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Lake Gaston Association
Minutes (Approved) Director’s
Meeting – August 1, 2007
Lake Gaston Baptist Church –
9:30 AM First Wednesday
Mission: To identify lake
issues affecting our members and pursue resolution with the responsible
organizations
Location:
Lake Gaston Baptist Church
Convened:
9:30 AM by President John Cataldo
Pledge of Allegiance:
Led by the President
Moment of Silence:
Led by the President
Guest Introductions:
Brunswick County –
Donna Leonard Turner, S. C. Smith, Ron George, Wally Sayko. Warren County
– H.R. Bert Leighton, Joe Chaney, Roland Beauchaine, Don Vandezvift, Ron Skow,
Peggy Shearin – Littleton Observer. Northampton County - Dunvard
Foster, Rebecca Newton. Halifax County – Jack Broadway. Mecklenburg
County – Jerry Burgdoerfer, Alberto and Marsha Protzel, Joyce Lindenmuth.
Joe Peterson and Carolyn Allen – Dominion. Della Batts – Lake Gaston Gazette.
Joe Chaney, Warren County,
indicated that a plane had landed on Lake Gaston and asked if there is a law
against such activity. Bill Lindenmuth and others replied that there is no law
against landing on any navigable waters.
Guest Speaker
– Jim Thornton, an
Environmental Consultant from Dominion Power, will provide an update of
information on the implementation of the projects committed by the Dominion
License. Jim Thornton is no stranger to the LGA. He has been a guest speaker
before and has worked closely in the past with our Environment Committee and the
Aquatic Weed Management Committee.
Today’s agenda will include the
topics: Recreation, Shoreline Management, Diadromous Fish Restoration and Lower
Roanoke River Ecosystems. Pictures of completed areas along the shoreline will
be provided and projections of future completions will be discussed.
Background
–
FERC license issued March 2004,
amended in March 2005
Recreation plan submitted to
FERC September 29, 2005 and approved March 1, 2006
Consultation with NCWRC, VDCR,
City of Roanoke Rapids, RPLG, Halifax County and the LGA.
Recreation Implementation
Phases –
Phase 1
Phase 3
Roanoke Rapids Day
Use North Side Roanoke
Rapids Dam
Roanoke Rapids tailrace
(2008) Kerr tailrace
StoneHouse Creek
Nocarva
Other
Hawtree
Creek VDCR
VA Day Use Area
Waterfowl Management
Area Lower Roanoke Paddler
Miles
Creek
Whitewater
North Side Gaston
Dam Paddler
Trail Campsite
Phase 2
Evaluation, 6 year
Thelma and Goat Island
Shoreline Management
2006 Permits issued = 646
- 411 New construction
- 235 Transfers
$ 4,500 fines assessed
6,400 structures on both lakes
Revised special management area
implementation
Three private marinas in
process for applying for permits
(10 or more boat slips)
- FERC approval
- Environmental assessment
- Resource agency review
- Public meeting & public
comment
Diadromous Fish Restoration
American Eel
American Shad
39% parasite A. crassus
Stocking fry in upper Roanoke tributaries
Tagging Juvenile
fry evaluation
2008 design engineering for
passage Stock assessment
No decision on timetable for
passage Telemetry study
A chart was present showing the
connections between the Leesville Dam, the Kerr
Dam, the Gaston Dam and the
Roanoke Rapids Dam.
Lower Roanoke
Ecosystems
- Current Studies
Erosion study (VA Tech)
Resident Fish (VCU)
Macro invertebrates (VCU)
Tree seedling survival (UNC
Chapel Hill)
Flood Mapping (University of
Wisconsin)
Dissolved Oxygen (USGS)
Co-funded by USACE Section 216
study, TNC, USFWS and NCDENR
There were many comments and
questions following Jim Thornton’s presentation. A few of the remarks are:
-
Would you say something about
the fish kill a few weeks ago? A count was estimated – 73 scoops. The dead
fish were deposited in the Brunswick County landfill. There were no grass
carp involved. 80% of those killed were Asian carp, 7 % shad, 7 % smaller
fish with the rest a variety of fish. The Lake Gaston Gazette gave an
excellent report of the cause and process of cleaning the lake.
-
Who has the authority to
control the types of structures built on properties? Dominion Power is
limited to providing restrictions on their property on the shoreline.
-
Do you return to see if the
permits have been implemented properly? Yes. Contact Joe Peterson and
Carolyn Allen for complaints and follow-ups. Provide pictures whenever
possible. Also contact them to report removal of vegetation without a permit.
-
Why are a many new high end
homes built on the main lake ignoring the Dominion Power boundary line? Those
properties have a steep incline and the Dominion property may only be a few
feet above the water line.
-
How can we document
indiscriminate and/or illegal spraying? Report these incidents to Joe
Peterson and Carolyn Allen.
