Removing Abandoned Docks: A Community Initiative

This initiative by the Grand Lake Association began with a simple goal: to remove derelict, abandoned docks from Grand and Green Lakes that had become unsightly and posed risks to boaters. As the project developed, it expanded into a broader appeal. The Association invited property owners with old, unusable docks—those that would be difficult to dismantle and dispose of on their own—to take part in an amnesty program. Through this offer, we committed to removing such docks free of charge.

A group of volunteers, along with the necessary equipment, came together to make this possible. We’re grateful to Gary Beach for offering his concrete boat ramp as a staging area for dismantling. Over the course of three weekends, 23 docks were assembled in the water near Gary’s property. Thanks to the generous support of Yves De Niverville and his tractor, the docks were pulled up onto dry land, dismantled, and cut into manageable pieces.

These pieces were then hauled away in dumpster bins and sent to appropriate disposal and recycling facilities. In total, the cleanup filled five 25-cubic-foot dumpsters at a cost of $3,135—by far the largest expense in the $4,000 overall budget.

We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the volunteers who contributed their time and effort to the success of this project:

• Daniel Laviolette

• Josh Bednar

• Steve Bottiglia

• Camille Goure

• Yves de Niverville

• Claude Turgeon

• Nathan and Diane Cooper

• Gilles and Bibiane Seguin

• Tom Martin

• Dale Smith

• Giacomo Panico

• Gary Beach (boat ramp and staging)

  
  

This work has not only made our lakes safer but also demonstrated the strength of community. Thank you to everyone involved.