INDIAN LAKE STATE PARK
MANAGER, FRANK GIANNOLA
INDIAN LAKE STATE PARK
MANAGER, FRANK GIANNOLA
Frank Giannola ,Indian Lake State Park
Manager is ready for the 2007 season.
Mr. Giannola expects 2007 to be a good year for the park.Taking the reins at the beginning of the 2002 summer season, he comes well qualified to head the State Park facilities. A graduate of both Ohio State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Parks and Recreation Administration and of the 11th Ranger Academy, Mr. Giannola has worked at 5 state parks, Alum Creek, Punderson, Indian Lake, West Laramie, and Grand Lake Saint Mary. He is at home at Indian Lake having worked as assistant park manager from 1984 - 1995.
As Manager of Indian Lake State Park, Mr. Giannola intends to focus on creating better access to the area, improving the campground trails and upgrading the electrical facilities. Also on his wish list are more cabins. Mr. Giannola also manages Kiser State Park sharing time between both parks.
New this year are upgraded new water treatment, improved riprap
around shorelines for fishing and 1.2 miles added to the bike/walking trail/ The
bike trail now goes across to Old Field Beach.
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Projects wrapping up at Indian Lake
Written by Michael P.
Garrity
Wednesday, 12 August 2009 15:42
LAKEVIEW – With another summer
season winding down, Indian Lake State Park employees still have their fair share
of ongoing projects to complete before the cold winds of winter once again blow
across the lake.
Dredging operations on the north side of the lake continue
with both the large and small dredges working in their respective areas.
The
large dredge, called “The Indian,” is working the areas adjacent to
Turkeyfoot Point and will continue working this area which also includes dredging
the bay in front of Acheson’s Resort, according to Indian Lake and Kiser
Lake Regional Park Manager Frank Giannola.
“Once we finish the area around
Acheson’s, we will move the dredge to the west side of Pony Island,”
he said.
The smaller blue dredge, named “The Millie,” is now dredging
the west side of Sassafras Point. It will then move on and dredge the east side
as well and will also dredge along Avondale, moving into the channel leading back
into the Barnes Landing area.
Giannola also hopes that “The Millie”
will be able to finish up the season doing some work in the Kings Landing area
as well.
“We hope to get to those areas this year and also use ‘The
Millie’ next season to do some dredging around Pew and Crane Town Islands.
It all depends if we have it on the lake next season since the smaller one is
best for working those smaller areas,” said Giannola, who also stated he
hopes that once “The Indian” has finished its work around the north
side of the lake, it can wrap up the season working on an unfinished project the
dredge did a few years ago around Duck Island near Spend-A-Day Marina.
Next
year, “The Indian” is going to be doing dredging work on the north fork
of the Great Miami River near the former O’Conners Lodge area.
Some other
projects on tap for next year include: shoreline protection work around the Blackhawk
area and refurbishing the jetties at Old Field Beach and Lakeview Harbor.
One
long-term area of concern for both local park officials and lake residents alike
is the condition of the “bulkhead” spillway.
“We have
been asking for that project to have been done for about 15 years now, but we
never get any answer,” said Giannola.
While the concrete on the dam/spillway
does not look very good, Giannola does say that it is structurally sound.
“It
was last inspected by ODNR engineers in 2005. They found that structurally, the
dam and spillway is sound. It gets visually inspected each year and we keep a
close eye on it,” he said.
“Actually, what you see is just a cap
on the larger structure and that doesn’t look so good,” Giannola added.
Another
area of concern for Giannola and his crew, the infestation in the back waters
of the north side of the lake by a non-native, invasive plant species known as
Eurasian Water-Milfoil.
The plants are a fast-spreading species that over time
can make a waterway unsuitable for recreation and fishing. It spreads fast and
can use up the oxygen found in the water that fish need to breathe. The strands
of the plant can get so thick that it becomes impossible to run motor boats through
it without causing engine damage, namely by blocking engine water intakes.
“We
know we have a problem with this plant, and we are trying to figure out what to
do about it,” said Giannola.
