The Amston Laker. PHOSPHOROUS and YOU. By: Mark Paul - ALD President

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1 1 The Amston Laker Spring 2016 District News The Amston Laker Spring PHOSPHOROUS and YOU By: Mark Paul - ALD President Reduce and control your phosphorous contribution to the Amston Lake watershed to aid in long term over abundant plant growth When you enter the Amston Lake watershed area, it is marked with green and white signs. To have long-term control over the plant growth in the lake, we need to eliminate sources of Phosphorous that causes overgrowth of water lilies and other invasive plant life. To accomplish this we all need to work together to reduce the amount of phosphorous entering our watershed. This will help us to save tax dollars in the long run. Phosphorous is the main source of food for weeds and algae. The main source and creator of the over abundant phosphorous is us, the people who live in the Amston Lake watershed area. Septic systems: Ultimately, phosphorous from septic systems containing human waste leach into the lake. Both sides of the lake have sewers installed though there may still be septic systems being used in the watershed area. If you have a septic system, it should be pumped out and inspected every 1 to 3 years to minimize negative impacts on the lake. Also, we should only use detergents for washing dishes and clothing that do not contain phosphorous. We know that automatic dishwashing detergents (for a machine) often do contain phosphorous. However, Big Y carries a powdered brand called Seventh Generation. It is a bit more expensive but does not contain any phosphorous. (And, you need to use about 1/3 less so you may even save money!) Storm water runoff: Our homes, outbuildings, driveways, roads and paths create hard, unnatural surfaces which cannot soak up water. The water runs off of the hard surfaces and rushes into the lake through storm drains, stream inlets and across our lawns and carries phosphorous into the lake. To minimize the impact of phosphorous in water runoff, we should: Install rain barrels to collect water fromn our gutters and then use the water on the lawn and flowers in our yards. Install rain gardens to soak up the rainwater before it reaches the lake Remove solid surfaces (tar, concrete and old unused outbuildings) and replace them with stones or grass/garden areas so rainwater can soak in Wash our cars at the commercial car wash (there s one in Hebron and one in Colchester within 10 miles of the lake)

2 The Amston Laker Spring 2016 District News Do not dump anything into the storm drains around the lake Continue to encourage the towns to clean out the storm drain systems and to sweep the streets

2 2 The Amston Laker Spring 2016 District News Do not dump anything into the storm drains around the lake Continue to encourage the towns to clean out the storm drain systems and to sweep the streets in the spring Landscaping and Fertilizing: Phosphorous is abundant in lawn cuttings and leaves. It is also contained in the fertilizers we use to make our yards green. Many waterfront communities have made it illegal to use fertilizer containing phosphorous. To reduce the amount of phosphorous and other extra nutrients from entering the lake from our yards we should: Submit soil samples from our yards to the CT Dept of Agriculture in New Haven to determine what fertilizer our soils really do need Use fertilizer without any phosphorous Do not fertilize within three feet of the edge of the lake Plant native grasses, shrubs, trees and other plants as a buffer along portions of the lakefront to absorb water as it drains toward the lake Build pathways that are curvy and meander through the lawn, not straight down to the lake so water runs down the pathway Consider replacing old retaining walls with naturally sloped banks, planted with native vegetation Install plastic sheeting to stop soil from running into storm drains or the lake during construction or soil work if there is a rainstorm Do not dispose of leaves from your yard by dumping them in an empty lot or near a storm drain or stream area; leaves clogging the storm drains is the major natural contributor to the amount of phosphorous running directly into the lake Do not allow grass clippings to enter the lake; mulching them back into the lawn will feed the lawn and not the lake Do not allow soil to erode into the lake; soil contains phosphorous too; install riprap stones and native plants to hold loose soil in place Keep fertilizer, leaves and grass clippings off patios, streets and driveways; a rainstorm will wash them directly into the lake Do not cut down trees more than 6 inches in diameter within 50 feet of the water unless they poise a safety hazard; trees soak up water in their roots and break the fall of rain with their leaves As part of our long-term aquatic plant management plan, we need to address the sources of nutrients which are allowing the over abundance of plant life to grow in Amston Lake. If we can eliminate much of the plants food sources (the phosphorous) then the number of plants will naturally decline. Please be mindful of your actions and how those actions will affect the lake.

