Lake Roundtable – Marilee (office manager), Scott Johnson (operations manager), and I attended the local lake roundtable hosted by Weatherby Lake, where representatives from eight lakes discussed topics ranging from administrative processes to watershed and silt management. The main takeaway was that managing a private recreational lake—regardless of its size—is a shared challenge. Each of us gained practical insights on ways to enhance our operations.
Watershed and silt mitigation emerged as the top operational concern for all participating lakes, followed closely by issues with aquatic vegetation and water quality. Another major focus is ensuring the safe and enjoyable use of the lake, which involves boat restrictions or water patrols. The attendees all agreed to schedule later this year another focused meeting on Watershed and Silt Mitigation Management to help find ways to save money.
We also learned about how other lakes fund their infrastructure. Whether relying on dues or assessments, the financial approaches across these communities are quite similar to what we do at Lake Lotawana. Notably, our lake stands out for having the most infrastructure when roads and owned land are considered. It’s clear that every community faces the need for more funding while balancing affordability with maintenance and protection. Several positive comments were made about our Dues approach that includes reserve funding as part of the budget process versus a separate assessment process.
In regard to water quality and our fishery, although we consult with state-level experts, we discovered services provided by a K-State Professor as well as the University of Missouri. There are water education and testing programs we will look into as they can potentially be a part of our new water quality policy under development.
We did learn a new technical term “Limnologist”. A limnologist is a scientist who studies the physical, chemical, biological, and geological characteristics of inland aquatic ecosystems, including lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands. They assess water quality, analyze aquatic life (like plankton and fish), and develop management plans for conservation, often focusing on the impacts of climate change or pollution. The K-State professor is a Limnologist, so we hope to find a MO equivalent.
Key Aspects of Limnology
- Physical Limnology: Studies water movement (hydrodynamics), temperature behavior, and light penetration.
- Chemical Limnology: Analyzes water chemistry, nutrient cycling, and pollution levels.
- Biological Limnology: Focuses on aquatic organisms such as fish, zooplankton, phytoplankton, and aquatic plants.
- Key Concepts: Food web dynamics, lake stratification, watershed management, and ecosystem restoration.
A potential career for any high schooler that likes lake life. It requires a graduate degree (Master’s or PhD) in limnology, aquatic science, or environmental science, usually following undergraduate studies in biology, chemistry, or geology. Opportunities include consulting, research, conservation, and government roles.
Road Resurface Project – The Roads Committee has decided to postpone the asphalt resurface project planned for this year until 2027. This decision is due to increased costs from global oil prices and an upcoming major gas line replacement by Spire requiring significant road cutting. We will proceed with replacing the 4 culverts on the north shore as planned, and resurfacing between gates 3 & 4 remains unaffected.
The Spire project also means a lot of construction along the north and east sides of the lake. Main and service tap replacements as they are upgrading the pressure on the system. We can expect a lot of disruption to the road and traffic patterns as this project moves forward. Also, interaction with the Spire service department as they will be inspecting all infrastructure and connections in the home. Common practice for this type of major upgrade project. Once we have the official start dates, etc. from Spire we will let the membership know.
Brightspeed Fiberoptics Project – We are finalizing franchise agreements and permits with Brightspeed and contractors for their Fiber Optic internet rollout around the lake. Once arrangements are set, their marketing team will share updates. The service will start at their Central Office inside Gate 2 (west side, opposite the real estate office), then cross under the road to the lakeside and install fiber optic trunk lines on Evergy Poles. They plan to remove or clean up copper lines as needed, depending on remaining local phone contracts.