The Facilities and Landscape Committees have had a busy past couple of months.  The following is an update of what they have accomplished to make Lochmere a beautiful place to live in. 

• Leave the Leaves:  As you drive around Lochmere, you might see some large mounds of mulched leaves. Don’t worry, it’s not the leaf monster at work!   The Landscape Committee in partnership with The Town of Cary has arranged for some of our residents’ leaves sucked up this week to be deposited in various locations around the community. These leaves will be distributed mostly around tree bases and areas where we can’t grow grass. This initiative was started earlier this year by the Committee to replenish the health of our soil, improve water retention and limit erosion, and provide habitat for our native wildlife. For more information, please visit HERE.

•  Disc Golf:  A course map has been installed at the Disc Golf course in Ann Brunswick Lake Park. It is between the park sign and hole #1 post. A number #10 sign has been added showing where the hidden extra basket is located.

• Trail Posts: New replacement trail posts are being installed in various spots around our trail heads. Others that can be repaired and stained are being worked on as well as some benches.  The Facilities Committee is looking at additional repairs.

• Highlands Dam Guardrails: The wood guardrails along Loch Highlands Drive have had some posts and beams replaced. They have also been stained.

• Loch Lomond Gazebo:  Repairs and staining of the gazebo on Loch Lomond have been completed. The Landscape Committee has removed the failing Bradford Pear trees and holly bushes that once surrounded it. The Landscape Committee is looking at suitable plantings for this area.

• Ann Brunswick Lake Park Bridge:  A contractor has repaired the Ann Brunswick Lake Park Bridge. The walkway boards were all replaced, posts repaired, and the structure was power washed and stained.

• Lochmere Lakeside Sign Lighting:  The plans to add hard-wired lighting to the entrance sign at Lochmere Drive and Kildaire Farm Rd. were delayed for some time due to permitting. We are waiting on the electrician to install a meter base for Duke Energy to then run a new line to the center median.
• Birkhaven Trails: The Facilities Committee is looking at proposals to repair sections of this trail including a failing bridge retaining wall. Another section of trail has severe erosion which requires more investigation. Other trail sections will require repairs, and the Committee is looking into this.

The Lakes Committee and Board of Directors continue to look into options around the Highlands Lake dredging.

Since the Town Hall meeting, we have had additional depth measurements taken down toward the Dam and along the shoreline on the homeowners property side. Material samples were also collected. Near the Dam and shoreline there was organic material consisting of leaves and tree debris as was expected. Off of the Dam and toward the deeper sections, typical soft mud deposits were noted. Additional depth maps from our lakes contractor have been reviewed.

Other methods of dredging and access are still being explored.