|
|
|
|
Michigan Aquatic Managers Association 11245 Milford Rd, Holly, MI 48442 www.mamagroup.org
February 25, 2003
Dear Lake Front Property Owners and Interested Parties,
Two years ago the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) began a process to change the rules regarding the permitting process and the way that invasive and nuisance aquatic plants in your lake can be managed. Many lake front residents and lake associations that make up our respective customer base across the state are opposed to these rule changes.
The Michigan Aquatic Managers Association (MAMA) is opposed to these rule changes and have lobbied the MDEQ Water Division and the legislature to stop the passage of these rules.
Selected sections of the new MDEQ rules that many lake residents, lake associations and MAMA are particularly concerned about are:
o A lake management plan including a lake wide fish study and water quality testing will be required for all whole lake treatments. This plan may be required for lakes where “extensive” native plant control is proposed or it may be required based on the “type of proposed treatment”. The cost of the lake management plan including a lake wide fish study could reach into the thousands of dollars.
o The new rules extend the permitting time for the MDEQ to process permit applications from 15 working days to 30 days working days (6 calendar weeks).
o The new rules allow the MDEQ Water Division to dictate a time delay between treatments. This rule will impact our ability to respond to requests for touch-up treatments.
O Regarding Fluridone use, the new rules allow only a one time in three years treatment using the very low rate of 6 parts per billion (ppb) treatment rate (the labeled rate is 150 ppb). The 6 ppb treatment rate that the new rules dictate is at the “threshold of failure” and does not allow for plant variability, weather conditions and many other mitigating circumstances.
o Low rate Fluridone treatments may result in Eurasian Water Milfoil and possibly other lake weeds developing a “tolerance” to Fluridone. Research clearly indicates that Fluridone applied at 6 PPB can create plant tolerance. Various projects throughout the United States are resulting in failed treatments or very poor results possibly due to plant tolerance. The aquatic plant manager must be allowed to address variance in plant populations with proven rates and longer exposure times.
Unfortunately, and in spite of our best efforts, these new rules have passed the final hurdle of a joint committee of legislatures know as “JCAR” and will soon be in effect, possibly as soon as mid March, 2003.
We invite you to familiarize yourself with these rules and to inform your lake group about these changes and to provide feedback to your legislative representatives. You should take special note of the management plan requirements particularly if your treatment plans include using Fluridone (Sonar or Avast!) beginning in 2004.
We invite you to visit the MAMA website at www.mamagroup.org to view and copy the new rules. You can also contact your local legislative representatives and the Governors Office directly from this site. We strongly urge you and your lake group to make your feelings known to these officials. As lake front property owners you must be allowed the basic right to maintain your property values!
Please call your local contractor regarding questions about this issue and/or you can e-mail MAMA directly from our web site.
Most cordially,
Dick Pinagel, President Michigan Aquatic Managers Association (MAMA) & Aqua-Weed Control Inc. (248-634-8388) Dedicated to the Professional Management of Michigan’s Aquatic Resources
PIECES OF EIGHT ABOUT WOODLAND LAKE
Many of us who live on the shores of Woodland Lake or have access to it, may be enjoying this beautiful lake with all its pleasures of fishing, boating, swimming, skiing and skating without ever giving a thought as to its origin.
Here are some questions that may come to mind. How old is it? Is it man made? Who were the first settlers and from whom did they purchase the land? Are the stories about the lake, fact or fantasy?
Let’s go back in time to learn a little of the factual history about the area.
In the year 1815, we find that Livingston County was part of Wayne County. In 1819, when Oakland County was formed, it included all of the present Livingston County. In 1822, when Washtenaw and Shiawassee counties were laid out, the south half of now Livingston County was in Washtenaw and the north half in Shiawassee. Then, in March 1836, it was organized as Livingston County. It was named in honor of Edward Livingston, Secretary of State under President Andrew Jackson. Its center is at the center of a 90 mile circle. Livingston County, at one time, was partly the domain of the Pottawattamies and Saginaw Chippewa Indians.
There was a time when Brighton was called Ore Creek. Grand River Ave., running along the west shore of Woodland Lake has been called by many names: The Trail, The Plank road, The Gravel, The Pike and The Grade. (From - Text Franklin Ellis 12/1/1879 Abridged by Win. A. Pless.
The first man to make his home in Livingston County was Col. Soloman Peterson, who settled on Portage Lake in 1828. At this time, it was called Washtenaw Cty. The next settlers were Stephen Lee and Benjamin Curtis who settled in Green Oak Twp. in the fall of 1830. Hartland’s first settler was Col. Samuel Mapes from Niagara Cty. N.Y. 1831 - 32. Then followed Jesse Hall, Oct. 1831 in Hamburg; Elijah Marsh & Job Cranston in Brighton in the fall of 1832.
