5006 Panorama Drive
P.O. Box 157
Panora, Iowa 50216
(641) 755-2301
Fax: (641) 755-3810
info@lakepanorama.org
Board Election Results By-Laws Changed by 74% approval Upper Basin Rip Rap Progressing New Water Testing Program Adopted Some Changes in Boating Rules REPORT PROBLEMS! Reduce Those Skeeters Hail Storm Pummels Lake Digital Pix Wanted Lake Panorama National Questions
The LPA elected three board members at the annual meeting on April 24.
John McRoberts was re-elected to his second three year term. John McDermott and Dick Burroughs were also elected to their first terms. They replace Ron Morden and Bob Hollwager, who both served two consecutive terms and were not eligible for re-election.
Paul Buchanan was selected President, Ron Frisbie, Vice-President, Mike Dunn, Secretary and McRoberts, Treasurer, at the regular April board meeting on April 27. The other board member is Dan York.
The By-Laws of the Association were amended by a vote of the membership at the April 27 annual meeting.
Significant changes include: The separate dues, assessments, road assessment, and erosion control assessment will be combined to become just one assessment. These have been steady for years.
The LPA board is authorized to increase assessments by 5% in any year. Formerly assessment changes had to be voted on by the membership. Needs for assessments over 5% would still be placed on the ballot for a membership vote.
The board may authorize a one year special assessment to be used for a limited number of things. Ongoing assessments at that rate would have to be approved by a vote. This was not formerly possible.
Upper Basin Rip Rap Progressing
Contractors have progressed significantly in the rip rap protection of the newly opened upper basin area.
Most of the east bank of the basin has been completed except an area of significantly steep bluffs and eroded bank. Seeding and silt fencing are finished on the rocked areas.
Several lots on the west bank of the basin are now rocked also. As of the first of the month, seeding, mulching and silt fence had not been completed.
The largest area that has not been completed is the far western shore of the upper basin area.
The rip rap is being done with specifications that require fieldstone and a properly angled and sloped shoreline. A heavy plastic fabric provides backing for the rock and keeps soil from eroding from behind it. Most early rip rapping at the lake was not done at the proper slope and the fabric was not available. The combination of slope to deal with winter ice and the fabric should make the new construction very long lasting.
Contractors have until December 31 to complete the project. Work so far is ahead of schedule, but may not be finished until late in the year, as the most difficult areas remain.
The LPA Board of Directors has approved a new program for water quality monitoring for lake water. The newly adopted staff proposal will duplicate the methods by which the Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports beach water quality.
Testing will be done weekly beginning in mid April and ending in October. The lake samples will be tested for E. Coli bacteria, a reliable indicator of the presence of animal or human waste in the sample. If levels of the bacterial exceed the limits established, Lake Panorama beaches will be posted with a “Swimming not Recommended” sign with explanatory material. This notice will be visible from the water and will also be present at the marina boat ramp. In addition, signs advising swimmers how to reduce their risk of infection will be provided.
As all natural and artificial lakes have organisms that can cause health problems in susceptible individuals, this should be an aid in members recognizing those risks.
It is important to note that conditions vary considerably around the lake. If one beach is posted, others may not be posted. Sample testing is only good for the times and places it is done
The Water Safety Committee’s recommendations to the LPA Board of Directors were approved at the LPA board meeting on April 27.
The new rules, effective immediately, concern the following:
1. Para-sailing was added to the prohibited activities on the lake. Safety was the primary concern.
2. Ski lines, tubes and other towables are prohibited in the Marina area (behind the jetty) due to safety concerns and high traffic.
3. Hovercraft and airboats are prohibited on the lake. The LPA has acquired a hovercraft for use in water and ice rescue and other tasks—it is exempted from the regulations.
4. The fine schedule for water safety violations was amended to add a $250.00 fine as well as loss of boating privileges on a third offense in one season.
A reminder to boaters –
The upper basin of the lake will be posted as a no wake area until riprap work is complete. The area is posted.
A frustration for the LPA staff is a report from a member that goes something like this—
“A boat was speeding in our cove last Tuesday!”
