Kings Grant Lake Carp Project Update

Clean-up, Grounds & Maintenance, Open Spaces

The project to reintroduce the state-approved species of grass carp into King’s Grant lakes is ready for the next big step. The delivery of the sterile, grass munching carp is expected on Thursday, June 12th! The fish are being transported a considerable distance by truck to our neighborhood, so the day could potentially change. Updates will be provided on this site as the day and times are confirmed. The neighborhood organizers of this project have a permit from the Virginia Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) to place carp in four of the five KG lakes. These are Lake Forest (the large lake roughly bounded by Watergate Ln and Edinburgh Dr), Kings Lake, Queens Lake, and the unnamed pond between Queen Elizabeth Dr and Prince Charles Dr. The group is still working with the state on the permitting process for Timber Lake, the other large lake that is roughly bounded by Quimby Rd, Winchester Ln, Kensington St, and the Lynnhaven baseball fields, so this lake will not be part of this delivery. The project organizers understand that many donors to this project want to see the delivery, so stay tuned. The fish can be delivered directly from the truck into some lakes, but others will be stocked by carrying the fish to the water. More details will be provided as soon as we get them.

Carp Project Update

Clean-up, Grounds & Maintenance, Open Spaces

This is an update on the water quality project that reintroduces grass carp to the lakes of King’s Grant.  This is an initiative to control the growing problem with aquatic weeds in the lakes.  The background on this project, the species of fish, and the fund raising to accomplish this has been the subject of earlier postings.  Details may be found in earlier postings on this  KGCL website.

Fund raising exceeded our $5,500 goal.  We received approximately $6,500 in donations that is being maintained in a separately managed bank account.  To all the neighbors who donated to this project – living on or away from the water – thank you.  The additional funds in the account will be retained for periodic replenishment of the carp that is necessary because of normal, expected mortality.

Members of the community leading the project met with a representative from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) two weeks ago to examine the condition of the lakes.  They have also been engaged with the Richmond office.  On May 22nd, the organizer received a permit for four of the five lakes in the community. The permit authorizes introduction of the sterile grass carp into Lake Forest (which includes the small portions connected to it by culverts running under the roads), Kings Lake, Queens Lake and the small unnamed lake between Queen Elizabeth Dr and Prince Charles Dr.  Lake Forest is the body of water encircled by Edinburgh Dr, Kings Grant Rd, and Watergate Ln.  Unfortunately, approval for Timber Lake, the other large lake that is roughly bounded by Quimby Rd,  Winchester Ln, Kensington St, and the Lynnhaven baseball fields was withheld.  The organizers are working on that since it is the lake that is most congested by weeds.  More details will be provided as soon as we get them.

The fish will be coming from a state-approved supplier in Deltaville VA (ByBrook Hatchery).  A copy of the permit was also sent to the hatchery to validate our purchase requirement.  We are in the process of ordering the carp and will provide the community a delivery date as soon as we have that information.  The DGIF representative advised the community representatives that the carp will consume the vegetation below the water, but stems and leaves above the water may persist unless removed by raking or other collection methods.  We will have to wait to see how things proceed.  Signs, with a picture of the fish, will be posted at common fishing spots on the lakes to discourage removal by fisherman.

More info to follow as we get it.

Buy a Carp, Clean a Lake

Clean-up, Grounds & Maintenance, Open Spaces

Clean Lakes and Carp Donation Project Seeks Support

Update: Click Here to Donate with PayPal

King’s Grant Community League is coordinating community efforts to improve the
quality of our fresh water lakes by collecting money to purchase Carp to be placed in
our five (5) neighborhood lakes. We plan to buy an approved species of grass eating
sterile Carp to be put into the lakes this spring. A mature Carp will eat about 5 pounds
of aquatic greens a day. Their life span is typically between 5-11 years, but it can get
much older. We have about 35 acres of lakes, and we need 6-8 fish per acre. We
have researched various methods of controlling the aquatic weeds in our lakes and
returning Carp to the lakes seems to be the most cost effective and environmentally
friendly avenue by far. Details of this project have been published in our recent KGCL
newsletters.

One Carp cost about $14. Our fund-raising goal is $5,500. This will fund reintroduction
of Carp into the lakes and provide the initial funds for replenishment on a regular basis
(about 20% every two years). We are setting up a special bank account just for this
project that the KGCL will administer.

If each resident who lives around the lakes donates at least $25, we will have raised
enough funds for this project. However, we are looking for the community as a whole
to donate since many of us enjoy the lakes, and also it enhances our neighborhood to
have nice clean lakes. Please consider donating even if you do not live on the lakes.

Our deadline to order the Carp is April 12, 2018.

Donate through PayPal





You can mail or hand-deliver checks/cash to KGCL.

