Truesdale Lake

January 7, 2021
by rob
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The History of Truesdale Lake – The First 100 Years

Lake resident Priscilla Luckow has completed a years-long research project into the history of Truesdale Lake.

The document she produced is now available on the website here and can also be downloaded as a PDF file here.

The story of the lake has many twists and turns. Priscilla has also included historic photographs and scans from the original sales documents for the TLPOA and TEA predecessor corporations.

Set aside a few minutes and read up on the lake’s history.

Original sales brochure for what became the Truesdale Lake Property Owners Association

January 6, 2021
by rob
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Some Lake New Year’s Resolutions for 2021

Some Lake Stewardship Resolutions:

I will get my septic tank pumped and inspected. If the tank baffles are missing or damaged, I’ll have them replaced. (Wind River, formerly Kaiser-Battistone offers 15% discount for lake area residents – but you have to tell them about the discount!)
I will “overseed” my lawn rather than spread fertilizer or pesticides. I’ll tell my lawn service – or myself – to cut my grass high and leave the clippings on the lawn. If I think fertilizer is needed, I’ll use phosphate-free fertilizer since it’s the law. I will also tell my lawn care company that it is illegal in Westchester County to use phosphate based fertilizer unless extensive testing has been done on the soil – and even then only on a limited basis and never within 20 feet of the lake.
If I live on the lake, I’ll plant a “buffer” of native plants to slow the flow of rainwater or stormwater (and the pollutants and nutrients it carries) into the lake. I’ll pull up some invasive plants and plant some native ones.
I’ll pick up after my pets and throw their poop into MY OWN trash.
This year I’ll make sure no oil or gas from my mower or car spills on the ground or into the lake.
If I take coolers, sand toys, or other beach or boat items to another waterbody, I’ll make sure that they are free of weeds and shells before bringing them back here so I don’t transport invasive plants and animals.
If I visit the association beaches and boat launch properties, I will leave them in better condition than when I arrived. That includes putting all beach toys away and removing trash.
If I fish on the lake, I will clean up my fishing tackle, monofilament, and any hooks that get snared. I will not fish in areas where fishing is prohibited (all beaches and the dam/spillway near the siphons). I will not leave fishing equipment, debris, or garbage around or in the lake. It does not disappear and it kills birds, turtles, and other wildlife.
If I haven’t done so already, this is the year I’ll take a safe boating course.
I will make sure my Truesdale Lake boat sticker is still affixed to all of my boats. If any have come off I will replace them. If I have new or unregistered boats I will register them and get a sticker. This applies for boats stored on private lakefronts as well as the boat launch properties.
For when the lake is frozen if I have a ladder I will keep it close by the lake in case an ice rescue is needed.
I’ll start or use a compost pile (away from the lake shore, wet areas, or streams).
If it’s icy, I’ll minimize my use of salt by using kitty litter or sand where I can.
I’ll learn more about my lake’s history, health, plants, and animals this year.
I will send photos I take around the lake to us here (lake@truesdalelake.com) or tag them #truesdalelake on our Instagram page so everyone can enjoy!
I will join and volunteer with my lake association and make my voice heard and my energy felt during this coming year.
I will try out sailing in the Truesdale Sunfish Fleet #27 this spring and summer. (Sunfish are available to borrow from lake residents if you’d like to give it a try – contact us ahead of the Sunday races and we can figure it out.)

Happy 2021 to all!

Thanks to Janet Andersen and others for these timely resolutions, add yours below in the comments.

October 17, 2020
by rob
Comments Off on 2020/2021 Truesdale Lake Drawdown to Begin Next Week

2020/2021 Truesdale Lake Drawdown to Begin Next Week

Photo: exposed tree stumps left behind are revealed during the 2019 drawdown. The stumps date from 1929 when the stream was dammed and the lake was formed. These trees were cut down but the stumps were not removed and they remain in the south end of Lake Truesdale nearly 100 years later.

With the recent drop in temperature and seeing little to no activity on the lake, we decided to begin the lake drawdown next week.

