September 2009:  Our 2009 Opinion Survey

In the middle of September we sent an email to our members who have email addresses advising them that the 2009 LGA Survey was available on our website. We also sent copies of the survey via US mail to our members without an email address.

Our survey is also open to the public (potential LGA members) and you may have noticed last month in the Lake Gaston area daily and weekly newspapers our press release inviting their participation. Another press release will occur in early October reminding readers that the October 23rd deadline is approaching.

I wanted to use my column to explain why we ask our members and non-members to participate in the LGA survey which has occurred every three years since 2003. We need to know what’s important to them. We can’t work on their behalf if we guess what’s on their minds. We’ve asked several of the questions before because we can compare today’s answers with yesteryear. Last time we had our members prioritize the results. We took those priorities and worked them into our Committees at that time: Aquatic Weed, Lake Environment, Public Affairs, Membership, and Safety.

Part of the resulting work effort was combining Aquatic Weed with LakeEnvironment, realigning Public Affairs into a new committee called Government Relations, adding a Planning & Development Committee, and lastly forming a Marketing Committee, still keeping Membership and Safety Committees making six altogether.

To keep each of the committees focused on the results of the last survey in 2006, the prioritized list was produced pocket-size and laminated for each LGA director. We have found the three year survey interval allows as to regroup after the results, see progress from the actions taken, see emerging trends, and climates change before the next survey is due.

If you haven’t taken the survey yet, please go to our website at www.LakeGastonAssoc.com and click on the bright yellow Survey button. If you would like a paper copy, please call (252) 586-6577 or 1-888-586-6577 and clearly state your name, address and telephone number and one will be mailed to you.

Remember there is a drawing which is open to all survey participants except Board members and their immediate families. Three drawings will be made for $50, $25, and $10. To be eligible, survey needs to be taken on the web, or post stamped not later than October 23, 2009.You will have to write your name and contact information to be in the drawing. The winners will be announced at the LGA monthly meeting on Wednesday, November 4. You do not have to be present at the meeting to win.

(Editor’s note: Moira Underwood is Lake Gaston Association’s Executive Director and will be coming to you every month. She can be reached at ExecDir@lakegastonassoc.com or (252) 586-6577, or toll free 1-888-586-6577, or LGA, P.O. Box 656, Littleton, NC 27850.)

August 2009:  Aquatic Plant Survey Training

Excitement is mounting as we make preparations to participate in our third Lake Gaston Aquatic Plant Survey. The survey continues to be conducted by NC State University under the leadership of Dr. Rob Richardson and Bridget Lassiter.

Results of the survey are used as part of the data employed to estimate vegetation growth trends, locations of algae masses, and to project approaches for future noxious vegetation control.

The LGA’s Lake Environment Committee heads up LGA’s participation in the survey. Our Lake Environment Monitors (LEMs) are the volunteers who gather the data from Lake Gaston.

No experience is necessary to gather the data. Training is given, and the data collection tools are provided. All the volunteer needs is a boat. Any sort of boat that will get you from A to B, 200ft at a time. We have volunteers with kayaks, canoes, pontoon boats, jon boats, bow riders, and fishing boats. We have husband and wife teams, we have grandparents and grandchildren teams, we have guy teams, not sure if we have any gal teams.

It is best to work in pairs. The tools are provided for use by the participants: a double rake head on a rope; tape measure; waterproof handbook of aquatic plant photos; and a handheld, palm-type computer with GPS in waterproof/floatable protective cover to record data gathered.

How volunteers gather data. One of them throws the rake into the water, making sure to hold on to the rope! The rake is hauled in and the data gathering starts. Using the book of plant photos they identify the aquatic plants on the rake, measure the length of any pieces of hydrilla, and record the findings in the computer which logs the GPS location. They then move on 200ft further and repeat the process. Gathering of the data is done about 20ft from the shoreline and/or in 10 feet of water.

As I mentioned before, no experience is necessary and don’t be put off by the handheld computer. It’s set up with a touch screen matrix for data recording. New teams often ride with those that are experienced to see how straight forward the data gathering is.

You work at your own pace along your assigned stretch of shoreline. A couple of hours at a time or longer, your choice. You gather the data, hand the equipment back in after each session, and then let us know when you ready to go out again, and we’ll get the equipment back to you.

