Truesdale Lake  

South Salem, New York

March 31, 2016
by rob
Comments Off on Article Link: Plants to Use and Avoid When Planting a Vegetative Buffer

Article Link: Plants to Use and Avoid When Planting a Vegetative Buffer

Allied Biological has merged with another company and renamed itself SOLitude.

SOLitude is the company we contract with (edit: we no longer use SOLitude for lake treatment) to apply herbicides and algaecides to the lake in the spring and summer as needed. They also test the water and perform plant surveys periodically as well. SOLitude works with our Lake Management Committee to develop a lake treatment plan for each summer.

You can read more about our Lake Management Committee here. The Lake Management Committee is made up of residents of the lake community who are dedicated to sustainable management of our wonderful lake.

The SOLitude website has some helpful articles including this one (excerpt here):

Recommended Plants to Use and Avoid When Establishing a Vegetative Buffer

Lake and pond issues often start on land. When it rains, stormwater runoff accumulates a significant amount of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen before draining into your waterbody. This can lead to water quality issues like foul odor, poor water clarity and algae blooms. Having an established vegetative buffer surrounding your lake or pond not only helps filter these harmful nutrients, but also provides shoreline stability and helps prevent erosion. And by reducing the inflow of sediment into your waterbody, a well-maintained buffer can help prolong or even prevent the need for future dredging.

Additionally, vegetative buffers create an excellent habitat for dragonflies and other natural predators that feed on mosquitoes and their larvae, thus leading to improved mosquito control around your lake or pond. Buffers are also a major deterrent to nuisance Canada Geese and can prevent them from becoming full time residents on your property….

Here are a few beneficial buffer plants that we recommend:

  • Native sedges and rushes
  • Pickerelweed
  • Blue Flag iris
  • Swamp milkweed
  • Lizard’s Tail
  • Cardinal flower

On the other hand, there are some common invasive plants that can spread rapidly and cause harm to your ecosystem.

It’s recommended to avoid the following invasive plant species:

  • Phragmites or common reed
  • Purple loosestrife
  • Cattails
  • Alligator weed
  • Water primrose
  • Smartweed

It’s also best to avoid woody vegetation as it can destabilize banks, dry out soil and add large amounts of unwanted nutrients to your waterbody.

[Read more at SOLitude website]

Their site also has many other useful resources.

March 30, 2016
by rob
Comments Off on TEA Spring Membership Meeting April 4th

TEA Spring Membership Meeting April 4th

TEAThe TEA Annual Spring Membership Meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 4th, 2016 at the Horse & Hound on Spring Street.  The meeting will be held in the back room. Meet and greet at 7:15 and meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m.

The meeting is open to TEA members in good standing.

Contact Rob Cummings (914-269-8435) to RSVP for the meeting or email tea@truesdalelake.com.

Agenda is on the mailing sent to all TEA Members in Good Standing a few weeks back. In addition, an email was sent to all members where we have your email address.

March 16, 2016
by rob
Comments Off on Under The Radar Neighborhoods – Republished Article

Under The Radar Neighborhoods – Republished Article

Posted this over 10 years ago when it first came out – someone recently forwarded me a link to this 2005 Westchester Magazine article featuring the Truesdale neighborhood.

http://www.westchestermagazine.com/Westchester-Magazine/October-2005/Neat-Under-the-Radar-Neighborhoods/

“What about a home in the $500 to $800-thousand range in a serene neighborhood, where kids ride their bikes along quiet streets and neighbors stop to chat?…

The community known as Truesdale sits quietly tucked away in a wooded section of Lewisboro and around a delightful centerpiece known as Lake Truesdale…”

March 1, 2016
by rob
Comments Off on NYSFOLA Conference April 29-May 1: The Water is Great in New York State

NYSFOLA Conference April 29-May 1: The Water is Great in New York State

nysfola-logoFrom the New York State Federation of Lake Associations (NYSFOLA) below about the annual conference April 29th – May 1st, 2016 at the White Eagle Conference Center in Hamilton, NY:

Greetings NYSFOLA Members!

“The Water is Great in New York State” 2016 Annual Conference agenda is now on our website at www.nysfola.org.  We have a few of the NYSFOLA “standards” for first time attendees as well as some new additions that we think you’ll enjoy! 

For fun, we have a “Paint a Lake” event on Friday night, but you must hurry if you want to bring out your inner artist.  Parrticipation is limited to the first 20 registrants.  We will also be having a Live Wine Auction, featuring the Seneca and Cayuga Wine Trails. This will take place on Saturday night after the banquet.  All proceeds benefit NYSFOLA.  Don’t forget to bring something for the annual Silent Auction.  It’s always a fun event that benefits the organization.

We are looking forward to this annual reunion of NYSFOLA members from across the state.  If you’ve never been to a NYSFOLA conference, we hope that you will make this your year.

We are still accepting nominations for the 2016 Lake Steward Awards.  Has someone gone “above and beyond the call of duty” for your lake association?  Tell us about them.  Awards will be presented at the banquet on Saturday evening.

Also, don’t forget to submit your newsletter for the 2016 Newsletter awards.  We enjoy reading your news, and you might win a prize!  All submissions must be received at the NYSFOLA office by April 15th.

See you at White Eagle!

