Truesdale Lake  

South Salem, New York

August 3, 2021
by rob
Comments Off on Spring 2021 TLPOA Newsletter

Spring 2021 TLPOA Newsletter

Screen shot from page 1 of the Spring 2021 TLPOA newsletter

The TLPOA Spring 2021 newsletter is available to download here.

TLPOA-NEWSLETTER-SPRING-2021Download

The topics included in this newsletter include:

  • Amended Bylaws
  • Water Corporation Update
  • e-Mail Billing
  • Branch & Twig Pick-up
  • Our Beach Opens!
  • Sandcastle Competition
  • Beach Volleyball
  • Family Movie Night
  • End of School Summer Party
  • July 4th Bike Parade
  • BYO at Sundown at the Beach
  • Social Club Stroll
  • Water Quality Report
  • Fishing Tags Issued
  • New and Returning Residents
  • Lake Management
  • Winter Drawdown Results
  • Front Entrance Improvement
  • Tips on Trees and Lawn Care
  • Tackling Our Resident Geese
  • Boat Auction – TBD
  • Truesdale Lake History Corner

TLPOA President’s Message

Words cannot describe how happy I am that spring is finally here (sort of) and things are somewhat getting back to normal. Hope this newsletter finds everyone happy and healthy and looking forward to a great season on the lake!

Wanted to take my space in the newsletter to catch everyone up on some items and what we have planned for the spring and summer.

First a quick recap of the Association Special Meeting held on March 25th via Zoom. 46 homes attended the meeting which might be an all-time high, and that is great. But that also means 106 homes did not attend. We would love to have as many owners as possible attend so everyone is involved in decisions made on their behalf and can have some input on items presented during the meetings.

Items presented and voted on were:

  • Amendments to the Bylaws which were presented and approved 46 to 0
  • Water Corporation update and the new 5-year step increase was approved 46 to 0
  • Association update and long- range projects and $55 increase to annual dues approved 44 to 2
  • Sale of part of paper road was tabled until June Association Meeting when full legal agreement can be reviewed
  • Approval to put up for sale 3 unused properties to raise capital for future Dam repair and maintenance was passed 42 to 3

We believe that the new electronic billing system that was utilized for the January Water Corporation meter reading and February water bill was a huge success and we received significant positive feedback on the ease of use and communications. Here are some couple of data points we thought would be interesting to know:

know of 147 homes on the water system:

  • 125 got their meter reading in on time
  • 18 took a little prompting to get them to get it in
  • 4 are still outstanding due to not being physically at their home
  • 12 requested paper bills when bills went out
  • 130 homes paid their bill online or sent in a check by the Due Date
  • 15 homes paid their bill after some extra communication and prompting from us
  • 2 are multiple years in arrears and slated to have their water shut off this month

While we are happy with how it went, we ask that everyone be mindful of your community volunteers time and energy and get in your meter readings and payments on time.

In this newsletter you will see what we have planned for the Spring and Summer 2021! Our volunteers have put together a great many events and projects so be on the lookout for emails and notices.

The TLPOA Board and I really hope folks will come out and enjoy what our great neighborhood has to offer!

Nick Fiegoli

Check the PDF version for the complete newsletter.

July 27, 2021
by rob
Comments Off on Lake Rights vs. Lake Access

Lake Rights vs. Lake Access

Recently there has been news of two vacant properties for sale by the town that carry lake rights to Truesdale Lake.

Here is the statement read to the Lewisboro Town Board during public comment period on July 26, 2021:

“Tonight I am speaking about Lake Rights vs. Lake Access. Specifically lake rights to Truesdale Lake through the Truesdale Estates Association, Inc. owned properties.

Our association (TEA, Inc.) is a homeowner association corporation owning the TEA beach, the TEA boat launch, and the entire 83 acre lake bottom.

The TEA, Inc. can only invite property owners from the original TEA, Inc. subdivision to become members. (See map on the Truesdale lake website.)

A few weeks ago the Town Board voted to sell two properties it owns. These two parcels are in the original subdivision of TEA, Inc. and new owners of these properties are eligible to be invited to become members in the TEA, Inc.

Some important points:

  1. Lake Rights are not the same thing as Lake Access.
  2. TEA, Inc. lake access is only for TEA members in good standing.
  3. In order to become a member and maintain membership in good standing, a new owner must:
    • Be invited by the TEA Inc. Board
    • Pay membership initiation fee plus assessed dues
    • Continue to pay annual dues payments
  4. Failure to pay annual dues results in 1.) membership suspension, then 2.) membership expulsion if dues are not paid.
  5. Any member who is expelled cannot rejoin.
  6. One household per property is the limit on membership. The TEA will not extend a membership invitation to a property owner seeking to extend their property to more than one household via a sub-association, partnership, LLC, non-profit organization, government entity, corporate ownership, or any other means.

