Patrolling the Pond: Falling into Fall.
By Mike Miller, Lake Lotawana Association Board Member, Sergeant at Arms.
As autumn nears at the lake, and cooler temps arrive the experience is different than the summer months. Warm water and cool mornings typically mean misty sunrises that create the perfect surroundings for kayaking, fishing, or simply appreciating the beauty of the lake from your deck. Still, fog-free mornings and warm water means cutting a new path across still water with a single ski. Whatever your activity, fall water activities can be some of the best of any season. That said, there are always a few things to keep in mind as the seasons change. Here are just a few:
- Sunrises and sunsets are beautiful. Visibility at both ends of the day can be more challenging than summer months because of fog and mist in the morning and sunset coming at an earlier time of day. Earlier sunsets mean the rules for skiing and other towing activities end at SUNSET vs. 30 minutes after sunset (starting on September 15th until May 15th, Part III, Part N, 3, a, p. 20, 6pts. Rules and Regulations)
- It’s time to start thinking about winterization and getting your fleet ready for the winter. It always seems to sneak up on me and I find myself scrambling to get things done before the first frost. Plan ahead so that you aren’t scrambling to get your PWC, and rest of your fleet winterized before an October freeze.
- Migrating birds are starting to show up on the lake. More will come as fall moves toward winter. Do not feed any Canada Geese (p. 23, Rules and Regulations, 3pts). Migrating birds are welcome and protected by Federal regulations. We just want them to keep going to their winter home and not stick around and become year-round residents. You may see geese, ducks, wood ducks and even a few loons.
- Check out the Lotawana News and lakelotawana.net, the Association website for all of the cool activities happening this fall. Lota-Smoke is one of the newer community activities that will be bigger and better this year. This year you can join the fun at the Association Office property October 11-13.
- It’s important to know that Water Patrol coverage is not the same as in the summer. This is not a license for rule breaking but rather a time when we all have to step-up to ensure the safety of the summer months carry into the fall. If you see someone violating the rules, you don’t have to confront them. Please send their lot and block number to the Lake Lotawana Association office staff. They will receive a gentle reminder about the rules. Because the Lake is something we all have a vested interest in, we should also have a vested interest in water safety.
The last few days of summer are upon us. By the time you read this it will officially be fall. That means that future memories are still to be made. Have fun and be safe. See you on the Pond!
Coming Up In the Next Few Months of Patrolling the Pond:
An interview series with members of our office staff.
New prizes for correctly answering the Safer Seven Rules.
The stories of September.
HOA Committee Member Interviews
Lake Lotawana Safer Seven Quiz: Test Your Knowledge (practice this time, prizes will be awarded for the correct responses next time…stay tuned for more on that to come.)
Here are a few “seasonal” questions to test your knowledge of some things that change with the seasons. Then again, some things stay the same. Answer the following questions True or False.
- Any time the visibility on the lake reaches 100 yards or less, you should use your navigation lights. (TRUE).
- Because there is less traffic on the Lake, power craft races are allowed. (FALSE). Power craft races are always PROHIBITED (LLA Rules Section III, Part I, 1,a, 3, p. 15, 3 points).
- Slow, No-Wake speed is defined as the slowest speed at which a watercraft will move through the water, while being able to maintain course and create minimal wake. (TRUE)
- Your son and daughter want to go wake surfing this weekend. You agree but know you have to do it in the middle of the lake vs. near the shore. When you get pulled over by the Lake Patrol you wonder why. You could get cited for a violation of the rules. True or False. TRUE. While wake surfing in the center of the lake is correct, wake surfing is not allowed on weekends even in the fall (LLA Rules and Regulations, Section III, Part N, 4, f, 6, p. 22) Wake surfing is allowed on Monday thru Friday. Wake surfing is not allowed on weekends, Memorial Day, Independence Day or Labor Day.)
- It’s been a long and crowded summer. Now that there is less traffic on the lake, you decide to take a swim across the lake. It’s about 200 yards to the other side but you’re a strong swimmer. True or false, you should make the swim. FALSE (Section III, Part O, p. 22. A swimmer, or any person using a raft or any flotation device, shall stay within 75 feet of the shoreline. Swimmers and person using flotations devices are permitted to swim from a Watercraft inside of a Cove, as designated by an official Water Traffic Control Device, provided that they stay within 75 feet of the Watercraft (6 points).
- The walleye fishing is great this time of year. You’re looking forward to dropping a couple of lines in and catching a few. They are really tasty fish. True of false. You can eat what you catch. FALSE Section III, Part P, 1, c, p. 23. Special purpose fish (walleye and striped bass) shall be returned to the lake unharmed (3pts). These fish help keep the shad population down and if you saw all the schools of gizzard shad this summer you know we need as many as possible doing their job!
- According to Jack Jobe, Water Safety Patrol Manager, the most common violation of the Lake Lotawana Association Rules and Regulation is plowing. (TRUE).