Page 15 - Sentinel August 2017

PPMD Continued from page 13

Photo Taken of Gilloon Pond June 2017

Saving Our Lake
Who doesn’t love our lake....well it looks more like a pond these
Aerial photo of Gateway Lake taken in Sept 2014.
days, but what a wonderful community amenity we have at the
Every year the Lake loses 5 feet of surface area
entrance to beautiful Perry Park. Unfortunately, what once was
due to cattail growth.
almost a 5-acre Gateway Lake supporting a habitat for fish, wa-
Jump to 2017, an aerial view of the Lake
terfowl, and an abundance of wildlife is now less than one acre
would look much smaller.
and quickly becoming a limited marsh habitat.
Management Company Proposals
As sediment from upstream continues to fill the lake, the natural
PPMD is continuing its search into hiring a management com-
lake anatomy has become out of balance. The problem is expo-
pany for the District and met with two potential management
nential. As the water gets shallow, the cattails and other aquatic
companies at the end of July. More discussion will take place
weeds are exploding into a bumper crop creating an abundance
at the next scheduled BOD meeting in August.
of organic matter and more bottom sludge.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Perry Park Metro District is researching the best way to
Social and Events Committee – Stacie Sneider email: stacie.
Save Our Lake and tackle the deferred maintenance on our oth-
sneider@perrypark.org
er waterbody, Gilloon Pond. In 2013, the Metro District Board
Firewise Committee – Keith Worley email: forestreedev@aol.
recognized the problem and explored options to redesign the
com
lake which proved to be a very a complicated permitting pro-
cess as the lake is part of the Plum Creek watershed and regu-
Social Events Committee – 4th of July Recap
lated by several different governing agencies. Currently the
Country and community spirit filled the air. By many accounts
Perry Park Metro District is investigating a number of different
the 4th of July parade had one of the largest participation and
methods to simply restore the depth and surface area of our wa-
crowds in years, from creative floats like “Crossing the Dela-
terbodies. Methods being considered are mechanically scrap-
ware”, classic cars, Uncle Sam andMmiss Liberty riding their
ing part of the shoreline of the cattails and weeds, using herbi-
cides specifically formulated for aquatic plants, and cutting the
cattails while they are dormant. In conjunction with bringing
the surface area back, we will be focusing on increasing the
water depth, which is the best way to balance the aquatic habitat
and armoring the shorelines with a riprap or rock boarder. Each
method or combination of methods comes with its pros, cons,
hoops, and hurdles, but we are making progress. We are also
enacting an annual waterbody maintenance program so we all
can trust that the future of Gateway Lake and Gilloon Pond and
their habitats are being protected.

Continued on page 16
Perry Park Sentinel August 2017 - Page 15