Lake Management – following up on my August article addressing Naiad Grass, the BoD had a hardy discussion including updates on fish stocking and operational limitations in the September meeting. Many directors felt we should have deployed the Moss Machine to remove the grass, triggering a good discussion on services and priorities for the LLA to its members.
For context, the Moss Machine—a boat equipped with a conveyor belt—was utilized years ago when brand new in select areas at the southern end of the lake. After several years in storage during which it fell into disrepair, the machine was restored this spring. New actuators were ordered to replace the worn components; however, as they have not yet arrived, the machine operates at reduced capability. Staffing constraints also impact on the ability to utilize the Moss Machine substantially limiting its effective use this season. In the board meeting discussion, a consensus was reached to evaluate the factors required to support continued operation of the Moss Machine moving forward.
FYI, the last time we had a grass breakout (many years ago) we stocked Grass Carp in large numbers. The Grass Carp ate the grass and the Redear Sunfish (Redear) also introduced ate the Zebra Mussel larvae. This solved the grass problem and the lake clarity was reduced some. However, stocking too many Grass Carp meant they overate harming the ecosystem for the fish. Flash forward, the Grass Carp have reached max growth eating less or die. The Red Ear population decreased and the Zebra Mussels went to town filtering the water allowing sunlight into deeper water. All this with fewer flash run-off events triggered the outbreak of Naiad Grass and Duck Weed.
Luckily our fishing committee reacted to the growing scarcity of Redear Sunfish and worked to secure stock for this year. The Red Ear will be introduced later this fall, while Grass Carp were introduced September 18 in several locations around the lake. This time a smaller quantity of Carp were stocked to hopefully control the Naiad grass without wiping out all grasses. The hope is these stocking efforts mitigate our issues such that the Moss Machine can be used on a smaller surgical scale.
We appreciate your understanding as we work to balance ecosystem health, recreational access, and efficient resource use. Lessons learned really help guide us toward even more effective strategies in the years ahead.
Financial Planning – a good segway from the topic of services the LLA provides, we are taking the lessons learned the past several years and applying it to the 2026 budget cycle. We have our Road Reserve, Dredge Reserve, Capital Reserve and Operating budget being mapped out long term.
Looking ahead to 2026, we are evaluating staffing levels, wage structures, and the overall workload carried out by our teams and identifying opportunities where outsourcing is appropriate. Staff planning requires balancing enough workers during busy periods without having excess staff during slow times. As annual maintenance grows due to reduced deferral, deciding between hiring and outsourcing becomes increasingly frequent. It isn’t practical to retain staff and equipment for every project type, so ongoing evaluation is needed. While doing everything in-house may seem cost-effective, lacking the necessary tools or expertise can lead to higher costs and lower quality—much like DIY projects at home.
For instance, tree removal involving large trees is outsourced due to safety, specific equipment, and skill requirements. Our crews do the subsequent clearing and hauling whenever feasible creating a blended work model. A similar assessment applies to the operation of the Moss Machine; if daily operation over several months is required, we need to determine optimal staffing solutions.
Low Water Crossing Update – demolition of the old structure is underway!! Removing the surface allowed us to see how bad the structure had become. No material left around the rusted remains of the galvanized drainpipes confirmed the structural integrity was severely compromised. While ICON works to remove the old structure and begin building the new, please keep clear of the work area.
Marina 27 Property has New Handrails – a few people have struggled with the at the Marina 27 upper parking lot, so the Properties, LLC recently had new handrails and paint installed on the steps to facilitate safety.
Courtesy Reminders – November 1st is the Fall Clean up. November 11th is the 2025 Annual Budget Meeting at 7 p.m.
Sincerely,
Jeff Clemow
President