RUSH LAKE NEWS
RUSH LAKE NEWS Is The Ice Safe Yet? Winter,
2000
If you were to ask this question of a conservation officer, the
answer would very likely be that the ice is never safe! The only way people
would be truly safe, would simply not to ever venture out on the ice! But here
in Michigan with snowmobiling, ice skating and ice fishing, that answer is not
acceptable to most outdoor enthusiasts. Consequently, they need to take precautions
to be as safe as possible while venturing out on the ice. The following is a
list of recommendations to help promote your safety while on the ice. All ice
should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, as ice will form differently based
on many factors.
Remember, to prevent mishaps on the ice, spend some time checking the ice before you venture out and while out continue to check the condition of the ice and weather. Be prepared should you break through the ice. By taking precautions and being prepared, one can enjoy the activities that involve being on the ice.
Information for this article came from the Michigan DNR Fishing Guide, Wisconsin Sea Grant Advisory Services and an article by Tim Smalley of the Minnesota DNR.
But one needn't worry unless they are a tiny aquatic animal! The Bladderwort, a common aquatic plant found in many lakes including Rush Lake, consumes tiny aquatic animals (crustaceans, larval insects, and one-celled protozoans) in their small bladder-like traps. These traps are oval, with a membranous door at one end. Tiny hairs that secrete edible mucus surround the door. When an aquatic animal begins to feed on this mucus, he touches the hairs causing them to twist and the door of the trap flies open. Water rushes into the bladder carrying the unsuspecting animal with it. The water caught in the trap gradually is pumped out of the bladder and in fifteen to twenty minutes the trap is reset for the next victim.
In the meantime the captured prey swims around inside the bladder looking for a way out. He cannot force the door open and eventually dies of confinement, lack of food or perhaps other natural causes. Bacterial action then results in his decay and it releases nutritious proteins to the plant. This flesh eating helps enable these plants to grow in nutrient poor water, however they are also common in other types of water. Interestingly enough, the skeletal parts of the animals is not dissolved or expelled, so each bladder contains a permanent history of its past feasts.
Studies have been done on the bladderwort and observers have found that a single bladder can catch a dozen water fleas in ninety minutes. One plant that was studied had ninety bladders and they held 270 captured crustaceans. And these bladders are on the average about an eighth of an inch long!
The next time you venture out on the lake, take a few moments to locate these wonders of nature and study them a bit closer. It truly is amazing the things that go on just beneath the surface of Rush Lake.
Oftentimes, waterfront property owners fertilize the aquatic plants in the lake while they fertilize their lawns. When one wants a nice, green lawn, they must consider where any excess fertilizers are going. But, one can still have a green lawn and not fertilize the lake, too. With careful planting to create a buffer zone between the lake and your lawn, you can control the runoff of excess fertilizers.
A buffer zone is a strip of land between the lake and your lawn that is planted to trap pollutants that would otherwise end up in the lake. Ideally, this zone should be a minimum of ten feet wide but thirty feet would be the best. The vegetation planted in the zone traps the runoff from your lawn and absorbs nutrients before they enter the lake.
This buffer zone can be planted for a natural look or for a landscaped look. A natural look can be achieved by planting natural grasses and wildflowers. Not mowing the buffer zone will further enhance the natural look. By planting groundcovers, perennials and shrubs, a landscaped look will result.
If you would prefer to have a pathway through this buffer zone, choose one that meanders to the water's edge instead of a direct line from your lawn. With a path forming a direct line to the water, there is nothing to stop the runoff from your lawn.
Also give some thought to the trees you choose to plant near the water's edge. Trees that lose their leaves at the end of the growing season are not a wise choice for the water's edge. When the leaves fall into the lake, all the nutrients trapped in the leaves will be released into the water and feed the aquatic plants. Ideally, these trees should be set back a distance equal to twice the mature height of the tree. Evergreens can be used much closer to the water's edge so are a much better choice.