Depending on the amount of rain we might encounter, the water level should drop quickly over the following 2 weeks. This will allow the exposed mud on the lake bed to compact and help minimize next years weed growth in the shallow parts of the lake

For those with waterfront homes – this is a great time to take advantage of the lower water level to make any repairs, clean up your shore line and remove any fallen trees from the water.

If you have not seen a drawdown or want to refresh your memory, check this kayak-level view of the drawdown and the secrets it exposed in 2019. (Photos by Rob Cummings, Sept 2019)

Signs have been placed on either side of the dam indicating where fishing will not be permitted during the drawdown.

There is no fishing permitted from the bridge and between the signs posted on Indian Lane.

TLPOA Lake Management Team – John Gusmano, Ray Morse and Lara Gorton

Website note: There is absolutely NO FISHING allowed in the stream from the north side of the dam and bridge. It is private property. Signs have been placed. Numerous cleanups have been done in the past six months of fishing line and hooks in that stream and the bushes and trees that surround it. Several water birds have been trapped by the crisscrossing discarded fishing line. At least one Great Blue Heron was killed by discarded fishing line.

October 13, 2020
by rob
Comments Off on November 2nd – TEA Fall 2020 Membership Meeting

November 2nd – TEA Fall 2020 Membership Meeting

Fall 2020 Membership Meeting Nov 2nd @ ZOOM Virtual (meeting info available via email, send us a note if you did not get it)

The TEA Annual Fall Membership Meeting is planned for Monday, Nov 2, 2020 via Zoom. If we have your email address, you have gotten the link via email. Meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Contact Rob Cummings to RSVP for the meeting via email tea@truesdalelake.com for more information and Zoom Meeting Link.

Agenda

President and other Officer reports
Treasurer: YTD FY2020-2021 Bud, vs. Act.
Beach Report / Lake Committee update
Project updates – Lake Drawdown 2020-21
Upcoming meeting schedule for coming year.
New Officers proposed slate for 2021-22:
- President: Rob Cummings, Vice President: Howard Citron, Treasurer: Mike Vellensky, Recording Secretary: Wendy Daniels, Corresponding Secretary: TBD,Sergeant at Arms: Kay Jex.
- IMPORTANT: If anyone is interested in the Corresponding Secretary role, let us know

Some helpful links for lake residents new and old:

NOTE: Current TEA Board & Officers Terms will end Dec. 31, 2020 — let us know if you are interested in an officer spot next term. See contact info at the bottom of this newsletter.

Current TEA Board & Officers 2019-2020

President: Michael Jackson, Vice President: Wendy Daniels, Treasurer: Ruth Vellensky, Recording Secretary: Howard Citron, Corresponding Secretary: Rob Cummings, Sergeant at Arms: Debbie Fink.

TEA Board Members

Lisa Capobianco (Beach Chairperson), Glenn Capobianco, Harron Appleman, Melissa Scarlatto, Tom Houlihan, Ira Sanchick, Kathleen Ward Gallagher, Carol Gamez, Mike Vellensky, Kay Jex.

TEA Board – Are you interested in joining?

If you are interested in serving as a TEA officer or board member, please email us at tea@truesdalelake.com.

We are always looking for new ideas and energy to work with our outstanding TEA board members. A BIG Thank you goes out to current board members for your time and service.

What’s Going On

Beach Report

Summer 2020 was a great year for the beach. We started with a socially distanced beach cleanup the week before Labor Day and went all the way through the extended summer with great weather and mostly good water quality.

Photo: cleaning up weeds and spreading sand in May 2020 at the beach clean-up

Lifeguards were on duty over the weekends and many residents took advantage of our beach as an outdoor haven during the pandemic summer when many other outdoor areas were restricted or crowded.

Lake Drawdown Project

We plan to draw down the lake again for the 2020-21 winter. That process will start around mid-October/early November and end in February 2021.

Last year we drew the water down THREE feet below spillway level. This year the aim is FOUR feet below spillway. So more lake bottom will be exposed.

Drawdown is explained and will be documented on the lake website here:

http://truesdalelake.com/drawdown

Geese Management Program

The Joint Lake Management Committee has organized resident volunteers starting in the early spring to manage the resident Canada goose population on Truesdale Lake. The program is run in cooperation with the US National Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS).