-
Can I create a beach area and
replenish the sand when it gets washed away? You must have a permit to create
a beach area – most likely it will destroy the shoreline and under current
regulations will be refused. Also, it is illegal to replenish sand.
-
Jim was thanked for his
extensive and complete report. He promised to return in the future.
The President introduced our
newest director, Vernon Wilson to the Board and to our guests. We all recited
the Director’s Pledge with our new director to remind us of our commitment to
fulfill our mission as Directors of the LGA.
Secretary’s Report
– Joee Hoxter
The July 11, 2007 minutes were
approved as reported.
Treasurer’s Report
– Bill Lindenmuth
The July 2007 financial report
was approved as reported.
Committee Reports
Lake Environment
- Bill Lindenmuth, Chairman
The Chair, Bill Lindenmuth
reported on the activity of the committee during the previous month. A complete
report is on file and may be viewed on our website.
Safety
– Jack Saunders, Chairman
The Chair, Jack Saunders
reported on the activity of the committee during the previous month. A complete
report is on file and may be viewed on our website.
Aquatic Weed Management
– Pete Deschenes, Acting Chairman
The Acting Chair, Pete
Deschenes, noted the small turnout for the meeting this month. A brief review
of the committee mission statement was accomplished. Bruce Johnson agreed to
assist John Slaton with review of the Weed Management Plan. A complete report
is on file and may be viewed on our website.
Membership Development
– David Duxbury, Chairman
The Chair, David Duxbury,
reported on the activity of the committee during the previous month. A complete
report is on file and may be viewed on our website.
Public Affairs
- Larry Jolly, Acting Chairman
The Acting Chair, Larry Jolly,
reported on the activity of the committee during the previous month. There was
a discussion during our meeting regarding the concept of the LGA taking a
position on tax increases in the surrounding lake counties. There was a motion
to end the discussion. One nay, the rest ayes. A motion was put on the floor
“to conduct a survey of our membership to determine if the LGA should take a
position on tax increase in the five counties of Lake Gaston.” The motion
passed with all ayes. Doug Hughes agreed to attempt to create the questions
for our members. Our policy will be based on the
resulting survey and debate. Roland Beauchaine indicated that he was looking
for a basic policy of the LGA that would be discussed in an open forum and/or
open debate. A complete report is on file and may be viewed on our website.
Planning and Development
- Joee Hoxter for Jack D. Saunders, Chair
Joee Hoxter
reported for the Committee Chair Jack Saunders who was away on vacation.
She indicated that
the committee is moving forward with evaluating the scope of the committee’s
involvement in each of the five county’s future land use projects. We have a
three member subcommittee to study the map boundaries that we will suggest to
our board to include in our own “Planning and Development Influence Zone”. We
have looked at two counties and anticipate reviewing the remaining three. We
have obtained the services of an expert land use consultant and are being guided
by his comments. We will continue to report our progress to the Board and to
the lake community.
Nomination - Laura Kolb, Chair
The Chair, Laura
Kolb, indicated Warren, Mecklenburg and Northampton Counties now have a full
complement of directors. We still need one more in Brunswick County and three
more in Halifax County. We continue to look for possible directors.
Executive Director’s Report – Moira Underwood
The Executive
Director, Moira Underwood, read a synopsis of her report. The complete report
is on file and may be viewed on our website.
Old Business
Fire rating change
of Roanoke-Wildwood Fire District. Insurance standards will be reclassified.
(See new business)
John Cataldo
indicated that 3 of 5 county meetings were attended last month. We
are reaching
for all 5 counties to be reported on to keep our directors abreast of the
county
activity that affect the lake and our members.
Larry Jolly, our
Past President, took this opportunity to present Sherman Merchant
with an
award for special recognition as an advocate for the LGA. His voice of the
LGA on WZRU
has been an ongoing asset for our organization. The LGA thanks
you for your
efforts in keeping our community informed of our activities.
New Business
As of August, the
Insurance Standards will publish a revised fire rating for Warren
County. We
suggest Warren County residents go to their insurance agents and make sure they
are covered appropriately.
A response to Tom
Field’s letter will be viewed in this weeks Lake Gaston Gazette.
Joee Hoxter
reported that August 18, 2007 is the final boating safety class of the season.
The first class of the 2008 season will be held on March 22, 2008.
Jane Teasley, U. S.
Auxiliary, is looking for more volunteers to become a part of the barricade for
the O’Sail Crossing on August 11, 2007. You must be in place by 9:00 AM to
assist in providing safety for the swimmers. Anyone interested see Hoxter.
David Duxbury asked
if there is going to be a Parade of Lights this holiday season?
Doug Hughes said
yes, but the date has not been confirmed at this time. It will be published in
the Gazette.
The meeting was
appropriately adjourned.
Respectfully
submitted,
Joee A. Hoxter
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