Lakes Committee Meeting Notes, 4/29/10

Present: Lois Maharg, Wes Daining, Phil Kish, Helen Weingarten, Kathie Weinmann, Lara Treemore Spears, Gordon Sheill

COUNTRY CLUB

What are the plans for area that was “bulldozed” at creek?  Native area?  North West side of creek, NE. of Climbing Way.  Wetland permit to do wetland fill was reactivated?  Gravel was brought in?  Plans for lots on Brook Court?  Is there an effort afoot to buy off the CC and develop the land?  Slumping stream banks, assistance w/ this work:  how to address this?  AACC are losing land, it is contributing sediment to the lake, etc.  

BEACHES AND FENCES

Fences are in place, benthic barrier is ready to go in.  Phil has volunteered to pursue permit from MDNRE for barrier.  Posting on MDNRE website from ’07 listed this in  “minor permit” categories @ $70.   L.T.S. thought this was the right time to do it.

Major concern is size of area; m/b less than 1600 square feet for total lake. Would a fire pit be a good idea?

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

(Concern over flood insurance for a lot on Woodland.)  How to outreach to waterside lot owners.  Herbicides w/o fertilizers?  Involve kids (and adults?) in taking photographs by the lake w/ a nominal prize.  Put on a photo show @ AACC of nature photos; thematic – water quality concept?  Animals? Helen will work on this idea.  Define Adopt:  Receiving recognition for taking care of an area?  Knocking on doors to get neighbors interested?  Inform via the LORE that we’re looking for commitments.  Could work parties (like Wildflower party on 4/24) be organized more frequently?  Monthly work parties in different areas?  Lois would contribute some home baked pies to the effort. Lois m/b willing to organize monthly work parties.  Are we allowed to do this (Lily pads are protected).  Garlic mustard pull c/b organized coming up.  Shrub planting?  Take dogwood slips from easement @ Kish’s for replanting to island. 

TREATMENT OF LAKE WATER

Phil reported his measurements.  Kathie shared recent contact w/ Savin re. temperature and weed growth.  Phil felt that mid-May was not “too late” to be effective, if it is truly b4 5/20.  (NOTE: Peter Logan talked w/ Mr. Savin on 4/28 re. notification of home owners about treatments, and asked him to call Kathie re. acceleration of first treatment).  Clarify when and where treatments w/b done:  weeds are growing 3-4 feet down, Shallows have 1-2 ft. of growth.  Phil will take the day off work to observe computerized treatment equipment.

CHEMICAL AND WATER TESTING

Phil wanted to check into doing it ‘civil’ style, simple and less costly (i.e.  like testing is done w/ goldfish tanks vs. tropical fish tanks).  Lara discussed B.O.D. (biological o2 demand).  Phil:  Nitrogren & phosphorus, $90/ 50 tests.  LASA not worth pursuing.  Also measure Ni & phos. coming down the stream; is it hugely boosted during rain events?  

LORE commentary:  Please d/n release not-native species to the lake, i.e. gold fish. Wes saw ‘orange fish’ bigger than bass in the lower lake.