Thank you for the response Toby- I will definitely not make it as an arson. Unfortunately, I tried that last winter (figured would be safest with snow on the ground) and the brush pile on top would never get going. I tried at least 4 times in one day and all that happened were my friends finished their case of beer and still no fire. loose brush is piled on top about 5 feet high and it doesn't get enough coals and heat to get rolling. I tried 2x4's plywood and everything else..... I could only imagine how stupid I looked, camo waders, john boat, and a bic lighter ...... If I do take it to the water line with a fire, do you think I would have a continuous problem with surface weeds growing at that spot?