In the year 1833, cholera hit New York City. Many people sought homes elsewhere, among them artisans and gilders. One of them was entrusted with $8000.00 with which to purchase land in Livingston County. In 1835 he came to Brighton Twp. and located many hundreds of acres of land for the people who had entrusted their money with him Again, in 1836, he was entrusted with a similar mission, purchasing almost 20,000 acres of land. This land was purchased from the U.S. Govt. for a small fee, according to an Act of Congress of Apr. 24, 1820.
An example: - “U.S. Government to Abraham Pietch of New York City, N.Y. West of S/E ¼ and E half of S/W ¼ of Sec. 18 in the twp. 2N Range 6E, containing 160 acres. Marten Van Buren, President Washington D.C. Aug. 15, 1837 Recorded July 31, 1841 -2p.m. Geo. W. Jewett, Reg. of Deeds.
How you can stop the spread of exotics:
Well
Ø Remove any visible plants and animals from your boat, trailer, truck and other boating equipment (anchors, centerboards, rollers, axles, propellers, etc) before leaving body of water Ø Drain water from the motor, livewell, bilge and transom wells at the ramp or access before leaving any water body. Ø Empty your bait bucket on land before leaving any body of water. Never release live bait into a body of water, or release aquatic animals from one body of water into another. Ø Wash/dry your boat and other boating equipment to kill harmful exotic animal species that were not visable at the boat launch. Before transporting to another water body, use one cap of liquid laundry detergent in bilge compartments and livewells:
raise your boat and boating equipment that normally get wet with hot (at least 40oC or 104oF) tap water; or spray your boat and trailer with a high pressure water at a carwash; or dry your boat and equipment for at least 3 days; if boat is docked at the lake, increase drying time to 10 days. (If your boat is needed right away, rinse with hot water instead of tap water. It requires a tem[perature of 110oF to kill veligers and 140oF to kill adults. Flush outboard with hot water.) flush most of outboards using muffs, which can be purchased at any marine store. when necessary, use a tank to flush the motor. Hook it up to a cold or hot water tap depending on the length of time before the outboard is going to be used again, For more information: Call the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Fisheries Division, at 517-373-1280, or the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Office of the Great Lakes, at 517-335-4 056. Relevant Laws and Statutes Purple Loosestrife Law: 1995 PA 182 This Act regulates the sale and distribution of nursery stock, plants, and products. It prohibits the sale or distribution of purple loosestrife Lythrum scalicaria throughout the State of Michigan. The director of the department of agriculture may approve cultivars that have been developed and recognized to be sterile. Cultivars of Lythrum vigatum such as rose queen and mordon gleam may be sold at retail Sport Fishing LAW 1929 PA 165 The Sport Fishing Law requires a license fees from the DNR for taking or possessing minnows, wigglers or crayfish for other than personal use. It prohibits the import and export to the State of these species without a license, and prohibits all import of minnows and wigglers that are not native to Michigan. It also prohibits the import of live game fish or eggs except with a permit and prohibits planting of fish, fish fry. Or spawn without a permit. Violation of the law is a misdemeanor and carries a 90-day jail term, $500 fine, or both, as a maximum penalty. Game Fish in Private Waters: 1957 PA 196 The Game Fish in Private Waters law controls the import of game fish for private use, requiring a license from the DNR. It prohibits the import of “…and other species of fish when the importation of such species would endanger the public fishery resources of this State.” The restrictions are defined by the rules, promulgated by the DNR fisheries Division. Violation of this law is also a midemeanor, and carries a 90-day jail term, $100 fine or both as a maximum penalty. State Launch Site Special Use Permit The DNR requires permits for the use of state access sites for fishing and boating tournaments according to rules under the enabling legislation for the Department, 1921 PA 17. The current rules do not contemplate potential cross-contamination of public waters with exotic species, so the restrictions are limited in purpose to public safety and protection of property. Follow the above recommended precautions when moving a boat from lake to lake.
TREATMENT NOTICE
RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA ARE PLANNING TO HAVE THE WATERS IN THIS AREA TREATED WITH HERBICIDES AND ALGAECIDES FOR CONTROL OF LAKE WEEDS AND/OR ALGAE.
This notice is being circulated at least 7 days in advance of the treatment in accordance with Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) procedures. A permit for the treatment has either been secured or will be secured from the MDEQ before the work is begun. The treatment is done under a permit approved by the MDEQ (In limited cases a permit is not required).
You are receiving this notice if you are in the proposed treatment area, or if you are within 100 feet of the treatment area. In some cases, we also provide this notice to persons in adjacent subdivisions as an informational service to advise persons who may have beach rights but are not lakefront dwellers.
We usually work with groups of homeowners or their elected representatives through homeowners associations, or with the owners of apartment or condominium units. Please try to first contact any of these in your situation before your call us if you have any questions as we pass out thousands of these notices each season.