Each year we’ve covered more shoreline, but this year our goal is to do even more and for that we need more volunteers. We have an exciting opportunity for you!

Join us Thursday, August 27 at 10:30 a.m. for training and an update on the Lake Gaston 2009 Aquatic Survey at the Eaton Ferry Grocery & Grill on Hwy 903 just down from Doozie’s Boat Lift Store. Training will end about 12 noon.

We do need to know if you are coming because lunch will be provided and the staff at the EFG&G needs to plan. Please R.S.V.P to Jack Saunders at: Environment@LakeGastonAssoc.com or call the office (below). If you are interested in the survey effort but can’t make the training session, still let us know.

July 2009:  All will be revealed

Do you ever come across a word, that’s easy to pronounce, but the word doesn’t make sense to you? When you can’t picture it in action, the tendency is not to bother to pursue its meaning even though the word might affect you. If you are like me, you’ve got too much going on to go looking for more things to do.

Working for the Lake Gaston Association gives me an advantage as I am now familiar with the word that’s the main topic of my column this month. Yes, I’m about to tell you the word …

All was revealed when the LGA hosted a Watershed Protection Forum at the end of last month at the Littleton Community Center. I discovered at the beginning of the presentation, probably two slides in, that the topic concerned me. I could help protect our watershed by being aware of what I put on and in the earth around me.

When it rains the water drains over and through the earth and will eventually find a lake, river or stream. On its journey the water will carry with it pollutants that could affect the quality of those bodies of water. Everywhere the water travels on its way to the bodies of water is the watershed.

An easy way to get involved is to look at the washing detergent you are using. It’s best to use washing detergent that is phosphorus-free. I discovered my detergent was and I was already helping and I didn’t know it! Apparently phosphorus when it reaches bodies of water provides too much nutrient which increases the productivity of algae and weeds.

Here are the 10 top things you can do to protect your watershed: 1. Water only where & it’s really needed; 2. Limit use of pesticides & fertilizers; 3. Plant native vegetation; 4. Redirect rooftop runoff; 5. Dispose of pet waste properly; 6. Carefully choose where to wash your car; 7. Properly maintain vehicles; 8. Recycle and dispose of household chemicals properly; 9. Properly maintain septic system; and 10. Join a watershed organization.

For more information check out www.cwp.org and www.stormwatercenter.net . You will also be hearing more from us too. . . about the word - Watershed.

Make a date to attend the Lake Environment Monitor training on August 27, at 10:30 a.m. at the Eaton Ferry Grocery & Grill 1519 Hwy 903, Littleton, NC 27850. Representatives from North Carolina State University will brief the LEMs on this year’s aquatic plant monitoring program on Lake Gaston. For more information email Environment@LakeGastonAssoc.com or call the office.

Our monthly meeting will be on Wednesday, August 5 at 9:30 a.m. at the Lake Gaston Baptist Church, one mile north of Eaton Ferry Bridge on Hwy 903. Gus Best of the Lake Gaston Computer Club will be our speaker and demonstrating some of the new programs with a Q&A.

JUNE 2009:  Preserving Lake Gaston

It will be 26 years this September since I have held an investment in Lake Gaston. Initially as weekenders in a three-man-crawl-in tent which lasted until Thanksgiving when my tolerance of the cold air broke. The idea of waiting to build for a couple of years went by the wayside, and our weekend home went up the following spring.

We really treasured our weekend breaks at the lake while still pursuing busy careers that took us here and there during the week. Jack, my husband, just wanted to fish all weekend, and I was fascinated with the critters and birds that we could observe in and around the water and up in the woods. As weekenders we “dropped” into Lake Gaston on the weekends or vacations, and lived in the hub-bubb of city life the rest of the time.

I never thought of Lake Gaston as needing my attention, it was my piece of “On Golden Pond,” the movie that gave us the idea to invest in Lake Gaston. 

I never thought about the fact that I would be taking up residence with those critters, as well as the birds, fish, otters, turtles and the rest of nature.

Since we’ve lived here permanently, and especially since being executive director with the Lake Gaston Association (which will be four years on July 1 – time flies), I’ve been aware of Lake Gaston as a resource that needs to be preserved by us all.