With careful planning, property owners can have their green
lawns but protect the lake, too. It is interesting to observe that many times,
the owners of plush green lawns often have heavy aquatic plant growth in front
of their homes unless they take the time to ensure that their excess fertilizer
doesn't end up in the lake. Always consider the lake in your landscaping plans.
A little forethought on your part goes a long way to protecting our wonderful
natural resource.
Mailboxes are considered federal property! There is a federal law that makes it a crime to vandalize mailboxes. Vandalizing includes injuring, defacing or destroying any mail deposited in the boxes. Violators can be fined or imprisoned for each act of vandalism.
Instances of vandalism have been reported in the area and one wonders if people are aware of the seriousness of tampering with the mail or mailboxes. This type of vandalism is not just a minor prank, it is serious business!
Parents, please be sure to talk with your children about vandalism of any kind. Make sure they understand the consequences. Oftentimes, children just view these things as a harmless prank but in reality, this can be very serious.
If you should see anyone tampering with any mailbox, please report them to the local postmaster. Your cooperation helps stop this type of vandalism. Let's all work together to help keep the Rush Lake neighborhood a great place to live.
On occasion the Association hotline receives reports of vandalism to mailboxes and their contents. As mentioned in another article (Are You Ready To Go To Jail) mailboxes are considered federal property and federal law makes it a crime to vandalize them or the mail in them. If your mailbox is vandalized or your mail is stolen, you need to contact the post office. You will be asked to complete a form, which will help the Postal Service determine whether your problem is isolated or one that is happening often in your neighborhood. Other ways to protect your mail and mailbox are:
If you do witness someone tampering with your mail or your neighbor's
mail, be sure to get a description of the person and if appropriate, their car
and license number. Turn this information over to the local police and postmaster
immediately.
Anyone going out of doors in the cold weather, needs to be aware of the dangers of hypothermia which can occur quickly and be fatal. Hypothermia is when the body temperature falls below its normal level of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit to 95 degrees or cooler. Hypothermia occurs when the body is subjected to prolonged cold temperatures. The most common cause is through exposure to cold water though long exposure to cold air can cause it as well.
Hypothermia is dangerous because it affects the brain, heart, lungs and other vital organs. Even a mild case can affect your physical and mental abilities. Severe hypothermia causes loss of consciousness and even death. To avoid hypothermia, one needs to dress appropriately for the weather and pay attention to the length of time you are exposed to the cold.
Hypothermia signals include:
Shivering
Numbness
Weakness
Impaired vision
Dizziness
Confusion
Impaired judgement
Drowsiness
The five stages of hypothermia are:
Stage 1 - Shivering
Stage 2 - Apathy
Stage 3 - Loss of consciousness
Stage 4 - Decreasing heart rate and breathing
Stage 5 - Death
If you or someone else begins to exhibit mild symptoms of hypothermia after
being exposed to the cold, the primary task is to prevent further heat loss
and allow the body to rewarm itself. This can be done by removing any wet clothing
and replacing with dry clothing or blankets. Apply a gentle heat source and
offer warm, sweet drinks -- no alcohol.
If someone is exhibiting more serious symptoms, you need to obtain medical advice as soon as possible. Be gentle with the person and give no food or drink. Try to keep their temperature from dropping further but avoid too rapid of a temperature rise. Most importantly, obtain medical help.
Winter activities can be fun but we all need to be aware of the dangers of being in the cold. By being prepared and being sensible, we can usually avoid any problems from the cold weather.
Frequently the question arises as to whether you need a license to fish on Rush Lake. Many feel with it being a private lake, a license is not needed. This issue has finally been clarified and the answer is "yes", you do need a fishing license.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officers follow these guidelines to determine whether a license is needed on any particular lake. A license is not needed, if the lake in question has:
1. No outlet or inlet into the lake.
2. No public access.
3. No public lands and is totally owned by private owners.
4. Never been planted with fish by the MDNR.
Rush Lake, although totally private, with no public access and never having been planted, does have an outlet and an inlet. This is the determining factor for a license being needed to fish in Rush Lake.
