Sherwood Scene January-March 2026

sherwood scene

January-March 2026

Board of Directors

Rob Seitz: President

Paul Feist: Vice President

Randy Forbes: Corporate Secretary

Mike Kongs: Treasurer

Christopher Butler

Kristen Cummings

Robert Harrison

Joe Mans

Janell Mergan

Board member contact information is available at sherwoodlakeclub.org in the member’s only section. Email manager@ sherwoodlakeclub.org if you need help signing in.

Calendar of Events

Clubhouse Rentals

3/7/26

4/9/26

4/11/26

4/14/26

4/15/26

4/18/26

4/23/26

4/27/26

5/2/26

5/9/26

5/10/26

5/11/26

5/12/26

5/14/26

5/14/26

5/16/26

5/16/26

5/17/26

5/20/26

5/23/26

5/25/26

6/6/26

6/9/26

6/22/26

Diana Manns

Bridge Club

Travis Hirt

Sherwood Improvement District Meeting

Sailing Club Social

Shawn Graves

Linda Gwaltney

Sherwood Lake Board Monthly Meeting

James Garcia

Brenna Thornton

Linda Gwaltney

Linda Gwaltney

Sherwood Improvement Distract Meeting

Bridge Club

LQEC Committee Meeting

Beach Pavillion Rental - Megan ClayWhole Pavillion

Rob Harrison

Terry Halstead

Sailing Club Social

Linda Gwaltney

Sherwood Lake Board Monthly Meeting

Debbie Gibson

Sherwood Improvement District Meeting

Sherwood Lake Board Monthly Meeting

THINGS TO KNOW

Join our Facebook Group

The Facebook Group “Sherwood Lake Club Inc. A/B Members” is our official private group for members only. To join, go to groups in Facebook and search for our group. Answer the two questions and select join. Once we confirm your lake club membership you will be admitted to the group.

We also have a public Facebook Page “Sherwood Lake Club Inc. – Topeka, KS”. This will be used periodically to promote the lake and share activities of interest to the non-member community.

Updates

What is Going on with That Dam Project:

Some of you may be wondering what is the current status of the Lake Sherwood dam project. FEMA has allocated $4,000,000 for repairs for two lakes in the State of Kansas, one of which is Lake Sherwood. A specific allocation for our lake out of these funds has yet to be determined. Further, we had to renew the permit for the future work to be done to the Lake Sherwood dam. The permit has been extended to July 1, 2027. We will keep the members informed as soon as we learn anything.

A few updates have been added to the site:

• The “home” page and “About lake Sherwood” page has some new formatting

• In the members section, members now have access to update their profile picture under “member information” -> “Upload/ Change photo”

• Donations can now be made via the website “make a donation” link

Shoreline and Dock

Any dock or shoreline additions or improvements must be approved by SLC. KDWR and Shawnee County Planning require a permit for any NEW improvements. Repairs or replacing existing shoreline without changing the layout do not require permits. When in doubt, give the SLC Lake Manager a call at 785-221-3248. For new docks or lifts contact Rob Seitz at 785-478-1745.

Boater’s Safety Course

You can watch the video and take the quiz via the website. If you do not have access, contact the Lake Club Manager 785-221-3248 or email manager@ sherwoodlakeclub.org

B Member Wait List (Top 5)

1. Haley Wingerson

2. Clay Delbiaggio

3. Kristen & Brett Martinek

4. Stacy & John Polzar

5. Brandon Ramirez

Marina Slip Wait List (Top 5)

1. Greg Umscheid

2. Dan & Katie Milburn

3. James Hicks

4. Sharad Doshi

5. Christopher Butler

Get great service & great rates.

You know I’m always here with Good Neighbor service. But I’m also here with surprisingly great rates for everyone. Call me for a quote to see how much you can save. You might be surprised.

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

Letter from the SLC Board President

Thank you goes out to Tom McBride for his leadership over the past several years. Tom did a great job in his role as President of the Sherwood Lake Club Board of Directors, and he has put the club in a good position for the betterment of the members. Also, thank you to Kurt Bossert and Jo Hunt for their past service on the Board. We appreciate all of your contributions to the club.

Further, I would like to officially welcome Kristen Cummings, Chris Butler, and Rob Harrison to the Sherwood Lake Club Board of Directors. We look forward to your contributions, and appreciate your willingness to serve the members.

