Baldwin Lake Association Newsletter  

An Anchor for our Community

WATER QUALITY

From the Michigan DEQ:

      Unfortunately, many of our streams and lakes have been polluted. This you may already know, but it may be a surprise to learn that water pollution often starts right where you live. Water pollution begins when development alters the natural environment. Removing vegetation and replacing it with streets, rooftops and driveways greatly decreases the amount of water soaking into the soil. As a consequence, the amount of water running into streams and lakes increases dramatically.

      How does rainwater get from street to stream? Nearly every city street has storm sewer inlets, which open into a network of underground pipes. These storm sewers do not go to a sewage treatment facility, but flow directly to streams or lakes. Most storm sewers are designed to remove water quickly during a storm. This allows pollutants to reach streams and lakes rapidly. Rainwater can also move over the land to the nearest lake or stream, picking up pollutants on the way.

      Soil, or sediment, can come from wherever there is bare soil. When it rains, the soil is carried to the nearest body of water. The sediment can:

    1) Cover the gravel on the bottom of a stream that fish use for spawning
    2) Cover that gravel that provides habitat for aquatic insects, which provide food for fish
    3) When suspended in the water, block light needed for aquatic plants to grow
    4) Carry other substances, such as fertilizers or pesticides to water.

      Nutrients, mainly phosphorous and nitrogen, can come from many sources: fertilizers, pet waste, improperly functioning septic systems, grass clippings, leaves and other yard wastes are all sources of nutrients. Certain levels of nutrients naturally occur in our waters. When more nutrients are added, excessive algae and other aquatic plants grow.

JUDY'S JOTTINGS
 submitted by Judy Kankel

     FLYING AROUND; Yes, a couple of days after Christmas we saw a beautiful bald eagle flying over our yard, landing in the neighbor’s trees, and then taking off for Indiana Lake…what a breathtaking sight it was! We have also enjoyed frequent visits from the Downy Woodpeckers and Red-Bellied Woodpecker. I wonder why they call it red-bellied when it doesn’t have a red belly, but a red head, not to be confused with the Red-Headed Woodpecker that has a red head that looks like a cape and is not known to be around here. Confused as I am?.

      PINEYS; Until I moved to the Lake, I had never seen nor heard of a piney. That is another name for the small Red Squirrels that rush around, chattering, and never seem to stand still. They like to eat at the bird feeder, but metal flashing around the pole of the feeder seems to deter them pretty much. The larger squirrels are fox squirrels (named so because of the bushier tail.) All these critters bury nuts and pine seeds all over and sometimes forget where they are buried and that creates a little niche to keep the forests growing..






     FROM MY KITCHEN: After all the high-calorie, extra sweet Christmas treats, our thoughts usually turn to some easy down home cooking without all the fuss. Here is a Sloppy Joe recipe we love :

GUMBO SLOPPY JOES

        1 lb. ground chuck
        1 small onion, chopped
        1 can Chicken Gumbo soup
        1/3 Cup Ketchup
        2 tsp yellow mustard
        2 T. barbeque sauce
        1 tsp. brown sugar

Brown ground chuck and onion together. Drain. Add remaining ingredients and simmer 20 minutes or so. Serve on your favorite buns. The more it is reheated, the better it tastes. Enjoy!!.

     
        A FEW THOUGHTS TO PONDER:
              If a turtle doesn’t have a shell, is he homeless or naked?
              Does a mermaid wear an algebra?
              If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?
              If you ate both pasta and antipasto, would you still be hungry?
              Don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty things.
              If the police arrest a mime, do they tell him to remain silent?
              What was the best thing before sliced bread?
              Is it possible to have a civil war?


How can we afford to continue the Mosquito Control?



2006 Secchi Disk Readings (Water Clarity) from the Web



July 1st 2006 Boat Counts & the increase/decrease from 2005



Holiday Dinner Dance


Many thanks to our social committee, Karen Balch and Mike Crofoot
for planning a wonderful evening for us!


      83 friends and neighbors…dinner and dancing....it was nice to get to know others around the lake! Special thanks to Judy Kankel for the decorations!

      It was such a fun evening that we took up a collection to pay the band for an extra hour!