Lakes

Lakes Co-Chairs are Ken Cushman & Solomon Ellis
Committee members are: Volunteers needed

The committee is responsible for the maintenance and improvements of all lakes.

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Presentation for 2023 Annual Meeting

Dave Prochazka reported on the 2022-23 accomplishments, gave a detailed budget review for 2023 and announced that the new committee leadership for 2023 will be Ken Cushman and Solomon Ellis. Click HERE to view their presentation.

Presentation for 2021 Annual meeting

Bob reported on the general condition of our lakes and ongoing plans to improve them. Click HERE to view his entire presentation.

Presentation for 2020 Annual meeting

Bob reported on the general condition of our lakes and ongoing plans to improve them. Click HERE to view his entire presentation.

Presentation for 2019 Annual meeting

Steve reported on the general condition of our lakes. Click HERE to view his entire presentation.

Presentation for 2018 Annual meeting

Steve reported on the general condition of our lakes. Click HERE to view his entire presentation.

Presentation for 2017 Annual meeting

Steve reported on the general condition of our lakes. Click HERE to view his entire presentation.

Presentation for 2013 Annual meeting

Bob reported great success in removing weeds from our lakes. Although this will be an ongoing process the results of the chemical treatments is obvious. To emphasize the point he provided both a Before picture and an After picture.

He next discussed ongoing efforts to thwart the efforts of our friendly beavers. Mainly the committee tries to keep the culverts clear of brush and mud that the beavers bring in.

Another weapon being used to keep the lakes clean and a great resource is to hire a company to bring in fish which will eat some of the weeds and grasses as well as provide our residents with fishing opportunities.

Activities for 2010 included:

  • Developed a maintenance plan and presented to the Board.
  • Used weed cutter to try to control lilly pads on big lake. Moderate success in north half of lake.
  • Applied for permits to improve beaver deceiver system in all lakes. Some work done but still waiting for permit from county to complete our plan.
  • Lake survey process started. Obtained water analysis and depths in mid winter. Will take more readings in summer of 2011. This will provide a knowledge base for improving out Lake maintenance plans.
  • Developed aggressive plan to chemically treat lakes in 2011. Aquatic plants are filling in lakes 2, 3, 4, & 5 to the degree that in 20 years they may disappear if we don’t take steps to stop this process. We know that the water depth has decreased by 1/2 in some areas.

For more information and to view the presentation made at the 2011 annual meeting Click here

Fall 2009

The rainy season is upon us and with it comes some challenges for the community:

