Stansbury Park Lake Use Update June 2011

The Stansbury Park Lake is for the use of residents of Stansbury Park and their bonafide guests. Fishing is allowed on the lake with a Catch and Release policy only. Electric Motors are allowed. No gasoline powered motors allowed. All residents using a motor on the lake are required to obtain a sticker from the Service Agency. See Lake Resolution and Electric Motor Policy for details.

Stansbury Park Lake Updates

Lake Update (March 29 2008) by Scott Totman 833.9933

Overall the Lake is the clearest it has been for years, and despite the low water level in the summer of 2007 the weeds seemed to be the “best” (least) in a number of years!. The addition of “Aquashade”, a FDA approved product which limits the depth of light penetration was responsible, in part, for the reduced weed content of the lake and it gave the lake a pleasant bluish tint that many residents found attractive.

In March 2008 water shares were moved and a “test well” was motorized and now pumps approximately 250 gallons a minute into the lake, this input is near culinary in quality and is expected to go far in keeping the lake level at a near “full” level through the winter. With the addition of the allowed pumping of the Millpond 1 day a week commencing in April, the summer of 2008 should see the Lake full, clean, and clear of weeds.

Other contributors to the lakes weed content was the re-direction back to the original design for golf course run-off. In the 1980s, in order to maintain the level of the lake “plugs” were placed within the sewer system which diverted the golf course run-off into the lake rather than directing them to the prescribed settling area by the Benson Grist Mill. It is believed that the nutrient feed from the golf course was partially responsible for the high rate of weed growth. The removal of this nutrient source, the Aquashade, and the early weed mowing reduced the weed surplus of 2007 and going into 2008 these contributors, plus the new year round water source will continue to improve the usability of our Lake resource.

Residents concerned about the Lake are encouraged to attend the bi-weekly Service Agency meetings, as well a “Lake Committee” has been formed to give the community the forum to engage in and recommend options that will continue to enhance the Lakes usability by Stansbury Park Residents.


Lake Study Update (November 10, 2002) by Kenyon Eastin 843-1892

Overall the Lake is the clearest it has been for years. This may be because of the expansion of weeds creeping into previously weed free areas. One theory is that the weeds clean or filter out the suspended solids in the water. Or it may just be part of the natural cycle of the amazing hydro-ecosystem here in Stansbury Park.

Recent scientific studies point to an increase in nutrient loading of the Golf Course Ponds and Lake when there is rainfall. This is because the majority of storm drains in Stansbury Park drain directly into the ponds and Lake. This nutrient loading not enough to cause a drastic swing in the ecosystem. However it does effect it. The saying "WE ALL LIVE DOWNSTREAM" is not just a catchy phrase for us here in Stansbury Park. It is vital to the overall health of our ecosystem to limit the amount of nutrients we put on our lawns and gardens. Don't wash you cars in the driveway, but wash them on your lawn. Rake up leaves before the before they can blow into the lake and sweep out the street gutter in front of your house. Don't put grass clippings in the Lake and lastly take extra precaution when fertilizing your lawn to keep it out the water and at least 15 feet from the lake edge. This will allow the fertilizer to penetrate the ground and hopefully decrease the amount getting to the water. As we all know, garbage in-garbage out.

We do have some control over our little paradise here in Stansbury Park, but it takes everyone doing their part.

We have introduced the Silver Amur fish into the Lake. This is a herbivore fish that eats only weeds. 750 of these fish at 10-14 inches long were introduced on November 1, 2002. They may grow to be as big as 50 lbs. Don't worry, they only eat weeds and are quite attractive as fish go. They should do a fine job of eating the weeds and at least keep them in check. Hopefully as the summers go by the weeds will diminish.

We are shutting off the water that flows into the golf course ponds from November through March, in an effort to eliminate the carp that reside in them and to repair pipes. The carp are responsible for stirring up the fine silt that is caused from our clay soil her in Stansbury Park. The suspended solids are a vehicle for nutrients to cling to as the water makes it way to the Lake. If we can eliminate the carp we can eliminate the suspended solids. The ponds would then function as intended as settling reservoirs in an attempt to lower the amount of nutrients that flow into the lake. This should reduce the amount of "food" for algae and weeds. We have eliminated the carp in one pond on the golf course and that pond cleared up dramatically.

By draining the golf course ponds we will probably see a drop in the level of the lake as well. During this time residents can shore up their beach area, make repairs to docks and clean up the lake edge which is normally under water.


Lake Study Update (July 29, 2002) by Kenyon Eastin 843-1892

Fisherman are reporting large catches of Bass. Frogs are here which usually indicates a more stable ecosystem as frogs can be somewhat sensitive to imbalances. They are right in the middle of the food chain.

The lake level has remained constant within 3 inches for the last few months. The lake is healthy.

The study was completed by ATC and the results are in. The objective of the study was to determine which sources of water coming into the lake contributed to nutrient loading to the lake. The study included primary and secondary water sources. Gordon well, Gordon well divider box, Mill pond spring, Mill pond pump, Lot 16, Lot 54, Rabbit Lane and Well A. The only detectable levels of Phosphate (greater than .05 parts per million) were found in Lot 16 and Lot 54. This suggests that phosphate loading is taking place on the golf course ponds and in the run off from storm water as it enters into the storm drains in the park and flows into the lake at Lot 16 and Lot 54.