As a reminder, the annual membership dues should have been paid by February 28, 2026. All unpaid membership dues will be assessed a $25 penalty for each month or partial month for which your payment is delinquent. Also, Marina slip rental invoices will be sent out March 1, 2026, and due by March 31, 2026.

Finally, thank you to Jessica Likos for her outstanding service as Office Manager for the Sherwood Lake Club. Jessica has decided to accept a new job, and she will not be able to devote the necessary time to continue in her role with the club. Jessica was a tremendous asset to the Lake Sherwood Club, and we will miss her.

In closing, I am looking forward to my new role as President of the Lake Sherwood Club Board of Directors. My goal is to continue to move the club in a positive direction, and I hope to always make collective decisions for the members that are in their best interests as well as representative of the membership at large.

Rob

Seitz

Managers’ Report & Seasonal Updates

Boating Safety Notice

Spring is approaching, and we look forward to another safe and enjoyable boating season on Sherwood Lake. We encourage all members to review the lake’s boating safety rules and regulations.

All watercraft operators are strongly encouraged to refresh their memories by watching online boater safety course prior to the start of the season. https://youtu.be/r2zdHWumXDk

Lake Patrol Schedule – 2026 Season

Patrol operations begin April 1, 2026.

April 1 – May 1, 2026

• Monday–Friday: 2:30 PM – Sunset

• Saturday–Sunday: 7:00 AM – Sunset

May 2 – Labor Day 2026

• Monday–Friday: 2:30 PM – 10:00 PM

• Saturday–Sunday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Lake Patrol will be on duty during these hours to support safe and responsible lake use.

Boat Registration & Member Requirements

• New boat registration stickers will be available from Lake Patrol beginning April 1, 2026

• All member dues and watercraft registration fees must be paid before any watercraft is launched.

Spring Workday – April 11, 2026

Our annual Sherwood Lake Workday will take place on Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Members are encouraged to join us as we prepare the lake and surrounding areas for the upcoming season.

To volunteer, please email: manager@sherwoodlakeclub.org

Flower Planting Volunteers Needed

Members interested in helping plant flowers at the beach and the clubhouse on Work Day are asked to contact the manager ahead of time.

Early notice allows us to purchase the necessary flowers and supplies before April 11. Please email: manager@sherwoodlakeclub.org

Marina Improvements – 2026

The Sherwood Lake Club will be installing new composite decking boards on the marina this year.

This project is funded through the 2026 Marina Budget and will improve safety, longevity, and overall member experience.

Dam Maintenance – March 2026

Mission Township will conduct a controlled burn of the dam area sometime in March 2026.

This routine maintenance helps manage vegetation and maintain safe inspection access.

Additional details will be shared if a specific date is provided.

Pickleball & Tennis Court Update

The Board has approved the installation of pickleball nets along with the tennis court net on April 1, 2026.

This coordinated installation ensures all courts are ready for spring play and member use.

Marina Billing Update

Nondues invoices have been sent to all marina renters.

Payment is due by March 31, 2026, and slip allocations will be finalized April 1, 2026

Please submit payment promptly to secure your slip for the season.

Mowing Contract Bids – 2026

Sherwood Lake Club is accepting bids for mowing services for all Lake Sherwood property until March 20, 2026.

The Board will review submissions and approve the selected bid on March 23, 2026.

Mowing services for the season will begin April 1, 2026 n

Managing Our Resident Geese: Geese Oiling!

Please contact our lake patrol if you spot geese nesting anywhere around the lake.

WHY: Baby Geese are cute. But, too many year round resident geese are a direct threat to the water quality of Lake Sherwood, and Geese love the environment of Lake Sherwood.

The Tipping Point for Water Quality

To understand the impact of resident geese, we have to look at the numbers. Environmental experts and lake management guidelines indicate that a body of water can sustainably support about one resident goose for every four acres. Given that Lake Sherwood is approximately 225 acres, a healthy, manageable year-round population is around 50 to 55 resident geese. During migration seasons, we often see hundreds of geese, but they are passing through staying only a short period. It is our resident geese that are the issue.

