Spring is finally here and the Lake is filled for the summer. It got off to a late start due to persistent ice. Snowfall this winter was extremely heavy. The National Weather Service in Concord NH maintains the official records. According to this source, 115.2 inches of snow was received during winter. This is the second greatest amount on record. Only the winter of 1873-1874 saw a larger amount, totaling 122.0 inches. A National Weather Service unofficial co-operative observer in Wolfeboro, reported 149.1 inches. Fortunately, the spring melt was gradual and we avoided the destructive combination of heavy rains, melting snow pack and frozen ground that resulted in so much damage in 2007.

Enclosed with this Newsletter you will find a “Call to Meeting” for the “Spring Association Membership Meeting”. These membership meetings are the forums in which the members make the major policy decisions for the Association. Under our by-laws any issue may be considered at this meeting, except the budget and the election of officers and directors. These are specifically reserved for the Labor Day weekend meeting. I expect that, among other things, we will be discussing our road contract, which will expire in October 2008.

Finally, it is not too soon to start thinking about the election of new Association officers and directors. Several important positions are up for election this year. Your Association depends entirely on volunteers to staff the Board of Directors. It is only through their efforts that our programs are carried out.

Bruce B. Rich

President

Belleau Lake Property Owners Association, Inc.

 

MILFOIL TREATMENT IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 17, 2007

Lycott Environmental, a licensed contractor, will treat Belleau Lake again this year. We will continue to use the orange markers to facilitate the treatment. If you observe milfoil growing in an area that is not already marked, please contact Joe Arnone, 522-6501. He can provide you the materials to mark it. Under the terms of the permit, only areas where milfoil is actively growing can be treated, therefore it is important they be identified.

This year the treatment will be with a chemical know as 2,4-D. The same one we used last year. It is dispersed in pellet form. Please do not use your motor boat on the day of the treatment. Maximum effectiveness is achieved when the pellets are allowed to sink undisturbed in the area of the growing milfoil.

Signs will be posted adjacent to the treatment areas. Swimming is not permitted in these areas for a period of one week. Vachon Beach is not in a treatment area and can be used.

 

SUMMER REMINDERS

Each year I hear of people at the Lake that have been  “bagged” by a law enforcement official for a violation of one kind or another. The following is certainly not an exhaustive list, but it represents some of the more common problems.

Safe Boating certificates are required to operate a boat with a motor in excessive of 25HP.  Children under 16 may not operate a boat with at motor in excess of 25HP unless they are under the direct supervision of an adult with a safe boating certificate.

Life jackets are required for all people on board. Children under the age of 12 must wear a lifejacket at all times unless the boat is completely enclosed by railings at least three feet high and constructed such that a small child cannot fall through them.

Observers are required when towing people on water skis or tubes.  An observer is required for each person towed. The boat driver is not an observer.

Headway speed is required within 150 ft of shore. This is true whether, or not, signs and buoys are posted.

Fishing licenses are required at Belleau Lake. Children under 16 do not need a license. Residents of New Hampshire over 68 do not need a license.

Bass fishing is “catch and release” from May 15 to June 15. Only artificial lures and flies may be used during this time.

Children under 14 operating an ATV must have a licensed adult present. Please avoid damage to our gravel roads from careless use. This is particularly a problem in the spring, when the roads are soft.

Children under 18 must wear a helmet and goggles while riding an ATV .

Campfire permits are required. If you need one, stop at State Line Garage in East Wakefield.

Additional information on many of these requirements and related topics can be found at the ”LINKS” area of www.blpoa.com.

 

DO YOU HAVE ANY INPUT FOR THE BLPOA BUDGET?

Each year the Board of Directors submits a budget to the membership at the Labor Day weekend meeting. The budget forms the basis of the assessments that are then established for each property owner.  If you have any input you would like the Board to consider, please submit it by August 1, 2008. A proposed budget is distributed with the “Call to Meeting” for the fall membership meeting. This may be amended by the membership at the meeting.

ARE YOU READY TO TAKE YOUR TURN?

The Association’s Officers and Directors are volunteers elected by the membership. The continued success of your Association depends on the willingness of the members to serve in positions of responsibility. Elections are held at the Labor Day weekend meeting. This year there are five positions that will stand for election: President, Treasurer and three Directors. Any fully paid member may run for any of these positions.

If you would like to have your name on the ballot, send a note to BLPOA , PO Box 188, East Wakefield, NH 03830 not later than August 1, 2008. This date is necessary to have your name on the absentee ballot. If you would like to discuss this, call Bruce Rich at 522-6795.

