LAKE GASTON ASSOCIATION

Minutes (approved) Director’s Meeting – July 1, 2009

Lake Gaston Baptist Church -9:30AM, First Wednesday

Mission: To identify lake issues affecting our membership and pursue resolution with the responsible organizations.

Location:         Lake Gaston Baptist Church

                        Littleton, North Carolina

Convened BY: President John Cataldo at 9:30AM

Pledge of Allegiance:  Led by President Cataldo

Moment of Silence:  Led by President Cataldo

Visitor Introductions:  There were 14 guests and one press (Judith Forrest Littleton Observer)

Director/Executive Attendance:  Present: Director/Executive Attendance: John Cataldo, Doug Hughes, Moira Underwood, Jack Saunders, Ron Skow, John Boyle, Ralph Domach, Linda Hedgepeth, Fred Kneisel, Laura Kolb, Bill La Monte

Secretary’s Report:  Bill La Monte – The Board accepted the June 2009 Minutes.

Treasurer’s Report:  Bill Lindenmuth – A Year-To-Date update was provided. The report showed the LGA is operating well below it’s planned budget.

Committee Reports:

Marketing (Bill La Monte)

• Marketing in a planning stage for 2010 with new business to approach and to create a Business Member retention letter.

• 44 Business members in 2009, plan to double that for 2010

• Sponsorship of various fairs and events through the remainder of the year

Planning & Development:  (Jack Saunders)

• Reported the Watershed Protection Forum was well presented, but was disappointed in the citizen turn-out for such a critical to the lake area issue.

Note: A member asked if the LGA should continue to press the watershed issue since there was a poor citizen turn out. The answer is yes, because we need to continue to challenge those things that could affect the quality of lake life.

 Nominating:  (Laura Kolb)

• Nominated Doug Hughes as President, Linda Hedgepeth as Vice-President, Jack Saunders as Treasurer and Bill La Monte as Secretary. The Board approved all nominations.

 Lake Environment/Aquatic Weed:  (John Cataldo & Jack Saunders)

• Brunswick County adjusted their budget to apply $93,000 to the Weed Control Council fund.

• Mecklenburg, Halifax and Warren Counties contributed $116,000 each

• Northampton County did not contribute for 2009

• It takes 3 continuous years of treatment for the chemicals to do the most good in eliminating hydrilla.

• LEM volunteer training for vegetation sampling will be conducted on 19 August. Updates to be provided

Safety:  (Jack Saunders)

• No June meeting due to committee member commitments to other projects on meeting date.

• The North Carolina Boater Safety Bill was passed into law. Pete Deschenes was commended for his efforts on this project.

• The bill is law as soon as the Governor signs the bill, but its full effective date is May 1, 2010.

 Membership:  (Moira Underwood for David Duxbury)

• Membership has updated its mission statement to conform to current LGA goals.

• Is planning its 2010 membership drives and retention letters mail out dates

Government Relations:  (Ron Skow - New Chairperson)

• Stressed the need for LGA members and citizens to attend County Government meetings.

• Mecklenburg County has reported problems in getting state funds for road projects for the next five years.

NOTE: A couple of members spoke out about holding County Commissioners responsible for their actions and for trying to find a way to eliminate the “At Large” voting process allowed in certain counties. Another member stated that even winning a law suit against the County does NOT guarantee any changes for the better.

Executive Director:  Moira Underwood

• This report will soon be available on the web page.

Guest Speakers: 

Dr. Rob Richardson, President of Aquatic Vegetation at N.C. University and Chair of the Lake Gaston Weed Control Council Technical Advisory Group:

• Stated the goal of watershed protection is to prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage

• There needs to be adaptive changes in weeds funding by stakeholders to include ‘site specific’ needs.  Also needs to be changes in control tools, to include, pesticides, grass carp, etc.

• Tolls of weed control are lake draw-down, grass carp, native vegetation, mechanical & hand harvesting.  Lake draw-down is not a viable option because it takes over 4 weeks of low water and needs to be done in the heat of the summer.

• In 1985 there were 12 acres of reported hydrilla.  In 2007 there were an estimated 1,200 acres.

• 2008 there was $1.6 million spent on weed control on the lake.

• In 2007 there were 15 grass carp per surveyed acre and in 2008 there were 18.

• There are 400-700 acres privately treated on the lake.

• The evidence of grass carp effectiveness on the hydrilla is less than expected.  This may be because of the low level of grass cap on the lake before 2007. 2010 should show some noticeable effects.

NOTE:  One member asked if there were any controls for wake board boats  that run close to the shore and come from all over the Southeast and possibly bring hydrilla and other non-native vegetation with them.  The answer was no!

Vic Dicenzo of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries:

• Reported that over 100 grass carp had been collected since 2006 in an attempt to check grass carp mortality and life-span (it is hoped the carp would last 13 years)

• Discussed the recently completed revegetation project on the lake and that for the lake to be healthy there needs to be 10-20 percent coverage of native vegetation. This provides food, shelter, breeding habitats, and erosion protection.

• Noted that the LGA’S proposed weed management plan has basically been adopted by the LGWCC.

Presidents Comments:  Past-President Cataldo reminded the various committees of their need to complete pending issues.  He thanked everyone for their help and support during his presidency.

Old Business:  None

New Business:  None

The meeting was properly adjourned at 11:45AM

The next meeting will be Wednesday, August 5th at 9:30AM

Respectfully Submitted

William La Monte

Secretary