Algal Blooms 101 – Part 3
By David Ernes – Lake Management Committee
The only way to make informed decisions regarding lake management is to have accurate data. Whether it is the level of nutrients, or toxins, or even a Secchi disk depth measurement, each value requires testing. Testing itself is a multistep process. It involves (1) planning – to decide what to test; (2) sampling; (3) the actual analysis, and finally (4) the interpretation – or what does it all mean. Each step is just as important as the next.
The testing that has been done and continues to be done on our lake is designed for specific purposes. Nutrient and transparency testing (Secchi disk depth) is done to monitor the condition of the lake to see if it is changing. Toxin testing is done to establish the safety of the water for recreational activities. In each case, the testing is done in a specific area selected by an expert to help make informed decisions. But what about the rest of the lake? Based on a listing of Ohio Lakes in Wikipedia, the surface area of Lake Roaming Rock is 464 acres. This calculates to 2.9 billion square inches of water. It is obviously not possible to test at every point on the lake.
However, it is possible for you to become involved. The Sierra Club has a program known as Water Sentinels. Although limited in the testing that is done, this organization can give you proper training – and even the supplies to do the testing. There is also a national program known as the Secchi Dip-In. In this program, people from across the nation take a Secchi depth reading on a specific day each year. You can compare your result with others across the country. There is also a program within the Ohio Lake Management Society known as Citizen Lake Awareness and Monitoring or CLAM. This is a more detailed program involving Secchi disk measurements and bloom identifications. Finally, EnviroScience, Inc., our consultant, has a sampling kit for collection of a water sample for toxin testing. The kit runs around $40, and the toxin testing is an additional $120 per toxin.
Doing your own testing gives you an appreciation for what is involved. If you are interested and want to get your hands wet, there are many options available to you. The Lake Management Committee can put you in touch with each of these programs.
BE LAKE RESPONSIBLE
Reminder: Dues & Assessments
2015 Dues and Assessments are due by May 1st. Please note this date! Accounts that are not paid in full by the due date will be charged a late fee of 10%!
Association Meeting Highlights – Apr 2015
by Richard D. Gainar, CEBS – Secretary RRA
The RomeRock Association Board of Directors met on April 2, 2015 with all Directors present except Ron Morris (vacation). Fourteen residents were also in attendance.
Board President, Dell Rogers, warned early boaters of ice that may float beneath the water surface. He asked for candidates to fill an open Board seat and discussed the RRA safety policy regarding the wearing of floatation vests and hard hats for employees when working on water. Dell announced his intention to seek Board approval to set the pool hours of operation at 10AM to 9PM starting this summer and invites interested Members to comment later in the meeting. The Board is aware of a group of ladies who use the east pool for an exercise class from 9AM to 10AM and, to reduce costs, asks they delay start until 10AM. Dell announced that the Board hired Kaman & Cusimano, LLC to help with our collection of bad debts. Also, an auditing firm is being selected to perform an audit of RRA finances this fall.
Maintenance Director Dan Mullins reported that snow plowing and road maintenance consumed much of their time last month. This year the pool houses and outside buildings made it through the winter without damage due to freezing. The roadside debris and potholes are now being addressed. The Maintenance Department finished painting the bulldozer and it looks brand new.
Lake Management Sub-Committee Chairman Tim Langer reported on his committee’s activities to encourage residents to consider minor household changes that have significant positive effects on our lake’s water quality. Residents will also be asked to support his committee’s efforts to convince our elected state representatives to take action that limits the excess nutrients and sediment from entering our streams and lake from our watershed. Village Liaison John Ball, RSV Mayor, reminded us to mark our calendars for the May 2 Spring Clean-up Day and Vendor Expo ’15. Building & Facilities Committee Chairman Jim Swartz described his committee’s search for an architect for building design plans in order to proceed with his committee’s investigation of a permanent RRA Office.
In the Club Reports section of the meeting, Tom Sopko reminded us of this month’s Friends & Neighbors winter dinner at Pasta Oven on April 17 at 6:00pm. This year’s first meeting of the Fishing Club will be on April 6 at the Clubhouse.
The Member Comments section of the meeting included several Members’ comments on their interest in retaining the 9:00AM pool start for their exercise session as well as the late 10:00PM closing. Comments also included an objection to the financial need for the early-bird lottery, information concerning results of the Board’s executive sessions, easement for re-routed sewage pipes, and method of payment for the collection firm. The meeting was adjourned at 9:05pm. The Annual Meeting of Active Members of the Association will be April 25 at the Clubhouse and the Association Board’s next regular meeting will be on May 7. Hope to see you there!
Road Ban in Effect
Please note that the road ban on vehicles whose gross weight exceeds 10,000 lbs is in effect until Wednesday, April 15th.
This ban is strictly enforced and is in place to help protect the roads from damage during the winter thaw.
2015 RRA Directors Election
There is only one candidate running for the Board of Directors this year. Ballots were mailed March 25th and must be received via mail by 1pm on April 22nd. The Annual Meeting will be held Saturday, April 25th at the Clubhouse.
