Please take a moment to read the proposed changes to the Lake Gaston Association Bylaws. Members in good standing should submit their comments about the changes by emailing them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before April 28, 2024. The proposed changes will be voted on by the membership in attendance at the Annual Membership Meeting on June 1, 2024. The meeting will be held at the Dominion Day Use Recreation Area located at 2369 Jack Brown Road, Littleton, NC 27850, and will begin at 9:00am.
In 2023 the LGA leadership conducted a Member Survey to identify how effective we are and what are the most important areas of concern for our members. This is the 6th survey that has been conducted in the last 17 years, so we are also able to look at results over time.
We had 297 responses which is approximately 14% of our membership.
On a scale from 1 to 4, we were rated at 3.5 for overall effectiveness. This is the highest ranking from all previous surveys. The areas we scored very favorable in are communications and community safety. Areas needing improvement are Government Relations and Lake Clean-up. Areas that our members said were of most importance to them are the environment/watershed and aquatic plant management.
Your LGA leadership is taking a hard look at these results and comments made as we move ahead in our strategic planning process this spring. We value this input and will stay focused on what is important to our members and strive for improvement.
Volunteers are needed on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, and Wednesday, June 19, 2024!
Goal: To Manage & Enhance Native Aquatic Vegetation in Lake Gaston
LGA volunteers work with the Lake Gaston Weed Control Council, NC State University Cooperative Extension, NC Wildlife Resource Commission, and the VA Department of Wildlife Resources to improve the management of native vegetation in the lake. Managing the native vegetation is critical to ensure continued lake water quality!
Volunteers are needed to help repair, build, and plant the cages.
Fenced-in areas, called "cages," are used to develop colonies of native vegetation. The cages protect the newly planted native vegetation from being eaten by herbivores, such as turtles and grass carp. Native vegetation provides habitat for fish and wildlife, reduces shoreline erosion, and out-competes invasive/noxious vegetation.
Contact Wally Sayko at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (434)774-0715 or Judy Waters at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (804)387-1124 to volunteer or for additional information.
Workdays are currently planned for Tuesday, June 18, 2024, and Wednesday, June 19, 2024. Additional information will be made available as plans are finalized. Students can receive a letter from NCSU acknowledging volunteer hours!
At the February 14th meeting of the Lake Gaston Stakeholders Board a Resolution introduced by the Lake Gaston Association (LGA) to support funding and management of lyngbya (a cyanobacteria or blue-green algae) was passed without exception.
The LGA is working closely with the Lake Gaston Weed Control Council (LGWCC) to address funding barriers and seek solutions that benefit the health of Lake Gaston and our community.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Lake Gaston Stakeholders Board (LGSB) was formed in 2004 with the purpose to create and carry out an effective long term plan for the management of aquatic species (fish and vegetation) in Lake Gaston. Managing Aquatic Plants in Lake Gaston, A Long-Term Action Plan, was released to the public in February 2006 and subsequently amended in 2013 as Lake Gaston Aquatic Plant Management: Revised Long Term Management Plan. This plan reflects a commitment to managing aquatic vegetation in Lake Gaston in a way that is both responsive and achieves the related goals of meeting the recreational needs of as many lake users as possible while protecting the lake’s ecological health and natural beauty.
WHEREAS, control measures conducted by the Lake Gaston Weed Control Council (LGWCC), based on Technical Advisory Group recommendations, have successfully managed hydrilla to a reduced level of approximately 200 acres across the lake. Current annual survey data shows Lyngbya, a filamentous cyanobacterium or blue green algae, increasing to approximately 1300 acres across the lake. The expansion of lyngbya poses a significant threat to the health and recreational benefits of Lake Gaston.
WHEREAS, North Carolina State University, with funding from the LGWCC, continues to conduct research focused on effective management for lyngbya within Lake Gaston, as well as, to better understand factors that influence its distribution and growth. In addition, the LGWCC supports research into the production of cyanotoxins and their potential impact to the environment and human health.
WHEREAS, the LGWCC is the only entity on Lake Gaston that receives funding for the research and management of native, noxious and invasive aquatic vegetation. Funds are also used to support an extension position with North Carolina State University Aquatic Plant Management Program.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the LGSB recognizes that management of lyngbya is of benefit to the general public and supports; 1) research and integrated Noxious Weed Management (including lyngbya) which addresses Lake Gaston’s water quality, and biodiversity, 2) consistent funding and clear pathways that provide counties the legal authority to fund problematic algae management activities, 3) actively encourages legislative and administrative solutions to list lyngbya as a Noxious Aquatic Weed under the NC DEQ Aquatic Weed Control Program, and 4) supports cost share funding by all stakeholders, to include States, County jurisdictions as well as private entities.
BE IT KNOWN that out of Lake Gaston Stakeholder Board members representing a quorum were present via ZOOM at a meeting held on this 14th day of February 2024 and the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote of all Board Members and opposed by none; and that said Resolution has been duly recorded in this organization’s minutes and is in full force and effect.
Recently, a news blog seen by some LKG residents identified Lake Gaston as the “North Carolina Lake Number 1 Most Leech Infested In The Country.” The identified author, Melanie Day, goes on to state “new data has a North Carolina lake as the most leech-infested in the country.” However, no such data is actually presented. In fact, the original blog by “Animals Around the Globe” that was used as the supposed source, titled “The 6 Most Leech Infested Lakes in the United States,” does not even identify Lake Gaston as one of the six most leech-infested lakes in the country. The article, written by Dona Van Eeden from South Africa, does not even really discuss Lake Gaston! A few months ago, a similar blog identified Lake Gaston as having the “cleanest water in North Carolina.” Similar to the article on leeches, it may be entertaining reading but presents zero scientific (or even non-scientific) data for such a claim. The bottom line is this type of “news” should not be considered reliable as in many cases it may be based on nothing more than a web search to see how many instances a topic is noted in social media or other websites, and has no scientific analysis or technical research.
Lake Gaston certainly has leeches, but there is no reliable information to indicate there are any more or less than any similar lake across the country or the state. Here are some facts about leeches:
●There are more than 650 species of leeches worldwide with about 80 species in North America and about 20 of those found in North Carolina.
●Leeches are a natural component of lake and pond ecosystems and the presence of leeches is in no way associated with polluted water.
●Leeches provide food for some types of fish and aquatic birds, as well as turtles, snakes, and crayfish.
●Leeches are found in a variety of freshwater aquatic environments, including lakes, ponds, marshes, springs, and slow streams, typically found in the area along the shoreline in areas protected from wave action.
●Leech bites are harmless to humans although they may become infected by bacteria.
Keeping your shoreline clear of organic material such as leaves and other debris can help reduce leech habitat. Chemicals should never be put in the lake in an effort to kill leeches as it may be a violation of federal/state clean water laws and the Dominion Shoreline Management Plan. It can also result in killing fish, birds, and other wildlife and may harm humans and pets recreating in the lake.
The moral of the story is when reading an online “news” article, be sure to consider the source. Or as a very smart person said, just because you read it on the web doesn’t mean it's true!
Article written by John Franz LGA Lake Environment Committee Chairperson
