We sat down with Debby Nussel, General Manager of the Lake Toxaway Community Association, for a discussion on the intricacies that go into modern- day maintenance of the lake and its surroundings. Read along for a fascinating behind-the-scenes peak into the many processes that not only keep the area in tip-top shape, but with safety at its core.

What does the Lake Toxaway Community Association do?

We work alongside a Board of Directors with twelve members. They are homeowners here and are elected by their fellow homeowners. They meet April through October and off-season. We all oversee the infrastructure of Lake Toxaway– from roads to culverts, the nature park and meadows, the entrances, and the lake. We work alongside the homeowners for architecture purposes for building, remodeling, and expansions to make sure they fall within the guidelines. We want to make sure that the vision that the Heinitsh Family wanted back in the 60’s is carried out.

What do you all do for the lake specifically?

We have different committees for every area–Safety, Ground Maintenance, Roads, and a Lake and Dam Committee. It is so great to work with our Lake and Dam Committee because of how engaged they are. There are nine committee members that meet each month to check in and discuss ongoing projects. Every fall, we stock the lake with fish. We dredge the lake to make sure it’s maintained properly. Every month from April to November, we have aquatics come out to control weeds and check to see how the lake is doing. Every summer, we test the lake’s water quality across different locations to monitor its overall health. For over twenty years, we’ve had the same engineer from Terracon monitoring the Lake Toxaway dam. He inspects both the Cardinal and the Toxaway dam and gathers an annual report for us. This is our main asset–it’s called Lake Toxaway for a reason!

How is the lake (and dam) maintained today?

Advanced Ground Maintenance has been our main groundskeeping vendor for years. Bobby Smith, the owner, knows Lake Toxaway inside and out. For example, we keep an eye on culverts meticulously to track their age and when they need to be replaced. At least once a week, they come and check on the dam. Having a vendor with that level of history helps tremendously. We also have a security patrolman who is solely dedicated to the lake. Five days a week he makes his rounds to address any fallen trees or other concerns. For the Association itself, we check every week, month, and year.

How often is Lake Toxaway stocked with fish? Who is responsible for its stocking and upkeep?

We typically stock the lake in the fall to let the fish adapt before the cold weather sets in. Foster Lake and Pond Management have helped us over the past several years with stocking and they will recommend what to put in. This past October, we also put in blue gill and shellcracker in Toxaway Lake, Cardinal Lake, and up at the children’s pond. Forest Lake and Pond Management will analyze fish populations and give us recommendations of what to put in. We had a fishing tournament last year that was catch and release, and we had a list of all the fish. Every year the committee reviews the list of fish that was caught during the tournament for further analysis. We also put in fish structures and Christmas trees throughout the lake to help with the fish and their habitats. We have a map of where these structures are dispersed.

What kind of impact does Lake Toxaway have on the area?

Lake Toxaway has tremendous impact on local businesses and restaurants. One of the first things that comes to mind is the Lake Toxaway Charities. They have a huge impact on Transylvania County. They’ve been able to raise over $1 million in the last year alone. It stays in Transylvania County and it’s been huge. They have great hearts.

Want to learn more about the Lake Toxaway Community Association? Find out more at laketoxawaycommunity.net.