April Activities and Issues – Lakes Management Committee

• The unusually high waterfowl population on our lakes this past winter has declined to near normal. The Borough has received an expanded permit for nest reduction and egg addling to control the Canadian Goose population on our lakes as necessary. The geese graze on lawns and bring a significant additional load of nutrients to the lakes. In addition, geese are implicated in potential health problems such as excess fecal coliform bacteria counts in lakes.
• As a reminder, it is illegal to feed waterfowl in Mountain Lakes. Non-migratory geese are the primary problem and should not be encouraged in any way.
• The Lakes Management Committee reviewed graphs tracking some measurements of the condition of our lakes over the last decade. The preliminary results are generally positive. We will review additional measurements as they become available.
• Gary Webb, Borough Manager, discussed the coming repairs to the dam at Birchwood. The repairs will include removal of 28 medium to large trees currently threatening the integrity of the dam.
• The repairs of the docks at Birchwood will continue with new decks going on in May.