By Tim Langer – Lake Management Committee

Summer is upon us and those eight-legged creatures quickly found your house, dock and boat. Now what? Well the answer isn’t always easy. Spiders are very beneficial as they consume many other insects and an important component of the ecosystem. But having cobwebs and spider droppings all over your house, dock and boat can be unsightly. Brushing the cobwebs off and washing your boat and dock frequently with fresh water (yep water alone) is one of the easiest and most lake friendly ways of control.
Pest control products for around your home typically use one of the following active ingredients, Bifenthrin – Ortho home Defense MAX, Gamma-Cyhalothrin – Spectracide Bug Stop, Cyfluthrin – Bayer Home Pest and there are many others. They work well around your home but are extremely toxic to fish and aquatic organisms and should never be used on your dock or boat near the water. Remember to always read the product label for application guidelines and precautions.

So what are we to do? Here are a few tips and tricks… Did you know, spiders smell and taste with their feet? So a home mixture of some essential oils sprayed on a surface will kill or deter spiders. Some of the essential oils to use are lavender, citronella, peppermint, tea tree oil, thyme and rosemary. You’ll be controlling spiders and adding fragrance to your home all at the same time. Be aware, you may have to apply this type of all natural control method more often to remain effective.

If you’ve tried the at home methods and a commercial product is what you are looking for then here a few alternatives. As times have changed so has the products available to consumers. Here are a few commercial products made with essential oils, making them completely eco-friendly, safe for your guests, your pets, children, and our environment. They are Essentria® IC3, EcoVia™ EC, Nature’s Element® Web Out® and Star brite® Spider Away. As with the home mixtures, you may need to apply more often since these are natural based products as compared to synthetic pesticides, but they are a much safer alternative for people, pets and the lake.

Remember to always spot test to ensure nothing happens to the surface you want to apply a product to and as always, remember to follow the product’s label.

We hope this article provides valuable insight into existing products and alternatives, which can help you, make informed choices for your own use and that of hired contractors.

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By David Ernes – Lake Management Committee

In past articles, the Lake Management Committee has suggested the use of zero phosphorous fertilizers for lawn care. A recent article has indicated that other states take this suggestion very seriously. Case in point, in 2010, New York enacted the Dishwasher Detergent and Nutrient Runoff Law, which, as one of its provisions, prohibits the use of phosphorous-based fertilizers on lawns unless they are newly installed, or testing results show a low phosphorous content. One other interesting part of this law is that it restricts retailers in terms of how they can sell and display phosphorous-containing fertilizers. This recent article indicated that Lowes and Home Depot were fined $52,000 and $78,000 respectively for not properly labeling and segregating phosphorous containing fertilizers separately from non-phosphorous fertilizers. The article also indicated that Wal-Mart was also cited, but escaped fines by banning phosphorous fertilizers from their stores. This law was part of the state’s efforts to reduce the impact of phosphorous in runoff from lawns, which is said to have contributed to 70-100 lakes being impaired (i.e. negatively impacted for drinking or recreational purposes). Other states that have laws regarding the use of phosphorous fertilizers include NJ, MN, WI, MA and FLA.

Use of proper fertilizer applications can definitely impact the health of our lake. We therefore rely on those who do it themselves, as well as those that contract with a commercial service to use proper techniques and materials. Many states feel strongly enough about this to enact laws around this issue. But for us in Ohio, we rely on each of our residents to do their part to protect our lake.  Do your part and help us all to…

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By David Ernes – Lake Management Committee

We are definitely seeing signs that the winter has left us and we can begin to enjoy our lake for yet another fun-filled season of swimming, skiing and kayaking. This also marks the start of the Lake Management Committee’s (LMC’s) efforts to monitor the water quality to insure that it is safe for these activities. In past articles, we have discussed the issues related to algae blooms and the toxins that may sometimes be present. The LMC coordinates testing for these toxins to make sure that water at the two beaches is safe to enjoy. These two areas are where the greatest number of people swim at any one time.  It should be noted that no result from the past three years has ever exceeded the guidelines set forth by the OhioEPA. We hope that this season will be the same. It should also be noted that many private lakes only test their beaches for bacteria, and not algal toxins. Should the levels of toxins or bacteria be exceeded, signs will be posted to warn of high levels.

This year we will be adding an additional type of testing. If you have used the many public beaches across the country, you may have encountered signs warning of bacteria contamination. This is based on testing for the presence of fecal coliforms, which are bacteria commonly found in the gut of most animals. Some, but not all, bacteria of this type can cause illness in humans. The LMC has decided to conduct testing for bacteria to insure that the levels are safe, again focusing on the two beaches. For bacteria, the results will be reported as “cfu/100 mL”. These units are strange and do not have any real correlation with concentration. For those geeks out there, the units represent “colony forming units per 100 milliliters of water”. A volume of 100 mL is roughly equivalent to a third of a cup. The current OhioEPA guideline for posting advisories for bacteria is 235 cfu/100 mL.  This type of testing is routinely done for Ohio’s many public beaches. On the Ohio.gov web site, you can see the results from surrounding public beaches in their BeachGuard section.

If you see these signs, it will be your responsibility to decide if it is appropriate to swim in the water or to “take a day off” and use the pools. As with the toxins, those at the highest risk are the young and the “more mature” residents. In addition, since one potential source for bacteria is from run-off, the levels are often highest just after a significant rain event.

