I live in LO and have mixed feelings about this whole "private lake" business. Sadly, just like you weren't able to decipher any useful information from the LOC web site, I didn't get anything useful from this video. 😢 The idea that reservoirs have to be "dirtier" than natural lakes seems a little ungrounded to me. You didn't mention that LO is connected to both Tualatian and Willamette rivers. The whole video sounds like a bunch of unproved statements leading to a conclusion that the current status quo is probably the best for everybody. I don't know who owns a couple of remaining stretches of the shoreline where current resindents of LO can swim and launch a kayak. But those beaches are rather neglected right now. If public owned them and kept them better maintained, it may be a better solution for everybody.
The purpose of the video was to update the most recent ruling and for people like yourself to give feedback. Thanks for doing so. What in your estimation is the "current status quo" that I concluded?
These distinctions between lakes, ponds and reservoirs were . . . unique. I've heard the distinction between lakes and ponds being a matter of size but this depends on location. In Wisconsin a pond is defined as a body of water which is less than 100,000 square feet surface area (2.2 acres.) Minnesota on the other hand doesn't allow ponds to graduate to lake status until they get over 10 acres in size. As for the question of access to navigable waters, I'll leave the answer to the courts. I think that for most people who care about lake access, the determining factor is whether or not they (or their friends/family) own a lakefront cabin. I support public access to all bodies of water except for the ones where I own waterfront property. 😜
When you look closer, it sure is tough to distinguish lakes from ponds. Many definitions include depth/sunlight depth. If you can see the bottom, it's a pond, if not, its a lake. However in Oregon, I can think of quite a few lakes that you can see the bottom(Hosmer comes to mind) but many ponds that you cannot see the bottom.
Seth, do you know who's paid to install those expensive oxygen bubblers placed around the lake floor? Each bubbler has a large backup generator standing by, mated with a utility building that feeds into long, expensive pipes that run into the lake floor in at least three locations. Who's financing those? The Lake Oswego Corporation (LOC) / homeowners or someone else?
I worked in LO for 40 years, so I learned a lot while working there as a Mail Carrier. Many of my customers live on the lake, so I got to know them very well. This lake has been private for decades, so houses on the lake have gotten used to the security of the lake being controlled by lake patrol personnel. If this lake were open to the public, those who had spent a lot of money to live there would lose that security. Another thing to know is that all boats entering the lake have to pass a lake inspection for any contaminating species. Would that be true once it's open to the public? Another thing is a huge investment has been made to install expensive water percolators (3 that I know of) aimed at increasing the oxygen level in the water for fish and, I think, also to help control algae blooms which happened in the past. Who paid for those? In my opinion, there needs to be a compromise; the public can enter the lake by passing through the Lake Corporation's controlled boat ramp and also signing in as understanding lake rules. I own a boat and would love to motor around the lake I used to work next to for years and years.
@@susantillander2080 Actually, a lawsuit was filed in 2012 to challenge the Lake Corporation's management of the lake as private. The Lake has been privately owned by the Lake Oswego Corporation (LOC) since 1942. The LOC is a private corporation of lakefront property owner
As a child spent many summers at a private campground on a lake. It was a unique experience. All gone now. Owners retired. Daughter tried to carry on but new laws and taxes made far more sense to call evil developers- take the money and run. Then developers did the usual and lake is private. The taxes and laws make any other use impossible.
If tax payers pay for it's upkeep, then they must have access. It's on the State to maintain easement agreements. If home owners what to keep the reservoir private, then they can be responsible for maintaining it.
how can a publicly owned swimming park be private? It is owned by the school district. Time to audit that district, I bet they collect from south Portland and spend locally.
Good question. Although publicly funded, properties owned by school districts are still private property - in other words, they are free to do what they want with the property including restricting use. At least, this is what I have observed. I'm not sure of the legalities. Anyone who is, please weigh in.
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I live in LO and have mixed feelings about this whole "private lake" business. Sadly, just like you weren't able to decipher any useful information from the LOC web site, I didn't get anything useful from this video. 😢 The idea that reservoirs have to be "dirtier" than natural lakes seems a little ungrounded to me. You didn't mention that LO is connected to both Tualatian and Willamette rivers. The whole video sounds like a bunch of unproved statements leading to a conclusion that the current status quo is probably the best for everybody.