District News The Amston Laker Spring 2016 3 I would like to welcome back the summer residents to what I hope turns out to be a glorious 2016 summer season.

3 District News The Amston Laker Spring I would like to welcome back the summer residents to what I hope turns out to be a glorious 2016 summer season. If you live on the lake year round then you know all too well how beautiful this location is in the "off season". We should all consider ourselves lucky to be part of such a wonderful neighborhood. Many of you are aware that we have 2 dams in the district that work to contain what we all know as Amston Lake. The Main Dam is located just to the north of Main Beach area. This dam is the main instrument for keeping water in the lake, it has an open spillway as well as a manual override that allows the district to lower the water level through the removal of a series of weir boards. You might have noticed that this past fall we lowered the lake level to help us facilitate the dredging of the southeast cove. We were able to lower the lake 27 by systematically removing the weir boards within the main dam. The second dam is located just along North Pond road in the area known as the Duck Pond. Legend has it that this area was created by one of the early property owners for a place to raise ducks. The structure is less sophisticated than the main dam as it does not have a manual water level system, it only has a spillway which allows water to run over it creating a waterfall effect when the pond gets too full. SECURITY ISSUES By Barbara Lederer The feeling of security is important to every community- to assure the safety or our families and our property. The Amston Lake community has been lucky and thoughtful about its safety. This year, as a result of some questions raised to the Board about beach security, we wanted to make sure we were covering the needs of out residents. VEEP s Corner By Frank Hoisl Both of these dams now come under the jurisdiction of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and are registered within their department. This year, the district will have to complete an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for the Main Dam entailing guidance for proper monitoring of the dam during severe weather situations and for responding with appropriate emergency measures in the event of a potential failure of the structure. We have engaged a consulting engineering firm to help us determine the best course of action. Lastly, upon routine investigations of the dam structures it was noted that the Duck Pond dam has some construction issues. They have to do with the support system and some wear in the side walls. The district will also be retaining the assistance of a consulting engineering firm to help make recommendations on how to best correct it. As the saying goes, there is always something to do. Please be safe and smart around the lake, Frank Hoisl

4 The Amston Laker Spring 2016 District News A Survey was sent out on December 15, 2015 through an email blast to all residents for whom we had an email address. There were 145 responses.

4 4 The Amston Laker Spring 2016 District News A Survey was sent out on December 15, 2015 through an blast to all residents for whom we had an address. There were 145 responses. In general, respondents were satisfied with the security measures taken- people felt safe but didn t feel that a security presence was overbearing. The major reasons people wanted beach patrol was to assure that the beaches and ROWs are used only by the residents of the community and their guests. The two changes that were requested consistently were to have some beach patrol for the ROWs, in addition to the two beaches. And to have longer hours of security in general. We have tried to incorporate that into the proposed 2016/17 budget. We are still working on finalizing the staffing and schedules. We had drive-by security handled by Carl Wool during the off season. As a result, a number of trespassers were asked to leave and cars were required to be moved off beaches. Carl will also be in charge of opening and closing the gates of the beaches beginning Memorial Day weekend. NEW RESIDENT AT AMSTON LAKE By Brandon Pelegano Note: Brandon is a new member on the ALD BOD finishing his first Year. As the summer quickly approaches and we unwrap our grills, clean up our yards, dust off the fishing poles and put our boats back in the water to enjoy another beautiful summer you may find yourself asking, what is new at Amston Lake. This article will hopefully answer that question for you or at the minimum direct you to the location in which the answers may be found. I would like to first mention that this will be my second year at the lake and quite honestly I can t wait for the sun to shine again so that I can start enjoying another summer. Prior to purchasing our home, my wife and I would often drive around the lake to get a feel for the neighborhood to see if it would be a good fit for us. We also visited the Amston Lake website, and quickly realized this was definitely a place we could call home. We quickly saw a sense of community and a clear dedication and promise from the residents to keep the surroundings and our greatest asset, the lake, clean and beautiful for generations to come. Because of this, we decided to move forward and are extremely happy with our decision. Wanting to do my part to contribute to our district, I asked to be voted in as a board member and when I did, I promised that if voted in, I would try to improve the communication within our district and most certainly improve the communication between the board and the district. Holding true to that promise, I am writing this letter to explain what has happened to date and what we can look forward to tomorrow. So I come back to the original question, what is new at Amston Lake? Well, based on comments and feedback of district neighbors, you will soon see slight changes happening both on our website as well as around the lake. For example, our website, org, will slowly be brought up to date and made easier to navigate. Current issues and topics will be listed first and misplaced material removed. We will explain what projects are underway and list the progress on them as well. We will introduce new ideas or issues that have been presented to the board and will clearly define what the board would like to address in the future so that no one is surprised when they see changes happening around them. In addition to the website updates, you may notice roads improvements on the Lebanon side. A Lebanon Roads committee was formed

