2007
Conference
46th Michigan Lake
and Stream Associations Conference
April 20, 21, & 22, 2007
Boyne Mt,
Mi
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Michigan Lake and Streams Sessions by Charlotte Poole - (April 20-22, 2007)
Swimmer’s Itch by Rob Karner from Leelanau School, Glen Arbor, MI
Rob related his years of work with Glen Lake to control
"swimmer’s itch”. At one time this lake was treated
with copper sulfate to kill the snails infected with the parasite,
which leads to swimmer’s itch. This treatment could be like
a “time bomb” waiting to interact in toxic ways if the Ph
of the water changed for some reason.
It was decided that perhaps this menace could be controlled by a better
means. Much research led up to the discovery that the merganser
duck dung was the culprit that led to the infection of a certain kind
of snail in the lake, which led to the release of the parasites that
infected swimmers. So for the past several years there has been a
common merganser round up on Glen Lake and transporting of these ducks
to Lake Michigan where the species of snails do not exist. Thus
the cycle was been stopped and swimmers itch has subsided.
However, in different lakes the species of duck carriers could change
from merganser to mallard or geese for instance and the species of
snail hosts could also change. Research would need to be
conducted to determine which avian carries the parasite and which snail
becomes infected and releases the parasite into the water, which in
turn infects swimmers. Then the cycle could be stopped and the
infection will subside.
One other suggestion is treat swimmers with Bull Frog before entering
the water as this lotion contains sunscreen as well as an insect
repellent, which help to prevent the parasite from burrowing into the
swimmers skin. Do not swim on very windy days either as that is
when a person’s chances of contacting the parasite is greatest
since the snail releases its toxins and they are consintrated in the
direction that the wind is blowing. and those float to the surface and
are concentrated in the direction of the wind.
Riparian Interests and Local Government by Cliff Bloom, Attorney from Grand Rapids, MI
Mr. Bloom spoke extensively about township ordinance authority and its
importance to lake owners. For example, when it comes to
zoning, marine safety, anti-funneling, buffer strips, bubbler
ordinances, canals and channels, fertilizer use, outdoor furnaces, etc.
are only a few examples mentioned in this session.
Townships are also involved with DEQ permits and public comments, weed
treatments, and lake governing boards. For other riparian issues
visit his website at www.lwr.com.
Marine Safety and Enforcement by Sheriff Doug Baum, Montmorency County Sheriff’s Dept. Atlanta, MI
Doug’s main emphasis was devoted to HB 4143 coming up for a vote
shortly by Michigan legislators where most misdemeanor boating
infractions will be changed to civil infractions and not a part of
one’s permanent record. His bill also allows for larger
fines and penalties to be handed out for different infractions.
Hopefully, this will give more “teeth” to safe boating laws
and yet not permanently involve ones arrest record for life. This
bill hopes to be in place for this coming boating season.
Low-impact Shoreline Development by Tony Groves, Progressive AE, Water Resources Director, Grand Rapids, MI
Mr. Groves stressed the importance of limiting runoff vs. infiltration
of water in order to keep things in balance with the Hydrologic
Cycle. Development increases runoff in connection with paved
surface and roof cover. It was once thought that getting water
away as quickly as possible was best to prevent flooding.
However, now it is a better practice to detain runoff temporarily and
control it before it hits the drain with no filtration and is
contaminated storm water. Such things as “rain
gardens” or bioretention centers should be designed to filter,
store, infiltrate, and evaporate runoff rather than storm drains and
downspouts delivering large amounts of water.
Special preamble composite was shown to the group to be used in parking
lots, and non- highly used road surfaces. Green roofs are also
another effective solution in cities. This can also reduce urban heat.
For lakefront owners one should think about modifying soil for
infiltration, including compost, mulch, sand, filter strips of
vegetation, grass swales, capturing runoff from roof into drywells, or
rain barrels, or catch basins with planted trees. It is also
economical for construction costs when one doesn’t have to
completely clear the land, add costs for storm water runoff, while
preserving and protecting our natural resources through sound watershed
management.
Riparian Doctrine and Riparian Law by Steve Tinti, Attorney – Crystal Falls, MI
Steve gave a history of riparian doctrine and law that goes back to
1787 and the Battle of Hastings, where there resides a history of use
of streams for navigatability. Throughout our history, travel by
water has been important since originally no roads were
available. Loggers have also sued each other in order to use
water as a mean of transportation for floating timber in front of
property. Consequently, riparian rights and non-riparian rights
(for those not owning water front property) have often been in conflict
with one another. Non-riparians can navigate waters where public
accesses are in place or where travel on such waterways leads to other
public places. Spending time “on the water” other
than camping out overnight, has been the right of citizens for many
years. The means of getting to the water have been encouraged by
public accesses and its parking and ramp facilities that are available.
