We take the environment seriously on Cordley Lake.
Many of us who live on Cordley Lake are passionate about the lake and its water quality as we want to enjoy the lake, as close to what it is today, for many years to come. Lakes have life cycles and as they age, they fill in with sediment and weeds. It is realistic to dramatically slow down the weed growth in a lake and slow down the aging process - if you do it early enough. The key is to do the simple things listed below. Cordley Lake is “middle-aged”. Those who have been on the lake for many years remember when it was over 60 acres (it is now about 45). Click here to learn more about the 3 stages in a lake’s life cycle. At the bottom of this page, there are links to two studies which have been done on Cordley Lake and a snapshot summary of our lake from the Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership taken on May 11, 2020.
There are simple things you can do to help keep us keep our lake clean and lessen the weed growth/fill-in:
1) Keep your grass at a minimum height of three inches and, when you mow, cut no more than one-third of the height of the grass. Taller grass has a deeper, healthier root system, is more tolerant of drought, and resists weed infestation. When you mow, mulch the clippings back into the lawn. This adds nitrogen and organic matter to the soil, and prevents compaction (thatch). Clippings that are mulched and returned to the lawn all season can contribute up to 25 percent of a lawn’s seasonal fertilizer needs. More tips at Grow a Healthy Lawn.
2) Use as little commercial fertilizer as possible - instead use water from the lake as it is full of nutrients. If you use any commercial fertilizer. use phosphorus free fertilizer (fertilizer that has a zero as a middle number of the three) to minimize algae and aquatic plant growth. DO NOT use fertilzer on frozen or water soaked soil. as it will just get to the lake that much faster.
3) Pick up pet waste as quickly. It’s fertilizer, too, which will end up in the lake (as all things eventually do). If you have bird poop on a dock, pick it up - don’t push it into the water.
4) Burn as little as possible - and Do Not Have Fires Next to the Water’s Edge. Think of the ash that falls into the lake as being like miracle grow for the things we don’t want growing in the lake. Remember that the further from the water’s edge a fire is, the better. Distance gives the soil a chance to filter out some of the ash before it reaches the lake and promotes weed/algae growth.
5) Dispose of car/household chemicals properly (that is, don’t dump them anywhere on your property, take them to a facility.
6) Stop mowing at least part of a3-4 foot strip down by the water’s edge. Plant native plants on your property, especially near the shoreline to help slow down the flow of run-off from your yard into the lake. That run-off often acts like fertilizer to the plants in the lake that will grow, make the lake stink, and even fill in the lake over time. Go to the Varsity Shoreline to see our model project there. You can find complete plans on our Shoreline Project tab to help inspire you and make your planning easier. The longer the roots of a plant, the more filtering and cleaning the plants can do which is one reason why using native plants helps (as does keeping your grass taller).
7) Be very careful about not bringing in invasives from surrounding areas. Carefully clean, drain, dry any boats coming into Cordley from another lake (watch a 3 minute video here and see details in the large graphic below which is posted in 5 places around the lake). Do not portage! Invasive aquatic plants and species (think sharp-edged zebra mussels, for example), can hitch a ride in less than a teaspoon of water, so it is important to Clean, Drain, Dry our boats - and any visiting - and returning - boats!
See something floating in the lake? Click on the green button below for a general overview of what’s in many inland lakes - Cordley Lake does not have much of what is shown. In mid-late June after it typically “snows” Cottonwood seed, you will see that pollen collect.
