Sediment removal project

Today is Thursday December 11^th.

I know many of you are wondering or have heard rumors about the sediment removal project. So as of today this is what I know.

I talk to the contractor on the average twice per week. About every other week we meet to review the project. We met this past Tuesday and these are some of my questions and the answers.

1.  Why so long (6) weeks in one spot. Answer – Do to freezing and thawing their dump truck has been stuck many times at the dump site. This requires other equipment to get it out causing lost time. They have also had some employee and equipment problems. Also the channel they have been working at had not more than 4” inches of water on top with the rest all sediment.

2.  What is your current plan? Answer – We will start dumping just off the road at Millers and as needed will push the sediment down into ravine. Two barges are now available from another site. In the next few days they will be trucked from southern Indiana to Pretty Lake. At that time we will start on the north shore. We will at that time have another dump truck working. In regards to the dump truck we are using a smaller one at Pretty Lake so as not to cause problems on the very narrow lake roads.

3.  Are you still planning to complete this year? Answer – Yes that is our plan, but some of that depends on the weather.

From working with this contractor whose name is Heath Davis, I can also tell you he has five or six other lake projects in process. From a business stand point I understand the reasons. Also Heath has chosen to manage and work at the Pretty Lake project. If for some reason we cannot finish before the lake is frozen solid, our grant and lake permits are good for 24 months.

We will try to give you a monthly update on the Pretty Lake web site.

Merry Christmas

James Mertz

The residents On Pretty Lake are in control of their own destiny in regards to treatment costs of the lake in future years.  The main ingredient that causes algae to grow is phosphorous.  The residents need to stop phosphorous from getting into the lake.  They also need to remember that once phosphorous gets into the lake it does not leave – it just continues to build up.  The higher the rate of phosphorus in the lake the faster (frequency of growth) the algae and submersed weeds will grow in the lake.

Sources of Phosphorous are:

Lawn Fertilizer

Decaying grass clippings and leaves.

Soaps from car wash soaps that drain into the street drains.

How to keep phosphorous out of the water. 

1.    Keep grass clippings off the road so they do not drain into the lake.

2.    When fertilizing the yard have the lawn care companies and homeowners keep the white fertilizer pellets off the road.

3.    When washing cars – keep the soap from draining into the street drain.

4.    Limit fertilization of the yard to 3 times per year versus five.

5.    Use lakeside fertilizer that has no phosphorus in it to fertilize the yard.

The residents are the Caretakers of the lake – the aquatic company  is treating only the symptoms of phosphorus in the water.  PLEASE be aware and help us control the amount of phosphorous that gets into our Pretty Lake.

Wow!!! What a wonderful 4^th of July weekend at Pretty Lake!! The weather was perfection, the festivities were fun and exciting, and the fireworks were spectacular. THANK YOU to all the volunteers and to all who participated in this year’s events. We appreciate your support of the annual fund raisers and thank you for buying the Nelson’s Chicken and the flares, and for joining us for bingo & root beer floats. Special thanks to those of you who made donations to support the amazing fireworks display. In addition, this year we had sponsors who donated all the prizes for the Kid’s Fisherama. Everyone came away with something!! The sponsors who deserve recognition are: Meijer, the Kantorak Family, Wal-Mart, Schlemmer Hardware in LaGrange, Ace Hardware in LaGrange, L&K Outdoor Sports in Shipshewana, FLW Outdoors, PLCC, and The Angler.  

Here are the results of the Flotilla:

(Enjoy all of the 2014  4^th of July photos in the slideshow in the Photo Gallery)

1st Place went to Joe Wetli & crew:     Pretty Lake Ark

1st Place!

2nd Place went to Rob Goodman & crew:   Turtle Dynasty

2nd Place

3rd Place went to Katie Todd & crew:  Paparazzi

3rd Place

Congratulations!! And thanks again to those of you who participated in this year’s flotilla. It is always great entertainment!!

There were 42 children who participated in this year’s Kid’s Fisherama!! Here are the results:

Group 6 yrs & under (16 children participated) –  1^st Place: Noah Hayes (9.3 oz.), 2^nd Place: Griffin Kantorak (8.7 oz.), & 3^rd Place: Owen Havens (8.6 oz.).  Congratulations!!!

7-10 yrs (21 children participated) –  1^st Place: Katie Jones (8.7 oz. & 8 3/8”), 2^nd Place: Drake Russell (8.7 oz. & 8 1/8”), & 3^rd Place: Beckham Russell (8.3 oz.). Congratulations!!

11-15 yrs (5 children participated) –  1^st Place: Hanley Fowler (9.3 oz.), 2^nd Place: Carter Mertz (8.9 oz.). Congratulations!!

Ken & Karlene Abram, and their lab, Ruby, moved to 9115 E 480 S in late summer 2013 from Noblesville, IN where they lived for 20 years.  Their first ‘real’ jobs were as teachers and then both entered sales and moved to Illinois with daughters, Dawn & Karna.  Karna graduated from Indiana University on a basketball scholarship. Fortunately, Ken’s job took him to Indiana so they could enjoy college basketball.  They have six grandchildren & two step-grandchildren who live in the Chicago & Noblesville area. Having grown up in Minnesota, lake living is in their blood so they are looking forward to being on Pretty Lake.