I don't know who owns a couple of remaining stretches of the shoreline where current resindents of LO can swim and launch a kayak. But those beaches are rather neglected right now. If public owned them and kept them better maintained, it may be a better solution for everybody.
The purpose of the video was to update the most recent ruling and for people like yourself to give feedback. Thanks for doing so. What in your estimation is the "current status quo" that I concluded?
These distinctions between lakes, ponds and reservoirs were . . . unique. I've heard the distinction between lakes and ponds being a matter of size but this depends on location. In Wisconsin a pond is defined as a body of water which is less than 100,000 square feet surface area (2.2 acres.) Minnesota on the other hand doesn't allow ponds to graduate to lake status until they get over 10 acres in size.
As for the question of access to navigable waters, I'll leave the answer to the courts. I think that for most people who care about lake access, the determining factor is whether or not they (or their friends/family) own a lakefront cabin. I support public access to all bodies of water except for the ones where I own waterfront property. 😜
When you look closer, it sure is tough to distinguish lakes from ponds. Many definitions include depth/sunlight depth. If you can see the bottom, it's a pond, if not, its a lake. However in Oregon, I can think of quite a few lakes that you can see the bottom(Hosmer comes to mind) but many ponds that you cannot see the bottom.
Seth, do you know who's paid to install those expensive oxygen bubblers placed around the lake floor? Each bubbler has a large backup generator standing by, mated with a utility building that feeds into long, expensive pipes that run into the lake floor in at least three locations. Who's financing those? The Lake Oswego Corporation (LOC) / homeowners or someone else?
@@IceManOregon I don’t but I’ll see if I can find out.
Enjoy your videos.
Thanks for watching.
I worked in LO for 40 years, so I learned a lot while working there as a Mail Carrier. Many of my customers live on the lake, so I got to know them very well. This lake has been private for decades, so houses on the lake have gotten used to the security of the lake being controlled by lake patrol personnel. If this lake were open to the public, those who had spent a lot of money to live there would lose that security. Another thing to know is that all boats entering the lake have to pass a lake inspection for any contaminating species. Would that be true once it's open to the public? Another thing is a huge investment has been made to install expensive water percolators (3 that I know of) aimed at increasing the oxygen level in the water for fish and, I think, also to help control algae blooms which happened in the past. Who paid for those? In my opinion, there needs to be a compromise; the public can enter the lake by passing through the Lake Corporation's controlled boat ramp and also signing in as understanding lake rules. I own a boat and would love to motor around the lake I used to work next to for years and years.
Great insights. Thanks for contributing.
He said it was made private in 2012 - not decades. I'm sure those who bought homes after that date were aware of litigation.
@@susantillander2080 Actually, a lawsuit was filed in 2012 to challenge the Lake Corporation's management of the lake as private. The Lake has been privately owned by the Lake Oswego Corporation (LOC) since 1942. The LOC is a private corporation of lakefront property owner
As a child spent many summers at a private campground on a lake. It was a unique experience. All gone now. Owners retired. Daughter tried to carry on but new laws and taxes made far more sense to call evil developers- take the money and run. Then developers did the usual and lake is private. The taxes and laws make any other use impossible.
"ready to go for a swim?" Duck - YES! 😂😂
Haha
If tax payers pay for it's upkeep, then they must have access. It's on the State to maintain easement agreements. If home owners what to keep the reservoir private, then they can be responsible for maintaining it.
Homeowners are paying to maintain the lake via lakecorp.com
But they have a swimming park run by the board of education on that Lake and you're not sure of the water quality
Correct. That's not to say that others aren't sure of the quality. It's just not clear from the website.
how can a publicly owned swimming park be private? It is owned by the school district. Time to audit that district, I bet they collect from south Portland and spend locally.
Good question. Although publicly funded, properties owned by school districts are still private property - in other words, they are free to do what they want with the property including restricting use. At least, this is what I have observed. I'm not sure of the legalities. Anyone who is, please weigh in.
It’s Oswego lake.
Yes