European water clover has been primarily found in Plum Creek Cove, Cherrywood Cove, Fisherman’s Cove, Beachview Cove, Sugar Creek Cove, Spanish Cove, and the east and west sides of the south end of the lake. On Tuesday, August 18th, the Project team will be returning to our lake to spot treat these infested areas with an EPA-approved aquatic herbicide in an effort to prevent further spread of this invasive species both within our lake and the Lake Erie watershed. There will be no cost to the RRA for this treatment. The primary restriction associated with this herbicide is to wait 24 hours following the application before using lake water for lawn and other irrigation purposes. Lake Management and the RRA Maintenance Department will continue to monitor the lake and evaluate the control of this species.

After continued observation of current lake conditions, we have decided to postpone the scheduled lake treatment at this time.

Conditions within the lake continue to evolve, and we believe it is prudent to gather additional information before proceeding. Additional testing and monitoring will be conducted to ensure that any treatment decisions are based on the most current data and are both effective and environmentally responsible.

We understand this postponement may be disappointing or frustrating for some members, but our priority is to make informed, science-based decisions that protect the long-term health of Lake Roaming Rock.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to monitor lake conditions. We will keep members informed as additional information becomes available and will communicate any future treatment plans if they are determined to be necessary.

Conditions on the lake have resulted in a decision to schedule an algaecide treatment on the southern half of the lake for Wednesday, July 22nd. This includes a line from about Sugar Creek south. The northern half of the lake will not be treated at this time. Therefore, those in the untreated areas, please stay vigilant and avoid any signs of algal blooms.

*Please note that these plans can change due to weather conditions, so please be alert to any updates.

 
1) The lake level will be lowered if necessary to comply with the Ohio EPA requirements for this application.  Please adjust your boat tie downs to accommodate the water level change. 
 
2) Please turn off all fountains or other devices that agitate the lake water in the application area on Wednesday AM.  They may be turned back on Friday morning.

3) The application will be applied during the day of July 22nd.

 
4) Please refrain from any activities on the lake, including boating, jet skis, etc., starting Wednesday, July 22nd to allow the treatment to be effective and to spread in a predictable manner. Boat traffic may resume on Friday morning, July 24th. The boat ramp will be closed from Wednesday AM until Friday AM.

5) While the lake is deemed safe following the application, we are closing the beaches Wednesday, July 22nd, and reopening them on Friday, July 24th.   While unlikely, if you observe any undisposed product (a white powder with a bluish tint) after Friday morning, avoid direct contact and let the office know where it is observed.

6) Do not water your property with water from the lake during the application period.

7) If you live in the northern end of the lake, please avoid contact with any active blooms.  

While these steps may be inconvenient, they are necessary to ensure the best chance for a successful application.

Conditions on the lake have resulted in a decision to schedule an algaecide treatment on the northern half of the lake for Tuesday, June 23rd. This includes a line from about Sugar Creek north. The southern half of the lake will not be treated at this time. Therefore, those in the untreated areas, please stay vigilant and avoid any signs of algal blooms.

*Please note that these plans can change due to weather conditions, so please be alert to any updates.

 
1) The lake level will be lowered if necessary to comply with the Ohio EPA requirements for this application. We hope to only lower it 2-4 inches. Please adjust your boat tie downs to accommodate the water level change. 
 
2) Please turn off all fountains or other devices that agitate the lake water in the application area on Tuesday AM. They may be turned back on Thursday AM.

3) The application will be applied during the day of June 23rd.

 
4) Please refrain from any activities on the lake, including boating, jet skis, etc., starting Tuesday, June 23rd to allow the treatment to be effective and to spread in a predictable manner. Boat traffic may resume on Thursday morning, June 25th. The boat ramp will be closed from Tuesday AM until Thursday AM.

5) While the lake is deemed safe following the application, we are closing the beaches Tuesday, June 23rd and reopening them on Thursday, June 25th.  While unlikely, if you observe any undisposed product (a white powder with a bluish tint) after Thursday morning, avoid direct contact and let the office know where it is observed.

6) Do not water your property with water from the lake during the application period.

7) If you live in the southern end of the lake, please avoid contact with any active blooms.  

