As you can see the lake is draining. Bids for the City's dam repair project were due in to the City on September 29. The Board tells us that we can expect to see dirt moved beginning in November.

I have some updates related to the various City projects. Please understand that for the most part I'm repeating what I've been told about these efforts, but I know that everyone is interested and I want to provide an update. Please direct all questions about these projects to your City Representatives. There have been many questions about the fish, and the potential stink of the exposed lake bottom. The City has been careful to include fish removal in the project, and I quote:

All fish in Berkeley Lake shall be removed in a quick and legal manner. The odor of dead fish shall be kept to an absolute minimum and odor for more than a week is not allowed. Fish from the lake shall not be transported into the Chattahoochee River. The use of poison or chemicals is not an acceptable way to remove the fish. Shocking and netting were both discussed as being possible methods. The Contractor shall submit a plan (post- award) about how fish are to be removed. It was noted that some citizens may want to be involved in receiving the fish that are harvested and some volunteers are interested in getting the fish quickly to local food coops which might distribute them to needy citizens.

If you are interested in volunteering for this effort please contact the City. We certainly can't guarantee that this will eliminate the entire odor from the project, but the City is being proactive.

The City has recently annexed all the property between the city limits and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard (PIB). Not only will having this property in the City contribute to a more balanced and broader tax base, but also all of this property is within the watershed of Lake Berkeley. Given the problems that we have had with some developers in this area, and that the county has only been somewhat responsive in those situations, the BLHA feels that having this land inside the City limits is an excellent step. The City has also proposed that additional property on the other side of PIB also be annexed, and much of this property is also inside the watershed.

As the Mayor has described this as a "win-win" both for the businesses (as they get lower taxes than they would face in either Duluth or Peachtree Corners), and for the residents of the City (we get the broader, more balanced tax base, and lower taxes for residents). In addition, BLHA will now see local governmental control over many of the areas that stand to impact our lake through storm- water runoff issues. We would term it a "win-win-win".

The Gwinnett Community Bank has apparently, foreclosed on the property behind Chris and Marlene Holben. It's hard to imagine that they could be any worse a caretaker than the previous owner, so this is probably a good thing. The Holben's are, unfortunately, still dealing with the previous owner, as he is responsible for the damage to their property. Please thank the Holbens for their tireless work on this debacle, and know that their pond has been protecting Lake Berkeley from these irresponsible activities.

FEMA's approval of the scope of the Dam project at $3.58 million is a marvelous development. FEMA will reimburse the City (after the fact) for 75% of the expenses that they include in this scope. The City should be able to procure another 10% in reimbursement funds from GEMA. This money along with the newly included annexations, has allowed the City to project that taxes will not have to increase in 2012, even given all the money that will be spent on the dam project. I'd like to hear a huge round of applause for the Mayor, the City Council and the staff at City Hall for all the hard work that has gone into these efforts.

The BLHA will continue to focus our efforts on two major projects that will be running somewhat concurrently with the City's dam repair project: the silt removal project and the fish restocking/habitat project.

The silt removal project continues to move forward. We are securing the required permits, and are hoping that the companies that bid on the City's project may be interested in this project as well so that we may have some resulting economies of scale with cost effective bids for the silt removal. Our goal is to remove as much silt as possible while the lake is down. Please know if your cove is not excavated during this project, that it will be on the short list for dredging once the lake has returned to full pool and the BLHA has accrued more money. I would like to remind everyone that we have more than doubled the savings rate for the silt fund, and to warn you that future increases are likely. We must achieve a responsible financial balance, whereby we collect enough money year-over-year to fund the removal of the inevitable siltation that occurs naturally in our lake. The BLHA's long-term goal is to keep all of our coves silt free.

Some lakefront residents have proposed 'ultra-local' fund-raising within particular coves, and the BLHA is completely in favor of this. Funds raised in this manner can be earmarked for a particular cove. Other lakefront residents have even gotten private quotes to remove silt adjacent to their property, and have asked the BLHA about the possibility of matching funds. The BLHA is considering this favorably, as long as the silt in question is part of the previously identified material (the roughly 6000 yds3) that we wish to get rid of – no matching rate has been determined at this time.

Many of you have asked the Board about lakefront projects that you would like to pursue while the lake is down; including repair and building of seawalls, and dock maintenance. The Board has researched various aspects with the City and adopted the following policy regarding BLHA property (the lake bottom):

"Residents who want to work on their property must have a land disturbance permit from the City if they plan to disturb the soil within 30 feet of the normal pool shoreline. Additionally, if members intend to put equipment or personnel in the lakebed, or if they propose to remove silt from the lakebed and use it on their property, BLHA will require a release of liability from the homeowner (regardless of whether they are members of BLHA) and proof of insurance from the contractor and the homeowner. Normal dock or seawall maintenance on homeowner property will remain under the purview of the City. BLHA has discussed working with the City to coordinate efforts when homeowners apply for a land disturbance permit. If the homeowners plan to work on their own property only, the BLHA will not be involved in the process. The BLHA will ask the City to withhold permits until homeowners have clearance from the BLHA any time the lakebed/silt will be disturbed.

Please know that your BLHA Board wants to work with you on approving these projects.

Bill Hunkapillar has volunteered to head a committee to focus on fish habitat (while we can access the lake bottom) and then the restocking of the lake (as it returns to full pool late next year and into 2013). If you are interested in this effort, please contact Bill to help out.

Many lakefront residents have been maintaining the exposed lake bottom adjacent to their property. The Board would like to thank these residents and — assuming they are doing so responsibly (i.e. without long-term herbicides) — encourage them to continue to do so. Many lakefront owners are unable or unwilling to do this, and the Board is considering several options. We have gotten pricing for a brush hog, which can be towed behind a 4-wheeler and also an herbicide sprayer (also 4-wheeler based). There may be some overlap between the silt removal project and an effort to keep the weeds and trees from gaining a foothold during this period. The Board doesn't feel that we can afford to hire this work out commercially — so the efforts will be mostly volunteer. If you own a 4-wheeler, or are willing to drive one around in the lakebed periodically, please let us know — we could use your help. There may also be some aggressive and invasive species that we have to combat with more extreme prejudice.

BLHA is asking the City's Ordinance Enforcement Officer to help identify any trees near the shoreline that are in danger of falling due to the draining of the lake. It's our understanding that these trees are the homeowner's responsibility, and we will ask that they be removed proactively, before they fall into the lakebed if possible.

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