On Friday night there was an Open Forum conducted by six individuals
who answered a variety of questions from the audience relating to
aquatic nuisance species, township government, lake boards, drain
issues, legal issues, greenbelts, stream ecology, riparian doctrine,
lake augmentation, court cases, and other issues to help protect our
streams, and lake property.
Next year, this conference will be held at Holiday Inn and Conference
Center in Grayling, MI on the weekend of April 24th 2008. Great
place to find answers to your questions, learn about protecting our
lake property, and meet and talk with “lake people” from
other parts of Michigan.
Michigan’s Lake Sturgeon – A Living Fossil by Brenda Archambo, Sturgeon for Tomorrow
This session was an overview of efforts by a volunteer organization to
protect lake sturgeon in Black Lake, MI near Cheboygan, MI. The group
monitors fish throughout the year studying their patterns of living and
their life cycle. In spring (April-May) they protect the few
existing spawning areas in Black River. They also collect lava
fishing during spring as part of an effort to raise sturgeon for
replanting. During summer they grow young sturgeon, tract the
migration of older sturgeon, and work to repair and improve spawning
areas in the river. During fall they tag and release the young
sturgeon. In winter they participate in a special sturgeon
fishing season on Black Lake. Two hundred fifty people are
selected in a random drawing to fish on one of the nine days of the
season. The limit is five fish per year with the season ending
when the fifth fish is caught. There is also a Sturgeon Party
most years (ice permitting) organized during the fishing season.
Sturgeon are a threatened species in the Great Lakes with many projects
underway to develop and protect their habitat and increase their
numbers. Purdue University researchers have been studying
sturgeon habitat in the St. Joseph River where the Michigan DNR
occasionally net sturgeon in their annual fish surveys. Sturgeon
have also been caught off the St. Joseph pier by local fisherman.
There is a small, but threatened population of sturgeon in Lake
Michigan that requires healthy rivers to spawn. Volunteers are
needed by the Sturgeon for Tomorrow group each spring to guard the
spawning areas in Black River. Visit their website for more
information and to volunteer – http://www.sturgeonfortomorrow.org
Groundwater: Occurrence, Use, and Protection by Joe Lovato, Chief, Groundwater Section, Water Division, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)
An overview of geological and hydrological systems that contributed to
the creation of Michigan’s current geology and hydrology.
The major role of the MDEQ is to protect the surface and ground water
resources of the State of Michigan. Their programs and efforts
are in large part controlled by State and Federal laws and mandates,
but are limited by funding. MDEQ requires permits by anyone who;
interacts with and/or constructs structures on or near waterways or
lakes, removes and returns water into waterways or groundwater
aquifers, or performs activities that might reduce the quality of the
State of Michigan’s water resources. The Maple Island
Resort Association recently obtained a MDEQ permit to rebuild the log
supports around the MIRA bridge. Many lake owners on Magician
Lake have also been required to request MDEQ permits for building
permanent piers or seawalls. DEQ also monitors water quality and volume
– Visit ground water maps for more information –
http://gwmap.rsgis.msu.edu
Several interesting facts and concepts came out of the
presentation. Agricultural use of groundwater for irrigation is
the largest user of groundwater in Michigan representing 82% of all
uses including wells for cities, power plants, water bottling
companies, etc. The state has many different groundwater soil
types, some are better for holding and protecting the ground water
while others are not. Silver Creek Township is in a soil type
where groundwater could be easily damaged by ground water pollution and
where excessive pumping could draw down the underground water resources
impacting water resources available for wells and lake levels.
Wells that pump 250,000 gallons or more of water per day must register
with the MDEQ or the Michigan Department of Agriculture if used for
agriculture related businesses. Ground water should be monitored
for pollution by nitrates (organic forms of pollution; some of which
are naturally occurring and others caused by pollution activities.), by
industrial solvents and other chemical agents introduced by man
(including leaking underground tanks, surface spills, and the
re-introduction of polluted water into the groundwater), by arsenic
which is naturally occurring and in some cases caused by pollution, and
by heavy metals such as lead, zinc, copper, etc which are both
naturally occurring and in some cases caused by pollution such as
mining operations or manufacturing processes.
Ground water has been collecting in Michigan soils for many hundreds of
years. It is possible to measure the age of water in a well by
using a “tritium test”, which is the measurement of tridium
levels cause by US Atomic tests in the 1950’s. If your well
water does not have tridium, the water in it is older than
1950. If it has tritium in the water, the water has
recently been added to the groundwater demonstrating that the ground
water table is supplied by recent rains. Tritium tests can also
be used to determine different water aquifers. It is also
possible to explore the chemical signature of water from different
wells to determine if the water comes from different aquifers.