The outlet is, of course, the dam at the west end of the lake. Not too much water goes over the dam at any one time but enough that small fish could jump the dam and come into the lake. This is the reasoning for the MDNR guideline concerning inlets or outlets as these fish may have been planted elsewhere and have made their way to Rush Lake. An inlet is also located at the end of the small canal near Scotia, and this again raises the question if fish that were planted elsewhere can make their way to Rush Lake.
Consequently, using these guidelines, a license is needed to fish in Rush Lake.
What Do You Do With Your Yard Waste?
Spring, 1998
Dump it in the lake!
Dump it in the Association parks!
Dump it in your neighbor's yard!
Burn it!
Leave it for trash pick up!
Compost it!
If you answered yes to any of the first three answers to the
above question, you definitely need to find a different answer!
Dumping it in the lake is a very irresponsible act. Once the waste breaks down, it becomes nutrients to feed the lake weeds that we work to control each year. The more we feed the lake weeds, the more we spend to control the weeds. The end result is we all pay more for weed control, not to mention we are speeding up the death of Rush Lake.
To dump it in the parks, again becomes a cost factor as everyone pays to have it cleaned up. Besides, it detracts from the look of our parks and turns them into a dump. Take pride in your neighborhood and don't use the parks as a dump.
As appalled as you may feel about the above two answers, some of our neighbor's have used these methods before. Stand up and say something if you see these things happening. The environment they are destroying is yours too!
Your neighbor's won't appreciate your yard waste in their yard, either, so that answer is not recommended!
Burning yard waste is a slightly better answer than the already
mentioned ones but still does cause pollution. According to the Hamburg Township
ordinance, burning is also only allowed during the last two weeks of April and
the month of November.
The last two answers are the best response to the question of disposing of yard
waste. Trash pick up is acceptable as long as it is kept separate from your
regular trash and will be composted by your trash hauler. If not composted by
the trash hauler, it will just help to fill in the landfills that much quicker.
Composting by the individual homeowner or the trash hauler disposes of yard waste with an environmentally sound method. Most people think compost piles in one's yard are messy and will attract animals. There are many ways to hide a compost pile in one's yard. Once can purchase commercially designed compost containers or build their own. These can then be hidden with plants to conceal them from view. Kitchen scraps can also be added to compost although there are certain items one should avoid. By using wise composting practices, there is virtually no smell to compost. And when the compost is "done", it becomes a great fertilizer for your yard.
The Association has information available on composting either at the semiannual meeting or by calling the hotline 734-878-0340.
Take a serious look at the above answers and decide if you
need to find a better solution to yard waste. Think of what our actions today
will mean in the future. If we don't pay attention now, some day there won't
be a Rush Lake for our children to visit!
Articles have appeared in various publications concerning the use of Grass Carp for the control of aquatic plants. Grass Carp or White Amur, members of the minnow family, are originally from China where they are reported to grow to 100 pounds. Except for the large scales on their sides, the Grass Carp do not resemble our common carp being longer and more slender with no barbels at the corners of their mouth. Grown in China as a food source, interest in the Grass Carp here is for its eating of aquatic plants.
The preferred food of Grass Carp are leafy, rooted plants such as pondweed and coontail, although lacking these types, they will also eat duckweed, green algae and even cattails.
As other states are showing interest in the Grass Carp, a sterile form has been developed. The use of this sterile form would keep the Grass Carp from being established in areas where it is not wanted.
Michigan's current policy is to not allow Grass Carp to be planted in any lake. Their concern is that the sterility is not guaranteed and they do not want the Grass Carp to begin establishing itself here, as it is an exotic species. Extreme care must be taken before the introduction of an exotic species to be assured the results are desirable. With this policy, planting of Grass Carp is currently not an option in any Michigan lake.
