President's Message

By: Dave Peterson, Board President

Here’s a quick update on the 3 biggest issues we have. I gave a little more background and detail in the last Breeze, so this article is just an update.

1. Water Company. All three of our wells are now operational for the summer, along with the backup interties with Lukins Water and STPUD. We are still at reduced capacity due to the limited throughput of the temporary uranium treatment systems; well #2 was designed to produce 2,200 gallons per minute (gpm), but is limited to just 400gpm, and well #3, designed for 2,000 gpm, is limited to 800gpm. This means that we simply don’t have the well output capacity in gpm to allow unbridled landscape irrigation. Our new Water Conservation Committee is working hard on helping us deal with this reality. First, we have rolled out a strict irrigation schedule designed to smooth out the neighborhood water demands, so that the wells don’t get overdriven. You should have received mailings and eblasts on this, and it’s been in the Breeze. One recent modification, however, is that drip systems are exempt from the schedule, because they represent extremely low flow demands on the system. Second, we are asking all of you to re-design your landscapes to use less water, which means many of us need to reduce turf. It doesn’t need to happen all at once, but since you’ll probably be putting in some new landscaping this spring, it’s a perfect time to make some changes. We just rolled out the “Tahoe Keys Landscape Conservation Idea Book” for your use, which is loaded with great ideas and plant materials lists. It can be found at [Heather, post a link here please]. We have also approved issuance of a solicitation to hire a landscape design firm to develop a master landscaping plan for our common areas. We need to update/upgrade the look of our community, reduce turf, and reduce water use. Water will be more and more expensive now that we have to treat to remove multiple contaminants, so water saved means money saved. in year 1, followed by bottom barriers and UV light in years 2 and 3). However, the lack of snow in 2022 means that the lake isn’t projected to rise more than about 8”, so the hydrology preconditions to the test are not looking that great. Our Water Quality Committee and consultants are in daily discussions with TRPA and the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board regarding hydrology and other details, and will be advising the TKPOA board whether to proceed this year or wait a year. We’ll have a decision before this Keys Breeze gets published, and an e-blast will give you the news. Regardless of whether the CMT gets delayed, we need to hire a number of new permanent and seasonal staff for our aquatic weeds program, including a replacement for our manager who left us in April. We’d welcome members’ help in our recruiting efforts! 3. Garbage and Bears. Last month I gave you a brief update on the bear situation and the board’s decision to get rid of the Pavilion dumpsters. Since that time, we received quite a few emails from people, some in favor, more not in favor. Director Joby Cefalu followed up with phone conversations with all who commented (thank you Joby!). The big issue was that second homeowners that go back to their primary homes on Sundays need a place to drop off their trash before leaving town, and the Pavilion dumpsters have served them well. The board re-opened the discussion at the April board meeting, and decided to accommodate this need. The dumpsters will be moved in early May to the water company site at the west end of Texas Ave., and all will be locked most of the time. On Sundays, one dumpster will be unlocked for member use. We hope that the move will confuse non-members and cut back on illicit dumping, so we think one dumpster will do the job. Once STR opens the transfer station on Sundays, we’ll eliminate Sunday dumpster service at the water company site. Single family homeowners and renters are reminded not to dump trash in the townhome dumpsters; you can be fined for that.

Thanks to all of you that volunteer on committees, work days, and on the board, and thank you for the constructive feedback on the dumpster issue.

2. Aquatic Weeds. As of this writing, we are still planning to start the 3-year “control methods test” (CMT) in late May (the CMT will test aquatic herbicides