At
the Tri-Lakes Annual Meeting held September 2nd, the 2007
budget was approved by the membership.
Tri-Lakes will be pursuing a cost-sharing grant from the DNR to
cover 50% of the cost of rebuilding one of our 1995 harvesters.
The stainless steel hull can be reused, but all other parts and
the engine are replaced with new components and updated technology.
The warranty will be the same as a new harvester.
By taking this route instead of buying new, we will save
approximately $30,000.
Shorter days and cooler temperatures trigger our beautiful fall
colors. As you are
cleaning up your yards, please remember not to blow leaves into the lake.
Once in the lake, they decompose – this process uses up
oxygen which is not good for the fish population.
Additionally, decomposed leaves are excellent nutrients for
next year’s weed growth.
The harvesting season is over for the
year and the harvesters have been cleaned and stored for the winter.
The weed crop this year on Lake Camelot produced record amounts
of weeds from Upper Camelot and Walden and lower amounts than last
year on Lower Camelot. A
total of 696 tons
of weeds were removed.
One of the advantages of harvesting weeds (as compared to
chemical treatment) is that phosphorus that is present in the weeds is
also removed from the lake along with the weeds.
UW-SP measures the amount of phosphorus present in our weeds.
While numbers are not yet available for this year, over 3,175
pounds of phosphorus was removed in 2005 from the Camelot lakes.
Sanitary
District Update: 2006
was the first year for implementing a septic system inspection
program. Adams County already requires a regular inspection of all
septic systems installed after July 1, 1992.
Tri-Lakes is responsible for those systems installed prior to
this date. In March of
this year, 441 property owners with older systems were notified that
they needed to have their systems inspected and/or pumped by July 31,
2006. Because of this program, we identified 14 failing/failed
systems. Additionally,
another 19 replaced or began the permit process to replace their
systems. This should have
a direct impact on lake water quality for the future.
Unfortunately, 95 property owners ignored the notification and
citations with fines were issued through the Adams County Circuit
Court. Letters will be
sent in March of each year to those property owners who need to
schedule an inspection. Please
direct any questions to our office at 325-3250.
The Tri-Lakes webpage is www.romewi.com/New_06/tri_lakes.shtml
Barb Herreid
