KELSEYVILLE ? Residents of Holiday Cove are ecstatic over the results Aquatic Environment, Inc. (AEI) had in clearing their channel last week. According to Holiday Cove Channel Maintenance Group (HCCMG) President Gary Williamson, the channel is still clean nearly a week after the operation.
“It”s so much nicer,” Williamson”s wife Geri said. “Our neighbors swam from their house to our house the other day. It was clean enough to do that.”
Williamson said that HCCMG does its best to address its aquatic dilemma each year. “We have always done things to try and control the algae, duck weed, etc. It is a problem that seems to get worse each year,” he said. “We are all aware that our weed problem will continue year after year; however, this year”s clean up by AEI and Holiday Cove home owners, is a good beginning toward keeping our channel clean for the enjoyment of all home owners.”
Williamson said that Holiday Cove home owners periodically engage in cooperative clean up efforts using personal pontoon boats to clear the channels. He said one home owner recently donated a pontoon boat to the HCCMG, which is now being rebuilt for use as a channel maintenance boat.
According to Williamson there are 56 properties included in the HCCMG. The group”s primary purpose is dredging the channel entrance and keeping the channel free of weeds. “Home owners pay $100 per year to fund channel maintenance,” he said. “The yearly dues are voluntary so we do have a few that refuse to participate.”
Williamson said that he was researching possible solutions to address the algae problem in the channels when he came across AEI. “I went online looking for some solutions and I came across Aquatic Environments, Inc.,” he said. “After contacting them, they came here from Concord to meet with a group of our home owners and we also invited representatives from Lands End, Corinthian Bay and Cat Fish Alley.”
Williamson said AEI inspected the channel, talked to various county officials and then gave the HCCMG a bid. “I believe AEI”s conversation with the county was to determine the necessary requirements/permits required to go forward with the clean up,” he said.
According to Williamson, AEI then brought their equipment to Lake County to do demonstrations in Clearlake and Clearlake Oaks Keys. After the demonstrations AEI started work on Holiday Cove.
“After the work started on Friday, a rep from Lands End came over and was so impressed with the progress they were making that he contacted their board and then contracted with AEI to clean their channel,” Williamson said.
Geri Williamson said that a lot of money was saved in last week”s operation thanks to Jim James, who allowed the bio matter to be disposed of on his orchard property. She said he is offering the same to the Lands End home owners.
More information regarding Aquatic Environments, Inc. equipment and services can be accessed at www.aquamog.com.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
