UPDATE: LLPOA is seeking someone to volunteer a 4×4 ATV with a plow attachment. The consistency of the snow on the ice made it impossible to follow our original plan for plowing the lake. If you are able to help us out, please contact SteveShiley@lochlomondlake.com.
The LLPOA has hired someone to plow portions of the surface of the lake beginning February 11 in order to protect the health of the aquatic life beneath the surface from winterkill.
Winterkill is the most common type of fish kill. This can happen when there’s not enough oxygen getting dissolved into the water, thereby suffocated the fish. When snow and thick ice cover our lake, sunlight cannot reach the plants, and they cannot produce oxygen without sufficient light. Then, the vegetation dies, and decomposition further depletes oxygen in the water.
It is critical that snow be cleared from areas of the ice to ensure sunlight can get through. You might see a small vehicle with a plow on the ice over the next few days. We remind residents that this person has been granted permission to have a vehicle on the ice to protect the health of our lake. Our community will not liable for any damage, though we are confident none shall occur. Residents should still refrain from using gas-powered devices on the lake.