signs whenever they are posted. Please do not walk on the perimeter road until the pesticide signs are taken down. We anticipate removing the signs on Monday Oct. 30.

Contract awarded to local vendor early October. The work contract was awarded to Terry Gross, who has much experience in local bog renovation. Earth-moving work to commence early November.

Mowing of vines and hay baling of vines was conducted during the week of Oct. 9. Approximately 180 bales of vines were removed from the bog surface. We estimate each bale probably weighs around 600-800 lbs for a total removal of about 66 tons of plant material from 11 acres.

State Bog harvested mid September (13-15). We harvested our best crop in approximately 20 years, 1,308 bbl.

Bids to Open 5 Sep 2006

Contractors will be able to submit bids for construction activities in early September.

Cranberry Station Neighbor Meeting Held Bogside 24 Aug 2006

We held a meeting with our abutting neighbors on August 24. Approximately 30 people attended the informal discussion about the renovation process. Several questions were raised about the fumigant, Basamid, that will be used during the renovation. Labels and MSDS for Basamid are available (Note: you will leave our web site to access these PDF files). Other questions and concerns revolved around water quality issues and several constructive suggestions were made.

For more specific information on the renovation process, please contact Carolyn DeMoranville at 508.295.2212, ext. 25, unless otherwise noted.