If you are looking for more information, please send us an email at tea@truesdalelake.com with specific questions.

Thank you.”

EDIT: someone asked why I posted this. With all of the “Lake Rights property for sale” talk I wanted to balance it out with the reality about Lake Responsibilities. If someone wants to join our community in this way, we’d prefer they know about the financial responsibilities that come with our membership and lake stewardship. Buying a vacant parcel that has lake rights is not a free ride into our lake community. It is an introduction. We welcome and wish any purchaser the best, but the TEA is made up of members committed to the lake and its health and we expect any new members to take the responsibility seriously.

July 20, 2021
by rob
Comments Off on Reminder: Full Moon Regatta This Friday 7/23 – Get your boats ready!

Reminder: Full Moon Regatta This Friday 7/23 – Get your boats ready!

We will meet in the middle of the lake starting around 8:00pm friday night 7/23. See prior post for more details.

The TEA will be holding a “moonrise BBQ” at the Truesdale Lake Drive beach starting at 5:30 p.m. and going until around 8 p.m.

Lake association residents are invited to join in – come over via boat if you can and have a burger, hot dog, chicken, or veggie burger as we count down to the full moonrise at 8:32pm. Stop by for an a few hours or a few minutes! Just don’t miss the moonlight regatta.

Contact us if you have questions.

June 23, 2021
by rob
Comments Off on Truesdale Full Moon Regatta – Friday, July 23

Truesdale Full Moon Regatta – Friday, July 23

Come out on the lake to welcome the full moon FRIDAY July 23, 2021.

  • Plan to be underway by 8:15 (prep your boats during daylight hours) and arrive mid-lake by 8:30pm. The moon will rise at 8:32pm but won’t be visible over the eastern treeline until around 9pm.
  • All ages welcome!
  • Light up your boats creatively — but not too brightly. Glow sticks, LEDs, lanterns with dimming control, etc.
  • Hang out as long as you’d like. BYO whatever you’d like. Sharing optional but welcomed.
  • Meet new neighbors and reacquaint with old ones.
  • Save the higher powered lights to help you get back to your launch area afterwards. Please refrain from shining bright lights while gathered.
  • Once people have adjusted to night vision you’d be amazed how well you can see by full moonlight.

Weather dependent — we can still go out with cloud cover but steady rain cancels. Hoping for the same magical weather we had event last August!

Ideas, questions, feedback? Let us all know…

See event and updates on Nextdoor Truesdale and Lake Truesdale Instagram

Image: from timeanddate.com – sunrise and sunset times for July 23. Plus “nautical twilight” and the other twilights…
Moonrise times for July 23rd from timeanddate.com
Photos from August 1, 2020 Moonlight Regatta on Truesdale Lake.

More August 2020 Moonlight Regatta photos are here.

May 17, 2021
by rob
Comments Off on Initial Treatment May 24, 2021

Initial Treatment May 24, 2021

May 24th Initial Treatment for 2021 Summer Season

Pond and Lake Connection will be treating the lake on Monday, May 24th.

The lake drawdown worked as planned as you can see that any plant growth out in the water is at least 15 to 20 feet from shore where the lake bed was exposed this winter.

We wanted the plant life to remain as long as possible before the end of May to feed off the nutrients in the water and avoid algae blooms as the lake season begins and summer progresses.

So now that they have done their job and the early growth is having their initial die-off, it is time to start our summer treatment program.

The Truesdale Lake Management Committee

April 15, 2021
by rob
Comments Off on NY State Septic Repair and Replacement Program Outline

NY State Septic Repair and Replacement Program Outline

New York State Home

There is a new septic repair and replacement program offering assistance to eligible homeowners in eligible counties in New York State.

Houses around Truesdale Lake are specifically eligible for this program to help defray the costs of upgrading or replacing their septic systems. See contact information below if you have questions.

Truesdale Lake (1302-0054)Heather McVeigh
hdh1@westchestergov.com

An outline of the program is below. The original PDF summary that this post is copied from is also available to download below.

NY STATE SEPTIC SYSTEM REPLACEMENT FUND

PROGRAM OUTLINE April 1, 2021

PDF Document download here:Download

[Document is also below. If there are differences the original documents are here: https://www.efc.ny.gov/SepticReplacement]

  1. Background
  2. Definitions
  3. Septic Program Description
  4. Septic Repair and Replacement Priority Geographic Areas – Long Island
  5. Septic Repair and Replacement Priority Geographic Areas – Upstate
  6. Septic System Conditions Warranting Repair, Upgrade or Replacement
  7. Septic Program Eligibility
  8. Administrative and Reimbursement Process
Continue Reading →

April 12, 2021
by rob
Comments Off on Goose Management 2021 Program Status Update

Goose Management 2021 Program Status Update

We have six volunteers who are managing the Fish & Wildlife Service permit that allows us to control the Canada Goose population on Truesdale Lake.

