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Manistee Lake Association

Spring 2021 Newsletter

 

 

As president of the Manistee Lake Association, I would like to welcome current, former, and potential members.  It is my hope that everyone is healthy and safe during this time of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Please submit your annual dues using the membership form which can be found on the MLA website at manisteelake.org.

 

The MLA purpose is to:

  • Promote the education of the waterfront property owners and others about water quality and supply.
  • Support issues which concern the welfare of the lake in general, including conserving the water supply in the lake and watershed, and maintaining the quality of water safety for swimming and fishing.
  • Support the measurement and evaluation of hydrological data of the lake so that decisions and actions shall be what is best for the lake.

 

 A brief update by committee:

  • Manistee Lake Improvement Board - member Seth Phillips has posted on our website the Progressive AE 2020 Annual Report. The next scheduled meeting is May 24, 7 PM, Coldsprings Township Hall.  Check the MLA website for updates.
  • Fish Team - member Keith Gancer reports that the spring sucker removal was scheduled for this year. Team meeting at the home of Keith Gancer was April 10, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.  The nets were to be installed afterwards.  DNR District Fisheries Biologist, Mark Tonello, supported the decision and issued the permit.  The minnow plant was successful and we hope to see a resurgence of minnows.
  • Social Committee - member Sue Kramer has the Picnic at the Park scheduled for August 21, 2021 at Sands Park at 4:00 p.m. Our boat parade will be on July 4, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. beginning on the lake in front of Camp Tanuga.
  • Financial Report – Treasurer, Shug Brandell will prepare a report to be posted on the website and presented at the May 29 meeting.
  • Other - Seth Phillips has yard signs available saying "Please Do Not Fertilize". Signs will be available at the meeting.

 

Based on the current Covid situation, we will post the location of 2021 MLA meetings.  Meetings are planned for May 29, July 3 and September 4, all starting at 9 a.m.  Please contact me with questions at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (517) 643-1260.

 

                                                                                    Gary Salisbury

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It is time again to renew your membership in the Manistee Lake Association. Open the membership form by clicking on MLA Membership Form under the public menu. You can print the form from there, fill it out and mail it with your check. MLA depends on its members to get things done. We can't do anything without YOU so please renew your membership and donate to the Lake Improvement Fund if you are willing.

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Mark Tonello, Regional Fisheries Biologist

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Cadillac Michigan


Dear Mark


This summarizes the sucker removal project for Manistee Lake for 2021. Nets were set on April 10 and removed on May 1. The locations were the same two locations we have used in the past. One at 4805 East Shore Dr. and the other at the location known as Mazzakelli,s also on East Shore.


During the three week period we netted and removed 189 suckers. They ranged in size from 14 to 22 inches. Most were removed in the first week.
During the three week period we also netted 43 walleyes. Almost all of these were legal size up to 24 inches long and all fish were healthy. These were released with all other incidental species Including a small number of bass, pike, rock bass, and bluegill.


Of particular note were a large number of spot tail shiners. This was significantly more then we have seen in the past and hopefully indicates an improvement in minnow populations. If you require any additional report please let us know. Thanks again Mark for your continuing support of our efforts at Manistee Lake.


Keith Gancer,Vice president MLA
Gary Salisbury President MLA

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The Manistee Lake Improvement Board has rescheduled its meeting from the original date of May 24 to Monday June 28, 2021. The meeting is currently planned to be at the Coldsprings Township Hall starting at 7:00 PM. Stay tuned for updates and covid related restrictions that may still apply.

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Eventually it will warm up (I hope so) and people will turn to taking care of their yards. One of the most important things people living on Manistee Lake can do to protect the lake from degradation is to avoid the use of lawn chemicals on lake front properties.  So, you might ask, why are fertilizer and weed killers so bad for the lake? Here’s why.

 

Let’s start with fertilizer. The main ingredients in fertilizer that makes grass grow are phosphorus and nitrogen.  Phosphorus stays on the surface of the soil, so when it rains, it runs off the surface and into the lake.  Nitrogen on the other hand percolates down through the soil and into the groundwater where it eventually discharges into the lake.  If these chemicals make your grass grow,  in the water they also make weeds, including milfoil, grow.  They are also the main food for algae. So the more we put in the lake, the more algae we will get when the weather gets warm.  Since Manistee Lake is shallow, it is more sensitive to these inputs and warms faster.  We spend a lot of money  and work trying to prevent the growth of Eurasian milfoil in our lake and every time someone’s fertilizer gets into the lake, it works against this effort.

 

Knowing all this, fertilizer companies market something they call “lake safe” fertilizer. It is a fraud.  While this fertilizer does not contain phosphorus, it still contains nitrogen. It isn’t safe for the lake.  If you need to fertilize your lawn, use lake water to water it. There is enough phosphorus and nitrogen in the water already to be decent fertilizer.

 

TruGreen and other lawn applicator companies claim their sprays are not toxic and only contain chemicals that are government approved, suggesting that means they are safe.  Some also assert that nothing they use will get into the groundwater.  Well, if they aren’t using nitrogen, then you are paying for fertilizer that doesn’t fertilize.

 

Now, weed killers.  Like fertilizer helps weeds grow, weed killer runs off into the lake and kills aquatic plants.  Most lawn herbicides are what are called “broad spectrum”. That means they kill lots and lots of different stuff. .  Many of their weed killers use known herbicides.  If they kill plants, they must have some level of toxicity. Used properly they may be safe for people and pets, but they will still kill lake weeds if it gets into the water. Many say they only use organic products, as if that is a synonym for safe. In chemistry, organic means built on carbon. You know, like DDT,  PFAS and dioxin.  You wouldn’t want to consume them. We surely don’t want them in our lake.

 

While we want to prevent milfoil, and we use a highly selective herbicide in controlled and limited applications to do that, there are native plants, like pond weed, that are essential to maintaining the health of the lake.  Broad spectrum weed killers kill these plants too. The native plants help keep the water clear by binding up the sediment at the bottom of the lake including the phosphorus and nitrogen in the sediment. This helps retard algae growth. These plants help oxygenate the lake. They provide important fish cover critical to maintaining our excellent fishery. Killing them might make boating better in some portions of the lake but will result in huge algae blooms later in the summer that will make the lake unusable, will deplete the oxygen in the water and kill off fish.

 

You live here because of this lake.  The Manistee Lake Association and the Manistee Lake Improvement Board are dedicated to protecting Manistee Lake for our future.  If allowed to turn into an algae filled swamp you won’t be able to use it and your property values will crash. Is having a suburban lawn up here in the north woods really that important?  Please help protect Manistee Lake and don’t fertilize your yard or use weed killer.  While you are at it, is your septic system working well? Does it need pumping or repair? Bad septic systems are the other big source of trouble for our lake, but more on that another time.

 

Want to help let your neighbors know they should not use fertilizer? We have 50 yard signs to help spread the message. Want one? Let me know. I'll get it to you.