Aqua-Weed Control, Inc. does two types of treatments: algae control and weed control
Algae Control - If we are doing only algae control using only copper based products then no water use restrictions apply. We will post the shoreline with 14 x 11 inch yellow signs informing you of this work.
Weed Control - If we are treating for weeds [or using, blue dye for the first time in a season], then there are restrictions on the use of the water, and we will post the shoreline with 14 x 11 inch yellow signs before these products are applied to the lake. We post for blue lake dye in swimming areas; we may not post for blue dye if your association has agreed to posting only with the first application each season.
We treat each lake according to a schedule or season plan worked out with the persons in charge of your lake treatment program. Typically May thru August. However, due to the differences in season plans and the uncertainty of weather please watch your shoreline for the posting of the 14 x 11 inch yellow signs, particularly in April, May and June, but also in July, August and September.
YOUR LAKE MAY BE TREATED MORE THAN ONCE EACH SEASON; CHECK THIS WITH YOUR ASSOCIATION. The signs will indicate the date of the treatment, the products used, and the restrictions as to the use of the water for swimming, watering lawns and the consumption of fish taken from these waters. We use NEW SIGNS if we treat more than once.
Only products which have been registered by the State of Michigan and the Federal Government are being used.
We anticipate using one or more of the products listed. Please be aware of the restrictions on each product. We will post signs as necessary. If the MDEQ changes any restrictions they will be noted on the signs we post.
PRODUCTS & RESTRICTIONS:
Reward brand Diquat: Reward brand Diquat: Do not use the treated water for swimming for 1 day (MDEQ imposed restriction). Do not irrigate turf or non-food crops for a period of three [3] days. Do not use the treated water for watering food crops, animal watering (farm stock -- not incidental drinking by a domestic pet), or drinking purposes until 5 days after treatment. There is NO restriction on fish consumption. Diquat dibromide is the active ingredient. REWARD is the brand name. No label swimming restriction exists for this product.
2,4-D: Do not use the treated water for swimming for 1 day (MDEQ imposed restriction). Do not use the treated water for irrigation, agricultural sprays, watering dairy animals, or domestic water supplies. “Irrigation” includes watering gardens --however it does NOT include watering lawns. 2,4-D is often used by lawn spray companies to kill weeds in lawns -- watering lawns when only 2,4-D has been applied will not harm your lawn (but see restrictions on the other products). Domestic use means using lake water inside your house. Since the above label restriction says not to use treated water for these purposes it is your decision when to resume such water use. For many years we were required to post not to water for three weeks. Neither the product nor the label have been changed, only the regulation as to posting. There is no restriction on fish consumption. 2,4-D is the active ingredient. No label swimming restriction exists for this product.
Aquathol-K/Hydrothol-191: Do not use the treated water for swimming for I day (MDEQ imposed restriction). Do not use the treated water for household uses, animal watering [farm stock], or similar uses for 14 days. The actual label restriction for lawn watering is 7-14 days. You cannot take fish for food use or feed use for 3 days. Endothall is the active ingredient in each of these products. The label restriction for swimming is to wait 24 hours after application before swimming in treated waters.
Sonar/Avast: Do not use the treated water for swimming for 1 day (MDEQ imposed restriction). There is no restriction on fish consumption. It is suggested that lawn and garden watering be restricted from 7 to 30 days. The suggested number of days depends on the rate applied and whether you are on a lake or canal and whether you are watering a tree crop or a new garden or a new lawn. The sign we post when we treat will give the details for your area. Fluridone is the active ingredient. No label swimming restriction exists for this product.
Blue Dye: Do not use the treated water for swimming for 1 day (MDEQ imposed restriction). Blue dye is the active ingredient. Fishing and watering are OK! Posting of small ponds is optional for the owner if the pond is never used for swimming. Dolge and Cygnet Select are the brand names. The label restriction for swimming is “several hours” after appilcation.
Copper Sulfate, Chelated Copper based algicides: NO WATER USE RESTRICTIONS. Informational posting only.
Komeen/Nautique: Do not use the treated water for swimming for 1 day (MDEQ imposed restriction). Fishing and watering are OK! No label swimming restriction exists for this product.
Rodeo/Eagre: Used primarily for lily and emergent plant control. The active ingredient is Glyphosate. There is a 1 day no swimming restriction (MDEQ imposed restriction). There is no restriction on watering or fishing. No label swimming restriction exists for this product.
When more than one product is used the restrictions longest limits will be posted. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT YOUR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION OR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE IN CHARGE OF THE TREATMENT OR YOUR APARTMENT OR CONDOMINIUM MANAGER. If they cannot answer your question we can be reached at the number listed below. We have a telephone answering machine in operation. PLEASE leave your name, lake name, and telephone number if we are not available to answer the phone.
Thank you.
Dick Pinagel,
Owner 248 634-8388
|
|
|
`
