ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 26, 1997 TAG: 9703260036
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-9 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER THE ROANOKE TIMES
Some 450 tons of wood and trash came out of Claytor Lake last year and twice that much debris may be removed in this year's cleanup.
But it will cost a lot of money.
Friends of Claytor Lake, the organization leading the effort, has asked Pulaski County for $4,485 to continue monitoring the quality of the lake water for a second year and $25,500 for lake cleanup work.
The cleanup costs would include $10,300 for equipment which would be reused in future years, such as platforms to float trash containers directly to the lake work sites. After being filled with debris, the trash containers would be taken on the platforms to a pullout point.
The increased efficiency is expected to nearly double the waste removal, said Ron Powers, the organization's spokesman.
Last year, the county provided $6,000 for the water quality monitoring.
Jim Palmer, project director, told the county Board of Supervisors Monday night that some degradation has happened and made the lake water less clear. But the decline in quality appears to be happening more slowly than at Smith Mountain Lake, which is generally considered as highly acceptable for recreational use.
Palmer said monitoring should continue for several years to confirm water quality trends. Supervisor Bruce Fariss said the work should probably start concentrating on eliminating phosphate contamination.
"It seems to me the question should be where is the phosphate coming from, rather than remeasuring it," Fariss said. "It looks to me as if the question should be what is the source for this contamination."
Because the source is probably not local, and could be from another state downstream, Fariss said, "this should be a regional concern."
The cleanup is planned from May 15 to Nov. 15.
Powers said the Friends organization is planning a way to keep debris out of the lake, by putting an experimental boom structure across coves that have been cleaned. He said such devices should divert most new debris and allow cove access by boaters.
In other business, the supervisors voted 4-1 with Fariss dissenting to declare April as Confederate History Month in Pulaski County and April 26 as Confederate Memorial Day.
Pulaski Town Council voted a similar resolution last month and agreed to let the Jubal Early Camp 1691 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans use the town's Jackson Park for a 10 a.m. ceremony April 26. Jerry Sayers, representing the camp, said Del. Tommy Baker, R-Dublin, will give the keynote speech at the ceremony.
LENGTH: Medium: 53 linesby CNB