We obtain a permit each year to take a census and oil eggs to control and limit the resident geese population. More information is available here: truesdalelake.com/goose

Nextdoor Lake Website

There is a useful community website at truesdalelake.nextdoor.com where neighbors can discuss lake issues and post other items such as for sale items, local events, questions, and other neighborhood bulletins.

New Beach Boat Rack Built Spring 2020

In the spring of 2020 volunteers got together to build a 6-shelf boat rack for TEA member rental. Seasonal rental is $100/shelf. The shelves can accommodate 2 kayaks or 2 paddle boards, a canoe, a sunfish, or a rowboat. Lower shelves are reserved for heavier boats like sunfish and rowboats.

The existing rack is full and returning TEA renters have right of first refusal for next season.

We have had some interest in building a SECOND rack. We do have room for one more rack. We will do this if we have FOUR of the six spots committed before building it. We have two TEA members who are committed so far. Price will be $100/season for each shelf. More information: http://truesdalelake.com/tea/

Ongoing Improvements

If you see anything that needs updating or replacement at the beach or boat launch property, please let us know at tea@truesdalelake.com.

Meeting dates for 2021:

The TEA Spring Membership Meeting will be Monday, April 5th, 2021 location TBD. The board meeting to plan for the membership meeting will be Mon. March 1st, 2021.

The TEA Fall Membership Meeting will be Monday, November 1st, 2021 at location TBD. The board meeting to plan for the membership meeting will be Mon. Oct 4th, 2021.

TEA Map and Other TEA Resources Online

Map available at the website here: http://www.truesdalelake.com/tea

For residents new to the lake, download the TEA Welcome and Information Packet from this location as well.

*If you are interested in helping volunteering for the board or a specific activity, please email tea@truesdalelake.com

Contact Information

Truesdale Estates Association
PO Box 363
South Salem, NY 10590 
tea@truesdalelake.com

October 6, 2020
by rob
Comments Off on History: TLPOA Newsletter Archive Gallery

History: TLPOA Newsletter Archive Gallery

Imaged TLPOA Newsletters from 1980 – 2008. Not a complete archive but there are a lot of them!

Towards the end of the Newsletter archive are scans of the original Truesdale Lake sales brochure. The trees were a lot shorter and fewer in number back in the 1930s!

Enjoy dipping your toe in the history of the lake!

If you have any old newsletters or photos, please let us know at lake@truesdalelake.com and we can scan and post them.

TLPOA Newsletter Scans

166 photos

View newsletter gallery in photo album here: https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-2hwX7n/

September 29, 2020
by rob
Comments Off on Lake Treatment for Phragmites TODAY 9/29/20

Lake Treatment for Phragmites TODAY 9/29/20

Photo: Pon & Lake Connection fanboat surveying and treating today.

Pond & Lake Connection was out on the lake this morning treating phragmites which are an invasive species of reed that grows along the shoreline. The herbicide used was Clearcast. There are no water usage restrictions.

Phragmites proliferate quickly and grow into the lakebed causing marshy outgrowth and reducing shoreline access. They are particularly bad in the south end of the lake around the TEA beach area where Pond & Lake is concentrating their efforts. Phragmites treatment was also made in selected other spots around the lake. In addition, spot treatments of cutrine for algae control were also made.

Read more about phragmites here: http://nyis.info/invasive_species/common-reed/

Thanks – TLPOA Lake Management Team

September 15, 2020
by rob
Comments Off on Truesdale Lake Drawdown 2020-21

Truesdale Lake Drawdown 2020-21

As a part of our continuing lake management plan, we will be drawing down the lake level again this fall to help control weed growth in the spring.

Photo: 2019-2020 siphon installation at the Indian Lane Dam on Truesdale Lake

Pond & Lake Connection will begin installing the siphons at the dam on Thursday, Sept 17 in preparation for lowering the water level in mid to late October to allow time to enjoy the lake for a few more weeks.

The weir boards at the spillway will not be removed as they are used to support the siphon pipes so the water level will not be affected until the draw down begins.

A notice will be sent to the lake community before the draw down begins to alert riparian homeowners to secure or remove floating docks and boats.

-TLPOA Lake Management – John Gusmano, Ray Morse and Lara Gorton