  • The water transfer between our lakes catches the eyes and ears of our beaver friend.  Mark Achzenick has repaired and replaced the outflow pipes from the large lake and it seems to be working as designed again.  Steve Scott and others are working on the beaver deceiver apparatus housed on the lake which he resides.  The beaver has again moved onto the smaller lake just to the North of the Fourlakes main entrance road.  Without an immediate beaver deceiver solution in place, that area requires continual cleaning to clear the beaver’s work.  There are several people throughout the community that have taken up that torch (and it is much appreciated). Over the past few weeks there have been a number of people clearing, literally on a daily basis, the waterways on the small lake to the North of our main entrance and the lake that Dave and others live on.  Our friendly neighborhood beaver has time on his hands and simply fills them back in each night.  The main concern is that the water in those lakes in being diverted onto neighbors yards and along the side of the dike, presenting a possible erosion problem. The beaver has also been working on and/or toppled a couple of sizable trees along those lakes.  Not unlike the two larger lakes in our system, I�m sure.  I have not been able to come up with any solutions to this growing issue.  We can certainly put wire around the tree trunks, but not sure how we build a beaver deceiver on these two lakes.  Has anybody been working on a solution?The other option would be to trap and move our friend.  I realize that another one would simply move in, but is it worth the expense to move the existing one as he is very well entrenched and comfortable in our neighborhood?  Is it worth it so that a new neighbor would take awhile to get moved in and working?  This is a solution we used nearly 10 years ago and simply a thought to ponder with our current resident.
  • Although they are not visible, the aquatic weeds throughout our lakes system still exist.  There was great progress made on the large lake via the use of a weed cutter Rick Ward acquired and the sweat and tears of a number of our neighbors (Dave does look good in a wetsuit!).  We were not able to get to the rest of the lake before the rains came.  This will be a top priority in mid-Spring to get an early jump on the problem.
  • Mike Goza, Brad Evans and Steve Scott have had some great conversations, either with each other or through me, regarding aeration.  A primary focus for 2010 needs to be seeing these plans put into action.
  • Terry has picked up the torch on finding a vendor with which we can partner to develop a solution to our aquatic weed issue, as well as help us develop a long-term plan for our lakes system.  This would include aquatic weed abatement, cohabitation with our furry and feathered friends and solutions to the ever decreasing depths of the lakes.  Aquatechnex really dropped the ball, which is frustrating, but we needed to move on from that.  Terry has had some success and has definitely paved the way to finding this partner in 2010.
  • Our budget for 2009 was $3,600.  We have spent nearly $3,000 year-to-date.  The bulk of which was the purchase of the weed cutter, noted above.  I expect that when Steve turns in receipts for reimbursement for the work he has been doing we will get very close to the $3,600 budget figure.  The 2009 budget was comprised almost entirely of the anticipated costs to have Aquatechnex perform the weed abatement tasks.  I am going to suggest that the 2010 budget remain the same amount ($3,600) to be used to continue to pursue a long term weed abatement solution, as well as begin to develop an aeration solution to the algae growth throughout our lakes.  I would welcome any other suggestions on the budget for 2010 and its intended use.

And lastly is the committee itself.  It was so exciting to see a number of new faces and enthusiasm join the committee in 2009.  That is so important as the time I had to devote to the committee became less and less as the year wore on.  I don’t see that changing in 2010.  If at all possible, I would like to be able to pass the torch of chairing this committee onto the next neighbor.  The main task of the committee chair (as far as my role has been) is to coordinate the efforts of the committee:

  • We started the year with a short range planning session (how do we get rid of those weeds) and had various discussions about the long-term solutions that needed to be put in place.  That early meeting sets the stage for what to do that year, as well as what we plan to do in the next 2 to 3 years.
  • There are a number of our neighbors, most of which are on this committee, that have vast aquatic knowledge.  The committee chair needs to focus that knowledge into progress (believe me, I don’t know squat about aquatic life, and that is why I try to surround myself with smarter people than I).
  • We still need to find a vendor to partner with in this long-term endeavor and that takes time to research, call and interview.

I am more than happy to coordinate work parties to continue our weed eradication efforts.  Mark has a personal battle with the beaver, I have the weeds.  We have a tremendous process in place and I truly think we can rid the large lake of weeds by the end of June.  Not without a lot of hard work, but it can be done.  We can then move onto the other lakes with the same passion.  I just can’t coordinate the entire committee going into 2010.–>

Planned activities for 2007 include:

  • Have a formal survey of the big lake done. The results from this study will be compared with the results
    of a study done 10 years ago to help assess overall health of the large lake.
  • Purchase 10 grass eating carp and place them in the large lake. This should help control weed growth.
  • Assess the possibility of building a fishing dock on the large lake.

Highlights of activities during 2006:

  • Discussions were held with the county to explore issues we have with the lakes and to ask for their
    insight on possible solutions. No easy solutions were identified but some possible options were provided.
  • The committee explored several products that are supposed to help the lakes self dredge themselves.
  • The committee looked at a product that increases water clarity but does not inhibit weed growth. It
    appears to be cost prohibitive.
  • The committee began looking at the possibility of installing an aeration system in the lake. This would
    reduce algae bloom and improve water clarity. It does not inhibit weed growth.