District News The Amston Laker Spring 2016 5 and with their hard work and dedication they have made amazing progress at working with a contractor to bring our roads to a good state of repair.

5 District News The Amston Laker Spring and with their hard work and dedication they have made amazing progress at working with a contractor to bring our roads to a good state of repair. They are continuing their efforts so you will continue to see additional improvements as we move into the summer months. Our dredging project was successful and the contractor was able to fulfill the contract and remove truckloads of muck and by doing so, has improved our enjoyment of the lake as well as improving the overall health of the lake. Our beaches and right of ways are quickly being cleaned and pruned for our summer enjoyment. Our security will be enhanced with additional hours being added. Improved signage should also be noticed soon with old signs being restored or new signs being designed all in efforts to assist with improving communication within our district. Look for them, feel free to comment about them and always send your suggestions. Now that you know what is new, I would like to mention that not only are we attempting to improve communication by updating our website and our signs, but would also like to encourage you to attend our monthly meetings or send letters if you have suggestions or concerns. We make great efforts to address each and every concern and try to prioritize as best we can. But unless you reach out to us, or keep in contact via the website, your concerns will go unnoticed. Likewise, if you have suggestions for improvements you would like to see, bring them to the board s attention. This is a great community and the people I have met are friendly and neighborly so if we each do our part as a community, we can keep our lake the way it is for generations to come. Again, the Board encourages each of you to visit our website and continue to do so from time to time to see the changes, check out the updates and of course, contact us if you would like something added or removed. Thank you for taking the time to read this and I wish you all a wonderful summer. Brandon LEBANON ROADS BUDGET by Erika Lindenberg Approximately 1/2 roads will be reconstructed with current budget; 5200 LF out of 12,400 LF completed so far. Upgrades include establishment of drainage ditches and culverts where needed. Goal to upgrade rest of the roads this year. Committee requesting $50,000 budget for ; same as current year $20,000 for snow and $30,000 for roads; to complete rest of road upgrades. Last year was an estimate; now with competitive bid prices, have better idea of what is needed. With only $40,000, may not be able to complete all the roads during this fiscal year. o Longer time until upgrades can be done, but condition will worsen and more $ is needed for repair. o With $50,000, we can bid a higher quantity in one contract to get more competitive bids in order to pay less for more upgrades.