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By Dick Hurwitz – Lake Management Committee

Many Roaming Shores residents take great pride in a beautiful lawn.  This is a good thing!  Not only does it add to the beauty of our village, but it also helps maintain or even increase the values of our properties.  In some cases, however, a beautiful lawn may not be such a good things—if the beauty is a result of chemical applications that include nutrients which may be harmful to the health and safety of our lake.  So if you would like a lawn that is, as much as possible, safe for the lake and beautiful as well, try some or all of these suggestions from the April 2016 issue of Reader’s Digest:

Wise Moves for a Lush Lawn

1. Get tested. “Spending money on fertilizer without a soil test is just guessing,” says Paul Tukey. Good soil is key to a great lawn, and a soil test can tell you what’s in the dirt and what’s missing.  For a test, call your county extension office (a national network of agriculture experts).
2. Plant clover with your grass. Clover competes with weeds and fixes nitrogen in the soil.  John Bochert, a lawn and garden specialist in York, Maine, recommends a seed mix of white clover, perennial rye (it germinates quickly), fescue, and bluegrass.
3. Mow high, and leave the clippings. Taller grass provides more leaf for photosynthesis, develops deeper roots, and resists weeds.  The clippings act as fertilizer.  “Lawns mowed at four inches are the most weed-free,” Tukey says.  “If you did only one thing, adjusting your mower height would be it.”
4. Cut back on watering. Frequent watering leads to shallow roots, so “water once a week if at all,” says Tukey.
5. Apply compost. “Weeds need light to grow,” Tukey says.  “Spreading compost on a lawn in the spring prevents weed seeds from germinating.”
6. Listen to weeds… “Weeds are nothing if not messengers,” says Tukey.  “Dandelions are telling you the ground needs more calcium.  Plantains are telling you the ground is too compact and needs aerating.”
7. …and to insects. Beneficial nematodes, which are microscopic worms, eat some 200 species of insects, including grubs that become Japanese beetles; you can buy them from farm and garden stores.  Mix them in water, and spray them on your lawn.

-Edgar Allen Beem
from Down East

By David Ernes – Lake Management Committee

One of the actions we can do to protect our lake is pick up after our dogs. Some estimates have an average dog generating ¾ of a pound of waste per day, or 270 pounds per year. Studies also indicate that only 60% of pet owners pick up their pet’s waste. The EPA has indicated 2-3 days of waste from 100 dogs could generate enough pollution (nitrogen, phosphorous and bacteria such as E. Coli) to close a beach, and affect the watershed for 20 miles.

In researching this article, I found some interesting facts. Most pet owners know that if the waste is left on the lawn, it will not fertilize but will kill the grass. It is also estimated that dog waste can take up to one year to completely breakdown. The natural ecosystem can only process and absorb the waste from two average dogs per square mile. If the ecosystem cannot absorb the waste fast enough, the bacteria and nutrients will be carried by rain into the watershed, and ultimately any body of water nearby (like our lake).

What can you do? The most common option is to pick it up with a plastic bag (like a grocery bag) and throw into the trash. There are biodegradable bags available, but I found pros and cons to this approach. A “green” option is composting. Here again, use proper methods because the compost bin must generate enough heat to destroy the bacteria present in the waste. It is recommended the composted pet waste not be applied to plants that will be eaten or be brought in to the home for decoration.

So if we “doo” the right thing, we can help reduce another controllable source of pollution to our lake. But don’t forget, a barking dog is a good deterrent for the Canadian geese that are also part of the problem.

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By David Ernes – Lake Management Committee

What is lake management? You have no doubt heard that term used in many contexts. It has many definitions, from simple (the act of managing a lake!) to a very complex and wide-ranging series of activities. These can include the study of a watershed, evaluating problems experienced in a lake, remediation efforts and even social programs. The RomeRock Association Lake Management Group (LMC) is a Board sponsored group of unpaid volunteers that are devoting their time to further the enjoyment of our lake. It has evolved over the years.

In 2010, a Lake Management Report was prepared (7/9/2010) which included the selection of a professional consultant, in our case, EnviroScience, who continues to serve in that capacity today. In 2013, the LMC was divided into three sub-committees, each with a specific task. Of the three sub-committees, two sub-committees remain active today.  They are the Lake Depth Control sub-committee who coordinates the dredging operation and this sub-committee the Lake Sediment/Nutrient Control. For simplicity, many of the communications from this sub-committee, like these articles, are now being issued under the banner of the LMC and the Love the Lake Logo. Past articles can be found under the Lake Management section of the RRA website.

Today, the activities of the LMC continue on several fronts. The most visible relates to education and outreach, primarily thru these articles to inform the residents of Roaming Shores. This effort is intended to give everyone information so that you can choose activities and practices that can control and possibly reduce the nutrients entering the lake. These nutrients are partially responsible for the occasional algal bloom, as well as other issues (clarity, etc.). Beyond education, we are monitoring the water quality through testing, identifying sources of nutrients from the watershed as well as investigating control methods such as rain gardens and buffer zones. We also monitor literature and other resources to keep current in the ongoing efforts and regulations within our state and elsewhere. If you would like to become part of our group, please contact us and bring your skills to assist your friends and neighbors to keep our lake something we can enjoy for years to come.

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