EAGLE LAKE PAW PAW ASSOCIATION

NEWSLETTER APRIL 2006

 

care and feeding of

Eagle Lake in 2006

 Paw Paw Township, MI

  

In this newsletter you will find useful information about the current status of our lake and its health as well as what our options are to insure our lake’s resources stay healthy.  The issues fall into two categories, treating the symptoms of too much weed growth and alternatives that can reduce the causes (too much fertilizer).  Using biocontrol (our weevils) and chemicals (other lakes) only decreases the symptoms and does not address the cause. 

 

Tony Herd has contributed an excellent piece about keeping your septic system healthy, a good tool for keeping fertilizer from the lake (for those homes that have good separation distance from the lake).  Another piece discusses why alternatives to some septic systems must be developed soon (due to closeness to the lake and age) no matter how well they have been maintained.  The other source of fertilizer is lawn care and you will find a discussion of its use.  But the bottom line is if it makes your lawn green, it will make the lake green too (if it is close enough) no matter what the supplier claims. 

 

In response to the numerous lake activities in the township, Paw Paw Township indicated an interest in helping lakes address aquatic weed causes.  In early December Bill Johnson, Township Treasurer met with engineers at Flies & Vanderbrink Engineering to inquire about beginning a process of evaluating the feasibility of installing a sewer system for Three Mile Lake, Lake Cora and Eagle Lake.  There are many things to consider.  How to finance the project, are federal funds available, will the Township accept the task of collecting fees, etc.  The advantage of having the Township involved is the spreading out of the cost of determining feasibility.  It is hoped that additional sources of funds can be found.

 

The Board hopes to present a future program to show how and why the study should be done.  The quality of the lake is the major reason for this study.  We did not inherit or own the lake, we are only leasing it from future generations. 

                                                                                                                        Skip Youngblood/Chuck Cubbage

 

 

Lake Front Yard Waste Burning

 

Concerned property owners continue to witness yard waste burning along the lake shore, especially in the fall.  It cannot be emphasized enough the damage this does when the ash washes into the lake to further feed the native weeds.  Once this phosphate is in the lake it cannot be removed; this phosphate feeds the native and invasive weeds during the summer, the weeds die back in the winter and the phosphate settles to the bottom of the lake to be released by the dead weeds to feed new plant growth the next spring.  While all yard waste burning in the water shed has the potential to migrate to the lake, the burning that occurs near the water is the most damaging.

 

(Please see later article on our watershed)

 

Several people have asked about harm the small campfires that many of us enjoy on a summers evening may be causing.  While these small fires also can cause harm to the lake; properly contained in a fire ring, and with the ash being removed from the fire ring for disposal at least 50 feet (preferably more) from the water, these types of fires can be managed.

 

 

BOATER SAFETY CLASSES

 

2006 boater safety training classes for boaters 12 years of age and older, and PWC operators 14 years of age and older are scheduled for April 22, May 13, June 24, July 8, July 22 and August 12 at the Lawrence Township Community Services Building located at 205 No. Paw Paw in Lawrence. 

Lake Of The Woods association has coordinated a class for June 17 at the Decatur Public Library.  This class is special for residents of our immediate area and will not be broadly advertised.

 

Classes are from 8 AM to 3 PM so bring a sack lunch.  To register for classes call 269-657-2006 Ext. 271 Monday through Friday 8 AM to 4 PM.

Former Eagle Lake Property Owners

If you have received this newsletter in error, please write a note to that effect and enclose it in the Stamped Self Addressed Envelope so we may remove your name from our lists.  Thank You!