Project List

Sustainable Landscaping

Sustainable Shoreline Landscapes are landscapes created in or near a body of water. They are implemented by shoreline owners on rivers, lakes, and some ponds.

Native plants and organic materials are used to stabilize eroding shorelines and beautify bare sites. New landscapes are taking root on properties where grass grew right up to the waterline.

By re-thinking plant choices and strategically implementing projects, many homeowners are discovering new-found pleasures along their shorelines. Increased wildlife viewing, a larger color spectrum, and cleaner water bodies are co-existing with water access for recreational purposes.

Eco-Building & Forestry, LLC. takes a holistic approach to landscaping on shoreline properties. Everything that is done on and around a property can affect the quality of the water and impact the value of the property. The design and development professionals will examine these internal and external influences and assist property owners in the best strategies for improving their property.

Tree Lake Association.

It’s too nice, not to care!

Among the projects still being studied and being worked on

Powers:

Levy taxes and impose special assessments and special charges

Operate water safety patrols

Enact boating regulations

Exercise sanitary district powers

Be eligible for state lake grants

Borrow money (loans will need to be secured by assets)

Make contracts

Acquire and sell property

Sue and be sued

Activities:

Monitor water quality

Inventory/monitor aquatic plants

Manage invasive/nuisance aquatic plants

Purchase lands to protect sensitive areas

Restore wetlands

Develop erosion control programs

Develop long-range lake management plans

Have educational programs

Communicate with units of government & others

Advantages

▪ Harvesting results in immediate open areas of water.

▪ Removing plants from the water removes the plant nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, from the system.

▪ Harvesting as aquatic plants are dying back for the winter can remove organic material and help slow the sedimentation rate in a waterbody.

▪ Since the lower part of the plant remains after harvest, habitat for fish and other organisms is not eliminated.

· Harvesting can be targeted to specific locations, protecting designated conservancy areas from treatment.

Disadvantages

▪ Harvesting is similar to mowing a lawn; the plant grows back and may need to be harvested several times during the growing season.

▪ There is little or no reduction in plant density with mechanical harvesting.

▪ Off-loading sites and disposal areas for cut plants must be available. On heavily developed shorelines, suitable off-loading sites may be few and require long trips by the harvester.

▪ Some large harvesters are not easily maneuverable in shallow water or around docks or other obstructions.

▪ Many small fish and insects are often collected and killed by the harvester.

▪ Harvesting creates plant fragments which may increase the spread of invasive plant species such as Eurasian watermilfoil throughout the waterbody.

▪ Although harvesters collect plants as they are cut, not all plant fragments or plants may be picked up. These may accumulate and decompose on shore.

▪ Harvesters are expensive and require routine maintenance.

▪ Harvesting may not be suitable for lakes with many bottom obstructions (stumps, logs) or for very shallow lakes (3-5 feet of water) with loose organic sediments

Harvesters brought into the waterbody from other locations need to be thoroughly cleaned and inspected before being allowed to launch. Otherwise new exotic species could be introduced to the waterbody.

Recommendations:

The size of the Tree Lake and budget restraints being what they are I focused my attention on smaller size weed harvesters, But I also wanted to get prices on harvesters that would cut deep (6ft). the next factor is storage capacity (on how many weeds can it haul) then the construction and workmanship. in the small case range 4ft depth and 130 cu ft storage the AquaMarine H5130 Has a slightly longer cutting depth of 4ft6” and cost $59,700.00, for a 5-6ft depth 200-300 cu. ft. of storage. Alpha Boats HB6 with a cutting depth of 6ft and storage of 300cu.ft. price at $90,000.00 with a trailer Alpha Boats Claims they are the Cadillac of harvesters. On the other hand if we needed a complete system Inland lake harvesters I6-300 has the 6’ depth cut but has the conveyor built in the trailer where as it can haul the pontoon boat be used as a converyor and also be used to haul away weeds.

Abilities:

Require dues/raise funds