That’s why I’m excited about an upcoming Forum that our Planning and Development Committee is conducting with the help of a grant from Halifax Helps, Inc. that was secured by Friends of the LGA.

Make a date to join us on Saturday, June 27 at 1:30 p.m. at the Littleton Community Center, 225 Oak Street, Littleton, NC 27850 when a speaker from the Center for Watershed Protection will share information on how we can protect, preserve and restore watershed resources here at Lake Gaston. We have also invited our five County Managers/Administrators and Planning & Zoning directors.

The LGA directors will be meeting with the presenter in the morning to focus on how the LGA can get the local governments to adopt planning and development standards to protect our sensitive ecological system here at Lake Gaston.

I know it’s a Saturday afternoon, but it’s an opportunity for us to catch both full-time and part-time homeowners who will be interested in attending this Forum.

Coming up on Wednesday, July 1 at 9:30 a.m. will be our monthly meeting at the Lake Gaston Baptist Church, on Hwy 903, 1 mile north of Eaton Ferry Bridge. Presentation: the recent revegetation project with the US Army Corps of Engineers on Lake Gaston.

MAY 2009:  Budget Update

May has been a flurry of more budget activity and action by the LGA.

Before I tell you about May, let me go back to January of 2009, before FY 2009-2010 county budget calendars had been published. At that time of the year, the only opportunity to make known one’s needs and wants, was the public comment section at the beginning of each of the five county Board of Commissioners and Board of Supervisors monthly meetings.

The LGA wrote a letter dated January 28, 2009 to those North Carolina and Virginia Boards and copied the Lake Gaston Weed Control Council asking them, even in today’s economic climate, that they seriously consider fully funding the $116,000 funding to the LGWCC. This letter was read to the Brunswick County Board of Supervisors on January 28 by LGA president John Cataldo; Warren County Board of Commissioners on February 2 by LGA director Bill LaMonte; Northampton County Board of Commissioners on February 2 by LGA director Ralph Domach; Mecklenburg Board of Supervisors January 12 by Bill Lindenmuth; and delivered to Halifax County Manager for distribution to the Commissioners.

We continue to email our members with the various county meeting agendas, and as we’ve received them, the county budget work session agendas. As well as the attendee reports from the directors who were at those meetings so we can keep our members informed.

While it was thought at one time that Brunswick County had cut the funding for weed control to zero, it was later learned in the material published for the Public Hearing on May 20 at 7 p.m. that  funding for weed control was $67,000. So in preparation for the May 20 Public Hearing, an email was sent to our Brunswick, Mecklenburg and Northampton LGA members urging them to take part in the Public Hearing on the 20^th  to get the weed funding back to $116,000. A big thank you! to our members who filled the meeting room.

Also, at Northampton County’s Board of Commissioners meeting on May 18 where the 2^nd budget session was one of the agenda items, the Commissioners cut the entire $116,000 for the LGWCC in order to balance the budget. So we are now working on rallying our Northampton County members and the other counties affected by this turn of events, and our own presentation to the Northampton County Board of Commissioners for the regularly scheduled June 1 meeting, where at 11 a.m. the budget will be reviewed and adopted for FY 2009-2010.

Warren County is indicating full funding for hydrilla treatment since this issue is extremely important to everyone who lives/works in Warren County.

As I said when I started my column for this month there has been a flurry of budget activity, some of which we least expected.

Our monthly meeting will occur on June 3 at 9:30 a.m. but we will have no speaker because of our annual meeting occurring two weeks later. Instead our monthly meeting will be committee reports and finalizing the annual meeting

The LGA’s annual meeting will be on Saturday June 13 at 9:30 a.m. and finish before or by noon. Presentation topic will be Home Owner Association Covenants and Attorneys Tom Skinner and Russell Slayton will cover both North Carolina and Virginia respectively.

APRIL 2009:  It's Budget Time

It doesn’t seem possible that Friday will be May 1 already. Staying busy sure makes the year move along.

The counties are preparing their budgets for FY 2009-2010 and we are trying to influence their decisions by making known our members’ wishes. In particular, we presented a letter on April 6 to the Warren County Board of Commissioner’s regular monthly meeting that they consider a revenue-neutral tax rate, in light of the county’s recent revaluation.