With all the concern of aquatic plants and how to get rid of them, there is an aquatic plant that we don't want to destroy. This plant is Chara (pronounced Cha"ra) and plays a very important part in the life of Rush Lake.
Chara is an advanced form of algae called Erect Algae. It resembles higher plants and is easily identifiable by its musky odor and gritty texture due to mineral deposits on its surface. These deposits make Chara very brittle and it can easily be crushed when rolled between your hands.
Chara does not have roots but it does have hold-fast structures, which anchor it to the bottom. It rarely grows more than 12 inches tall usually forming low dense mats. It reproduces by seed and fragmentation.
As an algae, Chara helps to filter nutrients out of the water, thus competing with other less desirable forms of algae. This filtering process helps to clarify the water. By forming dense mats, it also helps to prevent other aquatic plants from rooting.
The fish biologist doing our lake survey told us that in areas without Chara, the bottom sediments were missing an important link in the food chain. If this missing link is extensive enough, it could have a serious effect on the growth of our fish.
These various factors all point towards Chara being a valuable aquatic plant. When cleaning an area for swimming, try not to remove all the Chara. Keep in mind what Chara does for our lake. Learn to recognize Chara and respect it for what it is - a valuable component in the eco-system of Rush Lake.
Do you realize what you do to your yard directly affects the water quality of our lake? Whether we live on the lake or a few blocks away, we all need to become more aware how our actions affect Rush Lake.
The next time we have a hard rain, look to see what is washing into the lake. When more water flows over the ground than can be absorbed, the water washes into the lake. With a hard rain, there will be obvious rivulets of water but even a light rain will cause rivulets.
To keep our lake healthy, we need to minimize the amount of runoff to the lake. At times runoff can't be avoided but we can direct the water to keep it from picking up soil and nutrients.
The following suggestions will help to slow water runoff and keep Rush Lake healthier.
Do you ever get a case of Poison Ivy in the Spring or Summer but can't determine where you came into contact with it? It may not be Poison Ivy but a case of Swimmer's Itch, a relatively unknown problem in Michigan lakes.
Swimmer's itch is caused by microscopic-sized parasites that penetrate the skin and die shortly thereafter. Unfortunately, this can cause an allergic reaction in about one-third of the people who come in contact with the parasite.
Within a few hours after the parasite enters the skin, a reddened spot appears and may grow in size, especially if scratched. The skin surface then swells which may appear as red welts. Within 24 hours the swelling will reach its maximum size but the itching may last for several days with all symptoms disappearing within a week. A doctor should be consulted if you are unsure of the cause of the rash. In severe cases, the infected person may have a fever, nausea and difficulty in sleeping. If the symptoms intensify, last longer than a week, or cause undue discomfort you should consult a doctor.
Swimmer's itch usually occurs in late May or early June and usually lasts a few weeks but has been known to last all summer in some lakes.
Birds and rodents carry the adult parasite in their blood vessels. These parasites lay eggs which move into the intestines and are then expelled from the bird or rodent. These eggs hatch and the larva take up residence in snails where they develop into the larva that cause Swimmer's Itch. These parasites are usually found in shallow water near the shoreline and are looking for birds or mammals to attach to thus continuing the life cycle.
By not encouraging birds to stay near the swimming area by feeding them will help to prevent Swimmer's Itch. Swimmers can lessen their chances of contracting Swimmer's Itch by toweling down immediately after leaving the water, avoiding areas where snails have accumulated, and avoiding swimming immediately after an onshore wind if there is a known problem. As the larva tend to accumulate in shallow water, children appear to be more susceptible as they swim more often in the shallow water. If al all possible, swim in water away from the shore.
The Department of Natural Resources does approve some treatment
for control of Swimmer's Itch but only in the severest of infestations. Should
you have a problem with Swimmer's Itch here at Rush Lake, let us know by calling
(734) 878-0340. This will help us be more aware of the problem if it exists
and attempt to prevent its spread.
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