When a goose population goes unchecked and begins approaching one goose per two acres, it starts having a significant effect on water quality. Then, as it approaches 1 goose per acre (about 200 birds for our lake), serious, irreversible water quality problems can become likely. A single adult goose produces up to two pounds of droppings every single day. When hundreds of geese inhabit the lake, massive amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen are washed into the water. This nutrient overloading can fuel destructive algae blooms which depletes oxygen levels for native fish resulting in fish kills. They also dramatically increase the risk of E. coli bacteria, creating health hazards for our families and grandchildren swimming at the beaches.

Protecting Lake Sherwood’s Water Quality

While Canada Geese are a familiar sight around our lake, maintaining a healthy balance is critical to the preservation of our lake’s ecosystem. A rapidly expanding resident goose population is not just a nuisance; it is a direct threat to our water quality. Fortunately, the Sherwood Lake Club has a highly effective,

humane population control strategy in place— but the Lake Patrol needs your help to make it work.

The Solution: Goose Egg Oiling

To keep the population at that healthy 50-bird threshold, the Lake Patrol utilizes a method known as egg oiling (or addling). Approved by the Humane Society and wildlife agencies, this process involves coating newly laid goose eggs in 100% food-grade corn oil. The oil seals the microscopic pores in the eggshell, cutting off the oxygen supply and preventing the embryo from developing.

You might wonder, why not just remove or destroy the eggs? Geese are incredibly persistent. If a nest is destroyed or the eggs are simply taken away, the female goose will immediately lay a new clutch of eggs. By oiling the eggs and leaving them exactly where they are, the mother goose continues to faithfully incubate them for the full 25 to 30-day term. By the time she realizes the eggs are not going to hatch, the breeding season has passed, and she will not nest again that year.

How You Can Help: See a Nest? Report It!

Nesting season happens quickly, typically running from late March through May. Geese often nest near the water’s edge, or even in landscaped yards and retaining walls. Because they can be well hidden, the Lake Patrol relies heavily on the eyes of our community. If you spot a nest, or if you notice a pair of geese acting aggressively territorial in a specific spot, please do not approach or disturb the nest yourself. Instead, notify the Lake Patrol immediately.

Timing is everything. Eggs must be oiled early in the incubation cycle to be effective. By promptly reporting nest locations, you allow the Lake Patrol to safely check for eggs, apply the oil, and help ensure that Lake Sherwood’s water remains clean, clear, and safe for everyone to enjoy. n

Words from LQEC

The Lake Quality and Environment Committee would like to provide some timely reminders for Spring.

• Trees, shrubs, and sleeping perennials can all benefit from a slow, deep drink of water in March. Avoid watering around times of frost, but in warm breaks in the weather or if we do not experience a deep rain, all your plants will appreciate a drink.

• Apply crabgrass preventer April 1-15 OR when redbuds are approaching full bloom. If using a product with prodiamine (Barricade), apply two weeks earlier. Crabgrass preventers must be watered in before they will start to work.

• Over-fertilization is harmful to both our lake ecosystem and your lawn. Best practice is to test your soil prior to applying spring applications of fertilizer for turf grasses. If you have a lawn service, please consider asking them to perform this test.

• Fertilizer should NOT be applied within 30 feet of the shoreline.

• Please AVOID raking up leaves in your beds until late-April to mid-May. These beds may appear to be unkempt but they are full of life; harboring pollinator larvae and insulating our soils, plants and insects from freezing temperatures. Help our bees, butterflies, moths and other beneficial insect larvae!

• The wattles that have been covering our storm drains will be removed soon and the streets will be cleaned shortly thereafter.

Thank you for your attention! n

Protecting Lake Sherwood: A Vital Reminder on Boat Launching Procedures and the Threat of Zebra Mussels

As we prepare to enjoy another beautiful season on Lake Sherwood, it is crucial for all members to review our boat launching procedures and quarantine protocols. These rules are not just formalities; they are our primary defense against Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS), most notably the devastating Zebra Mussel.

The Threat of Zebra Mussels: A One-Way Street

Lake Sherwood is currently one of the few lakes in Northeast Kansas that remains free of a zebra mussel infestation. We must keep it that way. Once introduced, zebra mussels reproduce at an alarming rate and are virtually impossible to eradicate. An infestation would cause serious, irreversible problems for our lake. They decimate the local ecosystem by filtering out the microscopic algae that native fish need to survive. They attach in massive clusters to any hard surface, severely damaging boat motors, ruining docks, and clogging water intake pipes. Additionally, their razor-sharp shells wash up on shorelines, turning our beautiful, safe beaches into hazards for our families.

