Please be advised that we will begin to refill Kinderhook Lake on Monday, April 1, 2024, in accordance with our DEC Drawdown Permit. Changes in the water level during the refill are weather dependent: more rain & snow melt = quicker refill; less rain and snowmelt = slower refill.
Hardly a day goes by without news of rising inflation. We see rising prices of food, gas, building material, cars, almost everything. And of course, it’s no different for the KLC. Our basic operational costs have been rising for years while membership dues have essentially remained the same since 2008 (except a small $15 raise to the basic membership in 2014). The cost of printing, postage, envelopes, gate lock and keys, copper sulfate, equipment maintenance, winter storage, insurance, etc. are all rising. In addition, the KLC continues to transfer $850/month from the General Fund to the Dam Reserve Fund. While last year members generously donated over $75,000 towards the cost of ProcellaCor to successfully treat Eurasian milfoil, the KLC had to spend over $12,000 from the General Fund to make up for the total treatment cost of almost $88,000. And please remember that the KLC receives no additional funding from any private or public agencies or municipalities. Accordingly, we find it necessary to increase each level of membership dues by $25: basic membership to $150, sustaining membership to $200, and benefactor membership to $225. Launch gate keys will remain at $15. We’ll now offer a single business sponsorship level at $200, which includes a basic membership.
We hope you will continue to support the KLC through membership dues and business sponsorships and strongly urge you to consider donating to our restricted funds. Restricted funds include the Dam Reserve Fund (for future improvements, maintenance, and flood control measures at the dam), the Weed Management Fund (to help control the growth of invasive and nuisance aquatic vegetation), the Water Quality Fund (to continue herbicide treatments to control algae growth), and the Fish Stocking Fund (for stocking game fish and habitat).
Thanks for your understanding and continued support.
As we move into June, we can see that the Eurasian milfoil is flourishing all around the lake. This is actually a good thing because ProcellaCor is most effective when milfoil is in full growth mode; it will allow the plants to better absorb the herbicide all the way down to the roots. Our DEC permit application has already been approved and, weather permitting, we hope to be treating the milfoil with ProcellaCor during the third week of June. For those of you not aware of what we are up to, please see our 14 January 2021 post below.
During a pre-treatment weed survey of the lake in early May, an additional 46 acres of milfoil were identified by Burden Aquatics, expanding the milfoil beds from 160 acres to over 200 acres. DEC has already amended our permit to include the additional acreage as it is critical that we address this issue now before it gets even worse.
Although ProcellaCor is absorbed by the milfoil within the first 3-6 hours after treatment, it will take weeks to see evidence of the results. Here is what you can expect to see.
- One week after treatment, the plants should still be standing but may look sad and begin to wilt.
- At the end of week 2, half the plants may still be standing but will have turned brown and brittle.
- By the end of week 3, most of the plants (but not all) will have fallen to the bottom of the lake.
- By the end of week 4, it will be difficult to detect any evidence of the plants.
A couple of things to be aware of, (1) milfoil that has not germinated at the time of the ProcellaCor treatment will not be affected and growth may begin later in the summer, and (2) milfoil fragments, whether floating or within the water column, will likely not be affected by the ProcellaCor treatment and may start new growth later in the season or next year. If you see weeds floating around your dock or shoreline, please try to remove them from the lake to reduce the potential of them starting new plant growth.
The treatment date will be posted on the KLC Facebook page as well as on our website as soon as it is confirmed. As required by DEC, signage will be posted around the lake 24-hours before the treatment date. As a reminder, there will be an irrigation restriction for up to 5-days after the treatment and a swimming restriction on the day of the treatment.
Although there are no other legal restrictions, we ask that all boats stay off the lake the day of the treatment. Boating activity will cause additional water movement that may disperse and dilute the herbicide and potentially make it less effective.
We are proud to say that our members have been very generous this year and we have almost reached our goal to raise the $70,000 needed to treat the original 160 acres. However, treating the extra 46 acres identified this spring will cost an additional $20,000, so we are raising our fundraising goal to $90,000. We ask those of you who have not yet donated to the ProcellaCor Fund to please consider doing so now. We also ask those of you who have already donated to please consider an additional donation to help offset the cost of treating the additional acreage. For donation information, please click the link at the top of this page or in the right-hand column.