 

The following is included at the request of the Belleau Lake Dam Association, Inc:

 

THE ROAD AGENT SPEAKS:

Jim Powierza is the Association road agent. In this position he coordinates our work with the road contractor. He has provided the following information in response to the questions he typically gets from area residents.

Spring road work is done when the frost is out of the ground, usually in May. The contractor will grade the roads and rake out the potholes to make them smooth.

Summer raking is done as needed to remove potholes. Other summer projects, such as culvert replacement and the addition of “road pack” are done as funding permits.

Fall brush cutting is done in September and October. Most of the roads were originally planned with a 40 foot wide travel surface and five feet on each shoulder. The growth of brush on the shoulders makes it impossible to clear snow from the full width of the road. This can make the road dangerously narrow.

Fall grading and raking is done until the end of October or until the frost goes into the ground,

Mud season is when the ground starts to give up the frost. It melts during the day and freezes at night. Melting of near-by snow banks worsens the situation.  During this time of year the roads cannot be graded because of the mud. 

Each year notices are put in the Fall Newsletter advising people not to park on the roads during the winter months. Cars left on the road make it impossible for the contractor to properly plow the roads during and after the storm. Vehicles left on the road may be damaged by snow plows and sanding equipment.

Sanding is done sparingly on hills and other areas as needed. Thawing and freezing will often cover the sand making it look like the road was never sanded. The use of sand is limited to reduce the amount that remains when the snow is gone. In the spring, it is easily washed into lake creating an ideal medium for milfoil and other weeds to grow in. When it remains on the road it quickly degenerates into potholes or a “wash board” surface.

 

REMEMBER AT ALL TIMES THE SPEED LIMIT ON OUR ROADS IS 15 MPH!

 

HOW DO I GET A KEY TO THE BOAT LAUNCH?

The Association owns a boat launch next to Association Park on Belleau Blvd. By the terms of its deed, this area is for the recreational use of the members of the BLPOA.  The gate is kept locked in an attempt to limit the further importation of milfoil, or other exotic weeds, into the Lake. If you are a member, you may borrow a key from any of the Directors. These keys are to be promptly returned and are intended for occasional use, such as putting your boat in at the beginning of the season. A list of Directors was included in the fall Newsletter and is posted on www.blpoa.com

If you plan to be taking your boat in and out on a regular basis, you may find it more convenient to obtain a key for the season by paying a $10 deposit. These seasonal keys are available from Gordon Rhyner. Gordon winters in Florida but is expected back before mid May. He may be reached locally at 522-3411. If you just can’t wait to get started, give Bruce Rich a call at 522-6795.

 

SHORELAND PROTECTION ACT

The State of New Hampshire’s Shoreland Protection Act has recently undergone major changes. This statute applies to numerous activities within 250 feet of the waterfront. This area is known as the “protected shore land”. A training session on this matter was held at the Wakefield Town Hall on April 23, 2008. Another session is expected to be held this summer for the benefit of seasonal residents, who were unable to attend the first meeting. BLPOA will distribute the specifics by email when they are available, or you can contact the Wakefield Planning Office at 522-6205 ext 314 for this information.

The Act is intended to maintain or improve water quality by limiting storm water run-off with its attendant pollutants.

The Act regulates many activities by requiring a State permit before they can be undertaken. Perhaps the most noteworthy is the need for a permit for construction within  50 feet of the Lake. In the past, Wakefield required only a 30 foot setback. If you are considering work near the waterfront, it is best to speak to the Town Code Enforcement Officer before your plans become final. It is my understanding, that an upward expansion, such as a dormer or second story, does not need the State permit, because it doesn’t expand the “foot print” of the building and consequently doesn’t add any additional impervious surface. A Town building permit is still required for this type of work. Impervious surfaces are a major area of concern. They allow water to build speed and volume, thus sweeping polluting material into the Lake, rather than soaking in to the soil near where the water originally fell.

Other important parts of the Act restrict the amount of vegetation that may be removed within 150 feet of the water. This is too complicated to explain here, but be aware of the need to investigate before you cut.

Existing, legally built, houses and landscaping may be retained. However, the use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides to maintain lawns and gardens is restricted.

 

ASSOCIATION PARK CAMPFIRES

Campfires are prohibited at Association Park. BLPOA does not have a campfire permit. If you see a fire, or other suspicious behavior, call 522-3232 or 1 800 832-2100. Each year the Association spends your money repairing vandalism at the park!