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Homeowners told: No lakefront lots on KedronTue, 08/08/2006 - 4:31pm
By: John Munford
A large number of residents alongside Lake Kedron have illegally cleared underbrush in buffer zones between their homes and the lake in a bid to improve their views of the lake, city officials said Monday evening. But such actions can be detrimental to the lake’s water quality, according to former U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologist Dennis Chase. At a meeting on the issue Monday night, Chase noted that all the clearing allows chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides sprayed on grass to flow into the lake, which is used to hold drinking water for Fayette County water customers. A recent water quality sampling at the lake’s dam showed that something happened to the ecosystem, Chase noted. Part of the sampling uses the number of microorganisms present to indicate the health of the water, Chase has said. The most recent sampling showed no microorganisms where “hundreds” had been found six months before, Chase said, noting that the water had a red tint to it that is unexplained. Chase urged the council to “take strong action” to prevent future buffer violations. A survey of the lake last month showed that 83 of 161 parcels on the lake had one or more buffer violations, city officials said. Another 54 parcels were confirmed to have boats on the grounds despite the fact that the only place boats can launch on the lake is from the publicly-accessible boat docks, officials noted. A common sight on some properties was the presence of furniture, fireboxes and other improvements such as paths with pavers leading up almost to the very edge of the lake, as depicted on photographs shown at Monday night’s meeting. Part of the problem is that the Lake Kedron buffer ranges from a minimum of 25 feet (as designated by state law) up to 100 feet in some of the newer subdivisions along the lake, officials said. The city has undertaken a public awareness program in an effort to prevent buffer problems from recurring. City Attorney Ted Meeker is studying the issue to determine how the city can proceed with citing property owners for buffer violations and possibly change the city ordinance to achieve the necessary goals. The buffer zones actually are owned by Fayette County, part of the original siting of the lake before any houses were built in the area. login to post comments
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