Remember, based on the reported experience at other lakes, this ProcellaCor treatment should be effective for up to three years. While the lake will never be 100% weed-free, we can look forward to many years of boating and recreational activities not hampered by enormously thick beds of milfoil.
Every spring, shortly after the ice is off the lake, we crank down the sluice gate, add the flashboards back on top of the dam, and begin to raise the lake to summer level in accordance with our DEC permit. This year, that activity will start on April 3rd. Depending on the weather and water flow through the Valatiekill from our 41 square mile watershed, raising the lake fully will take anywhere from a week to over a month.
If you are a shoreline owner, please take some time before April 3rd to rake and clean out the lake bed in front of your property. Rotting leaves provide nutrients that spur the growth of aquatic invasive species and twigs and branches can float down to the dam and clog the outlet as well as create a hazard for boaters.
A new “Welcome to the Kinderhook Lake Community” pamphlet has been published to replace the older version from 2014. The purpose of the pamphlet is to provide important information to new and existing community residents about the location, features, history, recreation, and water quality of Kinderhook Lake and the Community. The new pamphlet explains how the KLC maintains Kinderhook Lake and the Nivers Dam and highlights the importance of membership support of the organization. Please feel free to pass the pamphlet on to your neighbors and others who use and love Kinderhook Lake. Contact any Director if you would like print versions of the pamphlet to share.
You can view the new pamphlet here KL Welcome Pamphlet v2020 or from the Quick Links in the right-hand column of this webpage.
Before Repairs
After Repairs
The latest repairs to the dam have been completed. As a reminder, two deteriorating downstream faces of the dam were in desperate need of repairs. Unfortunately, getting to an existing sound surface to attach the new concrete face required removal of greater than the expected 6” of existing concrete. In fact, an average depth of 8”–12” of existing concrete needed to be removed before the new concrete face could be properly applied. This condition could not have been determined until the existing deteriorating concrete was removed. Accordingly, this raised the final cost of engineering and construction to $81,339. Kudos to Keller Construction for completing a difficult project quickly and efficiently, and thanks to Board President Bernie Kelleher for managing the engineering and construction.
Of course, the higher construction cost has placed a greater burden on the KLC. The difference between available funds in the Dam Reserve Fund and the final construction cost has increased to over $26,000. We acknowledge and very much appreciate the generosity of donations so far, but we are still a long way from replenishing the Dam Reserve Fund. While we understand that some families may not be in a position to help due to the current state of the economy caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, we ask that those who are in a more fortunate position to please consider an additional donation to the Dam Reserve Fund. Donations can be made with your mail-in membership application, using our online membership payment system, or via the “donate” button found in the right column of this website. Every dollar counts, even just a few if that’s all you can do.
The lake is rising to summer level at this time and we are looking forward to brighter and healthier days ahead. Thanks to everyone for your generosity and support.
Due to the mild winter and early ice melt, the KLC will start raising the lake beginning this coming Friday, April 1st. With little snow runoff this year, filling the lake to summer level will be weather dependent. Time to get your water toys ready!
We have been running into a delay in getting out the gate keys and trailer stickers. Rest assured the launch gate will remain open until after the keys have been distributed to members. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
On Monday, April 28th, the contractor completed the sluice pipe relining project. The new pipe was installed and grouted in place; it fit like a glove. The summer boards have been installed at the top of the spillway and we are bringing the lake back up to summer level. With the rain forecast over the next few days, it won’t take long. You can see construction photos on the GALLERY page.
Repairs to the dam’s sluice gate were delayed a week and are now scheduled to begin the week of April 21st. A coffer dam will be installed to prevent water from entering the sluice pipe while it is being re-lined. Repairs are expected to take about one week. During that time there will be no control over the lake level other than what goes over the dam’s spillway. Please be advised that if we have heavy rains while repairs are being done, the lake level could rise quickly.
Once the repairs are completed, the lake will be returned to summer level as soon as possible.
Follow Us on Facebook!