In addition, we have officially requested that each of the counties keep their weed control funding intact. However, in light of their economic climates, we have asked that our members participate in county budget meetings, and voice their support not only for this key funding item, but also for fiscally responsible government without raising taxes wherever possible.

We have emailed our Warren County members with the Budget Calendar for FY 2009-2010 requesting them to join us at those meetings. May 4, at 10 a.m. will be the first presentation of the Annual Budget to the Warren County Commissioners. As other county Budget Calendars become available they will be sent to our members.

We are protesting the Kerr Lake Regional Water System Request for an Inter-basin Transfer Certificate which would allow cities such as Henderson and Raleigh to pipe water to their municipalities. Opposition letters can be sent to Mr. E. Leo Green, Jr., Chairman, NC Environmental Management Commission c/o EMC Recording Clerk, Directors Office – Division of Water Quality, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617, with a copy to CH2M Hill, 3201 Beechleaf Court, Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27604, Attn: Kecia Lucas. Deadline: May 8, 2009.

Websites are wonderful resources – can you imagine life before them? They do, however, come with a huge responsibility to keep them up-to-date. As I have the responsibility of managing our website, I focus on getting information on. I have to admit that I have paid less attention to taking off information that is no longer current. Or, links to information on other websites that are no longer valid – now that’s a challenge – where’s my crystal ball.

So … there is a team effort underway to identify information that needs to be deleted or moved to archives. That must be why April has flown by, I’ve been in cyberspace too much.

The LGA has reached its 20^th anniversary and we will celebrate this milestone on Saturday, May 16 at the Lake Gaston Baptist Church by inviting our members to a BBQ from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. There will be a charge of $2 per person. It’s going to be a social occasion.

Make a date to join us for our annual meeting on Saturday, June 13, at 9:30 a.m. for refreshments and sign-in. Meeting will start at 10 a.m. and finish before, or, at the latest noon. Guest speaker topic will be Home Owner Association Covenants and we will have Attorneys Tom Skinner for North Carolina and Russell Slayton for Virginia.

In the meantime, join us for the LGA’s monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 6 at the Lake Gaston Baptist Church at 9:30 a.m. Guest speaker will be Harold Carawan, President, Roanoke River Basin Association who will speak on inter-water basin transfer issues. Meeting is open to members and non-members.

MARCH 2009: Springing into Action

What a month for weather! Awaking to three inches of snow on a Monday morning earlier this month and 70 degrees three days later in the same week. Plus we’ve had rain, constantly, several days at a time, throughout the month. The seasons are moving along – ‘time waits for no man’ – and Spring is with us. Without further ado, I have lots to share with you …

On April 6 at the Warren County Commissioners monthly meeting, we will be presenting them with a letter from the LGA, strongly requesting they approve a revenue-neutral tax rate that would mean no property tax increases for this year.

The proposal for North Carolina Safe Boating legislation, similar to that passed in Virginia, is making its passage through this year’s North Carolina General Assembly session. House Bill 39, introduced by Rep. Michael Wray, has to be reviewed by two committees – Wildlife Resources and then the Judicial - before getting to the full House. Earlier this month our LGA members had a chance to support its passage through the Wildlife Committee by writing to the committee members and making their views known.

HB 39 did clear the Wildlife Resource Committee and it will now be taken up by the Judicial III Committee.  If passed by the J-III committee, the Bill will be reported to the full House.  Senate Bill 43 will have a similar level of activity and the two bills will be reconciled for final approval.  If any committee stops the bill, then it is dead for two years.

A renewed push is underway from Raleigh, Durham and Cary officials for water allocations from Kerr Lake; there are a number of Public Hearings to address Kerr Lake Regional Water System Interbasin Transfer Information Requests.  By going to the website http://www.ncwater.org/Permits_and_Registration/Interbasin_Transfer/Status/Kerr  you will be able to both see the schedule for public hearings and see the summary of what is being discussed.  The Public Hearings are scheduled as follows: April 1, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Warren County Memorial Library; April 2, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Clarksville Community Center; April 6, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Long Bridge Fire Department; April 7, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Vance Granville Community College. Anyone interested should attend and participate in one of the public forums in April. 