In past years, the park has relied upon a
consultant who directed the spraying of a pesticide designed to eliminate the
pesky plant.
“We need to find someone who is licensed to do that sort
of work, and we need to make sure whatever we use to control it does not do harm
to the other plant and animal life as well as affect the water quality of the
lake,” he said.
Giannola has no idea how the plant made its way into the
lake.
“There are many ways it could have gotten into the lake. There is
no way for us to know how that happened now,” he said.
The plant could
have been introduced when a fisherman had been elsewhere, filled his boat bait
wells with water filled with the spores of the plant and then dumped the water
into the lake. Also, birds or other animals could have spread it.
One ongoing
area project that the local park plays no part in is not far from wrapping up
– the painting of the underside of Dream Bridge. According to Giannola, that
project is under the control of the Ohio Department of Transportation.
This
project is scheduled to be completed in the next several weeks and when done,
should make for a much more aesthetically appealing appearance to the rusted-metal
bridge. The paint, to be applied once the sandblasting phase now currently taking
place is completed, will help to extend the life and safety of the structure as
well as enhance its appearance.
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"The suction dredge comes with all the newest technology available to day. It's hydraulic driven, pushes ahead to dig two feet at a time, is totally computerized, much lighter, has better fuel economy and is much easier to operate," said Former Park Manager, Dave Helgeson. "It has the capacity to move silt up to 5,000 feet. Our old dredge boat was stationary, meaning it didn't have the maneuverability or the moving parts this one has. With the old boat we couldn't go from side to side in a channel without first moving and repositioning the boat. With this one, we can position it once and let the arm do the maneuvering," Mr. Helgeson explained.
Boaters at Indian Lake are advised to take precautions when traveling near either of the lake's dredgers. When the dredger is not operational the lines used to transport the dredge material float on the surface, which makes them easy to see. When in use, however, the lines sink. Boaters can recognize them through the use of floating orange balls which are attached to the lines. Hitting one of the lines could damage props or other parts of their boat.
Lakeview
Bikeway Extension - Berm work, landscaping, and signage will
complete the project May 15th, 2007.
Pew Island/Cherokee
Trail
Renovation work was completed on both Trails to improve accessibility
and use by visitors.
Boater Access Improvemeents
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New Multi Purpose Building at the Indian Lake State Park Campground
For
the past several years, the camper host volunteers have been fund raising for
the purpose of constructing a multi purpose building at the State Park campground.
Thru their efforts and the contributions of the Indian Lake Development Corporation,
over $27,000 in private donation monies were raised for this project. The main
structure was completed in August of 2006. Electrical service, lighting, shelving,
tables and chairs will be added to make this building ready for use in 2007. This
building will serve as a meeting place, a family reunion destination, a place
for park programs, movies, biology classes, special events and many other activities.
The Ohio Division of Parks and Recreation and the Indian Lake/Kaiser Lake Region
expresses their sincere thanks and gratitude to the park volunteers and the Indian
Lake Development Corporation for this wonderful contribution.
Indian Lake
State Park Manager, Frank Giannola
LAND ACQUISITION
Fifty acres of an existing field will be planted in native prairie grasses. The prairie grasses will be maintained offering nesting and winter cover for pheasants and other ground nesting birds. Cattle will be allowed to graze on the land during months when cool season grasses are depressed. The project will demonstrate native tall prairie establishment and the numerous benefits. These would include grasses that excel during drought periods, superior nesting/winter habitat for ground birds and mammals, and hunting opportunities. The project will also demonstrate co-benefits of grasslands for grazing cattle while still protecting the benefits for wildlife. |
The bicycle rental in the camp area will continue as in the past season. Rental payment is collected at the Commissary. The bicycles are stored, signed out and maintained at the Check Station. VIP Dick Andrew has been doing a yeoman's job keeping the bicycles up and running. Rental rates are $6.50 per hour, tax included.
Paddle boats and kayaks both single and double,
canoes, and row boats all rent for $6.50 per hour plus tax.
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