2026 water quality plan

Following all of the work completed in 2024 and 2025, the TLWQC collectively reviewed the recommendations of EverBlue’s assessments and our own focus areas.  We compiled a list of possible actions, voted and determined that the following actions would provide the most value to the lakes, based on an assumption on available funding.  While there was a lot of focus in the EverBlue recommendations associated with muck reduction, the approaches presented will likely reduce organics and muck volume but would not materially reduce amount of nutrients (i.e., nitrogen and phosphorus) in the sediment/lake and therefore we did not want to push into a bigger investment.  Rather we are expanding our sampling efforts to better understand nutrients in the lake to further refine the long-term management plan.     

Invasive Vegetation Reduction 

  • Increase educational efforts on invasive species, how they can be introduced to the lakes, and steps that can be taken to mitigate this risk with the publication of a new dockside guide, education pamphlet and website toolkit

  • Perform pre-harvest vegetation surveys to identify the extent of CLPW growth and other potential invasive species and map the extent by EverBlue

  • Organize 2-3 volunteer invasive vegetation removal events, focusing efforts on the southern and eastern portions of the Little Lake and other areas that are difficult for a mechanical harvester to access and the procurement of scuba equipment for observation and hand harvesting

  • Obtaining a permit and retaining a mechanical harvester for two days to remove CLPW, utilizing boats to control/collect the debris generated the same day to minimize the potential for fragmentation

  • Procure a collection of harvesting tools that can be used by the lake community that are stored to be readily accessible

    Nutrient Reduction (Non-Stormwater) 

  • Distribute Penn State Extension septic questionnaire and increase educational efforts on the importance of proper septic system management and negative impact of fertilizer application in the watershed

  • Work together with the Forest, Tree and Plant Life Committee to spread awareness regarding the importance of maintaining and establishing riparian buffers as a natural way to filter nutrients

  • Organize a septic pump-out and inspection program for October

  • Organize a muck pellet availability and deployment program for interested lake members

  • Maintain a hazardous algal bloom (HAB) response plan in place and continue to communicate to a larger lake community

    Stormwater Control (Nutrient/Contaminant Reduction) 

  • Work together with the Forest Tree and Plant Life Committee to increase education around steps homeowners can implement to minimize the effect of stormwater runoff (i.e., rain garden installations, controls during construction, etc.)

  • Investigate and support a possible design for increasing filtration upstream or downstream of the Wood’s culvert; continue to engage, but no specific action proposed at this time

    Water Quality Monitoring 

  • Perform field measurements (temperature, DO, light) in May, June, July, August and September

  • Perform and work with Pleon for analytical sampling in May, June, July, and August and September