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Oak Hills Lake Development Association was incorporated in Oak Hills Place Subdivision in July, 1959.  Our purpose is to unite the lake front property owners in order to maintain and improve the beautiful 12 acre Oak Hills Lake. 

See also Greater Oak Hills Civic Association  for more neighborhood news.

The 2022 season on our lake started fine - our lake was healthy and the fish and wildlife were abundant!  Some of the reasons for our "great lake":  

Mark McElroy - our lake consultant, our friend, and our knowledgeable
"go-to"person who knows how to maintain a neighborhood lake!  Mark is retired from the Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries and lives in our neighborhood.  Through his good advice, we have added circulators and aerators to add oxygen into the lake and we have established a timeline for maintaining the lake, which includes drawing down the lake by about 4-6 feet to expose the banks.  This helps to break down some of the leaves that have accumulated over time, gives homeowners a chance to remove debris and leaves from their property, and a chance to add or maintain their bulkheads.  This generally occurs in Nov. and lasts until Feb. every three years.

In early April 2022, Hydrilla was discovered in our lake and quickly spread from the fingers of the lake to cover most of our lake.  Hydrilla grows from the bottom of the lake & duckweed & algae cling to the Hydrilla.  Hard rains can shake loose the duckweed & algae so it will cycle out of our lake.  But the summer drought kept the all of the duckweed & algae on the surface of our lake, as the Hydrilla continued to grow beneath the water.  Genetically modified grass carp were purchased to help control the Hydrilla.  The fish are slowly maturing and will be larger & more ready to do their job in the spring of 2023.  Mark will monitor the carp and if needed, we will purchase more carp to help control the Hydrilla.

Our 4th Lake Drawdown begins Nov. 1, 2022 and goes through Feb. 2023.  At our General Meeting on Oct. 24, 2022, Mark advised that when the lake is lowered, residents can dig up & remove the leaves & debris from their lots.  Just do not rake the debris!  Instead, dig it up and remove it permanently!

Also, if you have a water garden on your lot, PLEASE DO NOT BUY PLANTS OFF THE INTERNET!!!.  These will be be local plants and could introduce many more aggressive plant species to our lake!

Invasive Apple Snails:  The Lakeside Home Owners Assn. has discovered Apple Snails in their neighborhood lakes.   Please read this article! 
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Sept. 15, 2020 - email from Steve Baker:

The city parish has a crew repairing the drainage pipe from the street to the lake today.
It will help with street flooding in my area of W. Lakeview.  

Most of you got this email from Rob on Sun, Mar 22, 2020:

Also, the water level is still at least 18” low but I was still able to get all the way to the back end of the finger with my trolling motor.

The last diffuser is almost at the end of the finger, within about 25 yards of the large storm drain, and the other 3 are spaced apart at about 50 yard intervals going back out towards the main pond from there. 

(SEE ROB'S PICTURES BELOW)

Dues are a very important part of maintaining our beautiful lake.  In 2021, the largest expenses were $6,000 to replace circulators and $4,000 for expenses related to obtaining a new grate for the weir, which was damaged during the May 2021 rain deluge.  Ongoing vigilance to maintaining our circulators is critical for keeping the lake clear & the fish happy!  We are also keeping an eye on the drains in the neighborhood, to prevent any flooding incidents in our neighborhood streets.

Plans are being discussed for our next lake drawdown (our 4th) to be scheduled for Nov. 2022.  We are very hopeful that this time the rain will stay away!

Lake Annual and Long Term Maintenance Timeline (2013-2020 - far-reaching plan)

Lake Draw-down Timeline (2013-2026)