The Island Project – West Londo Lake
Every spring, West Londo Lake residents look forward to the return of our loons. And every spring, almost like clockwork, they come back and build their nest on the island. Unfortunately, over the years our island has shrunk due to erosion and the increase in boat traffic. The island covered about 36,000 square feet in the 1940’s. It had trees, shrubs and even a small building. In the early 2000’s it had eroded down to around 6,000 square feet. The loons have been coming to our lake for more than 50 years and each year 2 loon chicks hatch, and if we are lucky, they survive the summer and fly away in the fall with the adults. The purpose to this project is to save maintain the loon population on West Londo lake for years to come through the protection of their one viable nesting site on the lake – our island. If we lose our island, we lose our loons. They will have no place to breed and will eventually quit coming to our lake.
In the fall of 2000, the Lake Association began a multi-phase project to save our island. A Grant was received and the process of rebuilding the island began. Large logs were brought in and anchored around the island and then rocks placed to reinforce the shoreline. This created a breakwater and helped to keep the waves from further eroding the land; thereby keeping a nesting environment for our loons. The 3 phases of the project were completed in 2003.
This last summer, 2011, the Lake Association decided to bring more rocks out to the island and try to maintain the shoreline of the island. Two large piles of rocks were delivered by Wilson Trucking and with the help of many lake residents, buckets and buckets of rocks were hauled by boat out to the island.
This summer, with the continued help of the residents, we will carry on the process of building up the border around the island. For anyone who would like to help, the rock pile/buckets are by the boat launch and there are markers on the island as to where the rocks need to be placed.
***Please note that the rocks cannot be hauled to the island while the loons are nesting. If they feel threatened they will leave their nest which could result in the eggs not hatching. A buoy by the island will indicate when the loons are nesting. ***
