July Activities and Issues - Lakes
Management Committee
- The Committee reviewed progress on goals through
mid-year.
- The lakes cleaning program is
ahead of schedule and a new five year plan should be discussed and
structured with reference to what we’ve learned from this first plan.
- There appears to be
correlation between the increasing goose population and threats to use of
the beaches due to coliform bacteria contamination. The Committee strongly supports the
Town Council in any goose control activity.
- The Committee has increased
public information dissemination through an increased Web presence, the
Home & School Bulletin, and the impending publication of Know Your
Lakes.
- Dam reconstruction was delayed by rejection of
all bids. The lowest price came in
at $250,000 over the budget. The
Borough Manager will be reviewing the project scope for changes which may
lower the price.
- A foot of water was pumped from Crystal Lake and
raised Birchwood 18”. The pumping
was stopped to let Crystal refill.
The Swim Team has returned to Birchwood for practice and the
Birchwood beach will re-open in mid July.
- There have been some issues with muskrat damage
to private property. These rodents
(Ondatra zibethicus) are common and active in our lakes. For further information on muskrats try
the following link to “Everything Muskrat”, http://my.net-link.net/~vaneselk/muskrat/
. There is also a muskrat dinner
annually in Lower Alloways Creek, Salem County, NJ.