We did go to the cove today and had it all to ourselves. It was a beautiful day weatherwise. The flies and gnats were a little busy and biting though. The breeze helped but they were still annoying. We figured this was probably the last Sunday the weather would cooperate at all though. Wish you could have been there with us to enjoy the end of the season.
I forgot: there were hardly any boats either. The ones we saw couldn't see us. Too far away. So other than bugs it was a perfect day.
Steve&F

Steve or any others who've been regulars at the Cove this summer ... I'd like to hear a bit about the aquatic plants in the Cove and how they've progressed this season.

They're gradually taking away the swimmable parts of the Cove. Five years ago there was a few water lilies or lotus plants on the north arm of the cove and a few cattails on the south arm. Then the milfoil started showing up in the Cove - now the lilies have about covered the middle of the Cove and the only open water is off the north and south arms - it's gotten harder year by year to swim the Cove.

Sorry to see the plants encroach so steadily and with time they take the oxygen out - cause silt to make it a shallow backwater and long term can about kill off a Cove into a stagnant body of water that's not too pleasant. Seems to be the trend - but I haven't been there often this summer so wonder how it's appeared on a week by week basis.

Not sure if similar is taking place elsewhere around the lake or if the situation is unique to his Cove.

Any thoughts or observations? Is the milfoil a problem for swimming off the south arm? It may come and go but the lilies are certainly incresing steadily year by year - about to choke the place.

Dick Williams

Hi Dick
The lillies are taking over the cove. The swimmable area is as you say only on the north and south points. The land plants are taking over most of the beach area too. In the spring the beach area is almost non existent due to the higher lake level. The lake is lower now and most of the lillies are dying off due to lack of water or the season I am not sure which.
I don't swim there too much anyway because of the mud. The lake bottom is mostly mud and you sink in pretty deep in most places. I guess I am turning into a wuss in my old age.
As far as the rest of the lake goes, I am not sure if the milfoil and lillies grow that much in other areas or not. I would imagine they do because of most of the lake shore is pretty shallow. That is the type of water condusive to that type of plant growth.
I think we will eventually have to find a new area anyway because of the encroaching population. New neighborhoods and housing are moving closer all of the time. As soon as someone with kids can see the beach area from close to home it will be gone. Maybe we should try to find a more remote area and get it established as a nude area.
I realize accessability to the lake from land is a problem at Smithville. We could start looking though.
Steve&F