Findley Lake Watershed Foundation Annual Meeting

Saturday 7/18/09 was the annual meeting of the Findley Lake Watershed Foundation. Meet and greet started at 7pm in the gym at the Community Center. Kudos to the folks who provided the snacks and water as it was much appreciated.

Ed Mulkearn started the meeting with an introduction of the board members including new member Scott Henry. Scott is taking up the late Don LaRose's job of caring for the fish and fishing in the lake.

Mark Matrozza reported on the condition of the lake (C-SLAP report) and noted that the 2008 C-SLAP report showed modest improvements in clarity of the lake. Jeff Horner reported that the clarity reading he just completed was also quite good. Dennis Luce gave a summary of the current weed harvesting efforts. While the south pound area had some significant weed growth at the start of harvesting, that was now under control and the rest of the lake was in good condition. A short hiatus in running the harvester was in the works.

Jeff Horner reported on attending the NYSFOLA meeting, going to educational programs, and generally being able to talk to other "lake" people. He reported that Findley Lake is very highly regarded because of the amount of years the lake has been studied and because for such a modest size lake we have a functioning weed harvesting program. He also reported on the latest edition of the "Laker" newsletter. He plans to do three a year. Through the efforts of Dennis Luce and Jeff, a new and improved website for the Foundation is up and running at: www.findleylakewf.org. The newsletter is reproduced on the web in color and, as more information becomes available, the website will be expanded and updated. Check it out and then pass on the web address to your family and friends. There is a contact link for any suggestions that you might have for additional content or features.

Marci Schwab reported on this year's membership numbers. While down about 15 members to date from last year's total, donations for harvesting in addition to the dues had helped keep the total dollars up. If you haven't paid your 2009 dues yet, you can download an application at the Watershed Foundation's website : www.findleylakewf.org

Scott Henry reported on the fish stocking plans. He also noted that fish are being taken without regard to type and size limitations. As he pointed out, if younger fish are removed from the lake (illegally), fishing will decline. Make sure all parties fishing from your docks and boats have a current copy of the NYS Fishing Guide (free at the Town Clerk's office).

Comments from the audience included questions about the well water testing currently being done, concern regarding lack of enforcement of both the counter-clockwise rotation for boats and the lack of attention paid to the no wake zone. Whether there are buoys or not, the no wake zone has been established and is 100' from shore. Again, anyone using a boat or jet ski needs to adhere to this restriction. Speeding inside of the no wake zone can have catastrophic results should a swimmer or object be struck. Excessive wave activity near the shore leads to more shoreline erosion and more nutrients and particulates being washed into the lake.

A presentation was made after the adjournment showing how the bed tax revenue was being split and showing examples of projects that had received prior funding. The Findley Lake Small Island Project, under the Nature Center's aegis, is one of the projects currently being funded.

Usually the annual meeting tends to be stuffy and hot but, given the strange weather this year, it was comfortable. There was a lot of good information provided by the board and attending members. Congratulations to the Watershed Foundation for another successful year!

Choppy Gray Day on Findley Lake

While the weather has been reasonably nice, it has also been unseasonably cool. This was brought home when the natural gas and electric bills arrived. Both were unusually low (what a welcomed surprise to our checkbook!). May saw temperatures at night in the 50's with an occasional night in the 40's. Days were in the 50's and 60's. As long as there is no wind, our house holds it temperature fairly well. With lights and computers running, we generate a fair of amount of heat so with moderate temperatures outside we stay comfortable. On cool days in May, we ran the pellet stove for a few hours. Neither the furnace, using natural gas, nor the pellet stove (which requires electricity to run) were used much and our utility bills reflected that.

Now it's the middle of June and we are still getting by with only screens in the windows. Sleeping temperatures have been refreshingly cool. Normally we install the A/C units in May but so far, we haven't even needed a window fan. It's so nice to not hear the ching ching ching of utility bills ratcheting up.

Today is a good example of this strange weather. Late in the evening and it is 60 degrees out and 73 degrees in our family room with just the TV, computers and light on. Today was gray, rainy, windy and Findley Lake had a chop on it. The big blue weed harvester could not operate because of the wind and chop. There was one teenager fishing on the end of a dock. Everyone else had the sense to just watch from indoors.