Greeley Lake drawdown draws attention

By SANDY LONG

GREELEY, PA — For those wondering where Pike County’s Greeley Lake has gone, a drawdown for the purpose of aquatic vegetation control was permitted by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), beginning in October and concluding on March 1, 2009.

The permit was applied for by Matt Buynak, director of Lake Greeley Camp. Buynak said that a group consisting of representatives of Pine Forest Camp, Camp Shohola and interested homeowners meet to discuss ongoing measures related to controlling vegetation on the lake. Various methods have been tried, including harvesting plant matter and the addition of an aeration system that increases oxygen content in the water, but progress has been slow and the bog-like lake is nearly impassable for watercraft in some areas.

“Our approach is rather organic,” said Buynak, who added that the group wants to avoid introducing chemicals into the lake.

“We much prefer these drawdowns to the application of chemical control methods,” said Sally Corl, manager of PFBC’s Northeast Region Bureau of Law Enforcement. “This time of year is appropriate because the freezing temperatures cause the death of the vegetation.”

Waterways Conservation Officer Robert Plumb of the PFBC said the permit allows for a drawdown of five feet. The drawdown is executed by controlling the amount of water allowed to exit the lake. The level is moderated by removal of boards at the dam and will allow the opportunity to inspect the dam as well.

Corl acknowledged that there is a “potential for some mortality” of wildlife within the lake, but that most of the reptiles and amphibians find ways to adapt. “While some of the critters burrow into the mud, many can survive as long as there’s some standing water,” said Corl. “They tend to recede as the water recedes.”