Name: Thomas M. Sopko
- Lot #: 2308
- Years a Property Owner: 34
- Employment: Engineering Technician
- Have You Previously Been On The Board Of Directors?: Yes, December 2013 to Present
- Reasons For Desiring To Be On The Board Of Directors: To operate the Association as a business. To manage the Association in the best interests of the entire community. To use expert consultants and professionals in the decision making process.
- Hobbies: Boating and Golf
- Involvement In Committees And Clubs: Long Range Planning – developed a repayment structure for a new clubhouse (variables: cost, interest rates, time period.). Participant: Golf; Friends & Neighbors; Promotion Club; Fishing Club. Managed paddleboat races @ Anniversary events.
Ashtabula County Property Foreclosures
by Tom Sopko – Board Director
In January 2015, the Ashtabula County Treasurer notified us that approximately 100 properties in the Rome Rock Association were in the foreclosure process. The Directors did not recognize any of these as being properties in the application process for the Landbank. However, we are only aware of a handful of properties that have been requested as Landbank properties. It is not a requirement to notify the Board if you are interested in acquiring a property through the Landbank.
I contacted the head of the Ashtabula County Landbank to see if any of these 40 or so properties were in the Landbank. They got back to me with there are too many properties to check. “Any of the foreclosures in Roaming Shores are eligible for the land bank. If you know of an interested end user on any of those properties, please have them fill out an application.”
The following is a lot number list of the properties scheduled for foreclosure. If you are interested in any of these properties, it is recommended that you fill out a Landbank application with the County.
| Lot Number |
|---|
| 85 |
| 93 |
| 114 |
| 118 |
| 185 |
| 187 |
| 315 |
| 364 |
| 447 |
| 538 |
| 588 |
| 588 |
| 843 |
| 852 |
| 891 |
| 1001 |
| 1342 |
| 1483 |
| 1614 |
| 1615 |
| 1616 |
| 1618 |
| 1625 |
| 1627 |
| 1641 |
| 1642 |
| 1644 |
| 1806 |
| 1992 |
| 2040 |
| 2067 |
| 2068 |
| 2075 |
| 2125 |
| 2139 |
| 2160 – Consolidated |
| 2161 – Consolidated |
| 2208 |
| 2209 |
| 2222 |
| 2485 |
| 2492 |
Early Bird Drawing #10
The winner of the last Early Bird Drawing for 2015 and recipient of $50 is Patricia French, Lot 1527
Congratulations to all of the winners this year!
Fertilizer Update – Annual Greening It Up
by Pam Hoover – Lake Management Committee
An excerpted from ‘Green Up Your Lawn: Not the Lake’, by Betsy Washington, Lake Bancroft Assoc. website. Click here for the full article http://www.lakebarcroft.org/community/environmental-quality/green-your-lawn-not-lake.
Finally! Spring is really just around the corner, and with it comes the annual rite of greening up the American lawn. And with the greening of the lawn, comes the inevitable “peculiar green sheen” around the edges of our lake. This green sheen is NOT the type of green we are aiming for! It is caused by excess fertilizer, particularly phosphorus, running into the lake from improper lawn fertilization.
Improper and excessive fertilization is a major source of phosphorous and nitrogen run off into our lake. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus runoff causes algal blooms that reduce water clarity and decrease dissolved oxygen levels when the algae decompose. Decreased levels of oxygen can stress and even kill aquatic life. Algal blooms tend to coincide with the most common times of lawn fertilization in spring and early fall. In fact, improper or excessive fertilization of lawns is one of the main sources of nutrient runoff pollution.
So what can you do to make sure your lawn care does not harm our lake and health? Follow these basic guidelines to green up your lawn, and not our lake.
1) TEST YOUR SOIL. Lawns do not automatically need fertilizing, so it is important to get a soil test to tell you if you need to fertilize or lime your soil. Every responsible lawn service should begin with this simple step, and should be willing to share the results of the test with you. Test kits can be obtained at the Ohio State University Extension Office in Jefferson, Ohio. Taking a soil sample is very easy. The test results will give you specific recommendations for your lawns and save you money and guesswork. The Extension Office will even assist in reading and interpreting the results.
2) USE COMPOST TO FERTILIZE. Feed your soil to feed your lawn. Healthy soils are full of soil microorganisms that partner with plants to break down and release nutrients efficiently and create rich, humus-rich soil. A healthy soil reduces or even eliminates the need for external fertilizer. Compost and organic mulches enhance the soil web and break down slowly, so that the soil microorganisms can release nutrients just when plants need them, eliminating the threat of excess nutrient runoff. Compost improves soil tilth by lightening heavy clay soils and bulking up light, loose soils. Get in the habit of applying 1/2 to 1″ of compost to your lawn each year.