While these steps may be inconvenient, they are necessary to ensure the best chance for a successful application.

We are all looking forward to warmer weather for increasing our lake activities. Unfortunately, our Canada geese population also looks forward to their increase in lake activities such as nesting, grazing, and resting from migration. They prefer open grassy areas close to the water for food and protection from predators. Through DNA testing we have established that geese are a major contributor to increased bacteria in our lake. Testing results prove that their overpopulation is detrimental to our lake’s water quality. Their feces bring health concerns, pollute the water, and can damage parks, lawns and other vegetation.

Over the last ten years, the Lake Management Committee (LMC) has implemented deterrents to successfully limit the goose population increase and reduce the negative effects of the geese.

These initiatives include:

• Distribution of Information. Unfortunately, there are people who welcome and feed the geese on their property, but these geese will soon wear out their welcome. In a few years, a pair of geese can easily become 50 to 100 birds. Feeding geese results in losing their fear of humans and attacking adults, children, and pets during the nesting season (March through June).
• Legal, non-lethal hazing tactics. The Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Ohio state law both protect Canada geese. This protection extends to the geese, goslings, nests, and eggs. These laws have specific guidelines for non-lethal scaring and hazing tactics, which discourage but do not harm the geese. These tactics include pyrotechnics, dogs, decoys, barriers, and laser pointers (at night). Your Association utilizes several of these deterrents and encourages residents to do the same.
• Specifically designed landscaping. Designated techniques are under consideration to deter geese from returning to known habitats. A master gardener has reviewed Whirlpool Park with recommendations for the use of certain tall grass which reduce soil erosion and block the geese from viewing potential predators. As a result, the geese will avoid these areas.
• Addling. We are fortunate to hold a Division of Wildlife permit to allow trained LMC representatives to addle eggs to control the population.

Additional control methods such as seasonal goose roundups or culling of geese are also being researched in a cooperative effort between the BOD and the LMC. Your input is welcome and knowledgeable, capable volunteers are needed.

ODNR advises collection of the dead geese to help prevent spread of bird flu.  Persons should wear disposable medical gloves when handling these dead birds.  Carcasses should be double-bagged in plastic bags with the opening tightly secured followed by disposal in the municipal trash.  After removal of gloves, individuals should thoroughly wash their hands with a germicidal soap.  Hand sanitizer alone is insufficient.  Masks are recommended.

Birds that might feed on the dead geese or that come into contact with geese can themselves become infected and die.  If RRA residents find dead eagles, hawks, and ducks, please report this to the RRA office so ODNR can be contacted and laboratory testing on the carcasses be conducted. 

Dave Ernes – Lake Management Committee

As you read this, the recreational season for 2025 is in the rear-view mirror. This article summarizes the main points related to the past season.

As with past years, the lake experienced numerous weather-related impacts. We started the season cooler than normal. This was a benefit, as the cooler water temperatures delayed the rapid growth of blue-green algae until mid-July, the latest that we have seen in recent years. The rains then reappeared, driving the blooms and our efforts to control them. Mother Nature then decided that she was not done with us and hit us again with a cold snap in late August and early September, which caused the lake to turn-over early, driving a second spike in algae after the recreational season had ended.

Overall, we have continued our year-over-year trend of controlling the release of toxins by controlling algal blooms. This is the primary focus of our efforts each year. Below are listed a brief overview of the various Lake Management activities.

Lake Testing. We continue to have our experts sample within the lake and in the watershed to understand the trends in the nutrients that drive the algal blooms. The watershed saw an increase in the phosphorous levels after past year’s trends had showed a decrease year-over-year. It is not clear where this rise originated. In the lake, the nutrient levels varied during the season, likely a result of the impact of the weather. This in-lake nutrient cycling continues to be the most dominant near-term driver of  algal blooms. We also did testing of Flame Lake. The data indicated much lower nutrient levels than the main lake. The hand-held probe continued to be a valuable addition to our toolkit.

Lake Treatments: As mentioned above, we did not need the algaecide treatments until mid-July. However, conditions still required one and a half lake treatments for the season. We continue to monitor the level of copper to insure that it does not negatively impact the aquatic life.

