Texas Lake Solutions

Foreclosures Causing West Nile Virus! That’s a different twist to the tumbling real estate market story. A story in the Economist tells of a situation in Southern California involving foreclosed properties, and unattended swimming pools where mosquitoes come to breed. There has been a marked increase in bird deaths due to West Nile, and according to the story, human problems are soon to follow. Apparently, there are laws and ordinances in place making real estate companies and banks who are responsible for the foreclosures, responsible for maintaining the property as well, but it doesn’t appear to be working.

This scenario is repeated across the country in more ways than you might imagine. Foreclosed, or unsold properties are becoming numerous, and maintaining them can be expensive, but it must be done. Minimal maintenance maximizes the chances of serious insect and rodent problems, particularly where swimming pools, ponds, and lakes are involved. It can be problematic where brush and weeds are allowed to grow close to the the property in order to cut down on the cost.

Where ponds and lakes are involved, the foreclosing entity should make arrangements for regular care until new owners have control, otherwise, the property may never sell. It is notoriously difficult to sell swamp land!

“It’s flooding down in Texas all the telephone lines are down…”

If only Stevie Ray was around to see this! It is flooding in Texas, and the really strange thing, it’s August! I have lived in the Lone Star State my entire life (so far) and have never seen the like. Inspite of the fact that this is interfering with a lot of our normal activities this time of year, like not being drought stricken, most of us are pretty happy with this change from the normal hundred plus weather and dust.

Weather and lakes

How does all this relate to your pond or lake? Well, that remains to be seen. It could help with your weed problems by raising the water level enough to prevent light from getting to the bottom of the shallow areas, or it could cause them to break up and move around , planting new colonies as they go. It will probably be like everything else that results from what nature throws at us, a mixed bag.

Just be thankful for the rain!