Homeowners who live around Rehoboth Beach’s most often forgotten Lake Comegys were honored recently for their efforts to improve the lake.

Save Our Lakes Alliance3 presented its annual Conservation Award to the Lake Comegys Home Owners’ Association.

In 2009, the association, working with environmental consulting firm Envirotech, embarked on a project that installed a natural riparian buffer around one-third of the lake shoreline.

Tony Burns, president of the association, said, “It really was an honor. The association has worked so hard to preserve our lake. We hope it inspires others around the lake to preserve the natural vegetation.”

The association is made up of 28 townhouse owners tucked in an enclave around Lake Comegys, located between Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach.

Sallie Forman, president of SOLA3, said, “The Lake Comegys association is so deserving of this award. Given the length and condition of its shoreline, installing a natural riparian buffer was a big undertaking. The buffer will prevent erosion and runoff into the lake. The beauty of the native plants will be enjoyed by all residents and already the wildlife has benefited by the creation of new habitat.”

A Lake Comegys resident herself, Forman said she has seen new egret nests and more herons since the buffer was installed.

In 2007, the association, along with SOLA3, successfully lobbied Delaware Department of Transportation to convert a right-of-way around Lake Comegys to a conservation easement, in an effort to curb development and preserve the lake’s natural features.

Burns said he hopes the homeowners can continue their efforts, working with organizations Envirotech and SOLA3 to preserve the shoreline. He said the buffer project, and its maintenance, has truly been a group effort by a tight-knit community.

“It really is a joint-member effort in establishing this shoreline,” Burns said.

Burns said the association’s plantings have even inspired other homeowners around the lake to buffer the shoreline with natural plantings.

The Conservation Award was created to recognize property owners who have demonstrated “exemplary achievement in voluntary conservation of their lakefront property.”

Previous winners include Silver Lake property owners Tom Childers and John Hall, the city of Rehoboth Beach and Tom and Mary Ellen Gaspard. Criteria include establishing natural riparian buffers to prevent erosion, installing native plants to filter out harmful substances, improving wildlife habitat and using green technology and adopting riparian buffer management plans.