TLAC plans cooperative debris-removal project

The Tri-County Lake Administrative Commission board voted at the Jan. 5 meeting to send a letter to Appalachian Power giving the utility access to TLAC's debris-removal contractors.

Bob Camicia, chairman of TLAC's Environmental Committee, said a tour of the lake found about a dozen pieces of large woody debris on the Blackwater arm of the lake.

Appalachian Power has been operating its skimmer on the Blackwater since Dec. 1 to clean up debris from the heavy November rains that flooded the lake. But the skimmer can't handle large debris, so TLAC is offering its large debris contractors to Appalachian for at least one week, with the actual dates designated by Appalachian.

The letter will further state that TLAC will pay the transportation and removal fees, as it normally does, if Appalachian will make a donation to TLAC to cover the contractor's fees.

Pam Dinkle, TLAC's lake management and project coordinator, said the results of the Sept. 21 through Oct. 6 partial lake survey have been amended by the contractor because of clerical errors.

Aquatic vegetation was found at 651 of 1,600 points surveyed, with 11.5 percent of species being native and 88 percent being non-native. The most frequent non-native was brittle naiad, which was found at 506 points. Hydrilla, an invasive weed, was found at 44 points.

In other TLAC news:

• TLAC received a supplemental appropriation of $3,000 from the city of Salem.
• Dinkle is revising TLAC's work plan to reflect issues it no longer will be responsible for when Appalachian Power's new license goes into effect on April 1. The board will review the amended plan at the February meeting.