We are celebrating our 20^th anniversary in 2009 and will mark the occasion with a cook-out on Saturday, May 16, at the Lake Gaston Baptist Church. More information about this event in a later column.  This is just a celebration of the Association with its membership - come and enjoy the vittles and conversation.

Join us April 1 for our monthly meeting at 9:30 a.m. at Lake Gaston Baptist Church on Hwy 903 which is one mile north of Eaton Ferry Bridge. Brunswick County Sheriff Brian Roberts will talk about the Community Neighborhood Watch Program. Meeting is open to members and non-members.

FEBRUARY 2009:  Revaluations, Survey & Positions

Of concern this month to our Warren County members was the arrival of the Revaluation Assessment notices. The Lake Gaston Association had held Forums on revaluation over the last several years and Warren County was the last of the five counties to be revalued. Warren County’s last revaluation was in 2001 and revalues every eight years

We have included in our bi-monthly Bulletins a status of where the county had been in the revaluation process. But … no amount of preparation prepares one for the day the Assessment notice arrives.

So this month we have emailed information to our Warren County members on the appeals process and where we go from here. As the deadline has now past for property owners to start the appeals process, we will be focusing on the Warren County Budget, requesting the lowest possible tax rate and asking our members to support us in presentations to the Warren County Board of Commissioners.

We conducted a rental survey of our LGA members who share their email address with us. The survey was emailed to 1,003 LGA members of which 280 responded. The results were compiled and emailed to our membership.

A letter was prepared and addressed to the Commissioners/Supervisors and County Managers/Administrators, stating our support of the Lake Gaston Weed Control Council’s request of the counties that they allocate $116,000 for weed control in the FY 2009-2010 budget. Each letter was read in the public comments section of the monthly Commissioners/Supervisors meeting and copies given to each of them. The letter to Halifax County will be read at their March 2 meeting.

Our letter to North Carolina’s Wildlife Resources Commission supporting the Lake Gaston Weed Control Council’s request that bow hunting of grass carp be stopped in Gaston and Roanoke Rapids reservoirs and the Roanoke River except with a special permit, has been received and acknowledged by NCWRC.

Join us March 4 for our monthly meeting at 9:30 a.m. at Lake Gaston Baptist Church on Hwy 903 which is one mile north of Eaton Ferry Bridge. Tom Skinner, attorney, will be speaking on Statue Chapter 47F and Home Owner Association covenants for North Carolina.

LGA’s committee chairs will be giving a progress report on their projects as well. Meeting is open to members and non-members.

JANUARY 2009 - We’re off and running!

I really, really, can’t believe that we are at the end of January, can you? We’ve had rain, high winds and snow this month, as well as blue sky, sunshine and warmth. I’ve had my first cold in a long time which I thought had gone, and today my nose feels like its coming back. It couldn’t be the variety of weather we have had this month, could it??

Down to business … 2009 has started off with letter writing. We wrote to the Chairman of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission as well as one of the commissioners asking that they give their positive support of statewide Boater Education.

We emailed our LGA Virginia members asking them to contact Virginia Delegate Clark Hogan and requesting him to support House Joint Resolution 627 to implement the Federal government regulations already passed that requires all children 13 and under to wear life preservers when on a vessel when underway. (FYI North Carolina has implemented this law.)

We are writing to each of the five county Commissioners/Supervisors requesting their budgets for FY 2009-2010 include funding for aquatic weed control, law enforcement and emergency medical response.

Our Marketing Committee has updated our brochure and we plan to unveil it at our next monthly meeting.

Receiving a lot of attention this month is the finalization of a set of goals to emerge from a retreat we held back in September. These goals and the strategies to achieve these goals will be presented by the committees at our next monthly meeting on Wednesday, February 4. We’re hoping to get input from our members in the audience to confirm we are on the right track to serve our members.

The February/March Bulletin has been produced this month and will be available on our website February 1 at www.lakegastonassoc.com/Bulletins/Content.htm .

Dues reminders will be going out this week and since the renewal notices were sent out last October, we now offer on-line payment via credit cards.

Join us February 4, at 9:30 a.m., for our monthly meeting at Lake Gaston Baptist Church, 1 mile north of Eaton Ferry Bridge and catch up on the LGA.

DECEMBER 2008:   How we serve you

The Lake Gaston Association evolves through its committees – Government Relations (formerly Public Affairs), Lake Environment, Marketing, Membership, Planning & Development, and Safety.