The permits allow us to addle and oil the eggs to prevent the eggs from developing and greatly reduces the number of Canada Geese on Lake truesdale not only the current year but also in subsequent years as it changes the migratory behavior of the targeted geese.

The mated geese end up spending their valuable incubation time on the nest with intact but non-developing eggs. Then after a failed nesting the geese pair continues their migration to the Canadian Tundra which is their natural summer feeding grounds. (See PDF information for more detail)

Pirate Island nest with watchful pair checking our activity.

These are the nest and egg counts to date, listed by island from North to South:

Waxwing Island (northernmost island):

3/31 visit – 2 nests

  • W1 north 2 eggs
  • W2 east 0 eggs
  • 2 total eggs 3/31 visit

4/7 visit – 4 nests

  • W1 N 7 eggs
  • W2 E 5 eggs
  • W3 W 5 eggs
  • W4 E 1 eggs
  • 18 total eggs 4/7

Ant Island (middle island):

3/31 visit – 1 nest

  • A1 southeast 3 eggs
  • 3 total 3/31 visit

4/7 visit – 2 nests

  • A1 E 6 eggs
  • A2 W 2 eggs
  • 8 total eggs 4/7 visit

Pirate Island (southernmost island):

4/3 visit – 3 Nests:

  • PI-S-1: 4 eggs – south edge of island
  • PI-W-2: 4 eggs – west edge of island
  • PI-W-2: 5 eggs – west edge of island
  • 11 total 4/3 visit

4/11 visit – 6 nests: (3 existing, 3 new)

Existing nests from earlier visit:

  • PI-S-1: 3 eggs (minus one from earlier visit)
  • PI-W-2: 5 eggs (same as earlier visit)
  • PI-W-3: 3 eggs (minus one from earlier visit)
  • PI-NE-4: 3 eggs – northeast edge of island
  • PI-N-5: 6 eggs – north edge of island
  • PI-CE-6: 6 eggs – center of island (not near shoreline)
  • 26 total 4/11 visit

Summary as of 4/11 (islands listed from north to south):

  • Waxwing: 18
  • Ant: 8
  • Pirate: 26

Grand total as of 4/11: 52 eggs

Feathered nest of 5

We also noted a Swan Nest with 3 eggs on west side of Pirate Island and Mallard Duck nest with 10 eggs in center of Pirate Island. Neither of these nests were disturbed.

April 1, 2021
by rob
Comments Off on Truesdale Fishing Rules 2021

Truesdale Fishing Rules 2021

Truesdale Fishing Tag Application link

Lake Members:

AMENDED FISHING RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR 2021

As many of you are aware, last year we had a substantial increase in folks who were not members of the associations fishing on our dam and bringing boats into the lake. 

This resulted in fishing in restricted areas, blocked traffic, the death of wildlife entangled in snared and discarded fishing lines, and significant amounts of garbage left behind for residents to clean up. 

This has led to the unfortunate need to increase enforcement of our private lake rights to reduce the harm to our ecosystem and property.

To keep our lake community and wildlife safe, the boards of TLPOA and TEA have jointly agreed to require and issue a Fishing Permit Tag to association members in good standing who would like to fish on association properties.

There is no cost for a tag. Tag request link is below.

Signs will be installed reminding everyone that this is a private lake and fishing permits are required. These actions were implemented based on the results of the lake wide survey from 2020 and some good old fashioned common sense. The link to the survey results is below.

Link to 2020 Fishing Survey and results:

2020 Fishing Survey Report

These steps will help to mitigate the increased issues experienced over the past couple of years and will empower the police to help us enforce the law and rules of our lake if they are called.  

Any member can nicely ask the folks using our dam to fish to see their tag if it is not displayed, politely ask them to leave if they are not a property owner.

If you wish to avoid the conversation completely you can contact the boards at TLPOAboard@gmail.com, tea@truesdalelake.com, or call the Lewisboro Police directly at (914) 763-8903. 

If any member feels they are fine with non-owners using the dam, just keep enjoying your walk or drive. No one is forced into being a security guard for the neighborhood.

The summary of our rules are really simple…

1 – You must be a member of one of the Lake Associations and required to have your new Fishing Permit Tag with you while fishing on the dam, boatyards, and in a boat

2 – You must accompany any guests you may invite over while they are fishing

3 – No fishing on the beaches

4 – Clean up after yourself

Link to the Full Fishing Rules and Regulations:

Fishing

To request your fishing tag, please click here…

Fishing Tag Application

Thank you,

The TLPOA Board of Governors

and

The TEA Board of Directors