Water Resources

Lake Treatment Notice April 2025

We are planning to have the waters in this area treated with herbicides and algaecides for control of aquatic weeds and/or algae.

Details of the weed treatment including the chemicals and the precautions for them are found here.

Best Regards,

Andy Kozicki, LVIA Water Resources

LAKE NEVA DAM REPORT 

NOVEMBER 2024

A field inspection of the Lakewood Village was performed on September 20, 2024.  This inspection, along with analysis of the Dam’s dynamics, has determined that Lakewood Village Dam is overall in excellent condition. The new structure was constructed in 2012 and is operating as designed.  The Lakewood Village Dam is in very good condition, however, during the inspection there were a couple of items which need some regular maintenance and should be monitored and/or corrected during routine maintenance in the spring of 2025. These items are as follows:

1. The gabion baskets installed with the reconstruction of the outlet structure are still in good condition, but the shoreline on each side of baskets is eroding. There is no major urgency, but these areas need to be watched for continued erosion.

2. Lake Neva Shoreline Erosion.  There is some shoreline erosion along the west side of Biscayne Street, but it is very minor and just needs to be monitored.

The complete report can be found here.

Background on Boat Corrosion - March 2024

Summary

The article below describes the reasons for corrosion of boat surfaces.  Some people have questioned whether the use of aquatic herbicides for invasive weed control contributes to accelerated corrosion.  Chemical control of aquatic plants and algae is a common and necessary activity but is highly unlikely to contribute to corrosion of boats due to the rapid dilution and short-lived nature of these treatments.

A more likely reason is “galvanic corrosion”, which is caused by dissimilar metals used on a boat.

The hull of a boat is commonly aluminum, which carries a negative charge, whereas propellers and other boat parts are made of materials that carry positive charges. Water (even freshwater) carries enough electrolytes to create conditions for galvanic corrosion.

A common way to minimize the corrosive effects on boats is to utilize sacrificial anodes made of zinc, aluminum, or magnesium. These anodes absorb the galvanic charges and corrode first, which protects the more valuable metals such as the boat hull or propeller.

The complete article follows.

By Brett Bultemeier - University of Florida

Corrosion or fouling of boat surfaces has been a problem for as long as boats have been used for travel or leisure. From wood decay and barnacle growth on ancient vessels to corrosion of metal on modern boats, there are a host of issues that can damage the integrity of a boat hull. It is not just seafaring vessels that have to contend with corrosion and fouling; many freshwater boats are also subjected to these forces. 

Particularly with the advent of newer materials and disparate metals used in modern boat manufacturing, the process of corrosion continues to be a major problem. Some have questioned whether the use of aquatic herbicides for invasive weed control contributes to accelerated corrosion.

Management of invasive aquatic species (particularly plants and algae) is both necessary and common for many waterbodies throughout the United States. This is often accomplished with the intervention of chemical control (herbicides and algaecides) to remediate these problematic invaders. However, this has led to the common misconception that these chemicals directly cause corrosion or pitting. Though it is possible for these chemicals to be involved in that process, this article will discuss why that is unlikely in most circumstances.

Modern boat hull and propeller construction involves the use of different types of metals that can act as either anodes or cathodes, with negative and positive charges, respectively. The basic formula for a working battery is that electrons from an electrolyte solution (acid for batteries) flow from the anode to the cathode. For those who have seen the corrosion old batteries can cause, this is similar to the galvanization that can occur in boats. 

The hull of a boat is commonly aluminum, which carries a negative charge, whereas propellers and other boat parts are made of materials that carry positive charges. Water carries enough electrolytes (even freshwater) to create conditions for galvanic corrosion. Though saltwater is more commonly associated with this process, freshwater has enough dissolved minerals and particles with a charge to cause corrosion as well. Furthermore, stray current in the water, from powered boat docks or incorrect boat wiring, can further add to the corrosive forces acting on boats in freshwater.

A common way to minimize the corrosive effects on boats is to utilize sacrificial anodes made of zinc, aluminum, or magnesium. These anodes preferentially absorb the charges and corrode first, which protects the more valuable metals such as the boat hull or propeller. This can either be passive or induced (with electricity), but the key piece is that these anodes MUST be in the water in order to work. A boat that is partially submerged in the water will not be effectively protected if the sacrificial anodes are out of the water. If an induced system is at work, then power must be provided, so anodes need a power source.

Alternatively, storing a boat completely out of the water will halt the corrosive process. The sacrificial anodes will wear out with time and need to be replaced. As with any system, proper maintenance and routine checks of the system will keep them functioning at their best. If caught early, damaging corrosion can likely be stopped.

Sometimes aquatic plant and algae management is blamed for causing corrosion of boats in the area of treatments. Although it is true that in their undiluted form these chemicals can be corrosive, these chemicals are greatly diluted into a spray tank before being even further diluted into the lake water. 

