I took our third 2010 water samples Tuesday, June 29, at 10:30am.  Here are the “preliminary” results:
#1        Dock                         below 10 cfu
#2        Cedar Fork Creek   6 cfu
#3        Booker Creek          below 10 cfu
 
Caution level is individual reading above 400 cfu, or average above 200 cfu. 
 
Lake water temp: 31.5-32C,    89-90F
The SECCI clarity reading was 18 inches, about normal for this time of year.
 
These test results are very good! The water is generally clear and free of algae or debris.
 
The lake is quite warm and we are not getting a lot of rain.  I have mentioned that we are not supposed to test right after a rain because the readings then can reflect what just got washed off the ground. As a rule, when that happens the bad stuff dies out and dissipates before it gets to the beach and dam end of the lake.  Overall, it’s better to get rain than not to get rain.   There are springs in the lake and they help keep the lake from getting too hot or evaporating.  However, without a regular rain cycle, some stuff we don’t test for can hang around longer than it should.   In any case it is always wise to rinse off after swimming in the lake
 
 
Chuck Henage
chenagemht@aol.com

Our summer season is off to a busy start. We want to remind all members that local guests must be accompanied by an LFA member and also of the large group policy.

LFA Park Large Group Policy

Recently there have been several times at which more than one large group which had not reserved usage created overcrowding and unpleasant space competition for all. Due to the limited size of the LFA Park and swim area, and for the safety of everyone in the park, especially small children, the park is available to larger groups by reservation only.

A large group is defined as any group over ten (10) people of any age.

As stated in the park rules, members may not have a group larger than 10 people if not reserved.

Any group larger than 10 must be reserved in advance and be approved by the LFA .

Per directed instructions by the LFA Board, if a member brings a group larger than 10, and it is not reserved, the LFA staff is required to direct that the appropriate number of guests leave park

If the member does not comply with the staff regarding this rule, the LFA Board reserves the right to revoke their park privileges.

Please use the Large Group Booking Form to submit your request.

Note: This does not grant groups exclusive rights to the park, as all members have equal access. However, it does mean your group will be the only large group there at the reserved time.

Please address any questions on this policy to board@lakeforestassociation.org.

Thank you for your cooperation,
LFA Board

I took our second 2010 water samples Friday, May 21, at 1 pm.  Here are the “preliminary” results:
#1        Dock                       below 10 cfu
#2        Cedar Fork Creek   81 cfu
#3        Booker Creek         181 cfu

Caution level is individual reading above 400 cfu, or average above 200 cfu.

Lake water temp: 25-27C,    77-80F

The SECCI clarity reading was again 38 inches, same as the April test.

While these readings are higher than our previous sample and somewhat above our long term average, they were all below any minimum thresholds for concern.  These samples were taken sooner after rainfall than I would prefer, but several more days of rain were predicted between then and the Memorial Day weekend.

The testing guidelines indicate that we should not sample immediately after a rainfall.  Tests taken then are less accurate for several reasons.  It takes 3-5 days for rainwater from our watershed to clear the system, and we sampled about two days after a rainfall.  That was probably the longest rain-free time we were going to have before the end of this week.

The pattern of readings is consistent with rain flushing a normal amount animal waste from upstream ground surfaces after a long dry period.  The water near the beach and dock is in the deepest and most downstream part of the lake, and anything entering the lake at the two main tributaries is going to be most dilute by the time it gets there.  We also have some springs in the lake further diluting anything that comes in from upstream. The specific bacterium we test for does not live very long in water.  It lives and grows in warm-blooded animals.   Whenever there is a sewage overflow, the numbers are a lot higher than these.  After several days of rain, the watershed surfaces should be washed clean and the risks we face then are more from erosion than from surface contamination.

It is probably a good idea not to be swimming too far upstream from the dock and beach areas while we are getting regular rainfall.  The lake itself is acting as a natural filter, so the downstream end of the lake, near the beach, is going to be the safest.  Stay out of the lake altogether after a hard “gully-washer” rain and remember to shower afterward. Although we do not test for it, it is logical to assume that any unabsorbed fertilizers probably follow the same pattern after rainfall.  An algae bloom is the normal consequence of that and we usually see one of those in June.

Chuck Henage
chenagemht@aol.com