Lake Sherwood Acres Home Page

Lake Lot Owners

Dear Residents of Lake Sherwood Acres,

On June 19th, our weed spraying contractor sprayed the lake with an algaecide to help control the large algae bloom (green water) we have experienced over the past 4-5 weeks. The algae bloom was the direct result of lawn fertilizer being washed into the lake by the heavy rains we have experienced. Although the contractor sprayed throughout the entire lake they effectively only applied an amount of material that would kill about 1/3rd of the algae. Spraying more algaecide would have killed more algae but because the algae consume oxygen when it dies and decays spraying more would have starved the fish and other aquatic life in the lake of oxygen. So, they had to be conservative in how much they used. For this same reason they did not spray the weeds growing out of the bulkheads as planned. This would have put more dying and decaying organic material in the lake which would also reduce oxygen levels. We will attempt to spray the bulkheads the next time the contractor is in the lake. As of this afternoon the water color is less green already so the treatment is working.

  IMPORTANT INFORMATION

  The contractor noted something else that is of grave concern. In the area near the boat launch ramp they found hydrilla weeds growing. Hydrilla is a very invasive non-native exotic weed. It is prevalent throughout most of Louisiana and most Southern states after being introduced about 40 years ago to the U.S. Hydrilla is very difficult to kill and grows rapidly into large rooted mats that crowd out other beneficial aquatic plants. It can have a very adverse effect on the fish and other aquatic life.

Hydrilla is often found in aquariums. In some cases the contents of these tanks have been emptied into nearby waterways, releasing exotic fish and plants into the environment. The plants can hitch a ride between bodies of water by attaching themselves to boats and motors. The plants also produce tiny tubers that would be easy to miss when inspecting a boat. When these boats are launched in another lake the plants and/or tubers are released and begin to colonize the new water body. This is all the more reason why we need to carefully control who is in our lake and any boat they may be using.

If you are interested you can Google hydrilla weeds and learn a great deal about it. There is an interesting video at this website: http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/hydrilla.shtml

  Here are a couple of photos of the hydrilla plant and one of the tubers. Given the fact that this weed is so aggressive and invasive all residents should do the following to help control/eradicate this threat to our lake.

1. Do not empty aquariums into the lake or dump any thing at all in the lake including grass clippings, food waste, crawfish heads and tails, etc.

2. If you launch a boat that has been in another lake please thoroughly wash the boat down on your driveway and inspect it carefully for any clinging weeds or tubers before launching it. Same thing applies to your trolling motor.

3. If you see this weed floating in the lake try to retrieve it and put it in your garbage can for disposal.

4. Notify Dick Hevey at: rhevey@bellsouth.net, if you see it in the
lake or growing anywhere.

The Lake Committee is working hard to maintain and improve our lake and your help will be appreciated.

Thank you.

Dick Hevey
Chair, Lake Committee
292-5870 - home

Jim Cazes, Member
Louise Wen, Member
Mike Hayes, Member

Please Excuse Our Mess

June 11^th, 2010---During the off-season, one of our projects was to upgrade the deep-end features of the swimming pool. This included the diving board, the deck and the pool light. Upon start-up, we discovered electrical problems and traced them to the main electric service. We are working with Entergy to resolve them. Entergy installed a temporary line between their transformer and our building to correct the problem, and will soon replace the service feeder as a permanent repair. Our electrician is due back next week to complete the rewiring of the pool electric panel.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

The pool hours have changed slightly

11:00 to 8:00 (Mon - Sat)

1:00 - 8:00 (Sun)

**These hours will change again in August once school starts**

Landscape Improvements

to Lake Sherwood Avenue North Entrance Update

Landscape Updates

(Proposed new entrance sign at Lake Sherwood N)
These photos show the hydrilla weed and tubers

Lake News

We have hired a young man by the name of Andrew Sibley, who is the son of one of our residents, to pick up trash in the lake. He will work about five hours per month. The plan is for him to go along the bulkheads in a boat picking up and bagging trash. He will also try to get the trash that is within reach from the bank of the canal coming in from Holly Ridge Townhomes and the canal by the dam. Occasionally he may retrieve a large limb, tire or other object and for those on the lake, place it on your bulkhead. So, if you live on the lake and see such an object on your bulkhead, please help us by moving it to the curb for pickup.

If you see Andrew say hello and thank him for helping us keep our lake clean and beautiful.

Also, I’d like to take this opportunity to remind all residents to please tell your lawn care service provider to not blow grass clippings into the lake when they mow or weed eat along your bulkhead.   Further, they should not blow clippings into the street in front of your home because those clippings get washed down the storm drains and into the lake the next time it rains. Grass clippings are one of the biggest contributors to the build–up of silt in our lake.

Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks.
Dick Hevey

From Michael Cahill

Security

Did You Know...

...That the BRGOV.com has a link to a Citizens Request for Services and may be accessed by calling 311 or going to https://brgov.com/apps/crs/. Just click on the "submit a service request or lookup an existing request" link and fill out the necessary information.The primary function of 3-1-1 Call Center is to receive, record and channel the service request to the proper City Parish agency(ies). The requests are generally of a public maintenance nature. The City Parish charter does not allow public work forces to do work on private property.

We have had many questions about what constitutes soliciting and if it is allowed in subdivisions. What follows is the EBR Parish Ordinance on soliciting (emphasis added):

Sec. 12:200. House-to-house peddling as nuisance.

(a)   Definitions.

(1)   House-to-house peddling: The practice of going in and upon private residences in the City-Parish, by solicitors, peddlers, hawkers, or itinerant merchants and transient vendors of merchandise, not having been required or invited to do so by the owner or owners, occupant or occupants of the private residences, for the purpose of soliciting orders for the sale of goods, wares or merchandise, and/or for the purpose of disposing of and/or peddling or hawking the same, and/or for the purpose of sale of services. Religious, political, or charitable solicitation is not considered to be peddling.

(2)   Peddler: For purposes of this section this term is meant to apply to all solicitors, peddlers, hawkers, itinerant merchants and transient vendors referenced in 12:200(a)(1) above.

(b)   Prohibition. House-to-house peddling is hereby declared to be a nuisance and punishable as such as a misdemeanor except under the following circumstances:

(1)   Hours: House-to-house peddling shall be allowed between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. unless a "No Solicitation" sign has been posted at the residence in accordance with 12:152(c). See below

(2)   Meat and poultry: Peddling of meat and poultry products must be in compliance with the requirements promulgated by the health department pursuant to the provisions contained within section 6:500 et seq. regarding the slaughter and sale of meat and poultry.

(City Code 1951, Title 12, § 200; Parish Code 1962, Title 12, § 200; Ord. No. 11134, § 1, 4-22-98)

c.   The unauthorized and intentional entry, for purposes of solicitation, canvassing, or peddling, upon residential premises posted "No Soliciting" by the owner or occupant, provided that the sign shall be legible and visible at the entranceway to the premises. For purposes of this subsection, "canvassing" includes, but is not limited to, the solicitation of votes, subscriptions, or opinions from a district or group of people, the distribution of literature, the collection of signatures for petitions, the dissemination of views and the solicitation of funds.