About Lay Lake

The Lay Lake Home Owners & Boat Owners (HOBO) Association is a non-profit environmental and recreational group formed in 1999 to preserve, protect, and improve the the quantity of life around Lay Lake.  To that end, our membership families and Board of Directors are involved in interesting and fulfilling activities that enhance our Mission Statement.

• Water Monitoring has been ongoing since 2000. Our dedicated volunteers sample the water monthly, testing such parameters as dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, ph, and others. They help compile the data that, over time, will help answer the question "Is Lay Lake getting better or worse?" The Lay Lake water monitoring program is conducted under the auspices of Alabama Water Watch (AWW) at Auburn University. To see results log on to www.alabamawaterwatch.org and check our data. To become a water tester, contact us at laylakehoboinc@gmail.com.  We need a monitor in Chilton County and at Cedar Creek.
• Fishing Advisories: are provided by the Alabama Board of Health.  Both houses of the Alabama Legislature have voted unanimously to provide bilingual signage and oversight of fishing areas but have yet to sync their legislation (SHOR Act) so be cautious, there's no signage yet.
• Water Safety: Alabama Power has installed and maintains channel markers for your safety. If you see a damaged mile marker, let APC know.  Be mindful of "stick-ups" that are plentiful and can damage crafts.  If you become stranded, call for help and give GPS information.
• Speakers Bureau: we can provide school programs on the re-introduction of eagles to Alabama and the value of Lay Lake to our drinking water.
• Swim Safety: we partner with the Coosa Riverkeepers to monitor the safety of swim areas.
  
• Osprey Nesting Platforms:  HOBO proudly provides 4 Osprey nesting platforms in Alabama Power Company approved areas, near shorelines. Be aware Osprey choose their own nesting places, often on   mile markers,   in busy boating areas. Be respectful. Because Osprey ONLY eat fish, we know our fish are healthy when we see baby chicks. Our APC permitted nesting platforms are:  
  1} Between Cedar Creek and Sulfur Branch
   2) At the mouth of Paint Creek
   3) At Waxahatchee and Hwy. 145
   4) At Blue Springs 
Many thanks to Kyle Barnett with Coosa Docks for providing the material and labor to build and install the platforms! Contact information for Coosa Docks can be found on Lake Services                 .        
  
• Area Representatives are members at large who help spread information quickly via phone calls, texts, &/or emails.. These folks help with leaflet postings, distributing clean-up bags, alerting us to water/shoreline issues: illegal dumping of leaves/debris into the lake, algae growth, bacterial pollution, sewage run-off.  If you'd be willing to be an area rep, let us know.