6 6 The Amston Laker Spring 2016 District News o Any excess monies will be spent on road repair for the following year; allowing for a reduced budget for next year. Information to add if there are questions: Total snow and sanding this year: $ $ sanding for hills? Say $9200. Average for last five years $20,000; so need to budget $20,000 for snow. Regular maintenance of roads this spring estimated at $3,000; including ditch cleanouts and pothole repair; roads that were upgraded this past budget year. The roads that were upgraded are in good condition. A few potholes and one culvert that needs to be repaired. Will address in future contracts LF or roadways rehabilitated: Kelly s Corner, Manion, Ryan Terrace, Cove, Park, and Wildwood 7200 LF left to rehabilitate will use some money from this current budget, so that is why approximately have will be completed Looking into solutions to make the roads last even longer before maintenance is needed, but a comparison of costs versus longevity would be needed Long term maintenance is only estimated for this year; will have a better idea once we complete more of the roads; will have more information for next year s budget. Roads need to have crowns reestablished, and drainage ditches maintained to keep the water off the road. Water is the main culprit for deteriorating the roadways. First time getting competitive bids and created additional drainage ditches and culverts to help keep water off the road. Rest of roads to be rehabilitated: Beech, Ledge, Woodland approx. with this year s budget and extra money from snow budget, then: Island Beach, Catherine, Louise, Andrews, Scanlon, and Bush Roads. MAINTENANCE UPDATE By Claire Lenti Welcome everyone to summer at Amston Lake. The improvement of our beaches and rows is a never ending process. Since last summer, many jobs have been completed. In August 2015, the Duck Pond area was cleaned of debris. The old fencing in the water was removed, weeds and brush were cut and disposed of, and the water outlet was cleared allowing the water to run freely. Spring cleanup for 2016 is completed on the beaches and rows. Bushes were pruned, rows are cleaned of debris and the boats racks have been stained. At Lollipop beach, brush was removed near the parking lot and the walkway trimmed. The railroad ties on Lollipop beach were disintegrating and have been replaced. A tar apron was added to the parking lot entrance last summer. Cove right of way was renovated after the dredging. Grass and a small plunge pool were added at the end of the stream to stop debris from entering the lake. To improve the appearance of Francis row, the stones have been removed and replaced with dirt and grass.

District News The Amston Laker Spring 2016 7 As of this writing, details are in discussion concerning sifting the sand on the Main Beach to remove weeds, prickers, and debris, and adding aprons to

! It s now fun in the sun and fishing time, Yeah!! As always, I and the board ask you to be vigilant when fishing. If you fish from shore, please pick up litter.

undesignated areas. We want to insure that the lakes fish population isn t depleted. In order to do this, we ask that you practice catch and release fishing.

7 District News The Amston Laker Spring As of this writing, details are in discussion concerning sifting the sand on the Main Beach to remove weeds, prickers, and debris, and adding aprons to the Main Beach entrance and Cove row entrance. I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable summer! COVE ROW LOLLIPOP BEACH FISHING TIME By Lou Lenti Friends and neighbors, Welcome back!! It s now fun in the sun and fishing time, Yeah!! As always, I and the board ask you to be vigilant when fishing. If you fish from shore, please pick up litter. If you are fishing from a boat, keep a look out for anything suspicious, such as people fishing in unregistered boats and people pursuing activities that are dangerous, such as swimming in undesignated areas. We want to insure that the lakes fish population isn t depleted. In order to do this, we ask that you practice catch and release fishing. If you chose to do this, it is best to use single hooks with flattened barbs. Doing this helps to lower fish mortality due to deep hooking. in the corner of their mouths rather than in their throats or stomachs. As you may recall, two seasons ago the board stocked 800 small (4-6 ) catfish. This year should have reached catchable size. I ask that anyone catching fish in the 10 range send me an . Please indicate the number, size, and location where the catfish were caught. I d really appreciate your input! Finally, I am planning to have Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) do another fish survey sometime in mid- October. This survey will tell us how the different species are doing. When the survey is completed, and results are received, I will post the findings on the Amston Lake website. We suggest that circle and octopus style hooks are best to use. Fish that are caught utilizing these types of hooks will generally be hooked I wish you all a happy and safe summer, as well as good luck fishing!! Lou1@juno.com