That doesn’t help much. It doesn’t help the member who had the complaint…and it doesn’t help the Association staff to take care of it several days after the fact. Information that is sketchy and complaints that are old are of no value to solving problems and only cause more frustration.
If you see an obvious violation, please report it to the LPA immediately. Try to observe as much as possible about the violation—for example—a boat description, the time, any numbers off the boat, where it was headed, how many people were in it, etc. These observations—whether for land or water violations—can result in those responsible ending up paying fines or losing privileges.
Then call security at 755 3101 and make your report. Cell phones and radio communications can make it possible for fairly quick response to all areas of the lake. The LPA staff understands that not every violation is going to be taken care of, but with the eyes and ears of the membership cooperating, many more serious violators can be dealt with, and that will improve our development for all concerned.
The mosquito season will soon be upon us. To help reduce the number of the pesky critters and reduce the chances (though already small) of spreading of the West Nile virus, the LPA is promoting a two-pronged approach to reducing mosquito numbers.
Since the LPA has almost ten square miles of land, spraying to kill adult mosquitoes would be prohibitively expensive. There are limitations to using spray to kill adult mosquitoes, too, which include the fact that pesticides must be used, they must be used weekly to keep adult populations down, timing of spray is critical, and weather conditions can ruin the effectiveness. Instead, the LPA has chosen to treat developing mosquito larvae instead.
The first approach is to reduce the number of breeding areas for mosquitoes and to treat the remaining areas with products that kill or inhibit the hatched larvae from developing into adults. Mosquitoes require standing or stagnant water for their eggs to hatch and for the larvae to develop. (The lake itself, except in quiet backwaters, is not a good environment for mosquito development.) The LPA maintenance staff has graded and drained several small areas and some drain tiles have been repaired. In addition, over a hundred small areas on LPA property are being treated with larvae killing bacteria and a few with growth regulators.
These substances are very low in toxicity and serve to keep the numbers of mosquitoes down by killing the larvae or causing them to be unable to mature. There are several different kinds of mosquitoes at the Lake, and some travel great distances from areas that cannot be treated. Fortunately, the primary mosquito that carries West Nile Virus only travels a quarter mile or so from where it hatches. This is the mosquito that should be most reduced by the LPA larvacide program.
The second approach is for LPA members to be sure that they are not contributing to their own mosquito problem. Members should look for all forms of standing water on their property. Stagnant water can be found in cans, pails, hollow posts, bird baths, depressions in the yard, hollow trees, the ditches, in the culvert, caught on boat covers, and even in rain gutters. Landscape ponds are an ideal breeding ground. It only takes 4 to 12 days for eggs to hatch and mature into adults, so draining or changing water or treating should be done to prevent mosquito eggs from hatching. A number of products are available to safely treat those kinds of areas at your local hardware, building center, or garden shop.
Additionally, to reduce your risk of the spread of West Nile virus, people should avoid being outside at the times of peak mosquito activity—early morning and just after sunset.
Repellent containing DEET is recommended. Long sleeve shirt and pants are a good idea during peak activity also.
Together, the LPA and members can reduce the local population of mosquitoes and provide a safer environment for outdoor activity.
A spring storm with golf ball size hail struck the Lake Panorama area on April 16. Many vehicles and roofs were damaged.
LPA losses included the roof of the office and wind and roof damage to the Panorama West clubhouse. Vehicular damage for LPA vehicles totaled almost $6000.
Members who have not checked their homes for damage should do so.
Digital photographs of scenery and activities at Lake Panorama are desired for use on the website and other information.
Contributions can be emailed to info@lakepanorama.org or to lpa@netins.net. High resolution pix are preferred, so that they can be edited for the different purposes on the website.
Picture credits will be used, if contributors desire, for pix on the home page or in the panorama pix section.
Many of the website images are contributions from members and former members. Thanks to all!
The LPN course is owned by the Lake Panorama Association and leased and managed by Progressive Development, Inc., a subsidiary of the Guthrie County REC. PDI owns the conference center and holds the lease for operation of the golf course for over thirty more years. PDI is searching for another lessor and/or purchaser for its interest in the Golf Course and Conference Center.