January 23, 2016
by rob
Comments Off on Winter Ice Safety Post

Winter Ice Safety Post

I have upgraded the ice safety post from an annual post at the beginning of winter to a permanent page under the Lake Management menu item at the top of the lake website. That way it will be easier to find if needed and I won’t forget to post the article 😉

Permanent article is here: http://truesdalelake.com/lake-management/ice-safety/ or click the Lake Management link above and go to Ice Safety.

Thanks to Scott Evans for the great summary and video link copied below.

What to do if you fall through the ice. DON’T PANIC!

1) COLD SHOCK PHASE (first minute of taking the plunge): Initial strong gasp, followed by inability to breathe for several seconds and then hyperventilation. Expect this response so that you don’t panic and so that you will start to breathe easier and sooner. Tread water vigorously back toward the place where you broke through. It will take one full minute before you can control your breathing again as the cold shock passes. It will pass!

2) SELF-RESCUE PHASE (within first ten minutes): Get both arms on top of the ice ledge where you broke through. You cannot pull your body out while your feet are vertically below your head. Start kicking your straightened legs vigorously feet while yelling loudly and repeatedly, “Kick and Pull, Kick and Pull! Get my body horizontal”! Continue kicking until your feet are thrashing through the surface of the water behind you and then pull your elbows into your waist while kicking with all your strength. When you are on top of the ice, roll your body back toward the strong ice away from where you broke through..

3) ASSISTED PHASE (if you lose strength and are not able to get out of the hole and on top of the ice): Place both arms flat on top of the ice ledge to keep your head, shoulders and chest out of the hypothermic water. Do not move your arms as you WANT to allow the wet material on your coat to freeze to the ice, in the event you lose consciousness. Make no further motions. Yell to rescuers to slide a ladder out to you. Grab the end rung of the ladder and the rescuer should pull the other end attached to a long rope. Be prepared to direct your own rescue if the good samaritan does not know how to deploy the ladder and the rope.

Also, watch the video linked below:

January 1, 2016
by rob
Comments Off on Welcome 2016! Some Lake Resolutions for the New Year

Welcome 2016! Some Lake Resolutions for the New Year

lakesunset

Some Lake Stewardship Resolutions:

  1. I will get my septic tank pumped and inspected. If the tank baffles are missing or damaged, I’ll have them replaced. (Kaiser-Battistone offers 15% discount for lake area residents – but you have to tell them about the discount!)
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. I’ll pick up after my pets and throw their poop into the trash.
  5. This year I’ll make sure no oil or gas from my mower or car spills on the ground or into the lake.
  6. 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.
  7. If I haven’t done so already, this is the year I’ll take a safe boating course.
  8. 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.
  9. I’ll start or use a compost pile (away from the lake shore, wet areas, or streams).
  10. If it’s icy, I’ll minimize my use of salt by using kitty litter or sand where I can.
  11. I’ll learn more about my lake’s history, health, plants, and animals this year.
  12. I will send photos I take around the lake to us here (lake@truesdalelake.com) so we can post for everyone to enjoy!
  13. I will join and volunteer with my lake association and make my voice heard and my energy felt during this coming year.

Happy New Year to all!

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

December 27, 2015
by rob
Comments Off on Listing of All Website Posts

Listing of All Website Posts

This page: http://truesdalelake.com/sitemap/all-posts/ has a summary listing of all 300+ chronological website posts made on TruesdaleLake.com throughout its nearly 15 year history.

A listing of the less time-sensitive (aka “timeless”) Pages of this website can be found here: http://truesdalelake.com/sitemap/ including pages like Truesdale FAQs, Association information, Docks, Boats, Lake Management, and Projects.

December 21, 2015
by rob
Comments Off on Winter Is Coming

Winter Is Coming

Everyone had such a great response to the Fall photo series, we’re back again for Winter!

Send your winter lake photos to lake@truesdalelake.com and I will post them at the lake website.

Photos can feature snow, ice, bare trees, fog, winter animals, winter activities like sledding or skating, fire pits, ice fishing — or pretty much anything that happens in winter around and on Truesdale Lake. If you have winter photos from past years send them in but please note the year if you know it.

If you have a title for your photo, let me know. All photos will be credited to the photographer.

Thanks! … Rob

December 16, 2015
by rob
Comments Off on Truesdale Lake – End of Year Report

Truesdale Lake – End of Year Report

img43f011549949cAllied Biological issued their first of a kind end of year report for Truesdale Lake.

It summarizes the state of the lake and the treatments made to the lake for the summer 2015 season. It’s a quick read and a good reference. Hopefully they continue producing these annual reports.

Download: Truesdale Lake Year End Summary

December 9, 2015
by rob
Comments Off on Lake Manager Talk December 10th at 7:30pm

Lake Manager Talk December 10th at 7:30pm

Forwarding a note From David Sachs via Next-door Truesdale website: 

“Good afternoon on this overcast and damp and chilly December afternoon. Just a quick reminder – Michael Martin from Princeton Hydro will be speaking tomorrow evening – about lake management in general and Truesdale Lake in specific.

We will begin at 7:30 promptly and will end, I would assume, about 9 or 9:30. Michael has managed lakes for 30 years, and has a lot of interesting ideas to share. Some are similar to things you have heard before, and others are new and different. Come and join us if you can.”

Link to note: https://truesdalelake.nextdoor.com/news_feed/?post=18989295