Ultrasonic Buoys: This was the second season where we evaluated this technology in hopes that it could be used to replace the algaecide treatments. Working with the vendor, we re-located the buoys this season based on their recommendations. Unfortunately, we still did not see the kind of results that would suggest that they would be effective for our lake.

Grant Opportunities: We continued our efforts to seek outside funding to assist in some of the mitigation efforts to reduce the nutrient load in the lake. Working with an outside engineering firm, we completed a document called a “Non-Point Source Implementation Strategy” or NPS-IS. The document was approved by the Ohio EPA,, giving us the ability to seek funding opportunities under EPA Section 319, which would otherwise be unavailable to us. The document has a project near Plum Creek which we plan on submitting in early 2026 for approval. We continue to look for other funding opportunities as they come up. (More will be shared on this accomplishment at the Annual Meeting.)

Overall, we had a good year on the lake. The algal blooms were delayed until later in the year. We continued to control the release of toxins in the lake, even with the unusual weather impacts. We are currently working on the plans for 2026.

Be Lake Responsible

Roaming Shores residents have frequently photographed or published sightings of river otters at our lake.  To help evaluate the potential impact of otters on the lake fishery, RRA Lake Management recently attended a presentation on otters hosted by Pymatuning State Park.  Kelly Ashcraft Pearce, PhD, a biology professor at Allegheny College, presented her findings from many years of masters and doctoral study of river otters.  Jared McGary, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources reported on his research of otters specifically at Pymatuning lake. 

In pioneer times river otters lived in the waterways of our area but were extirpated as a result of  excessive trapping, loss of habitat, and poor farming practices that allowed silt to muddy waterways making it difficult for otters to visualize and catch prey.  Beginning in 1986, the Ohio Division of Wildlife began to reintroduce otters into selected watersheds, including the Grand River.  The otters seen in our lake probably originate from upstream migration of generations of their offspring. 

Dr. Pearce’s doctoral research involved collecting otter scat (feces) and processing it in order to analyze otter food sources.  By examining fish bones and scales, as well as remains of crayfish and other aquatic animals, Dr. Pearce concluded that 80% of otters’ diet consists of crayfish, frogs, salamanders, etc. in the spring and early summer, but then would more heavily rely on fish later in the summer, fall, and winter when crayfish and amphibians were burrowed into the mud. From study of fish scales and bones in otter scat, Dr. Pearce determined the predominant species captured by otters were carp, suckers, bullheads, catfish, and perch.  Dr. Pearch suspects that remains of sport fish, such as trout, were found in less abundance in otter scat because these species are faster and more difficult for otters to catch.  Otters are also an essential part of the original ecosystem of our area because they remove sick and disabled fish from the water.  Mr. McGary utilized trail cameras to study otters at Pymatuning and its watershed.  During the annual shad die-off, otters will feast on these forage fish in Shenango Creek below the dam which can be a good location to observe them.

Otters tend to be very territorial and will mark their territory with their scat and a musky scent called spraint.  They live in low population densities.  The range of an otter can average from 3-12 square miles, and they are constantly on the move.  Typically, otters will not “homestead” in one locale and subsequently will not overly deplete the food supply in any given area.  Dr. Pearce’s master’s thesis research concerned the impact of otters on the many federal, state, and private fish hatcheries in Pennsylvania.  While otters would visit fish hatcheries for food, only one operator reported that otters were a problem with hatchery operations. 

The 2022 fish study at our lake revealed that overall the fishery health was good; however, the RRA and Lake Management will continue to monitor water quality, nutrient, aquatic plant, algae, and fish populations for early detection of any changes impacting the lake ecosystem. 

Attention Boaters and Lakefront Property Owners:

We plan to lower the lake this fall beginning on Monday, November 3rd. Please make sure to have your watercraft removed from the lake before lowering begins.

Also, remember to grab your state registration from your watercraft before winterizing. Registrations are required when registering your watercraft with the RRA each year.

Drawing down the lake level has both positive and negative impacts. However, periodic drawdowns are necessary to perform maintenance on individual seawalls and dock areas.

During the drawdown, the RRA will be dredging Beach 2 from shore to allow for more docking.