Boat Launching Procedures and Quarantine

Rules To protect our waters, the Sherwood Lake Club has implemented strict guidelines. Please ensure you are following these procedures every time a vessel enters the lake:

• Call Before Launching: When you want to launch your boat during a time the Beach is not staffed, please call the Lake Patrol first at (785) 221-2628 so they can meet you at the ramp. Before launching your boat, the patrol will perform an annual safety inspection.

• SLC Registration and Stickers: All vessels must be registered and display the proper SLC stickers and member numbers. Vessels will not be allowed to launch without this proper identification.

Lake Patrol has Boat Number and Annual Stickers available for boats that are registered and on a members list of boats on the website.

• Quarantine Regulations: To prevent the introduction of zebra mussels from other bodies of water, strict quarantine periods are enforced:

14-Day Quarantine: For boats with ballast tanks.

7-Day Quarantine: For all other boats, including those equipped with live wells. It is advisable to flush the live wells of fishing boats with dilute bleach or hot water to kill any zebra mussel larvae.

If your boat is missing its red tag, please have it re-tagged by Lake Patrol and wait out the Quarantine Period.

• No Guest Boats: Guest boats of any kind—including kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, towables, and inflatable islands—are strictly prohibited on Lake Sherwood.

• The “Clean, Drain, Dry” Policy applies to All boats including Personal Watercraft. A member’s PWCs such as kayaks, canoes, sailboats, and

paddleboats pose our greatest threat because they are often launched directly from members’ shorelines without being inspected by SLC staff. Please be mindful to clean, drain, and dry all vessels before they are launched onto the lake. Please quarantine them for at least seven days if they have been used at another lake.

• Annual Pledge: As part of the “Clean, Drain, Dry, Don’t Move a Mussel” campaign, all members are required to sign an annual pledge acknowledging their personal responsibility in preventing aquatic invasive species from entering our lake. The Lake Patrol will ask you to sign this the first time you launch your boat each year.

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED. The fight against Aquatic Invasive Species requires the vigilance and cooperation of every single member. By adhering to these launching procedures and quarantine rules, we can help ensure Lake Sherwood remains a pristine, healthy, and safe environment for generations to come. n

Sailing Club

2026 Sherwood Sailing Club

**FREE SAILING LESSONS JUNE TUESDAYS**

Ahoy, Mateys! The 2026 Lake Sherwood Sailing Club is getting ready for our 52nd season! We will be offering free sailing lessons again this year, run by Chuck Towle and other assistants. Lessons will be at the beach on Tuesday evenings during June, starting at 6 PM. Please let Chuck or one of the club officers know if you plan to attend so we can have the number of boats and instructors needed (more on this later).

We will be following our normal Sunday Races with a 1:30 start. Our calendar has the season Kickoff Brunch scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 9:30 AM, with the First Race on Sunday, May 17. The Commodore Cup Regatta & Banquet is on July 18, the Pirate Treasure Hunt & Party on August 22, and the Last Race Party on September 27. The Annual Season Awards banquet is set for Saturday, December 5.

Our 2026 SSC officers are:

Jim & Joy Phelps, Commodores

Al Hunt, Vice Commodore, Training

Chuck Towle, Treasurer, Training

Linda Gwaltney, Social Chair

Feel free to contact any of our officers about joining or with any questions about our sailing/ social club. During the “off-season,” when we’re not racing, we have a social party at the clubhouse on the Third Wednesday of each month, where we play games and enjoy food and drink. We also have racing rules and strategy sessions during the year. Again, you don’t need to race to be a member and enjoy all our parties, plus the weekly treats and drinks at the Beach Pavilion during and following each race. n

Sherwood Lake Club Fishing Regulations

The following creel, possession and slot limits shall apply to all fishing on Lake Sherwood.

Individuals that violate these limits shall be suspended from all Lake Club Privileges for one (1) year from date of violation, in addition to “Penalties” as may be determined under the Sherwood Lake Club Rules and Regulations which may be amended or updated from time to time.

NO WARNING WILL BE ISSUED!

Adopted 05/2021

Bylaws and Rules and Regulations

The following are links to the December 23, 2024 versions. https://www.sherwoodlakeclub.org/docs/SLC_ByLaws_Board_Approved_Final_12232024.docx.pdf