3) NEVER FERTILIZE WHEN THE GROUND IS FROZEN OR GRASS IS DORMANT. Many lawn companies interviewed give “a little boost” of fertilizer and weed killers or pesticides for good measure in late winter/early spring and during summer when the lawn is dormant. Pre-emergent herbicide treatments are routinely combined with an application of fast release nitrogen and most of this will runoff straight into the lake. This is a harmful waste of money and harmful to our lake.
4) AVOID FERTILIZERS WITH PHOSPHORUS. Phosphorus has become “persona nongrata” in landscaping, especially near streams and lakes because of its harmful effects. Now there is NO excuse for anyone in Lake Roaming Rock to add to phosphorus runoff into the lake. If you choose to use fertilizer, use a granular slow release Nitrogen fertilizer. Make sure that your lawn service follows this advice!
5) USE A FERTILIZER WITH SLOW RELEASE NITROGEN (N) that is released gradually over time, instead of all at once. Slow release nitrogen is listed as WIN or water insoluble nitrogen. You want a fertilizer with a high percentage of WIN. Many “organic” lawn services use a chicken manure based fertilizer, which contains high amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus that can cause problems for our lake.
Now it is up to you. Make the decision to follow the recommendations in this article when you are planning and doing your lawn fertilization. If you have a lawn service provider, ask them about the products they use. Protect our Lake and decide to BE LAKE RESPONSIBLE.
Early Bird Drawing #9
The winner of Early Bird Drawing #9 for 2015 and recipient of $100 is Alan & Carol O’Donnell, Lot 1930!
Congratulations!
Our final drawing for 2015 will be next week!
Spring Cleaning (Lake-Responsible Style)
By Dick Hurwitz – Lake Management Committee
Alright, so you’re looking out your window at the snow and cold and wondering when spring is going to come again to Roaming Shores. Then—just maybe—you start thinking about all the cleanup chores associated with spring and you think Maybe a little more snow and cold won’t be so bad. You soon remember, though, how good you feel when your house and deck and dock are clean, and how proud you are when you hit the water with a shiny boat; and you actually start looking forward to some of those cleanup chores. This year, however, you also start thinking about our Roaming Shores’ Love the Lake campaign and ask yourself how you can make your spring cleanup as “green” and lake-friendly as possible. The purpose of this article is to provide some answers to that question, to recommend some eco-friendly products, and to let you know where you can get more detailed product information. So get comfortable, take another quick look at the snow and cold, dream again of spring, and read on.
Powerwashing
There are a lot of cleaning products recommended for use with the powerwashers we use to clean our houses, decks, docks, watercraft, outdoor furniture, and probably other things as well. A number of them claim to be “eco-friendly” or “environmentally safe.” However, the labels also include directions for what to do if the products are ingested or get in your eyes; and they recommend you do not use them where the water they are mixed with may run off into a pond or lake. In this case, the safe thing to do is use the powerwasher without any additional cleaning products. Water alone, under the proper pressure and with the proper nozzle setting, should do a fine job.
General Cleaning
Look for products that are biodegradable, plant based, and free of phosphates, chlorine, and petroleum distillates to clean your outdoor things. (It is probably a good idea to use them inside too!) The following are a few recommendations:
- Bon Ami Liquid Cleanser
- Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Glass Cleaner
- Method Floor + Surface Cleaner
- Bill by Eco-Me All-Purpose Cleaner
- BOULDER® Citrus All-Purpose Cleaner
- Sun & Earth All Purpose
- Green Works Natural All-Purpose Cleaner
- Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner
- Advantage 20X Cleaner – all natural multi-purpose cleaner
For more information on these products, refer to the Lake Management link on the Rome Rock Association website (http://www.roamingshores.org/RRA1/). Look for “Recommended Cleaning Products.”
Boat Cleaners
The following products are recommended for marine cleaning in a lake-responsible way:
- EcoDiscoveries All-Purpose Boat Wash (removes dirt, salt, and stains from boats)
- EcoDiscoveries Boat Seat Cleaner
- M2 from EcoDiscoveries (for mold and mildew)
- EcoDiscoveries Marine All-Purpose Boat Cleaner (designed to cut through grease, stains and other soils)
- Spray Nine All Purpose Cleaner (for removing mildew or stains, preventing mildew, removing black streaks or marks from fiberglass and vinyl boat seats)
- Simple Green Marine All Purpose Boat Cleaner (multiple uses)
- West Marine Pure Oceans Crystal Boat Soap (for cleaning all marine surfaces)
- West Marine Pure Oceans Hull Cleaner
- West Marine Pure Oceans Nanotec Fiberglass Cleaner Wax
- West Marine Pure Oceans Aluminum Pontoon Cleaner
- West Marine Pure Oceans Citrus Bilge Cleaner
- West Marine Pure Oceans Non Skid Deck Cleaner
Additional information on most of these products can also be found on the Association website.
Now it is up to you. Make the decision to follow the recommendations in this article when you are planning and doing your spring cleaning. Decide to BE LAKE RESPONSIBLE.
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