Lake and Pond Maintenance

Below is some detailed information to help all property owners understand better what all is required to keep up with our bodies of water. We have some annual tasks that must be done and then we have unbudgeted expenses due to weather or wildlife that causes our cost to increase. Over the past six years,we have averaged about $10,000 per year for normal lake and pond maintenance. Examples of how your assessment is spent in this area are listed below.

Every year in March or April, Jimmy Reardon applies fertilizer to our lakes and ponds. Why fertilize? Fertilizer increases the small, green, single-celled plants called phytoplankton, which is what gives the water a green tint. Tiny insects called zooplankton eat the phytoplankton. These little insects are eaten by larger insects, which are eaten by fish. The more food you can produce from fertilization, the more fish you can grow.
Every year we contract with Quality Lakes to apply an annual aquatic weed control to help with the control of unwanted weeds and growth in our waterways. This was done in May. They had to return in late August treating the large lake. There has been aquatic growth in the main lake consisting of musk grass in many of the shallow areas. Musk grass is actually an algae nevertheless it required further treatment. Sometimes we must engage the help of a contractor to help with wildlife eradication. Jimmy Reardon completed earlier this summer, some beaver eradication in the large lake. This process was extensive and cost $1,370.00. He trapped 2 beavers and destroyed two large beaver hutches including numerous trips to monitor, move and re-set traps.

In late February Gatewood experienced a storm which included heavy rainfall. The Brookfield Dam was significantly eroded just above where the gazebo is located. Sperry Services came out in March to grade this area (using the sediment that had been removed from the lake last year) and install geotextile fabric with grass and straw. This work could not be done as his equipment got stuck as the dirt was still holding too much moisture. With the impact of COVID this project was put on hold. The Board is currently considering the possibility of having this project completed this fall.

Wilson Bruce – Property Manager