The study was done a base flow conditions without any previous rain the the area for over 3 weeks. We are going to take samples when there is a substantial rain and find out how much the load is increased after the rain has washed the nutrients off of the fairways at the golf course, residents lawns and streets.

The amount of nutrients being put into our lake from the sources tested are negligible. Our lake is not being overly loaded with nutrients. It is healthy and in balance. The algae bloom started on the golf course and was fed into the lake. Most of our water comes to us after it has cycled through the golf course ponds. The algae ate all of its food and died. We can expect another outbreak in the future. The cycle of life will continue.

We have contacted two individuals that are licensed to spray for algae (not lake weeds). We are getting information on the costs and environmental impact to understand the consequences of using a chemical spray. We are preparing for another algae bloom.

We have sent a letter into the the UDWR asking for permission to change our pond certificate to include the Triploid grass carp. We are deciding right now whether we will introduce these carp into the lake. They eat the lake weed.

We are in contact with UDWR concerning Rotenone treatment of one of the golf course ponds to kill the carp. The carp keep the suspended solids in the flow which enables the phosphates to cling to the solids. This in turn enables a higher percentage of phosphates to make it into the Lake.


Lake Study Update (July 9, 2002)

We are expecting the results of the lake study that was commissioned with ATC any day now. These results will tell us among other things the Nutrient Loading of the lake.

We are looking at the costs and logistics of getting rid of the carp in one of the golf course ponds that has no outlet. If we can successfully treat the pond with the chemical 'Rotenone", we may continue onto the other ponds. The reason we are looking into getting rid of the carp in the golf course ponds is a matter of balancing the ecosystem, if in fact it is out of balance. The Carp are stirring the materials contained in the ponds which then migrates in the lake. At this time the board has not had a motion on the matter, but it is an agenda item on this weeks business meeting.

We are also investigating a chemical spray which could treat the "Green Algae" that has been blooming on the golf course ponds and the lake for the last year and a half.

We will have information concerning the study done by ATC, the Rotenone treatment and the chemical algae spray at our next meeting on Wednesday, July 10th.


Lake Study Update (June 5, 2002)

Michelle Baker from USU is out of town doing studies in Idaho. She had her lab technician quit on her so we are waiting for a replacement to test the samples she has taken. It will probably be several weeks before we get any results back from them. We plan on maintaining our budding relationship with her and USU as this can be very beneficial to the students and to Stansbury Park.

We have contacted Theron Miller of the Utah Division of Water Quality. He is coming to the meeting on June 26th to talk about problems/solutions for maintaining the health of Stansbury Lake. They have records of tests taken from the lake dating back several years. He is bringing that information with him.

We have contacted a private firm in Salt Lake that is willing to test samples we take ourselves. (There are several firms of this type available.) I don't feel we are qualified to take samples and have them tested and still maintain the defensibility of the results.

We have contacted Darrin Wardon of ATC. He has come out and surveyed (not sampled) Gordon well, Rabbit Lane, Well A, Millpond spring, Millpond pump, inlet at 15 Lakeview, inlet at 54 Lakeview, divider box for Gordon well pipe, several golf course ponds and the big lake on the golf course. He is putting together a proposal to present at the board meeting on Wednesday, June 12th.

We have always heard that there was a circulation system planned for the lake, but was never aware of any prove that it existed. We have found plans that show a circulation system for almost every inlet on the lake. The plans are dated 1970 and 1973. However have not been able to confirm how much of the system was actually installed and if it ever was functional. We are earnestly looking into this and will be investing further to determine how much was done and if it is feasible to either complete it or make it functional again.

The lake weed mower is in full swing and any volunteers wanting to use it should contact me to coordinate the usage. We have a big lake and it is going to take some time. Be patient.

From several discussions with different people who understand our ecosystem, it is our understanding the lake is not dying. It may be getting more nutrients than it can consume, however that can be remedied. That is why we are pursuing the tests so that we can understand the problem and pursue a solution.


Lake Study Update (May 17, 2002) by Kenyon Eastin

The Stansbury Service Agency has acquired the services of a Utah State University Assistant Professor, Michelle Baker in the Biology Dept. The following is a description of her interests and goals taken from her web page. "A goal of my research is to understand how water movement within the landscape influences ecosystem structure and function. I use an interdisciplinary approach, involving tools from ecology, hydrology and geochemistry to ask questions about how hydrologic linkages with watersheds influence energy and nutrient cycling." Professor Baker recently made her initial on-site visit and acquired numerous samples for study. Kenyon Eastin and Burt Ogden spent time with her showing her all of our water sources and the areas of concerns. We expect to hear the results of her initial studies very soon and look forward to working with her to identify solutions to the lake issues. The Service Agency is committed to the health of the lake and has budgeted $10,500 in 2002. These funds will be spent on the Lake Mower repairs and maintenance, the costs associated with the USU study and any remedies that are identified as a result of the study.