We are “your VOICE on lake issues” with a mission to identify issues affecting our members and pursue resolution with the responsible organization.

The committees - that’s where the work gets done – meet monthly. Each director works on at least two committees. Our regular members work on many of these committees too.

We keep you informed with each issue’s progress through our monthly meetings, the first Wednesday of every month, when our Chair’s give their progress reports. We feature articles in our bi-monthly news Bulletins, and post each committee’s minutes on our website. 

Knowing what’s important to our members keeps our Committees focused on the right issues. Each director has a list of 30 items, ranked in importance by our members, that fits easily into their planners. 

We survey our membership every three years or so to create the list.  Our last member survey (Spring of 2006) was also open to the public (potential members).  It could be taken on-line, or by completing a paper survey.

The previous survey was done in 2003 and we are planning our next for 2009. The three-year interval gives us time to react, trends to change, and to prepare the next survey.

You can let us know what’s on your mind every month at our monthly meetings. At this month’s meeting we were without a speaker and after each Committee Chair’s report there was open discussion with the members and non-members present. And then a general ‘what’s on your mind’ invitation to share. It really was a good exchange of ideas, and a chance for the LGA to bring those present up-to-date with what’s going on in and around Lake Gaston.

As it turns out, we do not have a speaker for our January 7 meeting, so we are going to repeat this month’s format – ‘what’s on your mind’ concerning Lake Gaston and the opportunity to hear from the committees where the work is done.

I hope I have peaked your interest in the LGA.  It could be an organization you support by becoming a member, committee member or director (one of 25 from each of 5 counties around the lake). If you are looking for a volunteer career, try us by joining one of our committees and who knows you may find your niche with us.

We really are blessed with a dedicated Board of Directors who work to serve our members through our committees. Contact us to see how you can become part of our team.

Make a date for our next meeting, January 7, 2009 (doesn’t time fly!) at 9:30 a.m. at the Lake Gaston Baptist Church on Hwy 903, one mile north of Eaton Ferry Bridge. We’ll be waiting for you.

NOVEMBER 2008: Happy Thanksgiving!
  Can you believe it’s turkey time already – where has the year gone? As I was in England and missed last month’s column, I have lots to tell you …

The Lake Gaston Association's Public Safety Committee is recognizing emergency response units around Lake Gaston with plaques expressing our appreciation on behalf of residents and property owners.  First to be recognized on October 6 was The Lake Gaston Volunteer Fire Department, followed by Ebony VFD on November 3. Next presentation will be December 11 to Longbridge VFD. John Cataldo, LGA’s president makes the presentations to their respective Fire Chiefs at their monthly meetings, with assistance from LGA directors from their county, and me. Please join us in recognizing these volunteers whenever you can, and support them if possible with your time and donations. I will know January’s recipient in my December column.

    Rep. Michael Wray’s sponsorship of North Carolina legislation for boater safety training is moving forward. A two hour meeting occurred on November 12 of the Joint Select committee appointed by the Senate Majority Leader Marc Basnight and Speaker Joe Hackney, and co-chaired by Rep. Wray and Senator Ed Jones. Also participating are representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board, the National Association of Safe Boating Legislation Administrators, the Lake Norman Marine Commission, the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and others as appointed. Pete Deschenes (former LGA director) has been appointed to this committee by Sen. Basnight. The next session is open to the public and scheduled for the morning of December 3, at 10 a.m. in the Legislative Office Building room 415 in Raleigh.

Warren County Sheriff Johnny Williams, and Al Hartley; Northampton County Sheriff Wardie Vincent, and Northampton County Officer Brenda Burnette, joined our Public Safety Committee’s November meeting to discuss re-energizing Community/Neighborhood Watch Programs. Objective of the meeting was to determine how to reduce the opportunity to be a target of crime. Refer to our December/January 2009 Bulletin for details www.lakegastonassoc.com/Bulletins/Content.htm.

Bill Lindenmuth and Vernon Wilson, Mecklenburg LGA directors, attended a training session held by Dominion Power on the Emergency Action Plan for Roanoke Rapids and Gaston Dams. We are part of the process in getting the word out to lake residents via our LGAlert program should Dominion Power advise us of an emergency situation.

