News from the SLA: The work and the planning is ongoing
By Frun Rutonno
SLA
The Skaneateles Lake Association Milfoil Crew has completed the component of the 2016 season plan that involves laying down 5 acres of matting on large, defined milfoil patches. The areas that were matted this year were defined by a survey of the lake done by Bob Werner last year during the late summer and early fall. While the boat Bob uses to do the survey is equipped with a camera and instrumentation that facilitates the survey, he also checks areas of concern that have been brought to our attention by good neighbors to the lake who keep their “eyes on the lake.” In between the time the mats have all been put down and the time they can begin to be rolled up (approximately 8 weeks), the Milfoil Team does hand weeding in areas around the mats and other areas of the lake where the lake bottom does not facilitate the use of matting. There are areas on both the southwest and east side of the lake that are being hand harvested this year. About 8 weeks after the first mats were put down the Milfoil Team begins to roll them up in the order they were put down so that each area is matted for approximately 8 week. After the mats are all rolled up the team goes back to each site and picks up the rolled mats using the pontoon boat that specifically equipped for lifting the wet, very heavy rolled mats.
Right now Bob Werner is surveying the lake to identify large areas of milfoil that should be matted next year….the work of controlling milfoil is continuous and so is the work for planning that control. Later this summer and in the fall and winter, the SLA Board of Directors will be meeting to plan what the milfoil control work plan will be next summer given our financial status. The Board will also be discussing the ongoing efforts and need for new efforts to get more and more people who benefit from this lake to be members of the SLA. It is predominately the ANNUAL membership dues that drive the scope of our work plan. In the past we have repeatedly reached out to all lakefront owners and owners with lake rights. We are pleased to have increasing support from those who just love the lake and value the quality of the lake water as a source of drinking water. However, we know that far too many are not and have never been members of the SLA despite the fact that they benefit from the lake as lake front/lake rights owners, regular recreational users of the lake or businesses which thrive because this beautiful lake is an incredible source of customers both for what they sell and what services they provide
There are three components to being a good neighbor to the lake, join annually, keep your eyes on the lake and contact us via our website if you think you see a problem and ask your neighbors and friends who have lakefront or lake rights property to use the lake for recreation and feloow businesses to join now and every year.
We can’t do it without all of you.
You can join the Skaneateles Lake Association and become our mission by going to SkaneatelesLake.org to complete your registration and pay your annual dues or you can use the form in our recently mailed newsletter. If you would like a registration form mailed to you please call 315-685-9106 and leave a message with your name and mailing address.
The SLA thanks the following individuals and organizations for their additional donations in support of the Milfoil Boat and the Lake Stewards:
Milfoil Boat Sponsors: 6/27/16 Sidney Devorsetz; 6/28 & 6/29/16 Beecher Graham & Jonathan Brodock; 6/30/16 Ann 7 Gary dower, Margaret Bersani, Ann & David Lee, Patricia & William McAvoy; 7/1/16 & 7/5/16 – 7/8/16 & 7/11 -7/12/16 The Kaufman Foundation; 7/13/16 Sharon & Steve Songer, Eleanor & Ben Ware, Maureen & Joseph Wilson, Robert Scheer; 7/14/16 Johanna 7 Gianfranco Frittelli; 7/15/16 Nancy Douglas, Barbara & Jed Delmonico; 7/18/16 Deborah & Richard Hole, Deborah & James Tifft, Joan Christy & Tom Bersani, Noreen & Michael Falcone; 7/19/16 Candace & John Marsellus; 7/20/16 Jason Slottje; 7/21/16 Janet & William Davis; 7/27/16 Louisa & John Cohlan; 7/25/16 Donna & William Davis; 7/26/16 Hobbitt Hollow Farm, Alice & Ned Houser, Ursula & David Hutton, Lynn Lenihan; 7/27/16 Lake Farms LLC, Carol Krumhansl & Jeff Roberts, Lisa and Michael Wetzel, Carolyn Kay & Donald Babcock; 7/28/16 Amy & Christopher Neumann; 7/29/16 Rochelle & Mac Cummings; 8/2/16 Libby & Arnie Rubenstein; 8/2/16 Marjorie & Kenneth Blanchard; 8/3/16 Christine Larson & Vincent Dupolis; 8/4/16 Lynn Cleary & David Duggan.
Steward Sponsors: 6/21 Barbara & William Dean; 6/22 Mary Socci & Peter White; 6/23/16 Finger Lakes on Tap; 6/24/16 Christine & Robert Pierce; 6/25 & 26/16 Taci & Roland Anderson; 6/27/16 Mary & Paul Torrisi; 6/28/16 Paula & Edward Conan; 6/29/16 Jacqueline & Charles Giancola; 6/30/16 Patty & Marvin Langley; 7/1/16 Jean & John Vincent; 7/2/16 Robert Parsons; 7/3/16 Ann Kilian; 7/4/16 Kathyrn & Robert Flagliarone; 7/5/16 Suzzane & David Nagle; 7/6/16 Sharon & John Paddock; 7/8 – 7/12/12 Contributions to the David Lee Hardy Fund from Sandra Attleson, The Hardy Family, Margaret Sennett, Mary and Frank Szczech, Deborah and Jim Tifft, Marianne Lont, Nancy Murray, Patricia Orr, Mary Sennett & Robert Leiss, Mary & Paul Torrisi, Barbara & Robert Amsler