Latest News From Lake Jodeco

While the lake level drops, our fundraising thermometer rises!
November 10, 2025
 
The water level may be low, but the spirit of our community is high! In just over a week, our dredging fundraiser has climbed by over $8,000, thanks to ongoing dues payments and additional donations from generous neighbors. This progress shows how much our community cares about the health of our lake.
  
We have a deadline of November 30 to reach our $90,000 goal. We still have a gap to fill, and only three weeks left.
 
Let's reach our goal together!
 
You can contribute by sending a check or paying online. Find all the details at Dues & Donations.
 
Help us seize this unique opportunity while the water level is down to get vital dredging done affordably. Learn more about the plans by reviewing our earlier news items below.
 
Questions? Contact the HOA Board using Contact Us.
 
 
Lake Lowering is Underway! 
November 1, 2025
 
Lake Spivey pulled the plug and the water is flowing out of both Spivey and Jodeco. If you want to see the impressive flow of water, take a look at the video that Scott Melcher posted on Lake Jodeco HOA's Facebook page. 
 
Many thanks to everyone who pulled together to ensure the word got out about the lake lowering and the much-needed dredging project we hope to do while the water is down. A flotilla of around 12 boats has been created in the deep water to keep them safe and to make way for the heavy equipment that will be used to remove sediment in the 3 key work areas. If you missed out on the details, see the 2 earlier news stories below. 
 
Our $90,000 fundraiser for the dredging project is well underway, kicked off by $50,000 from HOA funds collected from dues paid for 2025 through September. Following the Dredging Town Hall, we've seen an increase in dues paid for 2025 as well as many generous donations to the dredging project. So far, we've raised just over 70% of our goal. Thank you to all who are current with your dues and especially to those who have heeded our call for additional funds needed to take advantage of this opportunity to do more cost-effective dredging while the water level is down. 
 
You can keep tabs on our fundraising progress here or from the progress signs posted in the neighborhood. 
     
 
 
 
 
IMPORTANT: Lake Lowering & Dredging Update
October 17, 2025 
 
Beginning Sunday, October 19th, we will begin the process of lowering the lake in conjunction with Lake Spivey. This will allow us to do some critical work to remove silt from the lake and will enable homeowners to do maintenance on docks and seawalls.
 
If you have a boat on the lake that is in one of the 3 key target areas for silt removal, it is vital that your boat be removed to avoid being damaged and avoid hindering the dredging operation. Boats elsewhere on the lake may be removed or relocated at the owner's discretion. 
 
Please check out this page for all the details, including:
  • Locations of 3 key work areas 
  • Details of the lake lowering process and timing
  • Boat relocation options & deadlines
  • Fundraising update
 
 
Lake Jodeco HOA Dredging Town Hall Summary
October 5, 2025
 
Date: September 30, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM
Attendance: 30+ residents
 
Purpose & Context
 
Board member Scott Melcher led a discussion on sediment removal strategies during the upcoming lake drawdown. This presents a rare, cost-effective opportunity to address silt buildup using mechanical dredging.
 
Special thanks to Mark Harbacheck and Kate Lee for generously hosting the meeting and for their leadership of the dredge committee. Their efforts in identifying a more affordable dredging strategy have been instrumental in moving this project forward.
 
Note: Informational charts which were printed for the meeting attendees can be downloaded here. 
 
Dredging Strategy & Cost Overview
  • Traditional hydraulic dredging bid from last summer: approximately $300,000
  • Proposed mechanical dredging (via Jeff Talley Grading): $89,600 for one month of work
  • Equipment: trackhoe, dozer, skid steer 
  • Target areas: Line Creek entry, boat ramp, double finger cove
  • Current HOA funds available: $50,000
  • Funding gap: $40,000
  • A pump is being proposed to lower the lake level beyond the standard drawdown, improving sediment drying and access for equipment
Note: This is a time-based contract, not volume-based. Progress depends on
weather, drying conditions, and fundraising success.

Community Concerns & Feedback
  • Off-lake residents voiced concerns about limited lake access and the condition of the community dock
  • Specific frustration was raised about derelict boats occupying the dock, limiting use for dues-paying members
  • Suggestions included kayak racks, launch areas, and better dock access
  • The board committed to exploring improvements and continuing dialogue in December
Clear Call to Action
  1. Stay current on HOA dues — they fund lake maintenance and access
  2. Donate to the dredging fund — help close the $40,000 gap before dredging begins in December–January. If we’re unable to raise the necessary funds, we’ll miss a prime opportunity to pursue mechanical dredging during the lake drawdown. That would leave us with only the more expensive hydraulic option once the lake is full and when necessary funds can be raised.
  3. Off-lake residents: send feedback on lake access needs and dock concerns to the HOA board
 
 
 
 
  
 
Get your red, white & blue decorations ready! 
 
You still have time to prepare your July 4th decorations for your mailbox and/or your boat. 
 
There are prizes to be won in both decoration categories: Best Mailbox & Best Boat.
 
Let's show off the patriotism of our community with mailbox decorations. 
 
The annual Jodeco tradition of a celebratory patriotic boat parade returns on Friday, July 4 around 6 PM. Later, many boats will congregate to enjoy the Lake Spivey fireworks from the water. 
 
Check back here or on the Lake Jodeco FaceBook page for more details on the decorating contests and the rest of the fun coming up soon.

 
 
 
 April's LJHOA Spring Social 
 
Saturday April 5 was a beautiful sunny day for our annual spring social event. There were burgers, hot dogs, music and lots of neighbors having a great time getting to know one another. 

If you missed the spring social, you'll have more chances to hang out with Lake Jodeco neighbors later in the year. Join us for the July 4th boat parade, the Fall Social and the annual HOA meeting in December and perhaps some other gatherings yet to be announced. Stay tuned for more information. 

 
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
What's been going on at the Jodeco silt pond?
 
Recently if you were out near the silt pond you may have wondered what was going on.
 
The answer is simple - the first phase of the Lake Jodeco dredging project was underway!
 
 
 
 
Starting on Feb 27th and running through March 2nd, the silt pond (next to the Meadow) was dredged. By dredging the silt pond, we reduce the amount of silt entering the lake and help preserve the future of our beautiful lake.
 
For those of you who helped with fund-raising, or contributed to the cause, it's a chance to see some of the funds raised by your efforts at work.
 
This is an exciting first step in our lake dredging project. Stay tuned for further news. 
 
  
 
Community Yard Sale A Success!
 
Thanks to everyone who donated and/or purchased items for the fund-raising yard sale held on November 8 & 9. Over $4,500 was raised for the lake dredging fund.
Thanks especially to Kate for her leadership of an incredibly hard-working team of volunteers who pulled off this feat in a short timeframe. Volunteers got together to make signs and then posted them all around the area. Others used their trucks to pick up items that were donated. Another group staged and priced the items and acted as sales assistants. After the yard sale, some showed up to box up the remaining items to give to charity. 
 
If you see any of these volunteers, congratulate them on a job well done! 
  • Kate Lee
  • Mark Harbacheck
  • Scott Melcher
  • Melinda Kujawa
  • Keith & Shirley Todd
  • Steven Loe
  • Bob & Sherrie Danner
  • Casey Piquette
  • Patrick McDonald
  • Jack & Kaysie Lazaro
  • Cooper & his Dad