8 8 The Amston Laker Spring 2016 District News MANAGING AMSTON LAKE DISTRICT By Ray DeCormier, Ph.D. Management by Committee Last year I wrote an article about the board s decision to begin developing committees to help us manage ALD properties. The most successful committee we created was the Lebanon Roads Committee led by Erika Lindeberg and Ron Niemczyk. They presented their proposal to the Lebanon residents about their need for resources to fix the dirt roads in Lebanon. Upon receipt, they have made tremendous improvements to the roads. The roads have never been better. One day, we may actually see those roads permanently fixed so that maintenance costs can be substantially reduced. This committee has done an outstanding job and will continue to be serious contributor to ALD residents. Over this last year a few other committees were established. One committee (road safety committee) approached the board and wanted to help out by looking at idea for getting drivers to slow down on Deepwood Drive. The road is narrow and 100 s of kids walk on them to go to the beaches. Sadly, too many cars come piling down the road at 40+ mph. That s too fast and one day, we are going to witness a serious accident. Dana Lopez and Barb Dawley went around the lake and attained over 170 signatures on their petition calling for the town of Hebron and Lebanon to help us come up with a way to slow down traffic, especially during the summer. They are making progress but still have a way to go. They believe we need a few stop signs, however the Town of Hebron thinks otherwise and suggest there might be better ways such as slow down signs. Another group led by Marge Nichols and Janet Garrett that formed last year was the ALD ROWs and Beaches Beautification committee. They were instrumental in having benches placed on Main and Lollipop beaches. Also, they are very helpful in assessing various ROW s needs and giving the ALD BOD suggestions on fixing them. Another committee was established by Marge Nichols to look into seeing how residents feel about having a Pavilion. Recently she sent out a survey. Hopefully, if time allows, I can add a statement to this newsletter about the results. Management by Task So what s the next strategy in getting things done, especially those tasks that need to be done? You guessed it, Management by Task(s). We have numerous tasks that need to get done especially before the summer season gets going. Some tasks will be paid, and some won t depending upon the amount of work. One task is to have someone oversee the boat launching and exiting. Over the years Dave Arnold has championed this operation. He is responsible for making sure the launch chain is in place to keep non-residents out of our lake, and to let in residents launch into the lake. To do this Dave has organized a crew of volunteers to check out boats comings and goings to reduce the chances of invasive plants. Other task management positions are now being considered. Volunteers will be responsible to make sure these tasks get done each year on a timely basis. For example, the lake s water has to be tested for clarity, oxygen levels and a host of other elements. Dave Martin is the task manager for that function. He ll be doing this every year so we know it ll get done. We are now searching for a Boat Dock Manager who will be responsible for getting the ALD Docks set up and allocated to ALD residents. This person will do it annually so we don t have to spend countless hours looking for more people every year. Erika Kaish is now taking charge of the lake pass system. We are developing a position for someone to take charge of putting barley straw in and taking it out every year. Barley straw is used to combat algae. Of course we contract people to do our snow plowing as well as grass and brush cutting. So here is where we (ALD BOD) need some help. We have other small tasks that still need to have a task manager to annually oversee that one operation. As mentioned above, some tasks will be paid and other tasks will be administered by volunteers. If you d like to become a task manager, contact me and let s see what we have for you. Not only is this helpful and necessary, but this approach will lower our taxes, increase the value of our properties, and result in a more beautiful lake experience. Have a wonderful summer. Contact Info: raydecormier@yahoo.com or

A. Roll Call of Officers and Directors: M. Paul, R. DeCormier, L. Lenti, B. Pelegano, B. Lederer, M. Gut, C. Lenti Absent: F. Hoisl, D.

AMSTON LAKE DISTRICT Board of Directors Regular Meeting MINUTES June 15, 2016 7:00 P.M. ALA Clubhouse, 16 Wood Acres Road, Amston, CT 06231 www.amstonlake.org A. Roll Call of Officers and Directors: M.