Dredging Project Progress Report
Posted on Sep 23rd, 2021
Q and As
Where will silt be removed?
The following coves are slated for silt removal:
- Southampton
- Camden Court (has Hampton Bay to the West and Belle Pointe to the East)
- Hampton Bay (has a shared bay with Camden Court and the other two coves)
- Belle Pointe (has two coves, one with Camden Court and the other with Caroline Pointe
- Caroline Pointe (has two coves, only the shared cove with Belle Pointe to be dredged).
Why were these sites selected and not others?
Dredging is expensive so sites were selected based on specific criteria.
- Development (building construction) needs to be completed. If we dredged a cove where silt was continuing to be deposited from building construction, we would have to dredge again once building completed.
- Due to equipment limitations, the site to be dredged must be located within one mile of the offloading site.
- The shallowness of the cove is due to silt accumulation. Some coves are shallow because the natural bottom of the lake is shallow. The equipment needed to address removing hard soil is different than the equipment needed to remove silt.
Does that mean my cove will not be dredged?
No. It only means your cove will not be dredged in this dredging project. Dredging is a process that must be completed periodically in lakes. Other areas will be assessed for dredging in a future project.
What is involved in the project plan?
- Secure funds (completed. Board allocated funds)
- Engineering (90 days)
- Site prep (30 days)
- Dredging (60 days). *
*Total time 180 days but the actual dredging should take 45 days. We added 15 days to the dredging timeline to be on the safe side.
Can some of these steps be completed at the same time?
Yes, there are some steps that will occur concurrently, which may reduce the timeline.
Did we have to buy this land?
No, we are working closely with the landowner to finalize details which would allow us to use the space.
Why would a landowner allow us to use their space?
Keeping the lake accessible by removing silt is a benefit to the landowner and the piece of land is not usable as building below a dam is not allowed.
Is there an alternative plan if the landowner does not provide use of the space?
We anticipate moving ahead with the site behind the dam, but should it not work out we have a plan B to explore.
How much will the project cost?
The estimate is $522,500.
How will the project be funded?
From our association reserves which are adequate to fund the estimated cost. A special assessment is not required.
How did we accumulate the reserve funds?
The board has allocated about $50-55,000 annually to our reserve fund to ensure we could fund this project.
What happens if the actual cost is higher than $522,500?
The board authorized a slightly higher amount in case the cost is a bit higher. However, much of increased costs are due to supply costs rising and since this project does not rely on supplies, we do not anticipate the cost to rise. Should the cost exceed the allocated amount the project team will notify the board and subsequent action will be taken.
Why should I pay for dredging when I do not live on the lake, nor do I own a boat?
Having a usable lake increases all property values, whether the property is lakefront or not.
Does the lake level need to be lowered to allow the project to go forward?
No. We want the water level to be high so the equipment will float.
Will the lake level drop?
A little. If they pump 45 days, the lake will drop 1.5 inches.
When will the project begin?
As soon as the agreement with the landowner who will allow us to offload silt on his property is signed. We anticipate conducting the project this winter when fewer members are using the lake and no fish are spawning.
Will my boat slip or marina be dredged?
Dredging to close to a seawall could damage the seawall’s integrity thus we will not dredge within 10 feet of a seawall. Additionally, we will not dredge private property.
I have trouble getting my boat out of my slip. How can this be addressed?
There are companies who for a small price will move the silt from your seawall or boat slip to a location ten feet away. This will allow us to remove the silt safely. More info about this process will be provided to owners closer to the project’s start date.
Will the lake be closed?
No, but boaters will need to take precautions to avoid equipment.
Will the offloaded silt smell?
It likely will have some odor. However, the microbes in the soil, which contribute to odor, will be less active in the winter when the project is planned so the smell should be lessened.
Do developers have any responsibility for the removal of silt?
Guidelines are in place and our property manager works closely with developers to ensure that measures are employed to contain silt deposits. One measure we have taken is to use curtains in addition to silt fences and this has decreased silt deposits. We also issue fines for violations.
Download Map of Dredging Sites