The water level in wells is also used to determine if wells are
connected to different, not-connected aquifers (since water seeks
it’s own level), and from different soil types at the bottom of
the well where water enters.
Wells can be measured for their “cone of depression” which
is the ground water area that is most effected by the remove of
water. Wells are also impacted by the general direction of water
movement in soils. Most water naturally moves down hill from its
current location until it surfaces in a stream, river or lake at a
lover level. Multiple wells can be used to determine underground
water flow and to identify the underground area effected by water
removal via a well. The “cone of depression”
represents that area that could be most effected by the removal of
water from any given well or group of wells.
Aquatic Nuisance Species and Hydrillia, by Rick Hobria, Water Bureau, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
This session was an overview of aquatic plants that cause problems in
lakes and streams. More than a dozen introduced (not naturally
occurring) plant species have impacted lakes and streams in
Michigan. Removal of excess or unwanted aquatic plants continues
to be a major problem of many lakes in Michigan, both small inland
lakes and the Great Lakes. Many of these “introduced”
plant species were introduced via the aquarium trade and were dumped
into lakes after the use in the aquarium was over. Others have
been carried into lakes via boats and boat trailers that move between
lakes and streams (in the same way that Zebra Mussels have recently
been expanded and introduced into Magician Lake).
A major problem plant in Michigan lakes is Eurasian Watermilfoil.
Many hundreds of thousands of dollars is spent each year by lake
associations and lake owners to reduce or remove Eurasian
Watermilfoil. The Crooked Lakes and Dewey Lakes of the Sister
Lakes have annual programs to remove the plants from their lakes.
At this time Eurasian Watermilfoil is not a problem in Magician
Lake. Each year a survey is conducted on Magician Lake by the
Magician Lake Improvement Association to determine if our lake has been
invaded. At this time it has been NOT reported in our lake.
It is important that boat owners and operates check their boats so as
to not bring in the watermilfoil to our lake. If you think the
plant is growing in our lake please let the Association know so that
action can be taken to remove or reduce it’s effects on
boating.. Magician Lake does have a native watermilfoil plant
that looks like the invasive species, but does not cause lake boating
problems..
The greatest danger facing freshwater lakes and streams in North
America is from the Hydrilla plant, an extremely invasive species that
has taken over many lakes in Florida. The water plant grows very
fast and can destroy native plants by creating a blanket of plant
material on top of the water that blocks the sunlight from reaching
native plants. The State of Florida is current spending 17
million dollars a year and not winning the battle. The plant has
been moving northward in North America and can now be found up the east
coast in Maine and on the west coast in Washington. It has
reached lakes in Indiana including one just 75 miles south of Magician
Lake near Rochester, IN. It has not been reported in
Michigan yet, but plans are underway to create an “Emergency
Action Fund” to attack the plant if it is ever found in
Michigan. It was transported to the lake in Indiana from a boat
that was trailered from the east coast. Care should be taken by
all boat owners and lake owners to clean and remove plant parts from
their trailers and boats before moving from one body of water to
another.
For more information on Aquatic Plant Problems visit - http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3313_3681_3710---,00.html
Stream Monitoring and Macroinvertebrates, by Jack Wuychuck, Water Bureau, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)
The MDEQ regularly studies the diversity of macroinvertebrates
(insects, mollusks, and worms) that live in streams and lakes to
determine the overall water quality of that body of water. The
MDEQ is also promoting the monitoring of streams by volunteer groups to
help collect date from around the State of Michigan. Many
invertebrate species such as mayflies and stoneflies only live in clean
healthy water. If these species are not present in a lake or
stream it is likely that the water is not clean and healthy. For
some of us who have lived at Magician Lake for more that thirty years
we are aware that the large mayfly hatches in the past have not been
occurring during the last ten years. The reduction in this
important invertebrate species is likely in part due to a change in the
water quality of our lake. While the Magician Lake Improvement
Association has been monitoring the lake for several years for such
things as water clarity, desolved oxygen, phosphate levels, and
invasive plant species, no effort has been made to monitor important
macroinvertebrates. The State of Michigan has recently funded a
program to support volunteer groups to monitor lakes and streams, the
MiCorps project (Michigan Clean Water Corps). MiCorps volunteers
are trained each year to collect data from streams and lakes to
determine the overall quality of water. Data from the collection
is shared with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality that
uses the data and information from other sources to prepare an annual
report on overall water quality in the State. Those interested in
helping monitor Magician Lake should contact the MLIA organization
(http://www.magician-lake.org) or visit the MiCorps website at
http://www.micorps.net