Erosion is a constant issue and, over time, can degrade the integrity of a dock, rip-rap (rock wall) or seawall. Without proper protection from erosion, sediment can then enter the lake, causing build-up on the lake floor that can hamper the ability to properly utilize watercraft. Erosion can also result in a premature failure of the structures. Look for holes or other types of damage in erosion control structures and seek remedies to reinforce them. Reinforcement of shoreline barriers, confirming clear drainage channels, and checking dock supports and surrounding areas safeguards your property as well as the other residents of Lake Roaming Rock.

If you suspect you may have a problem or have identified a problem, contact the Village office or the RRA to inquire about necessary permits and obtain a listing of approved vendors. Also, please consider the addition of rain gardens or buffer zones to your project to help control erosion and reduce nutrients from run-off. Previous articles have discussed each of these items and can be found on the RomeRock Association website under Lake Management.

Dave Ernes – Lake Management Committee

As many have been noticing, the lake is experiencing a return of blue-green algal blooms. We have been monitoring the situation and have obtained some additional testing results. What we are experiencing is the equivalent of the perfect storm.

We have discussed in the past the that the lake stratifies during the summer. This results in the release of phosphorous from the lake bottom sediment in the lake below 12-15 feet, which typically stays in the lower levels of the lake unless we have a major rain event. At the end of the season, typically in October, we experience what is called a turnover. This is when the surface lake temperature drops, causing the lake to mix. This allows the lake bottom water with high nutrient levels to blend with the surface waters, resulting in a feeding ground for algae. We have confirmed that a turnover has already occurred, a month early.

The second thing that is acting against us is the lack of rain. This, along with the reduced boat traffic, is causing the lake to become somewhat stagnant. The stagnant conditions, preferred by the algae, are often seen in the coves, which is why they tend to see algal blooms first. The lack of rain is also preventing the flushing of the high phosphorous waters from the lake.

The last thing is that the phosphorous level in the southern end of the lake is also elevated, driving the algal blooms there. We have also seen duckweed in the southern end of the lake, which can look like algae from a distance. Duckweed is often originating south of the Route 6 bridge.

Based on reports from around the country, many lakes are experiencing this as well. So, this situation is not unique to us.

What can we do? Unfortunately, until there is rain to flush the lake, not much.  An algaecide treatment could exacerbate the situation. It would cause a rapid die-off of the algae, which could result in hypoxia and the situation we saw a few years ago with odors, etc. And the algaecide does not reduce the nutrients driving the algae growth.

The best advice is to limit direct contact with the lake as much as possible. If you do travel on the lake, avoid high speeds as it can cause splashing. Make sure your pets to not come in contact with the lake, as they are more susceptible to the algae.

Mother Nature gave us a bonus early in the year, by delaying the appearance of algae for almost a month. Unfortunately, it is making us pay for this at the end of the year.

Be Lake Responsible

Dave Ernes – Lake Management Committee

We are starting to see the signs that fall is just around the corner. A time when we enjoy the brilliant colors on display around the lake. The problem starts once the leaves start to fall.

Why the concern of leaves in the lake? As leaves fall into the water, they begin a natural decomposition process. This decomposition consumes oxygen in the water, particularly in shallow areas, creating a condition known as hypoxia. Low oxygen levels can severely impact aquatic life, stressing fish and other organisms. We saw this two years ago.

In addition to reducing oxygen levels, the decomposition of leaves releases nutrients into the water, most notably nitrogen and phosphorus. The Planet Natural Research Center web site states that 50-80 percent of the nutrients that trees absorb end up in their leaves. While these nutrients are essential for the growth of aquatic plants, the excess can cause algal blooms.

So, please avoid intentionally blowing or raking leaves into the lake. Not only is it a good idea, but you can be fined for not following this simple rule. This also applies to grass clippings and other lawn debris during fall cleanup.

For those of you off-lake, leaves accumulating in the drainage culverts can breakdown, resulting in a high nutrient “tea” that can flow into the lake after any fall rain event.

What you CAN do:

Many articles suggest that you mulch your leaves when mowing.

Of course, you can also bag your leaves each fall and dispose of them, along with other fall debris, at the Compost Site rather than with the trash. This site is a great Roaming Shores resource! (Instructions to access the site can be found on the Village website)

Be Lake Responsible