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has informed us that Lakeside Commons LLC has withdrawn its application to build a wastewater treatment facility that would have discharged treated water into Peahill Creek.

Northampton County Commissioners are looking into holding a meeting at the lake with their Lake Gaston property owners. LGA has offered to facilitate this meeting. More details will be publicized as information becomes available.

Join us for our monthly meeting on Wednesday, December 3 at 9:30 a.m. at the Lake Gaston Baptist Church on Hwy 903, one mile north of Eaton Ferry Bridge. Guest speaker details were not able to be finalized by press time. It is also an opportunity for you to hear from all our committees. Maybe you would like to join one of our them.

We wish you Season’s Greetings from the Lake Gaston Association.

OCTOBER 2008:  No Column

SEPTEMBER 2008:  Aquatic Vegetation Survey – volunteers needed

September is flying by for me, maybe because my column seems earlier than usual, although we are in the last week of the month.

Labor Day weekend participation in the 24^th Littleton-Lake Gaston Festival will be one to remember. Our booth was a hive of activity, thanks to the efforts of our Lake Environment Monitor team that provided our activity show-and-tell.

We had display boards of maps and photos of our participation in the NC State University 2008 Lake Gaston Aquatic Vegetation Survey, and a host of named specimens in individual containers in water. Members of the public were glad of the opportunity to see these plants, especially the infamous hydrilla, and learn how to identify them.

This year’s vegetation survey goal is to take data around the entire lake with the 20 volunteers who have signed up, but we are trying to increase the number of volunteers so that the LGA and NCSU goal is met. It is a fascinating project, and no experience is necessary. It can be a family affair especially with the grandchildren. You will need to provide your own boat or kayak, but collection and recording equipment will be provided.

The target is to complete mapping vegetation around the lake by the end of end of October and then when the hydrilla starts to mat and float away, we hope to track the floating mats to establish where turions might propagate more hydrilla plants next year.

If you are interested in additional information or participating as a volunteer to collect vegetation samples please contact jackdsaunders@embarqmail.com or blmsjohnson@earthlink.net .

LGAs directors have been calling our LGAlert contacts to verify the information we have is still correct. If you are unfamiliar with the term LGAlert, it is a telephone tree that is ready to be used in a lake level emergency. It consists of primary and alternate contacts for subdivisions around Lake Gaston. You do not have to be a member of the LGA to be a contact. It is triggered by a call from Dominion to alert us of an emergency. Our directors are given the message to relay to their share of the contacts. The subdivision contact would then spread the word to their neighbors.

Join us for our monthly meeting on Wednesday, October 1 at 9:30 a.m. at the Lake Gaston Baptist Church on Hwy 903, one mile north of Eaton Ferry Bridge. Guest speaker will be Tony Brown, Halifax County Manager with an update on what’s going on in the county.

A letter from the LGA documenting our position was sent to Warren County Commissioners, Warren County Planning Director, North Carolina Dominion Power, Warren County Manager, and the Warren County Planning Board, with a copy to NC Wildlife Resources.

“Taxation without Representation” was the theme of a letter sent to all North Carolina Senators and Representatives with a request that they and their colleagues consider amending the state statutes to allow part-time residents to vote for the local lake county issues and candidates where they own property, while still voting where they have permanent residences for local, state and federal issues and candidates.

Come visit us at the 24^th Littleton-Lake Gaston Festival on Saturday, August 30 at our usual spot on N. Main Street opposite Littleton Hardware Store, and the Lake Gaston Water Safety Council trailer. Our show and tell display this year will be about the North Carolina State University Lake Gaston Aquatic Plant Survey that we are part of. We will have trays of water with a variety of aquatic plants that are found in Lake Gaston – including the infamous hydrilla. And, information about how to join the survey team and what’s involved – no prior experience is necessary, training will be given. It’s a great family opportunity.

Our next monthly meeting will be Wednesday, September 3, at 9:30 a.m. at Lake Gaston Baptist Church on Hwy 903, one mile north of Eaton Ferry Bridge. Guest speakers will be Jim Jones, Warren County Health Director and Andy Smith, Environmental Health Supervisor. Topic: Some Warren County Health Department initiatives and issues, and Q&A.