Once in the treated water these chemicals are found at very low concentrations, as low as a few parts per billion and even at their highest only a few parts per million. Furthermore, these low concentrations are short lived in the environment due to rapid dilution away from treatment site and environmental breakdown/sequestration. 

This short-lived, low concentration introduction of charge particles to the water is very small compared to the conditions that exist naturally in the lake. If all lakes were pure deionized water, then perhaps these chemicals would be a significant contributor to long-term corrosive action, but in lakes as they exist now, their

contribution to enhanced corrosion is insignificant.

Many people believe that herbicides and algaecides have negative effects on their boat surfaces after they observe a chemical treatment taking place, become concerned about

their boat, check the hull and find corrosion. It is likely that the corrosion was already there but went unnoticed until the boat owner checked the hull in response to seeing the weed management operation. If corrosion from herbicide and algaecide treatments were common, the boats used to apply the treatments would quickly corrode during the

treatments, which is not what happens.

Galvanic corrosion is a common problem for modern boats, even in freshwater systems, and requires constant diligence and maintenance. The use of sacrificial anodes is critical to help protect the valuable metal parts of a boat such as the hull and propeller. Therefore, these anodes must be kept in the water, checked routinely, and constantly energized (if relevant), in order to be effective. Storing the boat slightly out of water such that the anode is not submersed is a common error that can lead to lack of corrosion protection.

Chemical control of aquatic plants and algae is a common and necessary activity but is highly unlikely to contribute to corrosion of boats due to the rapid dilution and short-lived nature of these treatments. Diligent maintenance and routine inspections of the boat and the protective processes (i.e., sacrificial anodes) are the best tools to fight corrosion of boats.

For more in-depth reading see the following websites:

http://www.boatus.com/boattech/articles/marine-corrosion.asp

http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/sacrificial-zincs.asp

AERF

Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Foundation

2023 Lake Management Summary:

1.       Treated for Algae and Weeds in early June on all lakes.

2.       In July, Aquaweed conducted an extensive Water quality testing on all three lakes. The results have been published online and in the waterlog.

3.       We will continue testing each season now that we have a base line established.

4.       Algae treatment on Neva was done in July and a spot treatment for lily pads on Brendel.

5.       Harvested on Thompson and Neva in August for weeds.

 In conclusion, harvesting and chemical treatments together has been an effective method of weed control/and being environmentally engaged in the past years. The weeds have been unusually minimal the past two seasons and we are treating them chemically and harvesting where needed. We will continue to monitor next season and treat/harvest accordingly.

Water Quality tests showed normal levels in all categories with a slight elevation in E.coli on Neva but not dangerously high and within limits. This is typical with hot weather and rains washing into the lake.

Sincerely,

Corey O'Higgins

Water Resources

Lakewood Village

All Septic Systems Require Maintenance

Faulty septic systems have become a more common issue throughout our association. 

Proper maintenance is strongly recommended as a way to prolong the use of our aging systems.  Many homeowners that have recently moved into our neighborhood from localities with sewer systems may not even realize they have a system that requires maintenance.  There are two significant benefits of appropriate maintenance:

1. It can save you the expensive replacement of your septic system (as there is no other alternative when your system fails) as there are obviously no sewer hook-up options available at this time.

2. It will keep our lakes (Neva and Brendle in particular) safer and will also help the weed / algae issues which are increased by higher waste levels.  Not to mention that our association spends about 60% of our annual budget to help with weed and algae control. 

Your board of directors have little expertise on this subject but wanted to make sure you were aware of this issue and recommend you contact a local septic system company that can advise you of the proper maintenance to your system. 

Thank you.

Brendel and Neva Lake Conditions Update 

June 2023

I have received some questions in regard to the lake level, some large floating-moving patches in the water and also the water clarity in Brendel Lake. To address those we have spoken with Aquaweed (the company that does our chemical treatments and are water quality testing) and they have provided the following information:

  1. The floating patches we have seen are an algae that is moving thru the lake and likely move on. It is not sediment being caused by any erosion or construction in the area.

      2. The water clarity has been worse the last few years due to an unusual amount of phytoplankton (an algae) in the water. This is a natural occurring process of the eco system of the lake and not to be of concern.  They have also noticed this occurring in other lakes in the area. This has also contributed to lower weed growth the past 2 years.

   3. Our lake level may seem low but is normal for this time of year based on rainfall and the regulated overflow from Cedar Island Lake.

    4. If residents on Lake Neva and Thompson have noticed these conditions the same will apply. If you have seen anything different, please notify Water Resources.

If you have any questions, please contact me. 

Corey O'Higgins

Water Resources Board

Lakewood Village