Here’s the scoop on two items of interest and a need for someone to help.

SEWER FEASABILITY STUDY

June 8 the Township Board approved $14,500 for a sewer feasibility study including Lake Cora, Three Mile Lake and Eagle Lake. At the membership’s request last year, the ELPPA board was quoted $10,500 for just our Lake. The Township study will involve a greater service area and thus spread the potential cost of such a project over a larger base of potential users.

The Township study has commenced and the engineering firm will be visiting the three lakes to determine the requirements based on terrain and service needs. You may see these engineers as they go about doing their study.

Any decision to go forward with an actual sewer installation project will be dependent on independent special assessment district petitions, one for each lake, signed by at least 51% of the affected property owners. The study being done is to determine various option feasibilities and anticipated cost.

Gravel Lake (Porter Township) is actively considering a sewer system and has a very useful web site: www.gravellake.org. Click on “Gravel Lake Sewer Committee” for basic information. Go back and click on “Welcome to The Gravel Lake Association Web Site” and then click on “Read Updated QA-Map” in left hand column. This page addresses questions property owners have. They have already noted water quality issues as a result of contamination from surrounding septic systems; while our lake is healthier, this may not continue to be the case if action is not taken to reduce pollutants entering the lake water.

EURASIAN MILFOIL UPDATE

Given the resurgence of the Eurasian water milfoil (EWM) an up date on the weevil is appropriate. Many Michigan lakes saw EWM break the surface in June. Our lake waited until August. There are two factors that may explain the re-growth; both caused by the higher than normal winter temperatures.

INCREASED EWM GROWTH - EWM grows at colder temperatures than native plants and more rapidly any time. January through March are usually months when the lake has ice cover. This year, without the ice, light was able to reach plants in deeper areas. The increased light over the winter gave EWM’s a head start. Although the current crop of EWM may be in front of your place, it is a problem in a different location (depth) than before. EWM and other plants have always grown in deeper water but have not been able to reach the surface and have not been a problem until now.

DECREASED WEEVIL DENSITY – Based on our own knowledge and after consulting with the experts, a number of reasons may explain the reduction in the numbers of weevils. In 2004 and 2005, we had very high numbers of weevils and the impact on the EWM beds was obvious. It is quite possible that the weevils ate their way through their food supply (the EWM) before moving on shore for the 2005 winter. That food loss could have resulted in starvation to the point where their numbers dropped last fall, so it may be that we had fewer weevils over-wintering.

The warmer January through March months this year may have also contributed to a decline in the weevils. The warmer shoreline may have sent them into the lake too early to find food. Research notes that weevils do not begin laying eggs until the water temperature reaches 60 degrees, so cold water is a factor in their reproductive survival. Meanwhile EWM was growing. It is likely the lower numbers of weevils are due to a combination of factors, not just one or the other. Further, EnviroScience advised “this type of resurgence (in milfoil growth) isn't unusual and should be temporary. We've seen this happen in other lakes... it just takes a little time for the bugs to catch back up....."

Although we are watching what happens this summer. We are fortunate to have the full cooperation of EnviroScience, Inc. in maintaining control of the EWM. An additional 3,600 weevils (at no cost) have been stocked by Dr. Cubbage and volunteers this summer in mid-July and August.

If you have questions or other concerns please email or call Dr. Chuck Cubbage at email address charles.cubbage@comcast.net or phone 269-657-2122.

EAGLE LAKE PAW PAW ASSOCIATION WEB SITE

When you look at the Gravel Lake web site you will be impressed by the effort someone has put in to developing it. While we had a web site for a couple of years, it was difficult to maintain and, perhaps due to its spartan content, not well utilized; access to our site was through the Michigan Lake and Stream association for a small fee. Paw Paw Township is considering allowing the lake associations access through their own web site, or perhaps we would be better served using some other access. We need your help. If you have the knowledge, capability, time and dedication to serve as a webmaster for your lake association please contact Dr. Chuck Cubbage at 657-2122 or via email at charles.cubbage@comcast.net; or Doug Dorgan at the address below.

Eagle Lake Paw Paw Assn.

Special Newsletter

August 2006

EAGLE LAKE PAW PAW

ASSOCIATION

44129 Carla Drive

Paw Paw, MI 49079-9029

Phone 269-655-1894

Email dgdorgan@comcast.net

EAGLE LAKE DOOR MATS

We have Eagle Lake door mats available for $30 with all profit going to the Lake Association. It is hard to show how attractive these are with just a small picture in black and white, the actual size is 20” by 29 1/2”; the water is shown in blue and the background in beige. If you are interested in purchasing one (or more) contact Chuck or Doug as shown above.