Make your checks payable to KGCL and add Carp to the memo line on your check

Mail to:

KGCL, P. O. Box 9481, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23450

Hand deliver to:

  • Ray Payne, Vice President of King’s Grant Community League
    561 Canterbury Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23452 (ph No 373-4768)
  • Mona Denton, Treasurer of King’s Grant Community League
    3020 Watergate Lane, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23452 (Ph No 377-2370)
  • Susan Ontko, Grounds Keeper for King’s Grant Community League
    3201 Blue Ridge Court, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23452 (ph No 463-2534)
  • Susie and Jack Moughan, Volunteers for King’s Grant Community League
    3104 Watergate Lane, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23452 (ph no 631-1331)

General Meeting Thursday: Project Updates + Pitches!

Grounds & Maintenance, Meetings, Open Spaces

Where can KGCL contribute to our neighborhood?

That’s the topic of our meeting of General Members, this Thursday, February 15, 7:00 PM at King’s Grant Elementary School.

Please note the new start time!!

  • We’ll get an update on the carp restoration project.
  • We’ll learn about installing tide and storm water sensors at Watergate Lane.
  • WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU? What improvement projects would you like to see?

Join us Thursday night.

 

Light the Park for the Holidays

Open Spaces, Parks and Recreation

‘Tis the season that King’s Grant Community League will once again light Witt Park on King’s Grant Road!

Please join us

Our small work crew will be at Witt Park on Saturday, December 2nd 9am-11am and again on Sunday, December 3rd 1pm-3pm.  Any resident able to lend a hand for any brief period would be most welcome (and greatly appreciated). We have all of the lights and power cords needed, but we will gladly accept any donations of white mini-lights that allow us to expand our display.  We are trying to move to LED lighting that is more durable and energy efficient, but we still have an area with white incandescent mini-bulbs.  If you have new or fully functional used light strings that you wish to donate, please drop them at the park during the above hours and we will try to add them to our display.  Most of the work is for adults, but children can help place light strings in the hedges.

If it is raining, we will reschedule for the following weekend.

Watch the sign at the park or on this web site for rescheduled times.

New Landscaping at The Triangle

Grounds & Maintenance, KGCL, Open Spaces

As you are driving by The Triangle you will notice that we replaced the landscaping at the intersection of King’s Grant Road and N. Lynnhaven Road.

May Farm Garden Club donated the landscaping as a community project. Elaine Hillers was the point person for the garden club and did all the coordination with the nursery for design and plant selection. Plants were selected as low maintenance and drought resistant.

KGCL will maintain the landscaping, as we have always done. Basically, we will mulch it (Elaine suggested pine straw for the future), spray it, weed it.

A picture of new landscaping at The Triangle

 

Wolfsnare Creek Park

Grounds & Maintenance, KGCL, Open Spaces, Parks and Recreation

King’s Grant Community League’s mission is to maintain open space in the neighborhood for residents and visitors. This park is a tranquil spot on Watergate Lane looking north over Wolfsnare Creek. There’s a sturdy bench where you can sit to look, listen, and think. There’s an access to the water suitable for canoes and kayaks at high tide. Boat trailers and motor boats are not allowed.

http://www.tides4fishing.com/us/virginia/buchanan-creek-entrance

Bench at Wolfsnare Creek Park

 

 

City of Virginia Beach Leases the KGCL “Triangle” Property

Grounds & Maintenance, Open Spaces

The City of Virginia Beach and the Kings Grant Community League have signed a one year lease that grants the City use of the “Triangle” property for a storage and equipment laydown area supporting the replacement of the Sanitary Sewer Pump Station on Kings Grant Road.  The scope of the project includes installation of a new sewer line beneath Kings Grant Road from the pump station to Virginia Beach Blvd.  The term of the lease runs from November 1, 2015 through October 31, 2016.  Some construction equipment is already at the Triangle, and residents will soon see increasing activity that includes perimeter fencing and tree protection.  We have good dialogue with the City and their contractor.  As project updates are obtained, more information will be posted to this website.

The KGCL was first contacted about use of this property nearly a year ago.  The KGCL Board’s outreach to our membership through e-mail, newsletters and our general meetings (which included a brief by the City Project Engineer) found a very high level of support for this lease from members.  In addition to providing a suitable location for the contractor’s work, which will keep equipment off the streets during non-work hours, this lease provides the KGCL with a sizable source of revenue that we will reinvest in our properties for the benefit of our community.

Click here to read a copy of the lease.

Yard Sale Update

Community, Events, KGCL, Open Spaces

You’ve probably seen the signs.

Our third annual community yard sale is set for Saturday, May 4! (Rain date Sat., May 11)

The first and second yard sales were big hits and good for the neighborhood by all accounts. Our neighbors at Citgo & 7-11 appreciate a little boost in business. 7-11 even made a $150 donation this year to KGCL. Prince of Peace Lutheran Church is generous each year with their parking lot. Our community yard sale is a great way to use our open space.

Our yard sale is advertised in the neighborhood, at local businesses, our web site and in The Virginian-Pilot print & online classifieds.

Reservations are required and have sold out both years prior. Show your support by reserving a booth and sending food & beverage donations for our modest concessions stand.

Make reservations or offer concessions by email: yardsale@kgcl.org or by phone: 757-404-3503.